Deemed the first official free town in the Americas and a corner of Africa in Colombia. In 2015 it was declared by Unesco a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. San Basilio is about 1.5 hours from Cartagena, where African enslaved led by their fearless leader Domingo Biohó, escaped and built their Palenque to protect them from the Spaniards. A magical place full of history, culture and an example of resilience and will for freedom.
Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 13.
Itinerary Palenque Experience We will drive 1.5 hours to San Basilio de Palenque and we will walk around the town and learn about their history. 1) Monument of Benkos Biohos, (leader and founder of palenque). 2) House of kombilesa mi. ( Musical group of young people who have been working for the strengthening of Palenquera music with self-detonating instruments of the community) 3) We will visit a traditional house where you will appreciate their way of living. 4) Rafael Cassiani Cassiani house, (teacher of a musical group of elders called SEXTETO TABALA who come from generation to generation with “palenquera” authentic music). 5) Monument of Antonio Cervantes reyes, ( KID PAMBELE) first world boxing champion who gave Colombia born and raised in palenque.8) arroyo de palenque, (place of supply of the Palenquera community, source of life of recreation and communication). 6) Food Options: Fish stewed with coconut stew, chicken or pork to your liking
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Excurgo comparison of 1,340 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cultural Palenque Experience- Small Groups lasts about 7 hours. The itinerary has 1 stop.
Prices start at $120 per person for this Cartagena experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 7:30 AM and 8:30 AM.
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Yes, pickup is offered. Pickup points include Hotel Pueblito Playa.
The experience is available in EN, ES.
It is a private experience: only your party takes part. Up to 10 travellers can book together.
Confirmation is sent by the operator within 24 hours of booking.
Travellers rate it 5.0 out of 5 across 22 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by La Guia Travel Company.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
I thoroughly enjoyed the visit. Also thanks to our delightful tour guide who went out of her way to ensure we had a good time. Extremely interesting! So enjoyed the dancing and my fish at lunchtime.
We had an exceptional experience planning our trip with La Guia Travel. They were incredibly helpful and took care of all our travel plans, making the entire process smooth and stress-free. Their attention to detail and personalized service truly stood out. We highly recommend them for anyone looking to have a well-organized and enjoyable travel experience.
I had an amazing time in Colombia with our family and La Guia travel helped us with all our travel needs. They are very hands-on, professional and I definitely recommend it.
Our travel agent Nimia was absolutely amazing, excellent communication, perfect coordination and gave us a lot of tips and advises for our stay. We recomend the Palenque Experience, full of rich and important history, amazing and talented community. Also loved our Bora Bora Experience, with astonished beach and amazing service. Nimia was always available and kept us on track of our tours, transport and details everyday.
My sons and I recently took a spontaneous trip to Colombia. We were absolutely blown away by the trip planning of Nimia 🦋@laguiatravelco, the owner of La Guia Travel info@laguiacartagenera.com. La Guia Travel arranged every move we requested, from the airport to the hotel, to the tours, restaurants, and everything in between, ALL coordinated via whatsapp +57 318 7591665. Best investment I made in traveling to Colombia La Guia Travel showcased the beauty and diversity of the country. We started the trip in Bogota, the capital city, which is a vibrant and cosmopolitan metropolis. We loved exploring the historic center, visiting the Gold Museum, and hiking up to Our Lady Guadalupe for stunning views of the city. From Bogota, We took a short flight to Cartagena, a charming colonial city on the Caribbean coast. We spent nights at the Hyatt Regency, days swimming in the crystal-clear water, exploring the old town, and dancing the night away in the salsa clubs. Our next stop was Palenque, hosted by must-see Paleque tv host @jerminpadillavaldes. Palenque was declared by Unesco a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Palenque is the first official free town in the Americas and a corner of Africa in Colombia. When I say free, I mean it is home to the descendants of Africans who escaped to Colombia in the 17th century and home of boxing champion Kid Pambelè. We learned about the rich culture and history of Palenque and even got to try some traditional dishes. Our last stop in Cartagena, was Bora Bora Island, a stunning resort 1 hour away. We spent time swimming and celebrating the next chapter of life. We couldn't have asked for a better trip, and we owe it all to our travel guides Nimia 🦋@laguiatravelco. who we used for all our planning, despite short notice and it was spot on. The hosts selected by Nimia 🦋@laguiatravelco were full of useful information, and they helped me make the most of my time in Colombia. If you're thinking about visiting Colombia, I highly recommend it. It's a beautiful country with a lot to offer visitors. And be sure to use Nimia 🦋@laguiatravelco to help you plan your trip.
Amazing Experience!! From the history lesson to the people we’ve met, this is something I hope everyone finds the time to do. But it was La Guia Travel’s professionalism and organization that stole the show! They made sure we knew what to expect beforehand and make sure we were taken care of the entire time. Customer service was unmatched, would 100% recommend!
Invaluable Experience Memorable More than Tangible Trinkets .Carvings Murials We Realize nothing is possible Faith in oneself.Racial Human dignity at all cost. Responsible for Us as Adults to leave a legacy well Organized As philosophy Forge On The Victory is God's Glorying Favor for his Precious Creations Non of which The Devils Can ever Omit nor Keep hidded ..Peace and Love my Beautiful Natives Brown Black Hues Rich more than Rarest Diamonds In the Rough we Shine No matter The Indoctrinating Strains on Our Humanity 💘 Conquers all
I had a fantastic experience in Palenque. The tour was exceptional, and everything surpassed my expectations. The transportation provided was very comfortable, and both the local tour guide and the lunch served were excellent. I highly recommend taking this tour with this company because it offers a fantastic opportunity to explore another part of Colombia's Afro history. You won't regret it!
I really enjoyed my trip to Palenque with La Guía Travel Company, it was well organised. A private car came to pick us up and the driver José was really friendly and patient. The company provided us with a big bottle of water and a giant umbrealla, which was handy for both the sun and the rain. Lunch was also included in the price and was so delicious! The tour was led by the local guide Alberto who explained the history behind the murals and statues we visited within the Palenque village. He also took us to a music studio where we got to meet a member of the successful local music band Kombilesa Mi and we got the opportunity to do an improvised music session with them. We also went to a muesum where we learnt more about the Palenque history and got to interact with their traditional artefacts. In the muesum we saw an exhibition of the hairstyles enslaved Africans would braid into their hair and use as escape maps to lead them to the Palenque village! Lastly, we went to see the traditional medicine man who talked us through the natural remedies used within the Palenque community and at the end of the talk a local group gave a music and dance performance. We finished the tour with a tasty lunch and was dropped off back our accomdation. Overall I enjoyed every second and would definitely recommend this experience, especially those looking to learn more about the African disapora. I'm so grateful for all the knowledge and creativity that was shared and the thoughtful way in which the tour was organised. It's an experience I'll cherish forever!
Our tour guide, Nimia, picked us up from our hotel. She was right on time! Nimia kept us abreast every step of the way. The drive time was about an hour, and along the way she explained everything. Upon arrival, we were given umbrellas, because it was very hot, and a bottle of water. Our visit to San Basilio de Palenque was wonderful! It was very educational and meeting the locals was great! It was also great that we were able to support this community. And it was all due to Nimia! She was knowledgeable, easy going, everything was well organized, the tour was not rushed, and she made our experience memorable! That is why I highly recommend La Guia Travel Company. Thank you Nimia! Marjorie P.S. Please bring pesos so you can support the village, from the dancers to the vendors.
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cultural Palenque Experience- Small Groups | 7 hours | 5.0 (22) | $120 | |
 Cartagena Cooking Class with Local Chef (Small Group Experience) | 3 hours | 5.0 (563) | $59 | View |
 4-Day Lost City Small-Group Tour in Santa Marta | 4 days | 4.9 (254) | $580 | View |
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 Cultural excursion to Palenque from Cartagena | 6 hours | 5.0 (25) | $157 | View |
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