Fair Tourism in Cartagena and the Colombian Caribbean

Why Cartagena Insider?

Expanding and Improving the Tourism

Industry

Innovating diverse social interactions

Generates jobs and entrepreneurship
Promotes value chains, based in culture
Competitive pricing, flexible scheduling, and
wide variety offered

What is Cartagena Insider?

Cartagena Insider offers various enjoyable and
creative options that directly contribute to the
development and improvement of the city.
We have developed a portfolio of tourist routes
which will allow you to become acquainted with
the culture, history, and magic of Cartagena,
accompanied by natives and passionate residents
of this city.
All routes have been developed by the hosting
communities and prices include donations for the
projects within that community.

What is Philanthropic Tourism?

Philanthropic tourism aims at fostering
altruism, solidarity and humanitarianism. It
enables tourists and communities to
integrate by means of the construction of
active civism rather than through charity.
Therefore, it is not only aimed at tourists, but
also at groups of local people who wish to
grow and learn by experiencing these
enjoyable and innovative outings.

Fact sheet #EnTuSalsa

Price per person: USD70/COP165.000

Ideal for

Couples, singles or groups of friends who want to learn more about salsa and
afrocarribean rhythms and who enjoy popular culture. It is the perfect way to become
acquainted with the city in a different dimension.

Duration and location

This evening route is min. 5 hours, max. 7 hours. The tour leads you through the entire
city of Cartagena (Avenida Crisanto Luque, Transversal 54, Historical Centre). 8pm to
1am.

Comfort level

Medium high

Effort level

Medium - low

Bring along

Comfortable dancing shoes

Youll love it if you like

Dancing and watching salsa

Learning about salsa origins and musicians
Talking to passionate collectors
Like taking pictures of popular semiotics
Bar-hopping and learning about other traditions

Includes

Transportation; small shot, beer or non-alcoholic beverage in each bar;

Snack; salsa teachers; expert; host; a salsa cd. Travel insurance. Donation to FEM.

Fact sheet #DrumSafari

Price per person: USD75/COP180.000

Ideal for

Elderly people, couples, families, singles or groups of friends who wish to learn more
about percussion and afrocarribean rhythms and who enjoy popular culture.

Duration and location

One day excursion. 7 hours. La Boquilla. 9am to 4pm.

Comfort level

Medium high

Effort level

Medium - low

Bring along

Bathing suit, towel, hat or cap and sun screen. Use of pants is recommended in order to
play drum more comfortably.

Youll love it if you like

Learning about and experimenting with percussion.

Talking to passionate musicians
Becoming acquainted and interacting with local culture.
Going to the beach and tasting traditional fish dishes.

Includes

Transportation from and to the hotel, tropical juice, lunch, percussion teachers; drum
teacher, donation to Semillero de Tambores (local percussion school), donation to
young drummer with an exceptional talent (savings account for his future music
education), chat with locals, donation to Casa de la Cultura (Cultural Center), donation
to FEM. Travel insurance.
You have the option of a more extended tour to the mangroves with native fishermen
for an additional COP 30.000 (USD 15) per person.

Fact sheet #RutaChampeta

Price per person: USD58/COP130.000

Ideal for

Couples, singles or groups of friends who want to learn more about salsa and
afrocarribean rhythms and who enjoy popular culture. It is the perfect way to become
acquainted with the city in a different dimension.

Duration and location

This evening route is min. 4hours, max. 5hours. It can be day or night. Tour the city.
According group. Coming out of Parque Centenario

Comfort level

Medium

Effort level

Medium

Bring along

Comfortable dancing shoes

Youll love it if you like

Includes

Transportation; Champeta skilled artist, host, dancers, interviews with local, Entrance to
visit Pics, refreshments, 3 beers or soft drinks. Travel Insurance.

A tour that reveals the culinary, rhythmic,

and aesthetic secrets of the Bazurto Market

Fact Sheet #BazurtoMarketAdventure

Price per person: USD50/COP100.000

Ideal for

Couples, families, singles or groups of friends who are interested in learning more
about the local economy, enjoying popular culture and trying fun street food!

Duration and location

This is a walking tour that lasts 4 hours, including lunch. It begins at the Caribe
Plaza and ends in the Bazurto Market.

Comfort level

Low

Effort level

Medium high

Bring along

Hat or some sort of sun protective attire. Preferably closed toe shoes that are also
comfortable to walk in. Cash if you think you might want to buy anything along the
way.

Youll love it if you like

Learning about markets in Cartagena: origin in Getsemani, and then moving to

Bazurto
Talking with ballerinas from the Candil, folkloric groups from Chinatown
Meeting and interacting with local people and culture
Understanding urban dyanimcs of the city
Trying delicious, popular foods that are regularly enjoyed by locals

Includes

Transportation to and from hotel, fresh juice, water, lunch, local tour guide,
donation to Candil, introduction to owners of unique local shops, donation to
FEM. Travel insurance.

Fact Sheet # Trades and Crafts in Getseman Price per person: USD26/COP60.000
Ideal for

Young people, couples, families, singles or groups of friends who wish to learn more
about contemporary history of Getseman, one of worlds most famous neighborhoods.

Duration and location

Min. 2 hours, max. 3 hours. Getseman neighborhood. At 8am and at 4pm. At other
times the tour is physically more demanding.

Comfort level

Medium

Effort level

Medium

Bring along

Comfortable walking shoes. Hat or cap and sun screen.

Youll love it if you like

Learning about contemporary, indigenous and colonial history of

Cartagena.
Becoming acquainted and interacting with the native population.
Tasting traditional dishes and finding out how they are prepared.

Includes

Expert historian, Gesteman host, donation to the Junta de Accin Comunal (Board of
Community Action), chat with locals, snack. Travel insurance.

The traditions of Africa, continuing to be

celebrated in the Americas. San Basilio
de Palenque, intangible heritage of
humanity
(UNESCO)

Fact Sheet #AfricaEnAmrica

Price per person : USD110/COP225.000

Ideal for

Young people, couples, families, singles, or groups of friends who would want to learn
more about the history and culture of the Palenque (Heritage of Humanity UNESCO),
share in their traditions and understand distinctive and unique ways of life.

Duration and location

Min. 2 horas, mximo 3horas. Barrio Getseman. Salidas a las 8am y a las 4pm. En otros
horarios la exigencia fsica es mayor.

Level of comfort

Medium-low

Level of effort

Medium-high

Bring along

Comfortable shoes to walk in. Hat or sunprotective gear and sunscreen.

You will love it if you

like

Learning about contemporary history of indigenous and colonial Cartagena

Getting to know and interacting with the native population
Trying traditional local food and seeing how its made

Includes

Transportation to and from, guided tour by a palenquero native of San Basilio de

Palenque, introduction and meeting with elders of the community, presentation of
dance, accompaniement by host from the foundation, refreshment, lunch, and water
throughout the day. Travel insurance.

W WEEKENDS

The Indiginous Community of San

Andrs de Sotavento
During a two-day experience, you can
experience life with the indigenous Zen
people at Rio Sins riverside community.
This community has lived here for over
4,000 years. Become acquainted with their
workshops, their sacred places and spend
the night at the home of an indigenous
family. The price of this trip includes a
donation to the smaller Guayacanes
community and to the Association of
Tinteros (street coffee sellers) ATINAZ.
In agreement with the principles of Action without Damage, the FEM reserves the right of admission to this
trip by means of a pre-selection mechanism for visitors, which guarantees the integrity of this ethnic group.

Fact Sheet for the Indigenous Community

Price: depending on the group

Ideal for

Families and travelers who are intersted in a refelctive experience regarding other peoples lives
, different ways of understanding the quality of life and ethnical inmersion and research.

Duration and location

Two days: the excursion begins at 6 am leaving from Cartagena to Crdoba (a 4 hour drive).
The possibility exists to fly to Montera and drive for one and a half hours. Spend the night in
Tuchn, Crdoba. Return the next day at 5 pm (drive or fly). Flying would require an additional
night in Montera.

Comfort level

Medium Low

Effort level

Medium-High

Bring along

Comfortable clothes. Light, long-sleeved pajamas. Slippers. Mosquito net, Mosquito repellent.
Sun screen. Cash in case you would like to buy handicrafts at a lower cost.

Youll love it if you like

Having adventures that are new to you but physically not too challenging.
Becoming involved in the lives of people who are ethnically diverse and becoming acquainted
with forms of life different from traditional Western accomodations.

Includes

Expert guide, indigenous hosts, lodging at an indigenous home, donation to the community
and indigenous organization, visits to sacred places, demonstration of the elaboration of
indigenous handicrafts. NOT INCLUDED: flights and the purchase of handicrafts.

These are volunteer working

sessions for family groups or
companies. By means of an
predesigned methodology we carry
out a express community project in
one of Cartagenas 25 rural
communities in our own version of
Before and After repairing
schools, health centers and parks
etc. in 24 hours.

Fact Sheet for One in a Million

Price per person: COP1.000.000 or more *

Ideal for

Family groups of more than 10 people or companies that would like an intensive community
work and learning experience regarding themselves and the communities where the afros and
indigenous groups have settled.

Duration and location

Two complete days implying that the transportation has to be one day before and one day
after the session. It can take place in any of the 25 afro-descendant or indigenous
communities. In the design made jointly, the place is agreed upon depending on the budget
which in turn depends on the size of the group. The group can choose between sleeping in a
nearby hotel or at the community.

Comfort level

Low

Efffort level

High

Bring along

Comfortable working clothes. Light, long-sleeved pajamas. Slippers. Mosquito net. Mosquito
repellent. Sun cream. Lots of motivation to work and achieve challenges.

Youll love it if you like

New experiences and new skills.

Achieving great challenges within a given time.
Living amongst afros and indigenous people and learning from them.

*Includes

Accompanying voluntary team. Food and lodging at the community. Hydration. Donation of
material for the job. 2 integration workshops in order to get the most out of the experience.
Accompaniment by civil defense brigade. Souvenir T-shirt, community event.

Or design your
own route...

Fact sheet for custom-made trips

Price per person: to be agreed upon

Ideal for

Adventurous travelers, families and couples who wish to customize their trip and have
specific learning interests. Travelers, writers, script- or screenwriters have chosen
customized trips in order to develop their characters and search for locations. Whole
families have enjoyed the magic of places they would never know of otherwise.

Duration and location

Min. 3 hours. You can choose amongst the indigenous communities, the most hidden
beaches with luminous plankton, mangrove swamps and interesting neighborhoods.
Cartagenas has a rural zone made up of 25 little villages.

Comfort level

Depending on your preferences.

Effort level

Depending on your preferences.

Bring along

Depends on the place. In general, comfortable clothes, sun screen, hat, bathing suit,
light luggage and insect repellent.

Youll love it if you like

Having innovative experiences, tasting different food, going to places that people dont
tend to know or visit.

Includes

Depending on the trip. In general it includes a guide, transportation, meals and if longer
than a day, lodging. Travel insurance.

New routes that are being designed

by us
#RiverQUEST: An adventure through the mangroves and the Dique canal,
including the untouched beaches of Baha de Barbacoas.
#rutaMOVIL: With Ciudad Mvil, the best cultural center in town, we are
developing a route which allows visitors and residents to become acquainted
with the citys dazzling performing arts.

FAQ
1.-Are you a travel agency? Yes, Cartagena Insider exists thanks to Viajes Atlantic (Nit.

90001359-5 y RNT 31346)

2.-What do you mean with philanthropic tourism? All our routes grant donations to the
communities that host them. The organization has been working with the
communities for years on various projects. The routes exist because we have been
able to empower the community members in order to share their wealth and
traditions with tourists. Furthermore, the routes form part of the organizations
sustainable strategies.
3.-Can the donations included in the routes be certified? We can only certify donations for
groups of more than 10 people due to the fact that a specific procedure has to be
carried out. The certification granted by our ESAL is only valid for tax exemption
in Colombia.

4.-Can you offer a custom-made route? Can you offer it in other languages than
Spanish? Yes! We are convinced that no other organization knows all the little secrets
and hidden places of the city as we do. We can help you discover the magic and the
multiple and vigorous facets of the profound Cartagena. We speak English and we
can also offer trips in French and German if you plan your trip with us in advance.
5.- And how do you guarantee safety during these trips? The routes have been
designed in safe areas. The National Police has offered us preliminary safety surveys
on every route. Furthermore the cost of the trip includes travel insurance with
complete coverage in the event of an accident.

With the support of

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