Santo Domingo Square

The Walled City and Getsemani neighborhood are a must-see in Cartagena and the best way to get an introduction is by taking this free walking tour. Join our friendly local guide and a group of fun travelers at Plaza de la Aduana. Walk along the main streets and discover the fascinating contrast between history and the youthful spirit the place is known for. Visit Las Bovedas, Plaza de la Trinidad, Plaza Santo Domingo, and more. You will start strolling around the colonial and colorful houses as you know more about the main squares and bastions that traced our path to independence. You will visit Santo Domingo’s square and church, the Cathedral of Santa Catalina de Alejandría (Saint Catherine of Alexandria) among others of great cultural importance. Afterwards, you will be headed to Getsemani neighborhood which is knowing for having a bohemian spirit. Its streets and alleys boast colors and the lively, friendly, and charismatic spirit of locals who gather outside their houses and welcome everyone who walks by. Stroll around picturesque pieces of street art paintings along some of the most important streets Calle de la Sierpe, Calle San Juan, Calle de la Media Luna, Calle Larga, among others. You’ll get to see some of the best graffiti authors.

A colonial carriage tour through the city of Cartagena that you can enjoy with your family or as a couple, where you will get to know the historic center in a different way. You cannot miss this activity when you come to La Heroica. Whether you like traditional tourist plans or prefer activities without rushing or lines, this tour will surely meet all your expectations. A visual and cultural tour through the most traditional streets of the center, where you will delight in the colonial architecture and learn a little about the history of this wonderful city. You can enjoy the tour depending on the duration you choose, which can be from 20 minutes to 1 hour, come and enjoy a beautiful tour like in ancient times.

If you're wanting a complete Cartagena experience with no corners unturned, this private full-day tour is made so you can see the city in the most complete way possible. Taste local foods and visit sights such as San Felipe Castle and the city's main squares. Enjoy optional entry to La Popa Convent. Start the day by meeting your local guide, who will pick you directly up from your hotel or address. Then, head first to the historic San Felipe Castle, the city’s old fortress built by Spaniards (entry tickets included). Walk through the castle and let your guide bring back to life adventure stories of conquerors, treasures, and pirates. Learn more about how Colombia became so mixed due to African, Indigenous, and Spanish roots. Visit afterward the Walled City of Cartagena and stroll around the colonial and colorful houses as you get to know more about the main squares and bastions that traced the city’s path to independence. See Santo Domingo Square, the church, and the Cathedral of Santa Catalina de Alejandría. It wouldn’t be the perfect tour of Cartagena without tasting Colombia’s flavors, so you’ll get to try typical coconut sweets and, fried arepa with egg, a traditional snack famous on the Caribbean Coast. If choosing the longer tour option with entry tickets to the Convent of La Popa (Convent of the Stern), round off your tour by visiting the convent and a viewpoint located at the top of a hill where the city, its sea, and one of its islands can be seen and photographed. Cartagena is not only the touristic capital of Colombia but one of the most memorable cities that holds Colombia’s history, making it a place for culture, tradition, and diversity, with many historic places and unique corners to discover.

Welcome to the magical Cartagena from Gabo's perspective! We are Beyond Colombia, the largest group of Expert Local Free Tour guides in Colombia with 14 original tours created by ourselves and also the most awarded in the country! 7 international recognitions, 5 TripAdvisor Travelers Choice and Top 3 in Bogotá, Cartagena, Medellín and Cali. We are authentic guides connecting Colombia since 2013, 11 years sharing passion in every step! Get to know the Cartagena's neighborhood that inspired Gabriel García Márquez: San Diego. Walk through the streets that tell the lives of the characters in “Love in the Time of Cholera” and “Of Love and Other Demons.” Cartagena will never be the same after you take this Free Tour. Be part of an exceptional and magical experience thanks to the stories that give life to the streets, follow the steps taken by our Nobel Prize winner in Literature “Gabo” between squares and bastions, between houses and balconies. If you have not yet read any of Gabo's novels, or are a regular fan of his literary works, this tour will enliven your senses and alter your reality. From the Plaza de Santo Domingo to the house of Gabriel García Márquez in San Diego Cartagena , experience the art, music and literature of the bohemian neighborhood in which our writer lived absurd, magical and imaginary realities that influenced his life and later on. the lives of its characters that give complete meaning to the magical realism that we love and fall in love with so much. Learn more about the life of this great artist, explore a different area of the historic center of Cartagena and be inspired by the fantastic stories that only Gabo knew how to write as if it were a chronicle of a death foretold! What will we talk about on our Free San Diego and Gabo Tour? - Fantastic stories inspirations from Gabo - Fernandez Park in Madrid and Santo Toribio - La Merced Monastery and Adolfo Mejía Theater - Plaza and Cloister of San Diego - Life, novels and “Marquetian” cinema - Fortification and bastion of Santa Catalina - House of Gabriel García Márquez - Society, classes and local cultural dynamics - And much more! Learn more about the life of this great artist, explore a different area of the Historic Center of Cartagena and inspire yourself in the fantastic stories that only Gabo knew how to write as if it were a chronicle of an announced death! Finally, come with an open mind to understand Gabo's story, water or your preferred form of hydration, and comfortable shoes (we will walk about 7 km). #GOBEYOND

Visit the Greater Center of Cartagena: the neighborhoods of Santo Domingo and Getsemaní together in a single tour! We are Beyond Colombia, the largest group of Expert Local Free Tour guides in Colombia with 14 original tours created by ourselves and also the most awarded in the country! 7 international recognitions, 5 TripAdvisor Travelers Choice and Top 3 in Bogotá, Cartagena, Medellín and Cali. Enjoy a more immersive walking tour with our wireless audio system! You’ll never miss a word from your guide, even from a distance. Stay fully engaged while enjoying the freedom to explore, take stunning photos, and soak in the city's atmosphere - all without struggling to hear over traffic or crowds. Our Walking Tour is designed for comfort and convenience, our system ensures a more personalized and enriching experience allowing you to focus on the beauty of your surroundings while effortlessly following the tour. Our audio system is a “clip on” headphone, comfortable and practical. A smarter way to explore Beyond, stay connected to the stories, history, and magic of the city while enjoying total freedom. Book now and discover the difference! We are authentic guides connecting Colombia since 2013, 11 years sharing passion in every step! Visiting the districts of Santo Domingo and Getsemaní will give you a broader idea of how our lives during colonial times were divided by social classes but connected to achieve local independence. We will experience Cartagena in a different way once we cross the Camellón de los Mártires square, the old bridge that allowed the two sides of society to come together and build their own identity. Revolts, independence, revolutions and uprisings are the basis of a resistant and fighting Colombian culture that you can see and feel. Travel in time, travel the historical path of freedom and be part of the essence of “La Fantástica”. What are the topics we will talk about? - Plaza de Santo Domingo and sculpture by Botero - African heritage, music and customs - Trinity Church and cultural square - The Palace of the Inquisition and its history of transformation - Sanctuary and monument of San Pedro Claver - Centenario Park and Sierpe Street - “Wide” and “narrow” alleys - Gentrification of “getsemanicenses” - And much more! Cross from north to south to the viewpoint of the San Felipe Fortress and understand the great power held by the people of Cartagena, the jewel of the ancient Spanish Crown. A different perspective of our historical and current social and economic contrasts! #GOBEYOND

‍♂️ First stop: The Clock Tower Begin your journey at Cartagena’s most iconic landmark, the Clock Tower, the historic gateway to the Walled City. Meet your expert bilingual guide and step into a world of colonial charm, rich history, and vibrant culture. ️ Next destination: The Walled City Stroll along cobblestone streets lined with colorful colonial buildings and admire the elegant balconies adorned with exotic flowers. As you explore, uncover the secrets of Cartagena’s past through captivating stories of conquerors, pirates, and local legends. Lively squares and cultural atmosphere Discover the bustling plazas, where history and modern life blend seamlessly. Experience the rhythms of Cartagena with live music, street performers, and local artists showcasing their talents in the city’s most emblematic spots. ✨ An unforgettable experience Feel the essence of Cartagena as you walk through its history, from ancient fortifications to vibrant city life. Let the magic of this Caribbean gem unfold at every step!

Discover the secrets and curiosities of Cartagena on a guided walking tour. Visit the Zenú Gold Museum, Plaza de Bolívar, Plaza de Santo Domingo, and more. Admire the city from the Santo Domingo Bastion and the San Ignacio Bastion. Start your tour at the Zenú Gold Museum. Discover Cartagena's pre-Columbian past, with 300 years of Karib history. The Zenú people were an amphibious culture, living between land and water, and they developed impressive agricultural techniques. They were also skilled goldsmiths who created breathtakingly beautiful pieces. Next, head to Plaza de Bolívar. Visit landmarks like the Passage of the Queens, the Historical Museum of Cartagena (and the Inquisition), the Cathedral of St. Catherine of Alexandria, the monument to the Liberator, the City Hall, and the Proclamation Square. Continue to Plaza de Santo Domingo. The Santo Domingo Church holds a couple of quirky legends that will make you smile. This square also houses the former Dominican monastery, now the Spanish Cooperation Library, offering a wide range of cultural activities. Discover the story of "La Gorda Gertrudis," a famous sculpture by Colombian artist Fernando Botero. Head to the Santo Domingo Bastion. Admire the city from the first bastion ever built, the foundation of Cartagena’s defense strategy. Learn about Drake and other pirates and corsairs. Experience the most historic sunsets from the Corralito de Piedra. Next, visit Plaza de Santa Teresa. Hear the legend of India Catalina and the origin of the Cartagena Film Festival. Stroll through Calle de la Ronda, and see the monument to Admiral Padilla, stories of betrayals, Reconquest, and the ultimate Independence. Continue to Plaza San Pedro Claver. From the San Ignacio Bastion, appreciate the beauty of Bahía de las Ánimas and the archipelago where "La Fantástica" stands. Visit the Sanctuary Museum of San Pedro Claver, with its monument to Claver, and learn about the touching life of the “Slave of the Slaves.” Also, visit the Jesuit Church and the Cartagena Museum of Modern Art. Head to Plaza de la Aduana. Commerce was the fine thread that connected two continents, making this square the heart of colonial Cartagena. See the monument to Christopher Columbus. Finally, visit Plaza de los Coches. Formerly the Plaza de la Hierba and known by many other names, today it is the undisputed center of Cartagena's hustle and bustle. Visit the Passage of the Sweets, the monument to Pedro de Heredia, the controversial founder of the city. Learn about the end of slavery and the birth of Republican Cartagena, along with the construction of the emblematic Clock Tower, an unmistakable symbol of the modern city.

Cartagena will never be the same after you take this Free Tour. Be part of an exceptional and magical experience thanks to the stories that give life to the colonial streets, follow the steps that our Nobel Prize for Literature "Gabo" took between squares and bastions, between houses and balconies. If you have not yet read any of Gabo's novels, or you are a regular reader of his literary works, this tour will awaken your senses and alter your reality. From the Plaza de Santo Domingo to the house of Gabriel García Márquez in San Diego Cartagena, live the art, music and literature of the bohemian neighborhood in which our writer lived absurd, magical and imaginary realities that influenced his life and later the lives of his characters that give full meaning to the magical realism that enchants and we admire. Learn more about the life of this great artist, explore a different area of the historic center of Cartagena and be inspired by the fantastic stories that only Gabo knew how to write as if it were a chronicle of a death foretold!

Experience Cartagena like never before with a sunset walking tour that blends history, culture, and breathtaking views. As the city glows in golden light, we’ll explore the historic walled city and the vibrant streets of Getsemaní, where art and history come alive. We begin at Plaza de San Diego, a charming colonial square surrounded by history and legends. Walking along the ancient city walls, you’ll hear stories of pirates, conquests, and Cartagena’s fight for independence while enjoying spectacular ocean views. As we enter the heart of the Old Town, we’ll visit iconic plazas like Plaza de Santo Domingo and Plaza Bolívar, where the Spanish Inquisition once ruled. Marvel at Cartagena’s colonial beauty while uncovering the secrets hidden in its streets and monuments. Next, we’ll step into Getsemaní, the city’s most artistic and cultural district. This once-rebellious neighborhood is now a canvas of vibrant murals, music, and local energy. We’ll stop at a scenic rooftop for a refreshing drink, where you’ll admire a breathtaking sunset over Cartagena’s skyline. Our journey ends in the legendary Callejón Ancho & Callejón Angosto, where street art tells the stories of revolutionaries, musicians, and dreamers. This is more than a tour—it’s a deep dive into Cartagena’s soul, the perfect bridge between sunset and the city's lively nightlife.