7 Day Cartagena & Caribbean Express – 50 Shared Tour

Cartagena de Indias brings together the charm of colonial architecture, the excitement of expressive nightlife, fascinating cultural festivals, and verdant landscapes. Beaches beckon, inviting you to unwind and enjoy yourself in the refreshing breezes and warm waters of the Caribbean. This fabulous destination holds the secrets of history within its walled city and in the narrow stone streets. Framed by its stunning bay, Cartagena de Indias is one of the most beautiful, well-preserved cities in the Americas; a treasure that is now one of the most frequented destinations in Colombia.
Tayrona Park is a magical place where you can find the most beautiful beaches in Colombia if not all of South America. Cabo San Juan is the most emblematic of them in the park, with golden sand and ancestral volcanic rocks dotted about. This beach is divided into two small bays and is superb. It is the hallmark of Tayrona Park, where it is just glorious to swim in a celestial setting.
 
What Machu Picchu is to Peru, the Lost City is to Colombia. Ciudad Perdida (Lost City) is an ancient city and sacred site of the Tayrona Civilization. Once it encompassed the entire Caribbean coastal plain of Colombia, extending to the highest coastal mountain anywhere, the Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta. The Tairona people maintained a flourishing society in times before the Spanish invasion. They were an advanced civilization that lived in stone structures in the jungle. Their descendants, the Kogui people, have inhabited the same mountain area, where they have been able to maintain their traditional way of life. The Taironaka Reserve is an archaeological site that has preserved artifacts from this pre- Columbian culture. Here you can see original stone terraces, walkways, drainage systems, and ancient mountain pathways.

On arrival at Cartagena airport, your transportation will be waiting to take you directly to your hotel to check in and enjoy a bit of me-time. 

Around 6:30 pm you’ll be meeting the other travelers in your group at a Welcome to Cartagena Dinner.

Arriving early to check out more of this region before joining your group? 

Click here to find some inspiration and additional experiences you can enjoy in Cartagena. 

Be sure to ask your travel consultant for your group members' discount before making any reservations.

Welcome dinner in Cartagena

You'll be collected at your hotel and taken to the restaurant for a delicious Welcome Dinner starting the best way your trip in the Colombian Caribbean. 

Our bilingual guide explains the history behind every important site you visit. You'll discover panoramic views of the city from Cerro de La Popa; a convent built in 1606, and the highest peak overlooking Cartagena. Explore inside the historic Castle San Felipe, learning the paths and methods of defending this heritage-listed structure from pirates and invaders around the world. 

Enjoy an in-depth private tour of the Jewel of Colombia, the magical UNESCO heritage-listed city of Cartagena de Indias Colombia. Including the must-see stops, plazas, restaurants, cafes, and bars within the walled city, along with one of the oldest and most bohemian neighborhoods in Cartagena; Getsemani.

You’ll step back in time on a journey through the layers of history uncovering some surprising, surreal, and sometimes scary stories as you explore every aspect of the city's charming colonial streets and take in all the main landmarks of Cartagena's famous walled city. All the time learning the true history of this city's historic struggle between the Spanish colonialists and pirates from many different nations.

Your tour will include the Clock Tower monument, the original entrance of the fortified city, and your starting point for the tour through the historic center of Cartagena de Indias. Your tour will also include unmissable locations such as Bolivar Park, the Plaza Saint Pedro Claver, the Plaza de Los Jagüeyes, San Diego, and of course the colorful streets of Gertsemani.

This truly is the most complete journey of the main areas of Cartagena, and the perfect tour to enjoy not just the history, but to also get acquainted with the most important Cartagena landmarks.

Day 3: Rosario Islands - Relax in a Tropical Paradise.

Enjoy a wonderful ocean cruise on a speedboat to the Rosario Islands; arriving at a beautiful picturesque beach for a typical Caribbean lunch, crystal clear waters, water-sports, white sands, and palm trees. 

You'll be assigned your personal beach space which will be exclusive for yourself and members of your group. 

You'll receive full beach service, a fantastic typical lunch; use of deckchairs and umbrellas; a cocktail on arrival, and English-speaking hosts. 

You will have the full day to relax and enjoy your space along with kayaking, and the ability to hire gear for snorkeling or paddleboarding.

This will be one of the highlights of your Caribbean adventure!

Travelers need to be at the wharf at 7:30 am for the 8:00 am departure from Cartagena. 

Resort towels are available to use for $5,000 pesos. 

Enjoy a private transfer to Tayrona, along the coast, and directly to your hotel to check in.

The remainder of this day is free to enjoy and explore your surroundings at your leisure. 

Cabo San Juan in Tayrona Park is a mixture of environments where you can find tropical jungle on one side of you, beautiful white sands, and the Caribbean blue ocean on the other. Together this mix of nature forms a perfect Caribbean landscape. 

You’ll be taken to Tayrona park and enjoy a 2-hour ecological walk through the jungle and visit four beaches along the way including Arenillas, La Piscina, Cabo San Juan, and Los Arrecifes. 

You'll enjoy some fantastic beach time (approx. 3 hours), along with time to explore the area or partake in some watersports, such as snorkeling.  After your beach time has passed you'll enjoy a 1.3-hour walk through the jungle and your waiting transportation. 

During your ecological walks, you will learn about the local environment and the local indigenous. You'll learn about what native animals can be seen and or heard. Your guide will also be safeguarding your possessions while you're relaxing in the temperate waters and taking as many photos as you may need. 

NB.

• For those not so inclined to walk for 3-4 hours during this tour there are horses available to ride to and from the beach.
• The recommended start time is 7 am to avoid the queue to enter Tayrona Park. This time can be adjusted if needed.
• The estimated finish time is between 4 - 5 pm. But this can vary depending on the weather, traffic, and tour conditions.

Collected from your Tayrona hotel at around 8 am you’ll start your adventure into the jungle of the Sierra Nevada to the entrance of the beautiful Rio Don Diego. Once here, you’ll jump out of the car and into a boat for a short 15 min ride up the river to Tayronaka.

On arrival to Taironaka, you’ll immediately see all the wonderful nature surrounding this archelogy site and begin to understand the significance of this location to not only the ancestral history of the Kogui indigenous but that of all of Colombia, if not the history of the entire Americas.

You’ll walk over these ancient ruins and visit the museum filled with ageless artifacts for approximately an hour with your guide freely answering all your questions about the past and present location.

Next, it’s a short walk to the Kogui community that calls this land their home, and to meet some of the direct descendants of the Tayrona people who built these structures and lived in this region for thousands of years.

Meeting these kindhearted people is an experience in itself, and while here you’ll also receive an “aseguranza” which will safeguard you for all your future travels. Ensuring a Kogui spirit will help and guide you into the future.

To finish off your time here you’ll enjoy a wonderful typical lunch before setting off back down the river. But this time on/in your choice of a Kayak, a paddleboard, or a large inner tube.

Arriving at the mouth of the river where it opens into the Caribbean Sea you’ll be in time to enjoy some relaxing beach time as well as a beautiful sunset before setting off back to your hotel to reflect on yet another day in the Caribbean paradise of Colombia.

You'll be recollected and taken to your hotel in Santa Marta for the last night. 

Farewell dinner in Santa Marta

You'll be collected at your hotel in Santa Marta and taken to your Farewell dinner to remember all the good moments during your trip in the Caribbean. 

Day 7: Today it is Farewell to Santa Marta and to Colombia - or extend your stay!

Hablamos pronto, safe travels home, and visit again soon!

We’ll have transport waiting to take you to the airport at your desired time.

Not ready to leave yet?

Click here to find some inspiration and additional tours you can enjoy before departing this region. Remember to ask your travel consultant for your group members' discount before making any reservations!

What's included?

• 6x night Superior hotels as listed or similar
• 6x breakfast, 1x lunch, 2x dinner
• Welcome dinner
• Farewell dinner
• All airport transfers
• All domestic flights
• Private excursions
• Permanent English-speaking tour leader.
• All entrance fees
• 24 hr support group

Exclusions

• International flights

• Travel Insurance

• Meals and Services not mentioned within the plan.