San Basilio de Palenque is a unique cultural space. For more than 400 years, this community has managed to preserve its ancestral customs. This one day tour from Cartagena will be an ideal experience for those who want to visit and understand one of the most important historical towns in Colombia in a truly unique and unforgettable way, it will be so natural that you will feel part of it.
Schedule & prices
Runs
Every day
Start times
8:30 AM
Next available
Mon, Oct 5
Adult (ages 7–80)
$130
Child (ages 3–6)
$90
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 4.
Tour Options
Palenque African Roots Day Tour
Pickup included
Itinerary
San Basilio De Palenque
360 min
I invite you to discover in the company of a native guide. The magic of the first free people of America walking its colorful streets, getting to know its culture, gastronomy, musical rhythm, and its own dialect which is still intact after 310 years founded.
Monumento a Benkos Bioho
5 min
Benkos Biohó (Bijagós Islands, second half of the 16th century-Cartagena de Indias, March 16, 1621), also known as Domingo Biohó, was a leader who commanded a rebellion of maroon slaves in the New Kingdom of Granada in the 17th century. , becoming king of the free town of San Basilio de Palenque.
What's included
Included
Private transportation
Raspado (tropical flavor slushie)
Bottled water
Lunch
UMBRELLA
Air-conditioned vehicle
Not included
TIP
Pickup Locations & Times
Travelers who are in an area with difficult access will be contacted to meet them in a public place with easy access.
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.7
34 reviews
5
29
4
2
3
2
2
1
1
0
How it compares in Cartagena
Starting price $130 is 18% above the typical $110 for tours of similar length in Cartagena
Excurgo comparison of 1,341 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
Wheelchair accessible
Service animals allowed
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
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 Day Tour take?
Palenque African Roots Day Tour lasts about 6h 5min. The itinerary has 2 stops.
How much does Palenque African Roots Day Tour 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 Day Tour run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 8:30 AM.
How much does Palenque African Roots Day Tour cost for children?
Children aged 3–6 pay from $90, adults from $130.
Can I cancel Palenque African Roots Day Tour 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. Travelers who are in an area with difficult access will be contacted to meet them in a public place with easy access. Pickup points include Aposentos De San Pedro, Casa Hostal Bahia.
What languages is Palenque African Roots Day Tour 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 10 participants.
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Wheelchair accessible Transportation options are wheelchair accessible All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is Palenque African Roots Day Tour worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.7 out of 5 across 34 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Fantastica Travel.
Reviews(34)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
D
dantravel
September 28, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Worth the money and day
We had great local hosts Moises and David. They were fun and knowledgeable. The lunch served at the end was absolutely delicious. Our driver Carlos was so accommodating he graciously made extra stops along the way.
Operator response
Hi dantravel!
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience! We are thrilled to hear that you thoroughly enjoyed the Palenque African Roots Day Tour.
We will gladly pass along your kind words to Moises, David, and our driver Carlos; they will be so happy to know that their knowledge, great energy, and helpfulness made your day special (and we are so glad you loved the lunch at the end!).
We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back very soon to discover more wonders together. Warm regards from all of us!
T
Trail06769366756
April 4, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Awesome Visit
Had a really nice time. Tour guides were awesome. Really appreciate the language lesson and the history lessons. Everyone was great.
Operator response
Hi
Thank you so much for your kind words! We're so happy to hear you had a great time and that you enjoyed both the language and history lessons — sharing the richness of our culture is something we're truly passionate about.
Our team loved having you with us, and we hope to welcome you again soon for another unforgettable experience.
Warm regards,
J
Joyce_W
April 3, 2025 · via Viator
Disappointing
I was excited to do this tour but when our van broke down, the tour was cut short plus the tour guide had to go to school. So disappointed we missed experiencing a few other places.
Operator response
We sincerely regret that your experience was not what you expected. We understand your frustration and appreciate you sharing it with us, as every feedback helps us improve.
That day we had an unexpected issue with the vehicle's air conditioning system, but fortunately, we were able to resolve it quickly with on-site technical support, without affecting the scheduled return times. The tour was completed as planned, and the included stops were available to the entire group.
Regarding the Boxing Museum, we understand that several participants, due to fatigue, preferred not to enter and take a lunch break, a decision we respect as part of providing a flexible experience.
We are sorry you weren't able to enjoy it as you expected. Even so, we greatly value your participation and hope to provide you with a more satisfying experience in the future. Thank you for choosing us!
K
katiriao2025
March 6, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Palenque tour
Everyone was so polite. My partner and I learned so much about the culture and enjoyed every moment of the tour. I definitely recommend this tour.
Operator response
Thank you for your positive review! We are so glad to hear that you enjoyed the activities
and had a fun and authentic experience with our guides. How great that even the rain didn't
dampen your good spirits! We hope to see you again for more adventures. Cheers!
D
dreasc2024
February 18, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Palengue
Abraham is awesome. Authentic he is from Palengue, best tour guide available for this trip. The trip is amazing it takes
Operator response
Thank you for your positive review! We are so glad to hear that you enjoyed the activities
and had a fun and authentic experience with our guides. How great that even the rain didn't
dampen your good spirits! We hope to see you again for more adventures. Cheers!
P
Paul_T
February 13, 2025 · via Viator
My particular experience...
My particular experience was nice, however I did feel cheated, simply because I never got to see the dance portion. My guide had to go to the University. If I or anyone else pay good money for a experience. They want the full experience. Don't cut my experience short because of your obligations to something else. Not my fault. Other than that it was a wonderful experience.
Operator response
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We are glad to hear that you enjoyed much of the tour, but we are very sorry that you were not able to experience the full experience, including the dance performance.
We are committed to always providing a quality and complete service for each visitor. We will investigate what happened with your guide to ensure that this does not happen again. We appreciate your feedback and, if you decide to give us another chance in the future, we would love to offer you the complete experience you deserve.
L
Lacalif2g
November 21, 2024 · via Tripadvisor
Wonderful cultural tour to Palenque
Quick and effective transfer pickup from hotel, in air-conditioned sedan to the settlement town of Palenque, about 90 minutes outside of Cartegena.
I was then introduced to my Excellent guide, Moses Abraham with @Palenque_spirit tours who provided me, in good English, a cultural historical tour of the Palenque village.
I visited a traditional house, learned to grind corn the traditional way, went to Benkos Biohò plaza, danced in the home of the musical group Kombilesa MI, e perceived a traditional medicine man ceremony, tried a round of boxing in the ring were world famous Antonio Cervantes, aka Kid Pambelè trained and ate a traditional fish plate for lunch.
This was the highlight of my tour to South America.
Operator response
Thank you for your positive review! We are so glad to hear that you enjoyed the activities
and had a fun and authentic experience with our guides. How great that even the rain didn't
dampen your good spirits! We hope to see you again for more adventures. Cheers!
M
maria c
October 1, 2024 · via Tripadvisor
Fantastic!
My husband and I did 5 activities. We had a great time. The guides were great! They were friendly, funny and honest. Alex is learning English so he was excited to practice with us. I speak both languages so we helped each other out. Even in the pouring rain, we completely enjoyed everything. I highly recommend!
Operator response
Thank you for your positive review! We are so glad to hear that you enjoyed the activities and had a fun and authentic experience with our guides. How great that even the rain didn't dampen your good spirits! We hope to see you again for more adventures. Cheers!
5
547soka
August 12, 2024 · via Tripadvisor
enriching
had an amazing experience with last minute tour guide changes. They ended up being really amazing and trusting people, Lorenzo is from Palenque and was able to impart a lot of knowledge and culture to those of us who have never been. The people were fun talented and was able to enjoy and learn the dances, medicinal and history of palenge! thank you so much to our driver Juan! high key recommend.
Operator response
Thank you so much for your amazing feedback! We're delighted to hear that your visit to Palenque was such a memorable experience. It’s great to know that Lorenzo's deep local knowledge and cultural insights made a positive impact on your tour. We’re thrilled you enjoyed the dances, medicinal practices, and the rich history of Palenque. Your kind words about Juan, our driver, are also much appreciated. We’re grateful for your high recommendation and look forward to welcoming you back for another unforgettable experience.
M
Milan_H
August 3, 2024 · via Viator
10/10 Tour
This was such an amazing experience and absolutely my favorite tour in Cartagena. We learned so much about Palenque, and it was so inspiring. Can't wait to go again!
Operator response
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you had such an amazing experience and that our Palenque tour was your favorite in Cartagena. It's great to know that you felt inspired by what you learned, and we can't wait to welcome you back. It would be an honor to have you join us again for another memorable experience!
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