Cartagena is a walled Caribbean port and eats like one. 20 bookable food tours below — plus the neighbourhoods and dishes the city is built around.
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The guide
Cartagena is a walled Caribbean port and eats like one. The food is coastal Colombian rather than Andean: coconut rice, fried fish, plantain in several forms, and an enormous amount of fresh fruit sold from bowls balanced on the heads of palenqueras, women from a nearby town founded by escaped slaves in the 17th century. African, Indigenous, and Spanish influences are all visible on a single plate. The old city inside the walls is beautiful and priced for cruise passengers. Getsemaní next door, and the neighbourhoods beyond it, is where the same food costs a third as much.
Where to focus
Four neighbourhoods to anchor a few days of eating
Getsemaní
Just outside the walls, formerly working class and now the most interesting eating in the city. Street food on Plaza de la Trinidad from early evening.
Ciudad Amurallada
The walled old town. Colonial courtyards, the well-known restaurants, and prices to match. Beautiful, and worth one meal rather than every meal.
Bazurto Market
Chaotic, hot, and entirely local, a short ride from the centre. Fried fish, fresh juice, and the place to see what the coast actually eats.
Bocagrande
The high-rise strip on the peninsula. Seafood restaurants aimed at Colombian holidaymakers rather than foreigners, and better value than the old city.
What to eat
The dishes the city is known for
- 01
Ceviche cartagenero
· Sweeter than Peruvian, often bound with tomato sauce and mayonnaise, served with crackers. A different dish despite the shared name. - 02
Arroz con coco
· Rice cooked in coconut milk until the sugars caramelise, dark and slightly sweet. The default side with fried fish. - 03
Pescado frito
· Whole fish fried crisp, with patacones and coconut rice. The standard beach lunch, eaten with your hands. - 04
Arepa de huevo
· Corn dough fried, split, filled with a raw egg, and fried again. Breakfast, sold from carts before 9:00. - 05
Posta negra
· Beef slow-cooked in panela and cola until nearly black and very sweet. A Cartagena speciality found on old-line menus. - 06
Limonada de coco
· Lime blended with coconut milk and ice. Necessary in this heat and sold everywhere.
Practical notes
Meal timing, tipping, payment
Lunch is the main meal, 12:00 to 15:00, and many local places close after it. Dinner from 19:00. Heat and humidity are severe through the middle of the day, so plan around a long lunch. Cash in small notes for street vendors. Agree a price before accepting fruit or a photograph from the palenqueras. Tipping is 10 percent and often added as voluntary service.
All 20 food tours
Updated 2026-09-11The full list · sponsored partner links
- 01
Private Walking Tour Old City with Street Food
Cartagena is the perfect combination of history and culture and honoring our culture we offer one of the best routes to taste, feel and live the daily life of all Cartagena and if you are one of those who like to do some
2h - 02
Cooking Class. A fun, local & hands on culinary experience
Guests are welcomed into a lived-in, family space where cooking is not presented as a performance, but as a tradition passed down through generations. The experience is guided by hosts who are actively involved in commun
3h - 03
Coffee Tasting, A Ritual of Flavours
Most coffee tastings focus on origin, roasting or brewing techniques. This experience goes further by placing Colombian coffee within the lived culture that surrounds it. It becomes a pause within the rhythm of Cartagena
2h - 04
Baru Island and Cartagena Snorkel and Mangroves with Lunch
Explore the underwater world and mangroves of Baru Island and Cartagena. Admire the colorful fish and corals while diving in the mangrove tunnel. Enjoy a typical island lunch and a refreshing non-alcoholic beverage.
8h - 05
Local Fishing Tour, Mangroves and Bird Watching with Lunch
The best natural and cultural activity in Cartagena, far from the city noise and vendors. Feel the sound of the birds, the breeze, and the tranquility, while you are in a town full of history and culture, descendants of
3.5h - 06
Cholon Boat and Yachts Party Cartagena
If you want to experience the best party during the day in Cartagena, you have to take this tour and arrive with us in Cholon. A tour where the guides will give you tips and support to have a good time and not have a bad
9h - 07
5 islands tour with Lunch Snorkeling and Plankton
Enjoy the varied attractions that Cartagena's islands have to offer From historical sights to a bioluminescent. Passing around the island of Bocachica, an impressive site where the first fortification of the city was bui
11.5h - 08
Cartagena, Bazurto Markets, Fruit tasting and Typical lunch
Collected from your hotel you'll be taken directly to the typical Colombian markets of Bazurto full of amazing tropical fruits, and everything you could want to buy. You’ll begin your guided tour with an introduction to
2h - 09
Rum and Chocolate Tasting
Embark on a Flavorful Journey Through Colombia’s Rich Tastes! Join one of Cartagena’s most vibrant local characters on an unforgettable adventure, where you'll taste your way through the diverse regions of Colombia. Del
2h - 10
8 Course Colombian Food Degustation
Embark on a mouthwatering culinary journey that celebrates the rich and diverse flavors of Colombia. This immersive experience is more than just a meal—it's a feast for the senses and a deep dive into the country’s vibra
2h - 11
Cacao Cartagena Tasting
Embark on a Sensory Journey Through the Magical World of Cocoa Experience the story of cocoa like never before — from the lush canopy of the cocoa tree to the final, flavorful creation on your plate. Follow a beautiful
2h - 12
Cartagena Street Food Tour
Over the course of two unforgettable hours, you’ll journey through Cartagena’s most vibrant neighborhoods—Getsemaní, the Historic Center, and San Diego—where every street corner tells a story. Along the way, you’ll conne
2h - 13
Shared Cartagena Mud Volcano + Mangrove Tour including lunch
A short 45-minute drive from Cartagena you’ll discover El Volcán de Lodo El Totumo (The mud volcano of Totumo). After climbing up the rustic stairs you’ll view down into the volcanic pit full of the dense and smooth vol
8h - 14
Getsemaní and Bazurto Fruit Tour
Enjoy a relaxed walk through one of the most traditional neighborhoods of Cartagena, followed by a visit to the most representative market in Town where you'll discover the greatest variety of this abundance of fruits, v
6h - 15
Street food tour with Julie
I provide a personal experience about cartagena´s street food, also we can interacting and meet the real street life.
2h - 16
Private Baru Aviary Tour with Lunch Included
Enjoy a relaxed, private visit to Colombia’s National Aviary in Baru, designed for travelers who value comfort, flexibility, and local insight. This 5–6 hour experience includes hotel pick-up, a scenic drive, and a guid
5h - 17
Street Food Cartagena, taste of word of foot
Come and discover the delicious tradition, history, culture and cuisine of Carthage. Unforgettable tastes, magical characters, smells of fresh food, streets with extraordinary names. An arepa e’egg, a tasty patacón with
2h - 18
San Basilio de Palenque Experience Full Day Tour
Uncover the enchanting heritage of San Basilio de Palenque, Colombia's hidden gem, waiting to captivate European travelers. Steeped in centuries of history, this UNESCO-acclaimed destination invites you to explore the ro
8h - 19
Coffee Tasting and Cigars Experience Cartagena
Immerse yourself in the rich and cultural scene of Getsemani on this guided tour. Sample authentic Colombian coffee, savor a Cuban cigar paired with a refreshing drink, and wander through the streets adorned with vibrant
3h - 20
VIP Experience: Rum Tasting, Colombian Chocolates in Cartagena
Dive into a delicious adventure with our unique rum and chocolate tasting experience in Cartagena, Colombia! Discover the exquisite flavors and cultural richness of these two iconic products on a tour that will allow you
1.7h