Cartagena isn’t just a beautiful destination. Its streets carry the history of a country shaped by resistance, creativity, and deep African heritage. Over the course of one unforgettable weekend in the Cartagena Music Tour, this Caribbean city invites travelers into a cultural experience designed for lovers of music, art, and meaningful connection. Whether you’re strolling its colorful colonial streets or learning the stories behind its most iconic traditions, every moment brings you closer to the cultural richness that defines Cartagena.
Discover a City Where Every Step Tells a Story
Your journey begins with a walking tour through Cartagena’s Walled City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where every plaza and balcony echoes with history. Accompanied by expert local guides who are deeply connected to their roots, you’ll explore the layers of African, Indigenous, and Spanish influences that shape this remarkable city. This is a narrative told through architecture, street art, and lived experience.
Champeta & Bazurto Market: A Cultural Explosion
One of the most immersive experiences of the trip is a visit to Bazurto Market, Cartagena’s energetic center of Afro-Colombian culture. Here, you’ll trace the origins of Champeta, a music and dance style once marginalized and even banned, now embraced as a symbol of identity and resistance. Taste local favorites like arepa de huevo and mango biche, and hear the stories of musicians like Charles King, whose work helped elevate Champeta to a national stage.
San Basilio de Palenque: The First Free Town in the Americas
A short journey from Cartagena takes you to San Basilio de Palenque, a town of profound historical and cultural importance. Recognized as the first free Afro settlement in the Americas, Palenque has maintained its own language, social structure, and culinary traditions. Join a traditional drum workshop where local musicians introduce you to instruments like the tambor alegre and llamador, and discover the rhythms that continue to connect the community to its African roots. You’ll also sample regional dishes documented in a UNESCO-recognized culinary book that celebrates Palenque’s gastronomic legacy.
From Getsemaní to the Drum Circle: Live the Culture
Back in Cartagena, explore the artistic neighborhood of Getsemaní, where local painters, dancers, and musicians bring Afro-Caribbean culture to life in the streets and plazas. At night, enjoy live performances and try your hand at Champeta dancing in a local club—no experience required, just an open heart and a willingness to move.
A Journey That Transforms
This cultural tour is a deeper look at how African heritage continues to shape Colombia’s identity today. You’ll walk, dance, and share stories with community members who are preserving powerful traditions while embracing the present.
For travelers seeking authentic cultural immersion, Cartagena Music Tour offers an memorable experience. And if your curiosity is sparked, consider joining us at the Petronio Álvarez Festival in Cali. This celebration of Pacific Coast rhythms showcases a different musical branch of Afro-Colombian heritage. Equally rooted in African traditions, yet uniquely shaped by geography, migration, and the sea. Both stories come from the same origin, and both are now recognized globally as part of Colombia’s intangible cultural heritage.
Join us and discover Colombia through its music, people, and untold stories in our Cartagena Weekend Music Tour and Petronio Alvarez Festival Tour.
