Highlights & Hidden Gems of Cartagena in Cartagena - CL_Cartagena_HHG_MAIN
4.9

Highlights & Hidden Gems of Cartagena

  • 3 hours
  • City Highlight Tours
  • Cartagena
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Choose one of 2 locals available

Experience hosted by Wendy & Andrea

  • Private Tour
  • Carbon Neutral

Want to see the best of Cartagena? We got you covered. But as you can expect from a Withlocals experience, the real excitement is its hidden gems. Join your favorite local and get a feeling of the city's real vibe on a tour that has it all, so you can say: I experienced the real Cartagena!

Destination
Cartagena, Colombia
Category
City Highlight Tours
Duration
3 hours
Transport mode
Walking tour
Available languages
English, Español
Included
  • Private Guide
  • 1 Local Snack or Drink
  • All Withlocals Tours are Carbon Neutral
Excluded
  • Entrance to attractions

6 reasons to book this tour

  • Explore the best of the city in only 3 hours
  • Spot classics like Clock Tower & Palacio de la inquisicion
  • Discover hidden gems away from the tourist paths
  • Experience the city from a local’s perspective
  • Can be 100% personalized to your wishes
  • Privately guided by a local expert

What you can expect

Highlights & Hidden Gems of Cartagena in Cartagena - CL_Cartagena_HHG_MAIN

Cartagena, is a magical place! And with the local host of your choice, you are going to experience it all. So get ready; culture, history, and local lifestyle await!

Dive into the origin of Cartagena as you see the city’s main landmarks like Clock Tower, Palacio de la inquisicion, and Catedral de Santa Catalina de Alejandria. And how about the hidden gems? Oh, you’re in for a surprise! Every host has its own story to tell, so pick your favorite, and you’ll discover the city through their eyes. Experience their Cartagena to the max based on their passions and expertise. They’ll make sure you have fun enjoying a unique and local perspective of Cartagena.

Want to take a break? Leave it up to your host! This is the perfect opportunity to visit that special eatery where only the locals come and your chance to enjoy a local treat hand-picked by your host. Feel free to ask your host more about their life in their city or get recommendations about the top things to do in Cartagena. Remember, the locals know best.

The best part of any city tour is definitely the unique stories. Everybody has a story to tell, especially your host. Each one of the local hosts has a different background ranging from arts to history. They can’t wait to share their knowledge with you and exchange ideas and perspectives! Feel like changing the route a bit? No problem, the hosts will be happy to personalize the tour to your wishes and make their Cartagena, your Cartagena!

Choose your local

Get to know these 2 passionate locals, each bringing unique perspectives and talents. Choose your favorite, check their availability, and book to create an unforgettable adventure tailored to you.

  • Wendy - CARTAGENA HISTORY, CULTURE AND GASTRONOMY!!

    Wendy

    CARTAGENA HISTORY, CULTURE AND GASTRONOMY!!

    4.956 reviews
    English・Español
  • Andrea - Nice Host with cultural background and best spots in Colombia

    Andrea

    Nice Host with cultural background and best spots in Colombia

    4.915 reviews
    English・Español

This is the plan

Check out the plan below to see what you'll get up to with your local host. Feel free to personalize this offer with the host of your choice.

  1. Meeting point

    Meet at Meet at the entrance of the Clock Tower Gate - Cartagena to start your journey

  2. Itinerary

    This is what our experience could look like, but it’s not set in stone! Once you book, you can chat directly with your host to make small tweaks to suit your preferences.

  3. City Highlights

    See from Clock Tower, Catedral de Santa Catalina de Alejandria, Palacio de la inquisicion, and other landmarks and must-sees of the city. Your local host will take you to the main spots in town so you can get the perfect overview of what makes Cartagena so uniqu

  4. Hidden Gems

    Along the way, your local host will show you treasures hidden in plain sight that only the locals know about. Get to know the city through a different perspective, the local way, and discover places and stories that not many tourists experience

  5. Magical Storytelling

    Behind every landmark and every stop, there’s a story, and your local host is ready to tell it all. Get ready to listen to incredible stories, one-of-a-kind insights, and fun facts only a knowledgeable local would know!

  6. Special Treat

    Follow your host to one of their favorite eateries for a snack or a drink beloved by the locals. Take a break and catch up with your new local friend and get the answers to all your travel questions

  7. Make it yours

    Want to tweak the itinerary? Book directly & chat afterwards with your host to adjust highlights, skip stops, or make small changes to fit your preferences.

    Book risk-free: Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund.

    Need something special? Personalize your experience for more time, alternative locations or a completely tailored plan.

Flexible cancellation policy

  • Feel confident booking

    Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund. Even up to 7 days before your experience, you’ll receive a refund, minus the service fee.

  • Change of plans?

    Reschedule your experience to a date and time that works best for you.

  • Loved by travelers worldwide

    Simple and flexible – your plans, your way.

Reviews from guests

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Darcy🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
26 February 2025
Wendy is amazing tour guide that we would highly recommend. She is a Cartagena local and is very passionate about her city and country. We learned many things and discovered places we would not have found on our own which made our visit so much more enjoyable. If you have the chance, do not hesitate to take a tour with Wendy!Fabulous Tour
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Christina🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
26 January 2025
We had a great time walking around Cartagena with Wendy - she gave us insight into the history and culture of the beautiful city. She also took us to a high quality coffee shop for a rest, a snack at a food stand, and through the Getsemani neighborhood. I told her I wanted to buy something with emeralds and she took us to a reputable shop. We really enjoyed our tour with Wendy and would highly recommend you book her for your trip to Caratagena!Great walking tour
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Karina🇱🇹 Lithuania
(About local )
16 January 2025
Wendy was an incredible guide during our visit to Cartagena, Colombia. From the moment we met her, it was clear that she is extremely knowledgeable and passionate about the history and culture of the city. She took us to the best spots, showing us hidden gems that we would have never found on our own. Wendy’s attention to detail and her genuine care for our experience made the tour unforgettable. She went above and beyond to ensure we were comfortable and had everything we needed. Her energy, enthusiasm, and warmth made the entire experience even more special. If you’re looking for a guide who truly cares and knows Cartagena inside and out, Wendy is THE BEST! Highly recommend her to anyone visiting the city!Wendy: The Best Guide in Cartagena
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julie🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
7 January 2025
We spent the afternoon with Wendy on a fun and informative tour. Her energy was great for our group which included our 4 adult children. Would recommend Wendy! Great afternoon with Wendy
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peyton🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
3 January 2025
We thoroughly enjoyed our experience with Wendy. She was on time and showed us so much of the beauty and history of Cartagena in an entertaining and digestible format. Excellent guide to beautiful city
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John🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
2 December 2024
We did a two hour walking tour with Andrea the day after we arrived in Cartagena. She took us around the old city (el centro historico) and pointed out good restaurants, historical places, shops, and gave us insights into what to expect. He english was great, and she customized the walk in real time based on our interests. She also gave us pointers on negotiating in the streetside markets to avoid paying too much "tourist tax". We highly recommend Andrea. Andrea is Fabulous
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Russell🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
20 November 2024
We had a terrific morning with Wendy, learning the history of Cartagena and even got to try one of the local beers. It was a hot, steamy day, so she found us a nice place to stop for cold drinks and pastry, which we really appreciated! We would certainly recommend Wendy to others.Great experience!
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Kati🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
23 August 2024
I met Wendy outside of the Clock Tower at exactly 9:30, Wed, Aug 28. Wendy was very knowledgeable on the history of Cartagena with some very interesting facts which were fascinating. I had so much fun wandering around with Wendy and hearing all the juicy details of the city! After the tour I invited Wendy to lunch and we had a fabulous meal at a restaurant Wendy recommended (can't remember the name). Parted ways with my promise to Wendy, that I will be back in a few months with my cousin. Would not use anyone else for a tour!!!!!!!!! Don't do it!!!!!!Love this Girl Guide!
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Lody🇳🇱 Netherlands
(About local )
18 August 2024
Andrea clearly loves her town Cartagena and likes to share her knowledge and listens and answers any questions you might have.Friendly and engaged
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Barbara🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
4 June 2024
Wendy gave us an amazing tour ! She communicated very well before our meeting. and was very punctual. I learned so much about the history of Cartagena! She kept our kids interested and took us all around explaining everything in detail. Gave us some excellent tips too. Definitely a good tour to do when you arrive to Cartagena so that you can learn the history and know your way around. Wendy was amazing!
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Ralph🇳🇱 Netherlands
(About local )
22 May 2024
Had a great tour with Wendy. Her enthousiasm and knowledge really made our day. Her English is also outstanding. Would highly recommend her as a guide! The best guide in town!
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Eveln🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
2 March 2025
Andrea gave us a great logistical overview of Cartagena. She knows all the in’s and out’s and was very communicative and helpful before and after our tour. She expanded our sense of the old city, gave us restaurant suggestions that turned out to be great and helped us find a driver for a trip to the National Aviary. Our group all felt she was an asset to our time in the city. Andrea is a wonderful resource!!
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Bridgett
(About local )
25 February 2025
She took us to several street vendors, food was excellent. Very hot outside though, so I wasn’t able to walk everywhere she wanted to go. Excellent tour guide -meshes a native of Colombia!Great tour with Andrea
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Shawn
(About local )
24 February 2025
I had a fantastic time on the Evening in Cartagena City Tour with Andrea! She reached out ahead of time to understand what I was interested in, which made the experience feel really personalized. Throughout the tour, she shared a ton of great information and adjusted the itinerary along the way based on what caught my interest. Her knowledge of the city’s history and culture really added to the experience. If you’re looking for a guide who is informative and easy to explore with, Andrea is a great choice. Highly recommend!Great Tour with a Knowledgeable Guide!
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Al🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
22 February 2025
Wendy is a native of Cartagena and is very enthusiastic about her city. She communicated very well prior to our tour and let us know what she would be wearing the day we were meeting her. She is flexible and gladly accommodated our special requests. She was very knowledgeable about the meaning of the different murals around Getsemani and everything else in the city. We enjoyed our time with Wendy and would highly recommend her as a guide. The only thing we didn’t care for was being taken to an emerald store without any prior discussion. It’s awkward to get a presentation about something when you’re not interested in purchasing. We realize that many tourists may be interested in buying emeralds in Colombia, but it would have be preferable to have the chance to say no thank you! We had the same experience in a rug store in Turkey. Great Tour With Wendy
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debhughan🇬🇧 United Kingdom
(About local )
22 February 2025
Wonderful communication with Wendy pre tour which helped us tremendously. Wendy even changed her usual meeting point to collect us in a taxi at the port . I needed a sewing alteration and she was able to sort this out during the tour . What great service !!! A thoughtful enthusiastic person who kept us engaged all through the tour . The food and drink were really good too . Would recommend Wendy highly . Wonderful day wonderful Wendy
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Leann
(About local )
22 February 2025
We highly recommend Wendy for the 10 tastes in Cartegna! Our tour was highly personalized and we felt confident in all the stops we made to try local foods. She was very educated on the country's history's, spoke excellent English and seemed to know many people in the community. Wendy gave us a warm welcome and made us feel safe in our first time in this foreign country.Cruise traveler
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Bill
(About local )
19 February 2025
A wonderful evening walking around the walled city and the lovely plazas. Andrea gave us views and insights that we would have never have seen without her. We recommended her to our hotel and hopefully they will also use her.Cartagena revealed
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Alexandra
(About local )
18 February 2025
Wendy was absolutely amazing! My group and I loved how knowledgeable she was about not only the food, but the history of the city as well. She was so open to questions and took us to amazing places! I highly recommend Wendy! I feel like a Cartagenera now! Wonderful host!
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Lawrence🇬🇧 United Kingdom
(About local )
6 February 2025
We had a great tour with Wendy. From first making contact and adjusting the tour to our needs, it was a really simple process - great comms with Wendy. When we met, it was obvious she has a great love and pride for her city - as well as being really knowledgeable. The tour was taken in really hot and humid weather, yet Wendy managed to find us plenty of shade while we walked! All in all 3 hours spent in the company of a charming young woman in a very special city.Wonderful few hours in Cartagena
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Jessica🇦🇺 Australia
(About local )
27 January 2025
We booked a food tour of Cartagena with Wendy for our family of 5 while on a holiday to the city and it was a highlight of our trip! The evening of our tour we happened to have a torrential downpour with flooding through the streets and Wendy was amazing thinking on her feet to make sure we still had the best time. The variety of food we tried and the history of Cartagena we learned along the way were unmatched. We would recommend this to anyone visiting Cartagena and will book another tour with Wendy if we return! Fantastic guide and experience!
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Nicole🇦🇺 Australia
(About local )
24 January 2025
Andrea put up with 6 crazy aussies and our constant questions. She was flexible and very knowledgeable and accommodating. She even booked lunch for us after giving us a selection to choose from. Highly recommend Andrea to anyone wanting to explore Cartagena by foot. Andrea was amzingly and a great guide
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Robert
(About local )
21 January 2025
The tour Andrea showed us was perfect. She answered our many questions with both knowledge and kindness. Her English was excellent and she was flexible to show us many interesting sights. We were quite pleased. Knowledgeable and Enjoyable time - perfect
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laurie🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
21 January 2025
the tour with wendy was great. her english was easy to understand. she gave us good introduction to the local foods and the history of where the foods came from!wendy food tour
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Debby🇨🇦 Canada
(About local )
17 January 2025
We were taken on a food tour in Cartegena. Our tour guide Wendy was simply wonderful. We were shown the sights and tastes and were excellently informed. A highlight of our cruise. Wonderful Tour
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Allesandra🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
17 January 2025
This tour was a great way to discover Cartagena. We walked around the city and made various stops to eat something local. We discovered fruits that we had never heard about and stopped for a beer in a small, local bar. Wendy is knowledgeable and passionate about the food and culture of her hometown.Fun Food Tour of Cartagena
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Karina🇱🇹 Lithuania
(About local )
16 January 2025
Wendy was an incredible guide during our visit to Cartagena, Colombia. From the moment we met her, it was clear that she is extremely knowledgeable and passionate about the history and culture of the city. She took us to the best spots, showing us hidden gems that we would have never found on our own. Wendy’s attention to detail and her genuine care for our experience made the tour unforgettable. She went above and beyond to ensure we were comfortable and had everything we needed. Her energy, enthusiasm, and warmth made the entire experience even more special. If you’re looking for a guide who truly cares and knows Cartagena inside and out, Wendy is THE BEST! Highly recommend her to anyone visiting the city!Wendy: The Best Guide in Cartagena
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Martha🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
4 January 2025
Wendy was professional and kind in all of our conversations. She helped answer my numerous questions. She found solutions to problems that I faced. Our cruise ship was delayed and she was quick to pivot and help. Wendy speaks English with ease. Her tour was fun with loads of information. Great food choices even handling my egg allergy. I highly recommend Wendy while visiting Columbia. Great Communication and knowledge of city
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peyton🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
3 January 2025
We really enjoyed our food tour with Andrea. Communication was smooth beforehand. She arrived early to plan the trip, showed us some excellent places, and made sure the trip was customized the way we wanted it. Highly recommended. Great way to taste Cartagena
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Jessica🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
3 January 2025
My family loved our tour with Wendy! She was so kind and patient with our kids (6 and 8)-- always encouraging them to try new foods but never being pushy. Wendy is warm, knowledgeable, and just a fun person to spend a few hours with. Our only regret is that we didn't take the tour our very first day as it would have been a great way to get situated. Highly recommend this tour with Wendy!!Delicious tour, great guide
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David🇬🇧 United Kingdom
(About local )
30 December 2024
Wendy was delightful and took us to a variety of food options. All close together, so not much walking, maybe 1 mile? We enjoyed the different tastes and it appears that Colombians like many different foods with added cheese. Wendy spoke good clear English and was good company. She can sometimes arrange local transport which means you are not at the mercy of local taxi drivers? We did perhaps expect a little bit of history or architecture as we walked around, but she just talked about food. We would recommend Wendy to anyone wanting an interesting food tour.Lots of cheese!
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Carlos🇧🇷 Brazil
(About local )
29 December 2024
Andrea is a great guide! I truly recommend touring the Old City with her. Andrea is always keen to provide not only the historical information, but also to provide context about the contemporary life in Cartagena. Great time in Cartagena!
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Matthew🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
3 December 2024
If the guide is looking to cancel you should probably take them up on it. My family and I were excited about our first evening in Cartagena and the weather didn't look too bad so we opted to go forward with the tour. The weather ended up being great and Gabo took us to a wonderful rooftop bar and we had drinks. From that point forward Gabo seemed pretty distracted and I'm not sure if it was a language barrier or just not "clicking", but after a quick walk over to Getsemani and being pointed to a restaurant our time together was over. Gabriel is a fun, personable guy.. I just don't think this was the right sort of experience for the day and he clearly wanted to be off doing something else instead. Given all the other positive reviews I think our experience must have been an outlier. Mixed feelings
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Linda🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
2 December 2024
Gabo was a fantastic local guide - knowledgeable, fun and worked to make everything convenient for us. Great local tour
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Matthew🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
26 November 2024
My family and a had a great time exploring the tastes and treats of Cartagena. We learned some history and info about the country along the way. Wendy was really enthusiastic and great with my 10 year old son. We tried lots of different things in both the Old Town and Getsemani. Even better Wendy sent us some great pictures after our time together as well. I strongly recommend this tour with Wendy!Wonderful
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Jorge🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
21 November 2024
The walking tour with Gabriel (3 hours) was very nice! He is very knowledgeable and explains about the architecture and the buildings along the way. Also got some very nice tips on rooftops and restaurants to visit, mochas gracias Gabriel! Very nice Walking tour!
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Katherine🇨🇴 Colombia
(About local )
27 October 2024
My cousin and I booked a private street food walking tour with Gabriel and had a great experience. We enjoyed several local food and drink tastings and got a thorough explanation of the history of the city. We would highly recommend the tour for anyone who wants an authentic experience of Cartagena.Private street food tour of Cartagena
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Randall🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
27 October 2024
We loved our time with Wendy. She was very accommodating to some special needs we had. She was very informative and personable. We always felt safe and comfortable. The next time we are back, we will definitely contact Wendy.Outstanding
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Mark🇦🇺 Australia
(About local )
26 October 2024
We had a really fun night with Gabo. His high energy enthusiasm for his home town is infectious. From the sunset cocktails to the fantastic tour of Getsemani we really enjoyed the tour. He was on time, brought a us a kind welcome gift and courteous throughout. Great fun in Cartagena
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Lynne🇬🇧 United Kingdom
(About local )
21 October 2024
The Cartagena you wouldn’t discover without an insider. Gabriel provided us with a brilliant insight into his city which we would never have found on our own. A wonderful personalised tour which saw him hunt out Sloths for us and arrange transport to the city. The insiders Cartegana
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Alvaro🇳🇱 Netherlands
(About local )
20 October 2024
Very nice guided walk in Cartagena historical town and surroundings. Andrea’s took really good care of everything and showed me the best spots of aCartagena.Very nice walk in Cartagena
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Al🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
11 October 2024
Andrea is a very pleasant and knowledgeable guide. We thoroughly enjoyed our tour and the many food options available.Hidden Food Stops & City Tips
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Wes🇨🇦 Canada
(About local )
9 October 2024
This walking tour of the old town in Cartegena with Gabo was excellent. Gabo is very passionate about his hometown. I would highly recommend him to anyone visiting Cartagena.Great tour - Highlights of Catagena
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Carol🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
29 September 2024
If you’d like to have a fascinating, fun-filled, tasty walking tour of Cartagena Gabriel is your guy! We spent three hours walking, talking (Gabriel know a great deal of history, culture and current facts about his hometown), and tasting amazing street food. He knows all of the best spots for local snacks, and all of the interesting streets to wander for beauty and history. We highly recommend Gabriel!Gabriel - the jewel of Cartagena
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Chris🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
23 September 2024
Gabriel was super helpful and gave us great recommendations. Highly recommend him to anyone visiting Cartagena!Excellent tour
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Adam
(About local )
14 September 2024
Gabriel was very nice and friendly. He knew a lot about the city and a lot of people when walking around. He paced the walk nicely, taking us into AC when we got hot and slowed down when we got full. He took us to some amazing sites of the walled city. Got an amazing view of the sunset over the Caribbean. Food Tour with Gabriel in Cartagena
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Brittany🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
14 September 2024
Gabriel was very friendly, genuine, and a great tour guide. My husband and I enjoyed our tour through the city with him and would definitely recommend it for anyone’s first day in Cartegena. We have checked out a few of his suggestions he made during the tour and we were very happy with them. Thank you Gabriel!A wonderful introduction to Cartegena
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MIGUEL ALONSO🇲🇽 Mexico
(About local )
13 September 2024
Gabi nos mostró las mejores zonas de Cartagena caminando y probando cosas típicas y tomando cervezas y tragos locales. La experiencia fue muy buena y recomiendo la hagan con él siempre. Pasamos un rato muy chevere como saliendo con un nuevo amigo de la ciudad!Buena tarde de tastings con Gabo
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Kelsey🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
28 August 2024
My father and I had a great time getting introduced to Cartagena with Gabriel. He was very flexible and showed us around the entire main area (walled city & Getsemani). We got to try delicious juices, empanadas, arepas, chorizo, and more! We were hoping to get a bit more interesting stories about the current or historical past of the city, and perhaps less recommendations on restaurants or hotels, but we really enjoyed the time nonetheless. Highly recommend spending an afternoon with him as your guide!Friendly and fun guide to Cartagena
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Katarina
(About local )
20 August 2024
We decided to do this tour because we wanted an intro to the city (normally we do a walking tour) and decided to add some food to it. Gabo was great, he showed us around and gave us some good pieces of info about Cartegena. He also gave us a lot of nice restaurant recommendations for the rest of our stay. Thanks Gabo!Walking tour but with good food

Withlocals experiences
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Private & personalizedNo strangers, just you. Fully customize your trip to your needs.
With a local expertFrom historical facts to the most up-to-date health regulations.
Without the crowdsExperiences designed to take you away from the crowds towards authentic local spots.

Other City highlight tours in Cartagena

€30.88per person