6
Great tour
This was a great tour, very educational, the lunch was great, the dancers were so entertaining and our Guide Romero was amazing. Highly recommend!
Palenque African Roots
+24 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 6 hours
- Price from
- $130 / person
- Location
- Cartagena, Colombia
- Rating
- 4.3 / 5 · 6 reviews
- Languages
- EN, ES
- Group
- Small group, up to 30
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Hotel pickup
- Available
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Que hay pa' hacer en cartagena
Description
Travelers should book this tour because it is a wonderful experience in which they will have the opportunity to learn about African customs that are still preserved in the first free town in America "San Bacilio de Palenque" and will also be accompanied by a professional tour guide and a native guide from Palenque who will be in charge of teaching them the town, the language, medical practices, dance, music and oral tradition"
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Every day
- Start times
- 8:00 AM
- Next available
- Fri, Oct 16
- Adult (ages 10–80)
- $130
- Child (ages 4–9)
- $100
- Infant (ages 0–3)
- Free
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 15.
Tour Options
Itinerary
San Basilio De Palenque
It was declared Cultural and Intangible Heritage of Humanity for being the first free people of colonial America (decreed like this in 1691); a place far from the colonies to which the African slaves escaped to live in freedom, with autonomy and independence. In San Basilio de Palenque, some traditions such as language, food, dance, and culture typical of Africans are still preserved. It is located very close to the Canal del Dique, 50 km from the city of Cartagena de Indias. It has a population of approximately 4,200 people and borders the districts of Malagana, San Pablo Norte and Palenquito. Because it is a corregimiento, it does not have economic or administrative autonomy Here is included the time it will take to move from one place to another
What's included
Included
Bottled water
typical lunch
Medical assistance
Umbrellas on loan
Hotel pickup
Roundtrip transportation in air-conditioned bus
Tour of the town accompanied by a native guide
Typical drink tasting
Pickup Locations & Times
We pick up our clients at their hotel as long as they are staying in the area where pick-up is included
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.3
6 reviews
How it compares in Cartagena
- Starting price $130 is 18% above the typical $110 for tours of similar length in Cartagena
Excurgo comparison of 1,340 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Palenque African Roots take?
Palenque African Roots lasts about 6 hours. The itinerary has 1 stop.
How much does Palenque African Roots cost?
Prices start at $130 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.
What days does Palenque African Roots run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 8:00 AM.
How much does Palenque African Roots cost for children?
Children aged 4–9 pay from $100, adults from $130. Infants go free.
Can I cancel Palenque African Roots for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, pickup is offered. We pick up our clients at their hotel as long as they are staying in the area where pick-up is included
What languages is Palenque African Roots offered in?
The experience is available in EN, ES.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 30 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is Palenque African Roots worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.3 out of 5 across 6 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Que hay pa' hacer en cartagena.
Reviews(6)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
S
For the culture!
Visiting Palenge is a must. It's worth the long drive. My husband and I enjoyed learning about the rich history, culture, and customs of the Palenge people. Our guides were very knowledgeable and the people there were so kind and welcoming. I liked that the tour was Interactive too. And the lunch was excellent! Fresh caught, fried fish seasoned to perfection. This was one of my favorite excursions in Cartagena.
C
Enjoyable
The tour itself was informative. The tour guide had a great personality which made the experience more exciting. The food was delicious. The agency booked with has "hotel pickup" listed, however, did not pick us up. We had to spend extra money to take a taxi to a meeting location. We weren't notified that hotel pickup wasn't available until less than 24 hours of the tour which was outside of their cancelation policy. The driver did not speak English.
Operator response
Hello, in the tour description you can find the pick-up points within the city, your hotel is outside the city and it was indicated to you. Unfortunately we had to change drivers, the entire tour was in English, which was the most important thing.
2
Palenque tour
The transfer for this tour was very organised and I was collected from my airbnb. The tour was interesting to see typical houses, medicine and food in Palenque. I am very interested in the history of the town but the tour included nothing about its founding or the years that followed. The tour itself was around 2 and a half hours and then we had lunch. I enjoyed the day, just felt it was lacking a bit more detail and more activities.
Operator response
Gracias Lo tendremos en cuenta
Y
Panama City
Great trip I recommended this tour we learned so much about our culture. Very informative, food was great the way I like it homemade from scratch. The driver excellent he picked/drop us up from the hotel. Excellent definitely will do it again.
1 people found this helpful
B
Favorite Tour in Cartagena
This tour was great! My tour guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. I learned so much history, the food for lunch was amazing, and all the people I met were lovely.
Compare similar tours in Cartagena
- Lowest price: PALENQUE - Historical and Cultural Tour with African Natives — $99
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- Shortest: Roots of Freedom – Cultural Immersion in San Basilio de Palenque — 5 hours
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palenque African Roots | 6 hours | 4.3 (6) | $130 | |
 Palenque African Roots Day Tour | 6h 5min | 4.7 (34) | $130 | View |
 San Basilio de Palenque History Tour | 6–7 hours | 4.9 (353) | $120 | View |
 Roots of Freedom – Cultural Immersion in San Basilio de Palenque | 5 hours | 5.0 (6) | $300 | View |
 Visit San Basilio de Palenque with a Native | 8 hours | 4.9 (38) | $130 | View |
 PALENQUE - Historical and Cultural Tour with African Natives | 6 hours | 4.6 (13) | $99 | View |
 Palenque Photo Experience | 5 hours | 5.0 (1) | $320 | View |
from$130
4.3(6) Free cancellation