A unique weekend in Cartagena
Cartagena invites you to immerse yourself in a journey designed for lovers of music, art, and culture. Over a single unforgettable weekend, this vibrant city reveals its essence through unique experiences crafted to connect you with its rhythm, spirit, and traditions.
Guided by expert locals who embody the heart of Cartagena’s culture, you’ll explore activities that go far beyond the typical. Every moment is infused with the city’s idiosyncratic charm—its colorful streets, pulsating music, and heartfelt stories. These guides, alongside local characters and artists, weave a narrative that captures the soul of a place shaped by resilience and creativity.
A journey designed for music and art lovers alike
From the spirited beats of Champeta to the ancient rhythms of Afro-Colombian drums, music becomes your guide to understanding Cartagena’s past and present. The vibrant personalities you meet along the way will show you how art and tradition remain intertwined in the city’s daily life.
This isn’t just a tour—it’s an invitation to feel Cartagena’s culture firsthand. Every experience is crafted to celebrate the beauty, joy, and authenticity that make this city so extraordinary.
Sample Itinerary
Arrive in Cartagena and immerse yourself in its vibrant culture. On this day, you get to explore the walled city with your private guide who will tell you about Cartagena’s past and present.
Enjoy a welcoming dinner at a special local restaurant, savoring authentic Colombian flavors while getting to know your fellow travelers and the enchanting city around you.
Embark on a musical journey through the historic town of San Basilio de Palenque, the first free town in the Americas. Explore its rich African heritage, where traditional Caribbean rhythms and instruments come to life. You’ll have the opportunity to learn how to play the iconic tambores, connecting deeply with the local culture and history.
Delve into the town’s unique cuisine and local spirits, where African influences remain strong and vibrant. San Basilio de Palenque has preserved its own language, laws, and traditions, making it a living testament to resilience and cultural pride. Learn about its incredible history as the first place in Colombia to gain freedom from slavery and experience the profound impact this legacy continues to have on the community today..
Explore the vibrant world of Champeta, a music and dance style with deep Afro-Colombian roots. Learn about its history, including why it was once banned in Colombia. Visit the bustling Bazurto Market, where the sights and sounds that shape this genre come to life, and discover the influence of Champeta icon Charles King on the music and culture of Cartagena.
Next, take a tour of Getsemaní, Cartagena’s colorful cultural hub. In the evening, head to a nightclub to watch impressive Champeta dancers and try out your own moves to the infectious rhythms.
Today is your last day in Cartagena. Enjoy breakfast at your hotel, check out and bid farewell to new friends as you head home or to your next destination.
Small Group Tours Up to 12 People
August 20th-23rd, 2026
4 Days / 3 nights
Cartagena, Colombia
Boutique, small-group music and cultural immersion. A high-energy, four-day escape into the Afro-Caribbean heart of Colombia
Your Host
Chaz Chambers
As a seasoned drummer and insightful guide, Chaz Chambers will lead you through Colombia’s inspiring culture, encouraging cultural immersion amidst the country’s unique cultural and natural wonders.
Your Stay
Hotel Faranda Bantú Cartagena by Faranda Boutique (or similar)
Tucked away in the heart of the Walled City, this boutique hotel in the San Diego neighborhood offers a peaceful retreat amidst Cartagena’s historic charm. Housed in an elegant 18th-century building, the property invites you to unwind on shaded patios and lush garden terraces—spaces that feel like a hidden oasis within the city’s vibrant energy.
Just steps from iconic landmarks like the Clock Tower and the former home of Gabriel García Márquez, your stay here offers more than comfort—it connects you to the soul of Cartagena. Wake up surrounded by history, and step out into a city that pulses with music, stories, and Caribbean warmth.
What’s included
Admission to scheduled events, music workshops, and cultural sites.
Daily breakfast, plus 3 curated dinners and 2 local lunches highlighting Afro-Colombian flavors and culinary traditions.
All ground transportation, including airport transfers and private transport for day trips.
Access to unique musical and cultural experiences, including a private guided walking tour, a drum workshop in San Basilio de Palenque, and a Champeta music and dance experience in Bazurto Market.
3 nights of lodging at Hotel Faranda Bantú Cartagena by Faranda Boutique (or similar), a charming 18th-century boutique hotel in the heart of the Walled City.
Expert local guides and hosts, including a dedicated Musician Tour Leader and Afro-Colombian cultural ambassadors.
What’s not Included
- Round-trip flights between your hometown and Colombia.
- Comprehensive travel insurance is highly recommended.
- Any recommended or required vaccinations or travel-related medications are the responsibility of the traveler.
- Lunches and dinners not specifically listed.
- Activities not included in the official itinerary as well as personal expenses.
- Tips for guides, drivers, hotel staff, and musicians.
- Alcohol is only included where mentioned.
- Extra stays before or after the tour are not included but can be arranged at an additional cost.
Dates And Pricing
Booking in advance ensures a wider selection of options and benefits from lower prices. Plus, flexibility is at your fingertips; feel free to switch to another trip without any fees before your final payment. For personalized assistance, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our travel specialists at info@musicalgetaways.com.
August 20th-23rd, 2026
Cartagena, Colombia
(This tour will be carried out with a minimum of 4 people registered)
Price Per Person
Make Your Music Tour Private
Important Itinerary Notes & Travel Pace
Find answers to the most common questions about our tours. If you can’t find what you’re looking for here, please contact us.
Itinerary Structure & Flexibility
The itinerary shown above is a sample outline intended to demonstrate the overall flow, experiences, and inclusions of the tour. Specific days and the order of activities may vary depending on departure dates, local community schedules in San Basilio de Palenque, and the availability of cultural ambassadors. Cartagena is a vibrant Caribbean city where street festivals and musical events can shift, requiring us to remain adaptable to ensure the most authentic experience.
We plan carefully and remain flexible, always prepared with multiple contingency options to ensure a meaningful musical and cultural experience. While minor adjustments may occur, the core components of the sample itinerary—including the visit to Palenque and the Champeta exploration in Getsemaní—reflect what we fully intend to deliver on each tour. Final, date-specific itineraries are shared closer to departure.
Live Music Disclaimer
Because live performance and spontaneous dance are the heart of the Cartagena experience, schedules at local clubs or community drum circles are sometimes fluid. Changes in set times, specific artist lineups, or designated venues are part of the reality of a city where music is a lived, daily tradition. When these shifts occur, we work closely with our local partners and musician hosts to provide equally compelling alternatives. We remain committed to navigating these changes to maintain the creative integrity and historical depth of the tour.
Travel Pace & Activity Level
This tour is moderately paced and designed for travelers who enjoy being active while exploring both urban and rural environments. Expect regular walking, including guided tours through the historic Walled City and the busy Bazurto Market that may cover several miles over the course of a day. Guests should also expect getting in and out of vehicles during the excursion to San Basilio de Palenque and participating in high-energy activities like Champeta dance lessons.
While this is not a high-intensity or athletic tour, it does require a comfortable level of mobility and the endurance typical of immersive tropical travel. This includes the ability to remain active during both daytime cultural visits and late-night musical outings, as well as managing the heat and humidity characteristic of the Colombian Caribbean coast.
Accessibility & Private Tours
If you have mobility considerations, accessibility needs, or prefer a slower or more customized pace, we strongly recommend inquiring about a private tour. Given that many historic Cartagena landmarks, local markets, and rural heritage sites include uneven cobblestones, stairs, and limited elevator access, private tours allow us to tailor the itinerary, transportation, and activity level to best suit your needs while preserving the spirit of the experience.
Tour Experiences
Drum Safari
San Basilio de Palenque, Colombia
Traditional Food
Cartagena, Colombia
Learn more About Colombia
Afro-Colombian Rhythms in Cartagena: Cumbia, Champeta and Mapalé
Cartagena is a place where history is composed, played, and danced. Music is identity. In every plaza, street, and neighborhood, the rhythms that have shaped generations continue to sound which are cumbia, champeta and mapalé. Each one comes from a different root, but all share a living blend of African, Indigenous, and Spanish heritage.
Cartagena and San Basilio de Palenque: Stories of Freedom and Cultural Legacy
Cartagena de Indias celebrates its 492 anniversary this year. A good time to look closer at the layers that built this city. Beyond the balconies and plazas, Cartagena holds stories that shaped not just Colombia, but all of the Americas. Its colonial architecture and coastal charm are only part of a much bigger picture.
Discovering Buenaventura: Colombia’s Pacific Coast
When most travelers think of Colombia, they often picture the bustling cities of Bogotá or Medellín, or the Caribbean character of Cartagena. But on a recent journey supported by ProColombia, I experienced a completely different side of the country, Buenaventura and the Pacific Coast.
