Beautifully located on the shores of the Caribbean Sea and packed with colonial charm, Cartagena is beloved by locals and visitors alike. The Essential Free Tour Cartagena is designed to be the perfect introduction for first-time visitors as well as those who want to delve deeper into its past and uncover its best kept secrets. The focus of the tour will be the exquisite Old Town of Cartagena, declared a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site due to its rich colonial history. Most tours will begin around the Clock Tower, the main gateway to the city since 1631. Your guide will give you an introduction to the city, from its pre-Columbian indigenous roots to a prosperous Spanish colony, filled with gold and other gems, that was a frequent target for pirates.

Following this fascinating introduction to Cartagena’s past guests on the Essential Free Tour Cartagena will begin their exploration of the charming cobblestoned streets and colorful houses. One of the first ports of call is the Plaza de los Coches (Car Square). Now a quaint square filled with historic buildings, it was also where enslaved Africans were brought to be sold during the era of the slave trade. The square leads to the Portal of Sweets, where guests will have the opportunity to enjoy some delicious treats. From here, the tour will continue to some of the prettiest areas of Cartagena, including Aduana Square, where goods to be shipped all over Europe used to be stored, and Bolivar Square, where guests will find a number of Cartagena’s most important buildings, including the Cartagena Cathedral and the former City Hall.

The Essential Free Tour will take guests to one of the most important landmarks in the city, St. Pedro Claver Church, where they will hear of the legend of Father Pedro, who was canonized in 1850. Another highlight is the Inquisition Palace, considered one of the best examples of late colonial architecture. In this place, the Holy Office of the Inquisition judged those they considered to be heretics or witches in a brutal fashion. During the tour, please feel free to ask your guide as many questions as you wish; they’ll be more than happy to answer. And, of course, participants on the tour will come away with a host of recommendations and tips on where and what to eat, local traditions, and where to experience Cartagena’s lively and incomparable nightlife.