Cartagena Discovery

You will be met by your Bilingual guide and walked to your vehicle to commence your tour of the principal sights around Cartagena. Castillo San Felipe and El Convento de La Popa are two of Cartagena’s most spectacular sites. After your pick up from your hotel you will set off first to the Castillo San Felipe. This fort is the largest Spanish fortification in the Americas and dominates the old town. The first fortification on the site was started in 1536 and further extended over the following 200 years mostly by African slave labour. Underneath this amazing structure you will find a labyrinth of tunnels. The sun soaked fortification seeps tales of old for every traveller and the tunnels (some of which are lit and accessible to visitors) and ramparts are a living breathing history book. The fortress possesses intriguing tales of failed invasion by the British and other would be attackers. One very famous defence of the city was by Blas de Lazos against Edward Vernon and his fleet of 186 ships and 23,600 men. Blas with only one eye, one leg and one hand fought off Vernon with his modest band of 6 ships and 3,600 soldiers. From the fort you will continue on in your private vehicle to the Convento La Popa. The hill is the highest point in the city and commands excellent views of the bay, old town and Caribbean Sea beyond. Started initially as a humble wooden chapel but later replaced by a more solid construction that was fortified two centuries later. Enjoy the flower filled patio and the views that stretch all over the city and wander through the cool patio and interior of the convent. Throughout your trip your guide will make the sites come to life as he explains not only their history but also their relevance and importance to the Cartagena of today.

You will be met by your guide and walked to your vehicle to commence your tour of the Volcan de Lodo Totumo (mud volcano). You will begin by heading an hour and a half along the costal highway to reach the site. Legend has it that the volcano was once the home of the devil and spewed hot lava; a local holy man doused the volcano in holy water vanquishing the devil and turning the hot lava in to rich mud. It’s not cold, it’s warm! It does not seem to have a bottom, and it’s impossible to sink. This is truly one of the strangest experiences you will have along the Caribbean coastline. The Volcano is 20 metres high with basic wooden steps up to its crater at the top. Slipping in to the mud may be one of the strangest things that you have done but none the less an experience to be cherished. In fits and giggles you will wallow in the grey goo and maybe even take the opportunity for a massage from one of the local masseurs. The mud is said to have exfoliation properties cleansing the skin as you have fun! From one experience to another you slither out of the mud and gingerly make your way down the other side of the Volcano. From this point there will be someone on hand to take you to the water’s edge of the Ceínega (spring) where you will be washed down in this natural lagoon. The facilities here are basic but the experience makes it well worth while.

Take a fun full day excursion out to the Rosario islands on a shared boat with your own private Guide. The Rosario Islands are formed by 23 separate coral Islands. It´s one of the 46 Natural National Parks of Colombia, created to protect one of the most important coral reefs of the Caribbean Colombian Coast. Its marine habitats create one of Colombia's most diverse and richest marine ecosystems in Colombia. The Park has an extension of 120.000 marine and land hectares, and is associated with marine pastures, mangroves and the numerous species of algae and animals that have their habitats in the area. The Rosario Islands are an about an hour ride from Cartagena by motor boat. The route takes you through the Bahia de Cartagena and into the open sea through the Bocachica strait, and passing between the Bateria de San Jose and Fuerte de San Fernando. The boat will take you on a panoramic cruise through the Islands and then onto the Aquarium where you can pay an additional entrance fee to walk around the Island of San Marin de Pajarales and learn about the many varieties of marine life and species in the area. There will be a simple lunch included on Playa Blanca where you will have about 2 hours at leisure, before heading back to the mainland.

Includes airport transfer with private vehicle, professional driver and local guide from Airport to Hotel or within city and vice versa