Tour De Palenque, Road to Emancipation.
Recommended by 98% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Cartagena, Colombia
- 5 to 6 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Ditch the guidebooks and learn about Cartagena's Afro-Colombian heritage at the source on this group tour of San Basilio de Palenque. Relax in an air-conditioned vehicle with hotel pickup as you drive to the UNESCO-listed village. Participate in traditional dancing and drumming, and learn about local history as you visit a museum, traditional medicine house, and more.
- Enjoy learning from a multi-lingual and local Palenque guide
- Immerse yourself in Afro-Colombian culture on this group tour
- Stress-free hotel pickup from select locations in Cartagena
- A great excursion option for cruisers
What's Included
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Native guide.
- Dance Show.
- Almuerzo.
- Botella de Agua.
- Transportación
- Tips - Propinas
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
Itinerary
1
San Basilio De Palenque
5 hours • Admission Ticket Free
2
Palenquito
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Turbaco (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Infants must sit on laps
- Most travelers can participate
- Children from 1 to 4 years old do not pay but must sit on their parents' laps.
- After booking please contact me to confirm pick up details. +573188202888
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 30 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.9
based on 1,787 reviews
Elle_W, Apr 2026
Please prioritize this experience on your trip to Cartagena. This tour was the highlight of my entire trip. Getting to experience Palenque is something that I'll cherish for a lifetime. The guides were so knowledgeable and the performance by the was literally captivating. I will make the trip again for sure.
Chad_S, Mar 2026
It’s extremely hot most of the tour is outdoors. We learned so much from the experience. We would definitely recommend.
Myia_S, Mar 2026
This was one of my fav parts of my visit. So much culture and history here. I enjoyed the food, walking tour, and ppl.
Erin_W, Mar 2026
This experience was great. I absolutely loved the Palenque tour. Everyone was friendly and helpful. Romeo was great, very knowledgeable, and entertaining. I definitely recommend this tour for anyone interested in the African and Columbian history
Tia_W, Mar 2026
It was rich, lively and meaningful. We learned so much and the food was great! It reminded us that little is more and to be greatful for the things you have. A beautiful experience!
Izzy_B, Mar 2026
Our main guide was great and the group in the bus was lovely. However it’s very much a cultural tour rather than historical and, while interesting, it was far too expensive for what it was. Especially when they asked for tips after every activity (and while they said tips were optional, it didn’t feel like they were). The first group also got picked up at 8am from the Clocktower yet we were back at that same spot for the final pick up at 9am, after collecting various others from hotels. Not sure why the first group couldn’t have been picked up last at 9am instead.
Steph_A, Mar 2026
The tour was really good. A couple of our travelers did the reserve and pay later and it got canceled so that messed us up slightly. The ride to the village does take a long time but Romeo was an excellent tour guide. Also, the food was delicious that we had.
Marlon_R, Mar 2026
It was a good experience to learn the history of the town but I think it’s overpriced for the experience. I was expecting more for $100 per person; I think the cost needs to be cut in half to $50. The experience was part history and part supporting the town by being asked to buy things or tip during your time there. The pick up was very unorganized and the bus was very hot during travel. My honest opinion is this is overrated!
Tia_C, Mar 2026
We had an absolutely incredible time learning about the people and culture of Palenque. I would highly recommend this to anyone visiting Cartagena!! Lunch was amazing, and the dance show was interactive and informative.
Maximilian_H, Feb 2026
I visited Palenque solo and had an incredible experience. From the moment I arrived, the energy of the community was warm and welcoming. Walking through the streets and learning about the history of the first free African town in the Americas was powerful and humbling.
The culture here is vibrant, the people are proud of their heritage, and every corner tells a story. Hearing Palenquero spoken, seeing the traditions preserved, and understanding the resilience behind this place made the visit unforgettable.
If you’re in Cartagena, I highly recommend making the trip. Palenque isn’t just a destination — it’s an experience full of history
Tracey_Z, Feb 2026
The guide will contact you via WhatsApp to confirm the exact meeting point and time.
Bring your own water, as the bottle they provide is very small. It’s also helpful to prepare some small tips, since several stops—or taking photos with locals—may involve a small voluntary donation.
During the tour, you’ll learn about the local language, history, and culture, including traditional dance, daily living, herbal practices, and spiritual healing.
Sydni_D, Feb 2026
I really appreciated being able to experience, and learn first hand, about the Palenque town and people. It was a great experience. The bus ride there and back was a little rough, but everything else was amazing!
Barbara_D, Feb 2026
Too expensive for the experience and too much pressure to tip and buy souvenirs. But good to see first hand how the community was formed. Great lunch.
PAULA_D, Jan 2026
Palenque is fascinating. I loved learning about the history and the guides were good. My husband and I especially enjoyed watching the young dancers, as well as a visit to the boxing gym, and learning about the culture and the language. The downside was there was a huge emphasis on tipping and buying things and it felt like too much. There was a bit of pressure which took away from the pleasure of the trip.
Shawnte_C, Jan 2026
A beautiful experience and exposure to the beautiful African people in Colombia. It was refreshing to witness a black community banding together to preserve and respect their roots. Guide waas excellent and lunch was very authentic and tasty!
Lindsay_M, Jan 2026
This tour was amazing. It was really cool becoming immersed in the Palenque culture. My favourite stop was the traditional medicine doctors. The fried fish was 10/10. We learned that Romero our tour guide was also Jamaican so we felt right at home 😂
The street art and murals are gorgeous. I would definitely recommend this tour. Palenque is a must see!
Kernesha_W, Jan 2026
Please note, the pick up logistics is completely wrong. In the booking they offer hotel pick up at 8:30a. You have a set list of hotels to choose from (our hotel was on the list). Yet at 3am the day of, you get a message to meet outside the wall. Then you get another message at 7am from someone else.
When I asked about this, they just dismissed it and said “Be there”!
As a result, some people didn’t make the pick up and we ended up leaving much later than originally planned.
My recommendation is to remove hotel pick up from the booking or give people pick up logistics wells before 3am. Most people are not up at 3am if they have an 8am activity.
Letitia_H, Jan 2026
Loved loved loved this tour. The dancing and drumming was amazing and all of our tour guides were friendly funny and informative.
Lavon_R, Jan 2026
Our recent experience was great! Our guide Romeo (aka - "sometimes") was engaging, high energy, knowledgeable and personable. The transport was on time and experienced in navigating throughout the journey. Understanding that tourism is perhaps the highest grossing source of income for the reservation/township, it is essential that buy from local vendors anything with Palengue likeness and support the local dance school. The food was quite flavorful and tasty from restaurant where we were served lunch during the tour.
Zyaire_T, Dec 2025
There aren’t enough words to describe how it feels being in the village of Palenque. While there, I learned so much more about the African diaspora. From seeing the youth performing traditional dances at the music school, to listening to the medicine men describe their herbal remedies, it was an amazing experience. Which is an understatement.
Our tour guide was Roméo and he was the absolute best! Second to mi ngongoroko Pedro 🥰. Oh and how could I forget our delicious meal at a local restaurant within the village. Literally the best meal I ate since arriving in Colombia.
Overall, if you are visiting the Cartagena area, you need to take this tour.
Bubunga to all of the wonderful people in the village who were so welcoming.
Mary_M, Dec 2025
Romero our guide was amazing. He allowed the Palenque community to tell their story in their language while he translated. He was always respectful to their ways of living and giving praise to the way they continue to honor their past by teaching their history to their children. Our group was mostly Black Americans so we were truly moved by the experience.
Ismet_M, Dec 2025
Very authentic experience and immersion in the Palenque history and culture. Romeo is a very fun tour guide! Highly recommend it
Raphael_S, Nov 2025
The guide was great, very friendly. Overall the experience was interesting. I only felt a bit like a walking ATM because almost every 5min there‘s the chance to tip people or buy souvenirs.
Marquan_J, Nov 2025
This tour was the most incredible piece of Colombia that my partner and I are so grateful to have experienced. Our tour guide Edwin 'Lempito', was very personable, patient, and fun. He had the best energy throughout the entire experience, sharing a wealth of knowledge and making sure we knew how to navigate amongst the community as well. Palenque stole our heart. The culture, the people, the history, the dancing, the music, the food, everything felt like this is where we needed to be, what we needed to experience and with who we needed to experience it all with. While we also had the best group, we couldn’t have asked for a better guide. Not only did we leave this tour feeling a great sense of pride, but also felt like we gained family as well. I would recommend this tour with Edwin again, and again, and again. “Ata uto begà”.
Nitasya_R, Nov 2025
Awesome experience. All tour guides were informative and the food was amazing. This tour is definitely a must when visiting. Thanks Romeo' for being a great host. 10/10 experience
tgriswell, Nov 2025
This was a wonderful day in Palenque. Learning about the culture and community’s history was so interesting, and the lunch was phenomenal! Highly recommend
Evelyn_C, Nov 2025
From the tour guide to the food everything was GREAT!!! The fried fish was delicious! The hospitality and the dancers! Romeo was great!
Katherine_A, Nov 2025
I loved my tour guide Romeo.. He taught us some of the language and the history of the town.. Very informative and the people are so kind.
Gladys_W, Oct 2025
I requested to be picked up from my hotel via viator, and sensing something was wrong nearin 8am. I checked my email for communication which is how I'm normally contacted when using the site, but there was no follow up information or anything regarding the pickup plan. I decided to check WhatsApp which I only recently got, only to see someone have been reaching out from 6am in the morning with a meeting point that I had to get to.. So I called and let the prsn know I requested hotel pickup. That's when I was told by the tour guide they don't know why that is an option, bcuz they don't do pick up from hotels. So I had to make alternate arrangements to get to the meeting point to be picked up at a later time, after everyone else had been picked up. To the tour operators credit I did get picked up after some run around saying they'd be there in 5mins, 1mins, and not getting there until 20 minutes after they said they would. I got picked up at 8:45 from the original 8 o'clock meeting point because of the bad information. The driving was absolutely terriblé, and it's like a 1.5hr drive to and from Palenque. As in people flying up out of and all around their seats and gasping. So much so a government agency got in front of the bus and forced the driver to pull over because they wanted to make sure the driver wasn't drunk, and the passengers were okay. It was kind of unsettling to experience that bcuz it is Colombia and you never know, but all of us figured out it was our bus' driving pretty quickly and were eventually appreciative the stopped to check what was up.
The actual tour of Palenque was good. It went well, loved to learn the history, see the young Palenque men orate & our tour operator guide translated. During the cultural dance portion, some of us were invited to dance which we did and that was dope. Loved that. And a meal was included afterward. I appreciated them accommodating my diet being totally plant-based and having a meal (bean, rice, salad, patacones) I could eat ( which isn't always possible). There was another event I'll leave to be experienced on the tour and then the rough wild drive back to Cartagena. Met cool people, learned a lot, had good conversation and continued my travels. I would recommend visiting Palenque differently. It would probably be more enjoyable.
Charles_H, Oct 2025
Communication was great! Service was excellent! Tour guide Romeo was amazing, funny, and informative! Truly amazing experience! The guys in the town that assisted were just as amazing. The food was great and fresh. the history was rich and the herbs and doctor were great as well. We picked the right tour to Palenque with this company!!! Can't give it enough stars!
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