Cartagena Culinary Vacation

 Day 2 

Walking tour and rum tasting.

The colorful streets of Cartagena are made for a walk. Explore the walled city with your personal guide who will tell you about Cartagena’s past and present when visiting monuments such as the Clock Tower or Don Pedro de Heredia's statue, the city's founder as well as other less-visited parts of the historic center.

During the walk, you may notice many influences - Romanesque, Moorish, colonial, military, Arabic, Spanish, and North American that have given shape to Cartagena. You will also cross by Parque Bolivar, facing the Palace of the Inquisition, which is one of the most beautiful buildings in the city, and San Pedro Claver Square, dedicated to the Spanish-born monk known as “Slave of the Slaves” for his life spent ministering African slaves brought to the Spanish colonies. Also, the Getsemani district, named by Forbes Magazine as one of the coolest neighborhoods in the world, will not be missed on this city tour.

At night, you will enjoy a pleasant experience designed for adventurous people who want to discover new flavors and textures, as well as differentiating and distinguishing a good cocktail and Cartagena's exquisite liquor. The rum tasting seeks to immerse you in the mythical world of pirates, where your palate will be the only witness of the hidden treasure that Cartagena guards inside.

You will live a wonderful and recreational experience, led by one of the most important mixologists in Colombia, who will guide you and show you that the mysterious world of liquor goes way beyond a bottle. The tasting is based on different rums from the Colombian culture accompanied by the best chocolates of the land.

The best rums in the world are classified as Colombian artisan rums. By tasting their rums, you are able to distinguish thanks to your sensory senses - the different notes of coffee, caramel, vanilla, and much more. The tasting consists of Colombian rums, spirits, and infused rums, and during the tasting, you will learn about the origin and the process of making each rum that is presented to you. The tasting lasts approximately 1.5 hours.
 

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 Day 3 

 San Basilio de Palenque tour 

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A corner of Africa in America! Benkos Bioho, is a runaway slave who, accompanied by 36 other male and female slaves, hid in the area found what is now known as San Basilio de Palenque, the first slavery-free town in Colombia. Their palenquera language, traditions, and rituals remained intact since they had no connection with the main road and the city and remained isolated until the seventies when the famous boxer “Kid Pambelé” placed this settlement on the map and brought with him access roads to the village.

Located an hour and a half drive from Cartagena by road, this African corner, declared by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage of humanity, offers to visitors a window on Afro-descendant history in Colombia and America. A guide and private vehicle will pick you up at your hotel and take you comfortably to San Basilio de Palenque, where a local guide will receive you and you will learn a little of the Palenquero dialect, history, and culture of this great town.

Through craft arts such as the work of the spinners, who with their strong movement prepare the corn to feed their families, and the beautiful art of weaving through the hands of artisans who tell their stories through their handicraft, you get even closer to the culture. After exploring the village and its surroundings, you will enjoy a delicious typical lunch in the palenquera way.

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 Day 4 

Bazurto market and cooking class.

The Bazurto market is a traditional market offering fish, meat, fruit, clothing, and is as important in Cartagena as the La Popa Convent or the Castle of San Felipe. It is a very traditional market, barely visited by tourists. You can buy food or traditionally prepared Colombian dishes or just enjoy the local market of Cartagena in the early hours. Let this “underground” part of Cartagena enchant you; it is ideal for an adventure.

You will walk through a maze of alleys, where the tour guide will introduce you to all kinds of fruit, herbs, vegetables, fish, seafood, and meat. There are also a spice market and natural healing pharmacies.  At the end of the tour, you will arrive at the comedor (the market cafeteria) where you can have breakfast (optional, not included).

Gastronomy is an important part of the local culture and the Cartageneros are proud of their Caribbean cuisine. Apart from tasting it, what would be better than learning how to prepare seafood, coconut rice, and other specialties of Cartagena's cuisine? The cooking class takes place in a colonial house in the city center or in Getsemaní. The chef will give you a presentation about the ingredients before showing you how to prepare typical dishes. The class takes about three hours. Afterward, you will eat together.

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 Day 5 

San Alberto Coffee tasting and street food tour

San Alberto is an upper premium coffee cultivated on the blessed soil of Buenavista, Colombia. It is a single estate coffee that is carefully produced under the trademarked process “Quintuple Selection Process“; a series of difficult and labor intensive selections that yield a unique product with an unparalleled flavor and an amazing aroma, which will delight your palate.

San Alberto Coffee is a family company which dedicates itself to coffee culture for more than 40 years. San Alberto Coffee is 100% home-made and is harvested on a plantation of Buenavista Finca in the state Quindío. You will be offered the unique opportunity to experience the exquisite coffee culture in the coastal area. This way, you will learn about the recognition factor of the worldwide famous Colombian coffee.

There will be a one-hour tour that will be a sensorial experience, where you will learn more about Colombian coffee, its production with all the important little details, and of course, you will learn more about the various smells of the coffee beans and the taste of San Alberto selection.

In the evening, please bring your appetites and an adventurous attitude. You will hit the streets to experience food the way Cartageneros do. Whether you are searching for a stopover snack or something more substantial, a healthy start or a sweet dessert, Cartagena’s streets provide everything!

One of the very best ways to gain an insight into the daily lives and culture of the locals is to experience their culinary culture. The two-hour tour will get you up close and personal with the real Cartagena as the street sellers fill your bellies with their delicacies and warm your hearts with their hospitality.

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 Day 6 

Departure

It is time to say goodbye. Check out and airport transfer.