Things to do in San Basilio de Palenque

Enjoy a day with native palenqueros and learn about their culture, gastronomy, dance, and music customs. Find out about the first free people in the Americas, and savor a local lunch. Begin the tour with pickup at your hotel in Cartagena, then drive in air-conditioned transportation. Then, set off toward Palenque with your native guide. Once there, explore the museum and other ancestral places, and watch a local dance show. Take a break for a lunch during the tour. Choose from stewed chicken, fish in coconut, or stewed pork, all served with coconut rice, salad, and patacones (fried green banana). At the end of the day, return to Cartagena in an air-conditioned transportation back to your hotel.

Located about 50 kilometers southeast of Cartagena, San Basilio de Palenque is a town founded in the 17th century by Afro-Colombians who had escaped from slavery during the colonial period. Palenque has its own distinct culture and language, and you can explore the town's fascinating history, music, dance, and cuisine on this day tour. Guided by a local Palenque tour guide, you’ll visit the town's cultural center, where you can learn about the history and traditions of the community, as well as a tour of the town's landmarks and historic sites like Benkos Biohó plaza. Have you seen the women with colorful dresses within the walled city? They are traditional Palenque women that developed a unique culture and language that reflects the blending of African, Indigenous, and Spanish influences, and a testament to the resilience and creativity of marginalized communities, an important and valuable way of understanding the history of Afro-Colombian culture and resistance. By the end of the tour, you’ll have a local lunch at a palenque restaurant and an optional drum african show. Join us for an unforgettable experience that offers a unique glimpse into the rich and diverse cultural african heritage of Colombia!

Embark on a captivating experience from Cartagena to San Basilio de Palenque, America’s first free town. Accompanied by an expert native guide, delve into this vibrant community, which has preserved its traditions and culture for over 310 years. Enjoy the convenience of being picked up from your hotel in Cartagena. Travel comfortably to San Basilio de Palenque with a scenic drive lasting approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes. Wander through the charming and vibrant streets of San Basilio de Palenque, where past and present merge into a unique sensory experience. Discover a house museum that offers deep insights into the local history and traditions. Immerse yourself in the community’s rich musical heritage, discovering rhythms and melodies central to its cultural identity. Learn about ancestral medicinal practices from a local natural medicine practitioner. Visit a place where boxing is practiced, an important activity in the local culture, and observe how residents keep this tradition alive. Uncover the story of Benkos Biohó, the brave leader of the slave rebellion who became the king of San Basilio de Palenque and fought for freedom in the New Kingdom of Granada. Enjoy a delicious local meal during the experience. Stay hydrated with provided water throughout the experience. Refresh yourself with a tropical-flavored raspado or ice cream while exploring. Stay comfortable under the sun with a provided umbrella.

Start with pickup from select areas of Cartagena and relax on the comfortable transfer to San Bacilio de Palenquenque. Get to know the authenticity and cultural richness of Palenque, the first free town in America. Listen as your guide presents historical, social and cultural information of the Corregimiento. Take a city tour of the Corregimiento, visiting the most important places in Palenque, a place specialized in Traditional Medicine and the House Museum. Enjoy an unforgettable trip to explore its music, traditional medicine, ancestral rituals and the fascinating Palenque language. Continue a tour of the most important places in Palenque, where you will meet emblematic personalities of the population, a space for traditional medicine, the house museum, the Benkos Biohó monument where there is a boxing gym and image of Antonio Cervantes “Kid Pambelé” among other places. Enjoy a delicious typical lunch and a Palenque-type cocktail, the Neque. The return to Cartagena will be at the end of the afternoon.

Unforgettable Moments Await You: • Mud Bath: Immerse yourself in the revitalizing properties of the mineral-rich volcanic mud, known for its therapeutic benefits. • Renew Your Skin: Feel the rejuvenating effects of the mud as it leaves your skin soft and refreshed. • Explore San Basilio de Palenque: Wander the streets of this historic town, steeped in African heritage. • Immerse Yourself in the Culture: Witness vibrant cultural performances, dance, and learn about the town's unique traditions. • Savor the Local Flavors: Enjoy a delicious and authentic lunch prepared with fresh, organic, and local ingredients. • Enjoy the Colombian Countryside: Delight in the scenery of the Colombian Caribbean aboard comfortable roundtrip transportation. Included: Round-trip transportation in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle. Entrance ticket to the Mud Volcano. Fresh water shower. Tasting of typical regional fried foods. Refreshing cold coconut water. Bottle of water. Stop at the Palenque sign. Native guide. Tour of Palenque with narrated history. Cultural, musical, and dance presentation. Visit to the house of medicine and ancestral knowledge. Handcrafted souvenir bracelet. Presentation of typical artisanal sweets. Traditional lunch featuring local flavors prepared by local cooks.

Discover the history of San Basilio de Palenque, the first free town in the Americas, on a guided tour from Cartagena. Learn about the town's unique culture and traditions, and enjoy a traditional lunch. Start your day with pickup from your hotel in Cartagena and travel to San Basilio de Palenque. Meet your local guide and begin your walking tour of the town. Learn about the town's history as the first free town in the Americas, and how it was founded by escaped slaves. Admire the colorful murals, houses, and squares that make up the town. Hear about the unique culture and traditions of the town, and learn about the local language, Bantú, which is a mix of Spanish and African languages. Enjoy a traditional lunch and watch a musical performance with local drums. After lunch, return to Cartagena and get dropped off back at your hotel.

Discover the vibrant heart of San Basilio de Palenque, the world’s first free Black town and a UNESCO Heritage site. Nestled just outside Cartagena, this vibrant community is rich in history, culture, and tradition. As you stroll through the colorful streets, be captivated by the lively music that fills the air and the warm smiles of the locals. Your expert guide will share fascinating stories of Palenque’s resilient past and its role in the fight for freedom. Immerse yourself in the unique Afro-Colombian culture as you taste delicious traditional dishes, learn about the art of drum-making, and even try your hand at some dance moves. Don’t miss the chance to visit the local museum, where you’ll discover artifacts that showcase the town’s incredible heritage. Whether you’re a history buff, a culture enthusiast, or just looking for an adventure, this tour promises to be a fun and enlightening experience. Grab your friends and family, and let’s explore the rich tapestry of San Basilio de Palenque together.

“San Basilio de Palenque, renowned as the first free town in America, holds a rich history dating back to its founding by “cimarrones” (escaped slaves) in 1603. Emancipation was finally achieved in 1713. Consequently, this remarkable town received the prestigious designation as a UNESCO Cultural and Intangible Heritage of Humanity site in 2015. Additionally, it also clinched the top prize at the 2014 Gourmand Cookbook Awards in Beijing. This immersive experience unravels the remarkable journey of enslaved individuals who, against all odds, escaped their oppressors. These brave souls left behind their ancestral ties, and courageously settled in a town situated roughly an hour away from Cartagena. Your voyage commences by diligently retracing the exact steps of the cimarrones, who were determined to break free from the oppressive grip of the Spanish colonialists. Upon reaching the historic San Basilio de Palenque, you will embark on an enthralling walking tour. Importantly, it’s where the enduring African heritage still resounds through its streets. Furthermore, you explore the unique Palenquero language, a brilliant strategy devised to elude their captors. Subsequently, gain profound insight into the significance of the proudly worn braids by the native women. To further enhance your cultural immersion, we enthusiastically partake in an exhilarating drum performance. This enlightens about the profound cultural significance of this musical instrument. In addition, the tour indulge your palates by savoring the regional flavors through sampling local rum. Simultaneously, we relish delectable sweets meticulously crafted by the “palenqueras” (native women), who generously offer these treats to both locals and visitors alike. Finally, by choosing our tour, you not only experience this unique cultural journey but also actively support local businesses. Consequently, your participation significantly contributes to job creation for the Palenqueros, thereby fostering sustainable economic growth within this remarkable and unique community.”

Discover Palenque, the corner of Africa in Colombia, departing from Cartagena! This charming town has preserved its rich identity for more than 400 years, becoming a place full of stories of resistance, vibrant culture and delicious culinary traditions. On our tour, you will have the opportunity to: -Learn a few words of the Palenquero language: immerse yourself in the language and traditions of its inhabitants. -Enjoy dances and drums: experience the music and rhythm that characterize this community. -Learn about the history of the first free people of America: discover the legacy of resistance and freedom that makes Palenque a unique place. Don't miss this unforgettable cultural experience! Book your tour and live Palenque! The one day tour includes: -Bilingual tour guide. Air-conditioned transportation. -Hydration. -Traditional lunch. -Sunshade. -Assistance insurance. -You will visit: -Museum house. -Medicinal patio. -Posa kombilesa mi. -Kid pambele statue. -Benkos bohío statue. -Mural indentitario.

Enjoy a day with native palenqueros and learn about their culture, gastronomy, dance, and music customs. Find out about the first free people in the Americas, and savor a local lunch. Begin the tour with pickup at your hotel in Cartagena, then drive in air-conditioned transportation. Then, set off toward Palenque with your native guide. Once there, explore the museum and other ancestral places, and watch a local dance show. Take a break for a lunch during the tour. Choose from stewed chicken, fish in coconut, or stewed pork, all served with coconut rice, salad, and patacones (fried green banana). At the end of the day, return to Cartagena in an air-conditioned transportation back to your hotel.