Cartagena Food Adventure: 10 Dishes, Street Food & Sit-Down stops
Description
A tale of two Cartagenas in one culinary experience: Street food and street art of Getsemaní, then proper sit-down stops inside the Walled City for Fusion Caribbean cuisine; 10+ dishes & drinks feast. Led by an expert Sherpa, your journey begins in the colorful, bohemian streets of Getsemaní, where street art tells stories of resistance and reinvention. From there, we cross into the Ciudad Amurallada (Walled City), the heart of the Caribbean, finishing inside the ancient walls. You'll sit down at two standout local restaurants for curated tastings of signature Cartagenero dishes and new Caribbean Fusion cuisine. Between them, taste exotic fruits from the iconic Palenqueras, the must-try arepa de huevo, a sweet stop at the historic Portal de los Dulces. It's not just a food tour. It's the Sherpa Way: woven with the history, culture, and street art that make Cartagena one of Latin America's most vibrant food destinations.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Our tour begins in Getsemaní, Cartagena's most soulful and flavorful barrio. Once a working-class neighborhood, today its colorful streets are alive with the aromas of street food, fresh fruit carts, and sizzling fritos. We'll start at Plaza de la Trinidad, the lively gathering spot where Cartageneros come together each evening to eat, drink, and share stories, before wandering past murals and flag-draped alleys, sampling local bites from the vendors who've fed this community for generations.
Inside Cartagena's UNESCO-listed colonial old town, we'll trace 500 years of culinary history through its plazas and cobblestone streets. The Walled City is where Spanish, African, and Indigenous flavors first collided to create the Caribbean Colombian cuisine you'll taste today. Between bites, we'll share the stories behind iconic dishes, the markets that shaped them, and the cultural traditions still alive in every kitchen, fruit stand, and corner café.
No food tour of Cartagena is complete without a stop at Portal de los Dulces, a century-old sweets arcade beside Plaza de los Coches. Here, palenqueras and local vendors offer dozens of handmade Colombian candies in glass jars, coconut cocadas, tamarind balls, bocadillo, and fig preserves among them. You'll taste your way through a colorful lineup of treats while we share how each one reflects Cartagena's Afro-Caribbean and Spanish roots.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(107)
Andres, Andres, Andres. Andres made this whole excursion an experience. I’ve been on multiple tours and excursions and this was my favorite one so far. I absolutely love everything, Andres was very open, inviting and knowledgeable. Give him a million stars.
Andres was an absolute pleasure. He made this whole experience a breeze this was the best excursion I had the whole time I was in Cartagena. 100000 Stars for him. He was so knowledgeable and inviting.
Andres was amazing! Great food and great company!
Great experience, with some excellent restaurants included as stops. Andrés was a fantastic guide - very knowledgeable and friendly. Highly recommend it.
Thank you so much for the recommendation, Martina! We're delighted that you enjoyed the restaurant stops and that Andrés made your time in Cartagena so special.
Highly recommended, very good variety of dishes and the places visited are very beautiful. Andrés was very attentive and an excellent guide and host.
¡Muchas gracias por tu recomendación, Andrés! Nos alegra mucho saber que disfrutaste la variedad de platillos y la belleza de los lugares. Le mandaremos tus amables palabras a Andrés por ser un anfitrión de primera.
I loved the service and the tour, everything was delicious
¡Nos encanta saber que te animaste a probar cosas nuevas, Alma! Muchas gracias por tus palabras sobre el recorrido y la atención. ¡Qué alegría que disfrutaras tanto la comida!
Liz was incredible helpful, knowledgeable, and comforting as she led this tour. 100% would do again and recommend. The group size is perfect for chatting with everyone.
Thank you Alexia! We keep the groups small on purpose, so it's great to hear it worked. Liz will love this.
I had an excellent experience with Andres, he was nice and explained all the history behind the dishes and snacks we had during the tour of 3h.
Thanks Lawrence! Andrés does a lovely job with the stories behind each dish. Glad you enjoyed the afternoon with us.
Andres was a great tour guide. The gastronomical tour was excellent and he explained all the history as we walked around getsemani and cuidad amurallada. Also the selection of places and food was outstanding. I Will definitely comeback.
Thank you María! Getsemaní and the walled city are a great pairing to walk and eat through. We'll be here whenever you come back.
Andres was such a great tour guide. He was really engaging and informative over the food we ate and the history behind them. I would definitely recommend him!
Thank you Fiorella! Engaging is exactly the word we'd use for Andrés. We'll make sure he sees this.
