Visit San Basilio de Palenque with a Native

This was truly an excellent and educational experience. I visited in October 2023 and it was extremely hot, heat index 103 daily. We traveled in an air-conditioned vehicle and were supplied with umbrellas as well as water. Our guide gave us great historical information about Palenque and it's origins, something most of us never learn about. To be in a the First Free Black town in the Americas was incredibly moving. We visited the monument dedicated to the founder Benkos Bioho, toured a local museum and save what typical daily life was like. We also visited the music studio of the local music group Kombilsea Mi and tried our hand at creating music. We were also entertained by dancers from the local Dance School. The tour ended with a delicious lunch before we traveled back to Cartagena. It was an incredible immersive and worthwhile tour and I encourage everyone to visit when in Cartagena.

+7

Excellent experience with spectacular guides. Very warm but unique experience. It's worth it.

Maria Isabel is a beautiful soul with a charming personality! She is more than a tour guide she has a personal relationship with the people of palenque that i admire. She is fun, knowledgeable and goes above and beyond. I highly recommend her!

We had such a wonderful experience with this company in Cartagena. Maria was an absolute gem—so kind, welcoming, and full of knowledge. She even taught us a few greetings in Palenquero so we could surprise our guide, and along the way shared so many insights about the country, culture, and food. We booked our tours last minute since we weren’t sure which ones we wanted to do, and Maria went above and beyond to fit us in. Our driver, Jung (sp?), and our guide, Moses, were phenomenal as well. The whole team made the experience smooth, fun, and truly unforgettable. I would absolutely recommend them to anyone visiting Cartagena.

+7

Super cool place and truly a great way to see beyond the beaten path of the main tourist areas of Cartagena. I truly loved the cultural immersion and this experience was very immersive, taking you through the daily lives of the people who lived there and the historical sites with added context. The guides we had were incredibly knowledgeable and super friendly. Truly an authentic experience you can't miss while here. I'm truly grateful that such a place exists amidst all the hustle and bustle of nearby Cartagena.

Our visit was amazing. We can get to know a lot of Palenque with our guide Maria. He introduced the people to us as if they were our family. It was very special and charming. I'd come back more often.

+3

Excellent tour - Maria was very knowledgable and fun. The culture and the people are warm and welcoming. I would highly recommend.

The Marias were extremely knowledgeable and engaging, sharing their lived experience with us. We found the group with little trouble and boarded the bus for the approx one hour ride to Palenque. Once there, we met palenqueras and posed for some photos. We then walked through town looking at murals, the cemetery, the music school (drumming 101), a boxing facility, traditional dancing (those dancers were fast). Lunch was fried whole tilapia in coconut milk, coconut rice, beans snd plantains. Elliot kept us hydrated and we finished the day with a shot of the local grog! 100% recommend

+1

Maria and Maria were magnificent guides. We were able to see many aspects of life in Palenque through a lens of respect and understanding.

I spent an amazing day with Mari. He was very helpful, friendly and provided us with information. Mari knew all the tricks and knew the people of Palenque. I would recommend it and rebook.