Cartagena Sightseeing & Local Street Food Tasting
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Port
Cartagena, Colombia
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Activity Level
Moderate
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At
$114.95
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 4¼ Hours
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Meals Included
Meals included
Explore magnificent Cartagena by coach and on foot.
With its impressive fortress, Cartagena once had the reputation of being the treasure chest of the Spanish Main. Today its treasures include homemade sweets and savory delicacies from gourmet chefs and simple street carts. Sample some iconic flavors and enjoy the many stories surrounding the bits and bites that merge African, Spanish, Caribbean and Middle-Eastern influences in the most delicious ways.
You'll take photos of Fort San Felipe de Barajas -- an important 17th-century work of Spanish military engineering. You'll also pass the Manga residential area, where some aging mansions have been restored to their original splendor.
At the Plaza de Santo Domingo, catch a glimpse of one of Cartagena's most memorable sights -- the palenqueras -- women in bright dresses carrying big bowls of fruit on their heads. Sample the freshest tropical fruit salad in the city.
A short stroll brings you to the Palace of the Inquisition -- a spectacular fortress with a grisly past.
Plaza de la Aduana is the largest and oldest square in the Old City and is home to the former Royal Customs House. In this beautiful setting, you'll discover the magic of Colombia's most famous export -- coffee. Taste and savor the aroma of a well-prepared cup of the world's mildest beans.
Stop at the Iglesia de San Pedro Claver -- a 17th-century church devoted to the Patron Saint of Slaves.
A short walking tour leads you through narrow streets bursting with culinary characters and colorful locations. Sample a breakfast arepa -- the thin, round flatbread that is a staple in Colombia and that Food & Wine magazine calls "some of the tastiest and most versatile sandwich wrappers you'll find anywhere in the world." The perfect match is a glass of corozo juice, made from a sweet red fruit that tastes like a cranberry.
Off the Plaza de Los Coches -- the main square -- Portal de Los Dulces is where proud local ladies sell handmade confectionary, ranging from tamarind balls to coconut candy. Whether or not you have a sweet tooth, don't miss sampling these traditional treats that transport you to the cultural heart of Cartagena.
Notes:
Wear comfortable walking shoes.