Cartagena (Colombia) City Tour Excursion Reviews

Very historical tour of the "Walled City" of Cartagena

Provider: Carnival Cruise Lines

Great port with tropical birds to take pictures with and they were just walking around, beautiful landscaping and that was just the port. Hired a driver there are severeral there to hire a private van, and we saw the old Cartagena and walked thru and saw shops and a church or two and stopped for drinks and to cool off. There are lots of street vendors they are a bit aggressive but they arent scary and do give you good deals on stuff. Went to an emerald museum and shop. Nice, elegeant shop and bought some emerald earrings with authenticity papers and got a great deal on them. Saw a bit of the new Cartagena, its a well advanced city, clean, organized. The best by far to visit. Its just blazing hot there.

Provider: Independent Operator

Good city tour. We were suspicious when the tour guide stopped at a specific street artist (was this a relative?), but otherwise a good tour.

Provider: Celebrity Cruises

Bus was in very poor shape but the overall tour was good.

Provider: Princess Cruises

Cartagena was our favorite port. The was a shopping area close to the port which had quality merchandise at reasonable prices. If we hadn't wanted to see the city, we could have bought fine jewelry and souvenirs there. At the suggestion of a sales clerk, we contracted with a local guide to see the city. He was excellent, giving us a history and insight into the city that only a native can do. We saw the La Popa Monastery with its panoramic views of the city, Old City with its unique architecture, the city park with fountains and statues and museums. Both my husband and I thoroughly enjoyed Cartagena and would like to return.

Provider: Independent Operator

Very good. Beautifull city.

Provider: Paul Gauguin Cruises

Pleasant to see a city we had been to, enjoying the old city and beach area

Provider: Celebrity Cruises

Poor information from guide, boring tour, no good picture of Cartagena

Provider: Celebrity Cruises

We loved walking the old city with it's cobblestone streets. Loved the old buildings and that some streets didn't' allow any cars on them. The old buildings are being restored to their original beauty.

Provider: Independent Operator

What I expected at the right pace with an English speaking tour guide in an a/c van with 10 passengers.

Provider: Independent Operator

The old town tour was good. The guide was knowledgeable. The town is interesting. It was renovated for tourists.

Provider: Cunard Line

We did the walking tour of the old city and it was fascinating. Our guide, JJ, knew his history and gave us a lively, interesting lecture at every opportunity. The streets of the old city are beautiful, lined with centuries old buildings, second story balconies had overflowing flower boxes covered in beautiful blooms. Poverty is everywhere, but people were friendly. JJ was attentive and very safety conscious. Never did we feel unsafe or feel like we would be left behind (like we did on the Panama City walking tour). This tour is worth the money, but take a bottle of water. A bottle was provided at the end of the tour but it wasn't enough for me because of the intense heat and humidity. Two thumbs up!

Provider: Princess Cruises

Great tour with JJ. Very detailed, part walking and part driving. He is very knowledgable and we enjoyed it very much.

Provider: Independent Operator

An extremely knowledgeable guide for a very interesting world-heritage site.

Provider: Independent Operator

We went to the fort and looked around the Old town, the guide had his own special stops at shopping places that were too long so we could spend money at these places. We didn't get to see the La Popa Monastery that was advertised.

Provider: Oceania Cruises

Guide was not really helpful in answering questions and seemed to prefer not being bothered with anything other than what he wanted to say which was somewhat limited. We saw very little security at the port or in town and this affected how we might have enjoyed the visit. Again, we loved the architecture and what history we could glean.

Provider: Disney Cruise Line

Fernando was a great guide - loved the churches!

Provider: Holland America Line

Great city tour. Wish we had a little more time to go inside the fort. Narrated walking tour of the old city was very good.

Provider: Independent Operator

Claudia met us promptly with a modern appearing mini tour bus. We promptly boarded the already cool van and off we went. Claudia is well spoken, well organized and professional giving us a lot of information as we traveled. In all respects, the tour was exactly as advertised. Which is the problem since we had requested a customization -- entry INTO the Fort. The roll call tour organizer had verified the entry INTO the Fort by email shortly before sailing. Entry INTO the Fort was the specific condition upon which my sister and I joined the tour. It did not happen; the tour operator provided no explanation. We didn't care for the dungeon shopping area. Our disappointment is probably due to the fact that we believed the area would be local crafts and artisans -- it was a lot of "tourist" type shops .... plastic do-dads, linen, jewelry trinkets. We were surprised to see "pre-Colombia relics" ... which to my archaeologist sister, appeared pretty authentic. Claudia explained that the items were "probably not" relics and the provenance to be provided by the shop would indicate the item was a replica (put all of that in air quotes.) The emerald museum is just a minimally disguised jewelry store. Yes - there is a display but very little attention or time is given to viewing it. The store employee whisked us through the museum with minimal time to see the displays, and delivered us to the shopping floor. One of the passengers had done some pre-cruise pricing of emeralds and, in a later conversation, started that they prices were about double what we'd found in New York. Cartagena is a beautiful old city ... with aggressive street vendors. It became near impossible to be polite as they just. did. not. quit.

Provider: Independent Operator

Fabulous walking tour of the walled city seeing the architecture, getting a feel for Cartagena and learning lots about its history and culture.

Provider: Independent Operator

Gave a good first impression of Colombia and Cartagena.

Provider: Celebrity Cruises

Very fun way to explore the city! We took our 2 girls (14 & 10) and they loved every minute of it!! Lots of laughs and made lots of friends!

Provider: Norwegian Cruise Line

CARTAGENA: The sail into Cartagena is quite beautiful. You pass the protective forts of the bay and see the stark white skyscrapers in the city proper. We took the ship's tour of the Scenic Drive of Cartagena, Las Bovedes & Shopping. Our first stop was the Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas fortress. We only stopped for a picture of the exterior and after seeing the very steep incline you would have to walk to enter in the 90+ heat and humidity, we were grateful. The traffic around the area is very heavy. After the fortress we traveled to the Old City and briefly walked around. Again, it's very hot and humid. Then we went to the Navy Museum and saw local dancers. Our final drive was thru the "high end" area of Bocagrande. WARNING: The area around the port if very sketchy...you do not want to walk around here. At the fortress, the vendors are the most aggressive I have seen in 28 countries. One elderly woman on our tour was accosted by several vendors, and she had quite a hard time getting away from them. If you are on private tours, insure your guide provides enough time to get back to the ship as traffic is intense. We left 4 people behind in Cartagena after waiting a half hour for them.

Provider: Princess Cruises

The tour was mostly on foot and was interesting but we were constantly hounded by folks begging us to buy something. The tour ended in a long stop at a shopping center that was over priced and tourist trappy. We left the tour and went to a shop down the street to do our shopping.

Provider: MSC Cruises

Dora and (air-conditioned!) van with driver picked us up on time and right at the foot of the gangway, as pre-arranged. She tailored the tour to suit our desires, and the mobility of our group; the tour was just what was requested. Dora is known at many of the tour stops. She explained how best to fend off the numerous souvenir vendors that swarmed like flies around us. Dora was most accommodating about the number in our group (which doubled after our Cruise Critic meet-up on the ship). One of our group wanted to stop at a grocery store and buy 12 cans of local beer; Dora fronted him the money so he wouldn't have to get US Dollars changed into local funds for the purchase (then he paid her back in dollars). Each couple on our tour paid Dora in cash at the end of the tour. Dora was happy to answer questions about life in Cartagena and Colombia. She was easy to work with via email, prompt in her replies, and spoke easy-to-understand English. I would recommend her without hesitation!

Provider: Independent Operator

We did a tour of the old city and it was beautiful! Our guide was very knowledgeable and spoke English every well. Walked all over and stopped at important places such as the church, etc. It poured rain and our guide tried to keep us under porches or overhangs. It was a lovely walk. The only complaint I had was stopping at an Emerald store and 1 lade taking way too long to decide about what pair of earrings she would buy. Held up the tour....very inconsiderate! We did stop at the "old jail cells" which are now shops and had a bit of time there before boarding and heading back to the ship. A good tour though.

Provider: Princess Cruises

Long bus ride, vendors aggresive

Provider: Princess Cruises

Part of a deluxe package to visit the castle fort, inquicision palace, and tour of the city. Being in Colombia itself was a treat and the locals were very nice (non merchants), saying 'welcome to our country', 'enjoy your stay' (we speak spanish). This part of the tour was over 60+ minutes and in my opinion was the best part. I loved the colonial style buildings and the long walk through the town, many small vendors along the way but none were too pushy. Would definitely be interested in a longer city tour if I were to visit again.

Provider: Celebrity Cruises

We also booked this tour online for $85pp. Marelvy Pena-Hall, our tour guide, was there right as we exited the ship to take 4 of us in a van around the city. We went first to El Poppa for a tour of the old convent with awesome views of the city. We also went to a fort and then for some shopping. We left our van and walked through the old city seeing several old churches and lots of architectural buildings. You really got a feel for what it was like to live there. Then, we headed to the new city and drove through it's streets. Marelvy was extremely knowledgeable and passionate to share with you about her city. Nice tour!

Provider: Independent Operator

Met us right at the pier. The van was airconditioned and the driver was excellent and watched our belongings left on the van. La Popa Monastery was my favorite. Beautiful courtyard. Be prepared for about 3 miles of walking on the ciyt tour in old town. We stopped in several cathedrals, the dungeons for shopping and also visited the new town shops. Street vendors are hard to ignore, just don't make eye contact. Dora gave us a lot of history and is very proud of her country.

Provider: Independent Operator

Here, you get off the ship, and at the end of the cruise dock, get presented with the same tour from everyone. You join a group of about 20, and with a guide, get on a bus for a city tour. Everyone gets the same tour. The price is the same for everyone- $20. Same tour on the ship is $60. Our guide was great- well spoken English, and funny.

Provider: Independent Operator

Six of us went on a city tour with 5 others from the ship. Van was comfortable but difficult to get in and out of at the locations. Was a walking tour both in old Cartegena and at the mall area. Our only complaint was we weren't allowed to go in any store of our choosing - only those they directed us to both in the Old Town and at the Mall area, and didn't have sufficient time to shop in either. The guide however, had excellent English and was extremely knowledgeable and provided us a lot of information about the history of the area.

Provider: Independent Operator

Overall, a nice tour with a pleasant guide. But it was HOT and HUMID. Shopping was rushed and not great. but otherwise I found it to be a pleasant excursion.

Provider: Princess Cruises

Nothing exceptional about this tour but she did provide us a good overview of Cartagena and we got to visit a few of the main attractions such as the Cathedral.

Provider: Independent Operator

Nice history lesson on both the old and new parts of Cartegena. Monica was our guide and did a very good job of answering questions and keeping everyone on track.

Provider: Celebrity Cruises

Excellent guide..Dora...nice walking through old town

Provider: Celebrity Cruises

Not so great as the places visited were dismal and it was hot and not too friendly.

Provider: Celebrity Cruises

Our guide, Ben Torres, gave us each tour stickers, which all said "Ben Torres", but he said he was the original. He took care of us, helping us with vendors and shopping. We started out at a fishing village, watching a man repairing a net and throwing it. I have one, they are not easy to do! Lots of military standing all over, watching. We next went to a beachfront restaurant with good local fare, and entertainment. Beer was good, $3. We then went to an emerald museum/store. That was interesting, and purchased some things. There is a 1st, 2nd, 3rd best price! Bargain for it, they like the game too!!

Provider: Norwegian Cruise Line

A short trip through the city with narration by a knowledgeable guide. First stop a brief viewing of Fort of San Felipe (so brief we could have stayed on the bus as it slowly drove in city traffic). Then to a walking tour of the old city with equally brief tour of a museum and city parks (shopping limited to street vendors) and a long stay at an emerald museum (read jewelry store not listed on the itinerary and a waste of time for most on the tour) Back to the bus to visit one of a strip of artisan shops (read souvenir stores). Then back to the ship. An inconsiderate passenger got on the wrong bus. We wasted over a half-hour with a distressed spouse while search parties went in vein to find the hapless passenger. He purposely boarded the other bus, their guide should have caught the error but they were actually short a passenger. Never did find out if that person was found.

Provider: Princess Cruises

A good tour with a great guide (Dora); would have skipped La Popa hill and opted to enter the fort instead. Enjoyed the old walled city but the "modern city" isn't anything special except an opportunity to herd you into an emerald store. If you're adventurous and want to do it on your own, hire a taxi to the fort, then one to the old town, then head back to the ship!

Provider: Independent Operator

Best of Cartegna tour. Takes you to all the important museums and a church; no time to see the fort as our driver waited 30 minutes for 2 people who could not or would not follow directions and return on time. We should have driven on and left them to take a taxi as their delay affected all of us who paid to see Cartagena. However, Cartagena is still one of my favorite ports.

Provider: Celebrity Cruises

Cartagena,Columbia - Marelvy Pea-Hall excellent. We had a group of 12, nice mini bus with a driver. Looked new. $54.00 each. lots of info, all over tour of historic sites.

Provider: Independent Operator

We had fun! We all felt we needed more time in this pretty city. The little restaurants in old town looked so inviting. The shops there, too, looked beautiful. If there is a next time, we would skip the flea market type pf shops set up for the tourists. We also would skip the little plaza where they sell coffee. I could really downgrade the tour rating to a 2 or 3, except Marelvy was so nice, and we did not suggest changing things.

Provider: Independent Operator

Didn't enjoy all the street vendors. The naval museum and folklorico dancers were excellent.

Provider: Holland America Line

Old City Tour interesting. Very hot and humid. If you do shopping you can bargain.

Provider: Princess Cruises

saw the local sights, spoke poor English, wasted time at emerald factory, dropped us at end in ugly old city. Shopping was a waste of time. Some stuff from China would have been an improvement! Dirty, ugly city with only some interesting architecture as "something to see"

Provider: Independent Operator