Cartagena Tours
Visit Palenque
5
LIKELY TO SELL OUT*
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San Basilio de Palenque, is a village in the Bolivar region located 60 minutes from Cartagena. It was declared a Cultural and Intangible Heritage of Humanity for being the first slave city in America to be considered free. San Basilio de Palenque, was the refuge of many blacks who were enslaved and who in the sixteenth century fled from the Spanish inhabitants of the city of Cartagena. And under Benkos Biohó they achieved their freedom. The palenques were impaled by Africans to take refuge from those who persecuted them. This Colombian people still retain many of the African cultural traditions, such as language, social organization, cultural rites, medical practices, dance and food, all due to the isolation in which people live. In this city they have developed their own language, a mixture of African, Spanish and Portuguese languages called PALENQUERO.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 18-65
Duration: 4h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English, Spanish
More


  • Lunch
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • Local Guide
  • Bilingual Guide
  • Presentation of traditional dances


Start:Multiple pickup locations offered.
    Hotel pickup offered
    During checkout you will be able to select from the list of included hotels.
      End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

        • Wheelchair accessible
        • Stroller accessible
        If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 180720P6

        • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
        • Not recommended for travelers with back problems
        • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
        • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
        • Most travelers can participate
        • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
        • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
        • This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

        • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

        If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 180720P6

        From
        $170.00
        per adult (price varies by group size)
        Select date and travelers

        Similar experiences

        Itinerary
        • 1
          San Basilio de Palenque, is a village in the Bolivar region located 60 minutes from Cartagena. It was declared a Cultural and Intangible Heritage of Humanity for being the first slave city in America to be considered free. San Basilio de Palenque, was the refuge of many blacks who were enslaved and who in the sixteenth century fled from the Spanish inhabitants of the city of Cartagena. And under Benkos Biohó they achieved their freedom.
        About the operator
        Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
        • Local Cartagena Tours
          52
          Cartagena, Colombia
          Joined in January 2018
        • johnlW8796GN
          0 contributions
          4.0 of 5 bubbles
          Mobile Phone Was Pickpocketed at ther Lusaka Intercity Bus Terminus
          After visiting the Victoria Falls in Livingstone, I returned to Lusaka by bus to catch my flight to Dar es Salaam on 26MAR. Upon arrival at the Lusaka Intercity Bus Terminus, I was surrounded by number of people who offered assistance such as bus connection, taxi...etc. I declined them and started to walk away, when I touched my travel bag, I found my mobile phone was stolen (pick pocketed). I returned to the bus immediately. All the people have gone. So, I reported to the police. Indeed, I find the Zambian people are friendly and helpful. I still like this country Just to remind people who want to travel to Zambia have to pay high alert to look after their belongings especially in a crowded place.
          Written May 25, 2024
        • C6600VWjoyceb
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Awesome
          We had the absolute best vacation at the majestic elegance resort in punta Cana. Our favorite bartender was Ismael Castillo. He was always dancing and singing and making sure we were well looked after. Hope he’s there next time we go
          Written March 26, 2024
        • cjkahn65
          0 contributions
          4.0 of 5 bubbles
          Go For It!
          We really enjoyed our time in Columbia. Traveled with a small group- of people so had great company and a knowledgeable leader. We felt safe but we had to be smart about where and how we did our activities. The culture and the colors of the buildings and on the walls and clothing were fabulous. Learned so much about the other America.....South America.
          Written February 18, 2024
        • Lindamlynski
          0 contributions
          1.0 of 5 bubbles
          This company may be a scam. They did not show up for my tour. No email or phone call.
          This company did not show up for my tour to the bird aviary. Left me waiting for 40 minutes outside my accommodations. No email & no phone call!
          Written November 28, 2022
        • luvbk11221
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Highly Recommend
          My friends and I did the real cartagena tour with Marlon. He was so friendly, funny and made us feel very comfortable. He gave us the real information on how people live and showed us all areas of Cartagena. He is very knowledgeable and full of facts. We didn't take a boring history tour, he showed us how everyday people live.
          Written January 28, 2020
        • Erin_Mac1
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Amazing and Authentic Experience!
          My friends and I visited Cartagena for vacation and had booked a boat tour of the islands ahead of time with Marlon. We visited rosario, cholon, and baru, and the experience was incredible. Marlon and his crew provided excellent service and were extremely friendly and fun. Marlon provided us with educational information as well, so we could learn about Cartagena and the islands while we were there. The islands themselves were beautiful and beyond what we even imagined. Everything about the day was perfect, and was a great mix of fun and local experiences. We had no plans the next day, and had such a great time, that we booked another tour with Marlon. My friends and I went on the "real Cartagena" tour, which provided us with a ton of interesting information about the neighborhoods and history. We felt incredibly safe the whole time, and it provided us with the opportunity to see different areas of Cartagena that were much less touristy and that we would not have seen otherwise. Marlon is the best tour guide and I cannot recommend enough!!
          Written January 17, 2020
        • LVBossLife
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          First Class Service!
          This was by far the best trip of 2019 and Marlon made sure of it! He was the best tour guide. Our travel group consisted of 6 girlfriends that are somewhat hard to please but he was able to “ handle us” and we had an absolute BALL! We were able to experience the best of Cartagena because we trusted him and felt safe. Every tour was excellent and reasonably priced. If you are considering visiting and want a memorable experience book with Marlon! You won’t regret it! He and his company are Amazing!
          Written January 8, 2020
        • NaeRoyal
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Trustworthy and Fun Fun Fun!
          Finding people to trust in Colombia was hard but Marlon made me feel comfortable right away! As a solo female traveler that meant the world to me. I did 3 tours with Local Cartagena Tours because they were so reasonably priced and everyone made me feel like family. The first was the party bus where I had a blast and definitely drank too much, lol. There were people on the bus from all over the world but the music was universal and everyone was super friendly. I made lifetime connections and would recommend it for people who are alone and want to meet new people. My next tour was a beach day, that was relaxing and well planned. The final was a shopping trip at the market. I can't wait to return to Cartagena with friends and do it all over again.
          Written January 4, 2020
        • tsedey
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Personalized and authentic
          Our trip to Palanque was fantastic. The guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. The food was amazing. Everything ran on schedule but they accommodated our detours as well. Palanque is a special place and we could tell that the tour guides really care about the community and have a strong relationship with the people.
          Written November 4, 2019
        • raph_ospi
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Beautiful Experience!
          Our friend recommended that we contact Marlon for anything in Cartagena. Once we landed, we did just that and he was amazing. We went to Las Islas del Rosario and Playa Blanca in Barú on a private boat. The boat was a nice size (capacity for 11) and very comfortable for just my wife and I. The speakers were great and we were able to connect our music and party to our liking. All of the islands were beautiful and we made multiple stops to relax on the beaches, swim in the middle of the ocean, and party with locals and tourists in Cholón (rented a jet ski, ate, drank and danced in the water). Marlon was awesome. He taught us a lot about Cartagena and the culture and explained certain sites as we passed them. He really took care of us and we really appreciated that. He was also able to book a separate tour to Santa Marta for us which worked out great. Thank you so much for everything Marlon! You are the best and will be highly recommended to any of my friends or family that go to Cartagena.
          Written October 21, 2019
        • Nuris N
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          The most fun I’ve ever had!!!
          I could write a whole book about how amazing our encounter with Marlon was. He is so much fun, very knowledgeable about Cartagena, it’s history. We took the party bus and then he took us around the most historic and popular sights. I came back with so much pride in my African roots and all that means being a mulata. Thank you Marlon!!!! His pride for his town and his people washes over you like a warm blanket. When you are around him you feel like you are in a cloud and you never want to come down. He is fun, friendly, welcoming, a true gentleman, very respectful and above all very knowledgeable. I think he can teach a history class in any university. I recommend you to take all the tours he offers, you will never regret it. Because of him I’m looking forward to another trip to Colombia and seeing more of that amazing country. He made me fall in love with this country, with Cartagena and all their people. Thank you Marlon we will keep in touch. What an amazing guy!!!!!!❤️🙏🙏💪💪💪💪
          Written October 17, 2019
        • Hernandez0928
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Party bus - chivas
          The best party bus I have ever experienced. Marlon was the best entertainer; very funny and always checking on everyone to make sure we all had fun. This was beyond my expectations. Thank you so much Marlon. I can’t wait until my next visit ☺️
          Written October 17, 2019
        • OnAir161590
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Best representative of Cartagena and Colombia. Best tour guide around.
          Marlon was recommended to me by a friend that I had met in Cartagena. I was not dissappointed, as Marlon is hands down one of the best guides I have ever experienced. He agreed to do a personal tour of Palenque for me and a friend. He was great fun, personable and had an incredible local knowledge. He also knew many of the locals. Marlon is fab. If you get a chance, don't hesitate to jump on board. He is truly a cultural embassador and a credit to the Cartagenian tourist industry.
          Written October 1, 2019
        • briisoheartless
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Best tour guide ever!
          Marlon is the best thing in Cartagena. He is such an amazing tour guide and he makes you feel very comfortable throughout the tour. I did a party bus and a private island tour with him and I recommend it to everybody. He was so friendly and was definitely informative about his city. The party bus tour is a one of a kind it’s nothing better than listening to good music with good food and good drinks with a good tour guide.
          Written September 27, 2019
        • travelkayy
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          THE BEST!!
          Marlon is the best tour guide there is! Not only does he accommodate ANY request, he goes above and beyond to make your experience better than you expected. I was traveling solo and he helped me navigate many of my plans and most importantly offered to make sure i was safe while exploring the authentic Cartagena. Cant recommend him and his company enough!!!!
          Written September 24, 2019
        See all 52 reviews
        These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

        Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.


        5.0
        5.0 of 5 bubbles2 reviews
        Excellent
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        Tara Brown S
        17 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        May 2024 • Family
        Our group of ten travelers frequently encountered the Palenqueras in Cartagena. This day trip took us to their home with our tour guide, Legacy. When we arrived, Gladys, shared the history regarding the emancipation of former slaves. This is the only one of the communities of escaped slaves (palenques) that survived. The customs, language and music have also survived. We were entertained by youthful dancers, introduced to a member of the hip-hop group Kombilesa Mi, participated in a boxing lesson in the gym where Antonio Cervantes Reyes trained, ate sweets prepared by Roberta and ate lunch. I ordered the traditional dish, pescado frito y arroz with a side of patacones. Please contact Marlon and book this tour.
        Written June 4, 2024
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Flyer784258
        8 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Oct 2021 • Solo
        Marlon Mendoza- the Tour Guide and owner was AMAZING. He was knowledgeable, energetic, professional, funny and all around a GREAT tour guide. I traveled solo on this tour and he made me feel safe and protected. I couldn’t have asked for a a better experience. Thank you Marlon for making my trip to Cartagena one of best trips ever!!! Highly recommend this gentleman for all your tours in Cartagena .
        Written October 5, 2021
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        *Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

        Visit Palenque provided by Local Cartagena Tours

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