Private Cruise Ship Tour

"We found Martin through Cruising Excursions and like all their vendors, he was absolutely excellent. Martin really knew his stuff, giving us a terrific idea of the geography of Cartagena and it’s effect on history. In just a few hours, he managed to take us everywhere we wanted go. We visited Castillo San Felipe de Barajas, Convento La Popa de la Galera, Manga Island, the beaches, the old walled city, two very interesting museums and much more. Throughout Martin was a font of information and very willing to linger anywhere that caught our particular fancy. We covered twice the ground of the people on the “approved” tours from our cruise ship and learned far more about the city and its history.I would recommend Martin to anyone. Friendly, knowledgeable, courteous, entertaining … and he speaks excellent English. Give him a try when you are in Cartagena, You won’t be disappointed."

marjb2110

November 8, 2013

"My wife and I booked Martin Rosales (martin@cartagenatourguide.com) for a private tour of Cartagena while our Oceania excursion ship was docked there on December 9, 2013. Since we persuaded two other couples to join us, the cost was just $60 per person–about half the price charged by the ship for touring with a much bigger group. Martin was waiting for us when we reached the dock and promptly led us to a comfortable, air-conditioned van. We then explpred with him all the major sights of the city, including San Felipe, La Popa, the Plaza de San Diego, and the Peter Claver Cathedral. Radiating passion for the city and its sights, Martin not only knew all about its history but also pointed out the bar where American Secret Service agents met the prostitutes who got them into such hot water last year. I recommend him highly. –Jim H (retired college professor)"

tonywalsh2015

December 5, 2013

"“I shopped around a bit and found Martin to be responsive and very accommodating to my father who could not walk much. Martin organized the perfect tour for is with minimal walking but encompassing the whole the city. He is extremely knowledgable about the city and it’s history. Our van was sized well and the air conditioning was great! Be sure to start your tour as early as possible before the heat. He was the best value of all the tour guides I talked to.Martin could of improved his tour by sharing a little bit more about his personal story since he is from Cartagena.”"

chillsnthrills

December 10, 2013

"We hired Martin to do a 4 hour private tour of Cartagena while we visited on a cruise. Martin did an excellent job and was very well informed. He took us to areas that a larger tour bus could not have and we thought his private tour was one of the best we have ever had. I would strongly recommend using Martin."

MartinL

December 11, 2013

"Martin was on the pier when we disembarked from the ship. And while we were hesitant about using a tour guide not endorsed by the cruise ship, Martin proved to be excellent. His rate was half the fare on the ship and more than twice as long. He showed us sites and areas we wouldn’t have seen on the ship’s tours and for half the price. His knowledge of Cartagena and it’s history was outstanding and made the tour extremely entertaining and informative. If you get the chance, be sure to use him."

RobertP

December 13, 2013

"“I booked this tour based on TripAdvisor reviews and Google Search. Martin’s booking method is straightforward and very easy. Martin responded quickly by e-mail to answer all my concerns and requests before arranging our trip. We came with the Norwegian Star and Martin with his driver were waiting for us at the pier on time. The price makes it a far better alternative to the over-crowded ship tours. You ride in a private, comfortable van, with air conditioning, and bottled water provided. It was just the three of us and we sure did appreciate being shown around by our own personal Cartagena native. So informative both about the city, plants, and sights. A lot of history, too. Martin shared great number of interesting facts about this amazing place. He never rushed us and was able to answer any question about Cartagena. We really felt like we had seen a lot of the city during this 5 hours tour and had learned a great deal about the beautiful Cartagena. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Martin and his company to anybody visiting Cartagena in the future.“Great tour, good price, excellent experience!””"

Put-Dorozhka

January 5, 2014

"Our group of six from the Coral Princess thoroughly enjoyed our tour of Cartagena with Martin Rosales. He was very professional, knowledgeable and considerate of our needs and schedule. The city of Cartagena exceeded our expectations because of Martin. I would definitely use him again."

LouisvilleCruiser

January 7, 2014

"We were 11 adults arriving by cruise ship, looking to see as much of the city as possible. Our guide for the day was Jacinto. Our bus for the day was cool and comfortable. Jacinto started us out with a tour of the Castillo de San Felipe early in the day to avoid the heat. He gave us the history of the fort as we walked up. Bathrooms (very clean!) were available in the fort. We were all given a bottle of cold water after our tour there. Then on to the La Popa Monastery. The views from the property were breathtaking, and the inside of the monastery just beautiful. Jacinto gave us a quick tour with plenty of facts, then gave us 15 minutes to explore on our own before heading to our next destination. Next we stopped within the walled city at a shopping area and had about 1/2 hour on our own to shop. From there the driver dropped us off and we toured the streets within the walled city, finishing with a stop at the Emerald Museum and factory. The A/C was welcomed as it was very hot outside. A worker gave us a short tour and we had time to shop before heading back towards our bus. Because we had a late start (ship issue) we did not have time to stop and eat.(it was NOT promised as part of our tour, but we were hoping to try some local fare) Looking back, a shorter walking tour within the walled city and a quick lunch might have made the day even better. I would definitely use this company again!"

warlock11

February 1, 2014

"I recommend Martin highly. His responses to booking were excellent. The arrangements for meeting at the pier were easy & smooth. The tour itself was packed with visits & sights and you get a lot of interesting info from him, All of this is done in a very comfortable minibus. We were a group of 8 friends on the Celebrity Century Panama Canal cruise & this tour was one of the highlights. We were just so glad we had booked with Martin rather than the Celebrity Cruise tours as they looked crowded. If you are going to Cartagena make sure you use Martin’s friendly expertise – it is well worth it."

arby28

February 2, 2014

"We visited Cartagena on a cruise & decided to try a tour not on the cruise.We checked trip advisor, saw Martin reviews and booked. He was great, we were met right outside the dock by Kevin, he walked us to Martin who happily greeted us .. The car was clean, newer and air conditioned. So we were comfortable. Tour was private, and he took us places that the cruise bus could not go and we also got a private tour in the emerald museum which was nice. He told us everything about each place we went but we were not rushed. We actually spent more time out at same price. We went all over town, one side to the other. Martin was pleasant,personable and very knowledgable. Everywhere we went people knew him so we felt completely comfortable our first time doing a tour on our own outside what the cruise offers. He answered any questions and we could not have asked for anything more. I would not hesitate to book Martin again if we were in the area or ask him for suggestions on what to do or where to stay if we ever visited again and he would help I believe-I think he is that kind of guy. Book with Martin you will be happy!! Martin I have a picture I need to send or figure out to post. Hope you are doing well ! Lisa & Joe"

Lmzane

March 2, 2014

"My wife and I arrived in Cartagena on a Holland America cruise ship and so, only had a few hours to see the sights. We had previously booked Martin Rosales to conduct a private tour and he did a wonderful job of having us see the most important sites in the limited time available. Someone from his office met us at the pier and took us to Martin, who was waiting outside the terminal. He proved to be very friendly, courteous, and extremely helpful in crafting the tour so as not to overly tire my wife, who was having back problems and couldn’t walk very far. The cost was $200 for the two of us, and that proved to be money well spent. All in all, a delightful day."

AllenR

April 3, 2014

"“My wife and I just returned from a Cruise that made a port stop in Cartagena. I had previously read reviews for several tour guides and being impressed with reviews for Martin, decided to hire him to give us a private tour of Cartagena.It turned out to be the best tour of our trip! When we docked, Martin was waiting and ready to go. He not only introduced us to the sites of Cartagena, but also provided historical facts for each site which enhanced our appreciation for what we were seeing.I would definately recommend Martin to anyone who has the opportunity to visit Cartagena. If we are fortunately enough to ever return to Cartagena, I would hire Martin again in a heartbeat.”"

Struitt107

April 11, 2014

"The Azamara Quest only stopped in Port of Cartagena for 6 hours and we wanted to see as much as possible during our short stay. Martin picked us up at the cruise dock and whisked us off for 6 hours of intense touring including lunch at an elegant locals restaurant. I speak Spanish, my wife speaks English, Martin speaks both languages well so we were alternating between both languages. Martin has several vehicles at his disposal including the sedan we used up to a small bus for larger groups up to 16. The smaller vehicle allowed us to navigate narrow streets and visit neighborhoods not accessable to the cruise excursion coaches. When we returned to the ship and talked with the other passengers, we had seen 4 times more things of interest than any of the other tour groups for the same cost. So our private tour for the two of us cost the same as the ships tour of of 40 persons and we saw 4 times the sites they did in the same amount of time. I highly recommend Martin and Cartagena is beautiful. We will be back for a longer stay and Martin kindly agreed to help us find a place to stay when we are ready."

soggypeso

September 18, 2014

"“Martin was already booked the day we came to Cartegena on the NCL Sun. He arranged another guide for us, Jose. He was a nice young guy who’s family was all in the tour business. He and a driver (his cousin I think) took us to all the sites of the old city and the new city. You could tell he was very passionate about his country and the city he lives in. He spoke perfect English and was very informative about different aspects of life in Cartagena.It was a very enjoyable day. We got to see a lot in a short amount of time.”"

gingerqueen

October 16, 2014

"Martin picked us up at the pier where the Norwegian Sun docked. He had a driver so he could give full attention to showing us the town of Cartagena and our questions. He speaks good English and showed us parts of the town that we have never seen when we were on a ship tour. He was born and raised in Cartagena and loves his city. I would recommend him to anyone that would like a good tour of Cartagena. He returned us to the ship terminal."

CruiserCostaMesa_CA

October 17, 2014

"“Last week we had a tour with “”JJ”” who was fantastic. They took our family of 9 including two little ones and we had a very positive experience. The guide was very professional, eliminated any lines at tourist sites…took us to the right mix of stops from shopping to old city history. They were very accommodating and I would recommend them to friends traveling to Columbia.David from, Dallas, TX”"

DavidC

November 14, 2014

"Martin arranged a tour of Cartagena for our cruise group. His email communications were detailed and prompt. In person we found him to be extremely knowledgable(I tested him ) congenial, articulate and totally responsive to all of our questions and needs. For a truly professional experience–visit Cartagena with Martin Rosales.. Bernie Sabel–Central Florida"

BernardS

December 7, 2014

"We arrived in Cartagena on the Holland America cruise ship Zuiderdam with only a 6 hour stop to see the sights. Martin picked us up at the terminal with an air conditioned van and driver and proceeded to tour the city. He gave us a very complete tour and had us back to the ship on time. I especially enjoyed wandering through the old city. A very colorful experience! Thank you Martin. I would recommend Martin as an alternative to the ship tour package."

PhilA

December 11, 2014

"My wife and I and another couple were on a P & O cruise visiting Cartagena on February 23rd. After reading all the excellent reviews on Trip Advisor we booked Martin for a walking and sightseeing tour of Cartagena. From the moment we were met at the cruise port until our return Martin’s english commentary and knowledge of the city was superb. We would highly recommend Martin and his tours."

AndrewC

February 14, 2015

"Thanks Martin for an excellent guided tour of Cartagena. We especially appreciated the easy access to your group from the cruise ship (excellent directions and pickup) as well as timely return to the ship. In addition, you provided us with an excellent overview of your beautiful city and country. Your running commentary was outstanding. Thank you for making our day in Columbia one that we will never forget. Dan Blazer"

DanB

February 16, 2015

"Thoroughly enjoyed our tour with Martin while in Cartagena! We had a group of 7 and opted for a tour through his company as opposed to choosing a tour through the cruise line–we made the right decision!!! It was just our group, so it was very intimate. He was extremely knowledgeable about the area and the history. The tour took us through many parts of the city with stops at several locations. Martin was constantly providing us with information about every part of town we were in or the location we were stopped at. We enjoyed our ‘private’ tour with a most likeable and easy-going host, Martin!"

BrendaC

April 8, 2015

"“Our group of eight cruise ship passengers had Martin Rosales as our guide earlier this month We wanted a small-group tour with the chance to interact with our guide. We felt that the big bus tours from the ship did not offer this. As a result, he provided us with an exceptional day in Cartagena.I want everyone to know that our experience with him was beyond excellent. Every detail was executed perfectly, timely and professionally. Martin was prompt with his communication with me and always was willing to make changes to the schedule to fit what we wanted. He was flexible, knowledgeable, and a true professional. He has excellent English and always had a smile on his face. He really looked out for our safety which definitely put my wife at ease. Martin really made us feel welcomed He did a marvelous job and we felt that we had seen and learned a great deal about the city, it’s history as well as the country of Colombia in only 1/2-day.We strongly recommend using Martin Rosales for a well-crafted and very personal tour.”"

Orlando_Vic

April 10, 2015

"“I found Martin and Cartagena Tours through Trip Advisor. He was prompt in replying to all my questions. We contracted with him for a small group day tour of Cartagena while our ship was in port. Pick up and drop off at the port were timely and stress-free; the tour was excellent and Martin was a terrific guide. Our group thoroughly enjoyed our time in Cartagena because of Martin and Cartagena tours!We would all highly recommend this company if you are looking for a knowledgeable, experienced guide and a fun day in Cartagena!”"

MariaL

September 21, 2015

"Enjoyed our visit to Cartagena and Martin was a great guide. I booked this tour directly with Martin and we had a final group of 13 people from our ship, the Infinity. The tour was exactly what Martin had provided me with via email. We had a nice size van which was comfortable. He took us two forts including San Pedro Claver and San Felipe Fortress. He was very knowledgeable as we walked around the forts. We then went up to La Popa Monastery, which was very peaceful, as he planned our visit when the other tours from the ship were already gone. We had a nice walk around the old city with a brief visit to the marketplace (which was just the right amount of time about 15 minutes). Our last stop was the emerald museum, where we were provided with a nice tour, and then time to shop if one wished. Shopping was kept to a minimum, which is what I appreciated. I would highly recommend Martin to anyone – it was the best tour we were on during our entire cruise. Thank you."

galvirgo

October 24, 2015

"Organized a tour with Martin for a group from our cruise ship. Martin was excellent to deal with while setting up the tour. He answered emails within hours of sending them. Was very flexible as our numbers increased as more people on the ship joined us. He tailored the tour to our requests of more sites instead of shopping. Our guide Jose was excellent. He was very knowledgeable of Cartagena, the history of the area , the Caribean and carried out the tour at a perfect pace. The bus provided was brand new and very comfortable. For a VIP treatment and quality tour you can not go wrong with Martin and his employees at Cartagena Tour Guides"

Sandman1315

November 11, 2015

"We were on the Celebrity Infinity, and I decided to book a private tour with Martin instead of doing the “cattle call” ships tour. While we saw many of the same sights as the ship tours, our tour was customized to our preferences. We always arrived before the big buses on the ship tours and we left as the masses were arriving. We wanted to buy Columbian coffee, so Martin took us to a great coffee vendor. My wife ran across a cute boutique and ended up buying several dresses made in Columbia — no problem. In a city like Catagena where you are not traveling any distance from the ship, a private tour is the way to go — and Martin did a great job, for a price slightly higher than the ship charged. Well worth the minor extra cost."

AJKMissionViejo_CA

November 17, 2015

"“We spent a day in Cartagena off the Celebrity Equinox. Some friends from CruiseCritic arranged a small group tour of Cartagena using Cartagena Tour Guides. I highly recommend this company.Although I did not make the arrangements, I know that our friend felt that Cartagena Tour Guides were very responsive to his requests including adding quite a few people close to our sail date. Our guide, Jose Villa, met us as described and walked us to our brand new charter bus with lovely leather seats and great air conditioning.We made stops at La Popa, San Filipe fort, the walled city, the shopping bazaar and then a driving tour of the residential/hotel area along the beach. All of the stops were interesting though I much preferred the walled city over anything else as it is completely charming. Jose was an excellent guide with thorough knowledge of all we were seeing and the bus driver was very courteous and safe.While walking through the walled city, one of the guests began to have pain in his hip and was having trouble walking. Jose immediately figured out a plan to get him back to the bus while we continued to tour. The bus driver (sorry that I don’t remember his name) showed great compassion towards the guest. The company and their staff deserve high praise for keeping their guests’ safety and comfort always at the forefront of their service.Jose was very attuned to the group’s interest and listened to our requests (e.g. no one really wanted to shop so that stop was kept to a very quick minimum with no pressure to buy anything).A great day in a HOT city. Thank you Jose and Cartagena Tour guides.”"

ccrosner

November 23, 2015

"We were a group of Celebrity Equinox cruisers who were visiting Cartagena for two days in January, 2016. We decided to use a private tour company rather than the ship’s shore excursions. Martin Rosalies was our tour guide and we were completely satisfied with his services throughout the two days. From our very first communications via email, he was prompt in his replies, thorough in his explanations/directions, totally professional and spoke good English. Martin provided a fantastic tour of the city in a clean and comfortable, air-conditioned van and brought us to an excellent, five-star restaurant for lunch. He was very informative and knowledgeable, providing us with the rich history of this beautiful city. After talking to others on the ship, we realized that our private tour was much more resourceful than those offered through Celebrity. We would highly recommend Martin Rosalies, from Cartagena Tour Guides, to all who travel to Cartagena."

LBS48

January 24, 2016

"We had 2 days with Martin in Cartagena and we saw so much and learned so much. What a great resource! He was very organized, did everything and more on the schedule that he and we had decided on. Once he knew we love great food he picked restaurants that we loved. He REALLY knows everything and everybody so we never had to experience lines or waits. That is so important when you don’t have a lot of time in a port. We saw and did so much more than people who took excursions through the ship or on their own."

MJMadisonwi

February 1, 2016

"“I organised a trip with Martin after reading all the good reviews on Trip adviser.We were on a cruise back in February and Martin was there on time to greet us in his lovely air conditioned van.The trip was for about 4/ 5 hours and We all felt (6 of us) that it was a Fantastic trip…extremely knowledgeable and in all we could not fault it.He also has a driver which was equally as good so Martin is free to come with you asap up to the castle and different parts of town and explain to you all that needs to be known about the place.We loved Cartagena and if you are ever in this lovely City please don’t hesitate to give Martin a call or email or book him ahead if there are cruiships in as he is a very popular guide.Keep the good work up Martin y Saludos desde Espana.Un abrazo Teresa (tracy)”"

Tracyken2014

February 10, 2016

"“my husband and I had a fabulous day with Martin and his colleague , we had already visited cartegena on a ship’s cruise a few years ago, but this trip showed and taught us so much more.My husband has mobility problems, but they went out of their way to make his trip most enjoyable and even pushed the wheelchair when the going got tough!”"

gem1662017

February 20, 2016

"I booked Cartagena tour guide service based on the reviews I read on TripAdvisor. Martin is very responsive and accommodating. You can email him and he will get back to very quickly. His prices were very good compared to few other options. Martin had someone waiting for us by the cruise port who took us to him. Its such a personalizes service. Martin took us to show great spot through the city and customized it based on small kids we had and the heat of the day. He knew every spot and as tour guide provided lot of detailed information to us. He answered every questions we asked. We had lot of good discussion during our drives and he was happy to tell us the history of columbia. This was one of the best tour service I have used. I would highly recommend him."

JJ_FROM_NJ_US

April 13, 2016

"On a recent cruise onboard the Celebrity Equinox, we stopped at Cartagena, Colombia. Before we left home, we booked a tour online with Martin Rosales at Cartagena Tour Guides. We had a group of 13 people. We found the tour to be wonderful! Using a modern van which could accommodate up to 16 people, he and the driver skillfully gave us a complete tour of Cartagena. His narrative was excellent and provided enough, but not too much, information about the city. We had several in our group with mobility issues, Martin was mindful of their situation. Martin speaks very good English and is easy to understand. He encouraged questions along the way. Everyone in our group agreed, we would highly recommend Martin and the Cartagena Tour Guides."

jetman68ga

April 24, 2016

"We chose Cartagena Tour Guides, instead of taking one of the tours our ship (Celebrity Equinox) offered. The reviews we read on Trip Advisor made us confident we were selecting the right tour guide. One main reason is because my I use a walker, and my wife and I wanted to have more of a private tour which be at a slower pace and not keeping up with other guests. From the moment I contacted Cartagena Tour Guides to the minute they dropped us off at the ship, we couldn’t have asked or a better day in Cartagena, Columbia. Communication was prompt and precise, they were “on time”. Our Tour Guide, Jose and the driver did an ABOVE AND BEYOND job showing us everything presented in the schedule in a timely fashion. They were both very courteous, Jose very knowledgeable about his hometown, Cartagena, and he spoke beautiful English. Due to my limited mobility with stairs, long walks, Jose was very patient, and my wife would go with him while I visited areas closer/near to van (which was nicely air condotioned). We would strongly recommend Cartagena Tour Guides for your next tour….we will certainly use them again, when opportunity presents itself. Dr. A. Waltzer"

RW

November 2, 2016

"“I booked a tour for 5 couples arriving on the HAL ship Zuiderdam…we were escorted to the van by a gentleman who had a sign with my name on it. Getting to the van was enjoyable itself — going through a beautiful area with gorgeous foliage & colorful birds.Javier was our guide & he did a great job! We went to the fort on the waterfront, the monastery, old town with cobblestone streets & a historical Catholic church as well as the fort on the hill – all with great commentary & he answered all of our questions. We did have to revamp his itinerary because of misunderstanding of when we needed to be back on the ship & this was handled by Javier & the driver without hesitation.Martin responds to e-mails promptly & completely. If you are able to get a group together for his tours, the rates are discounted for the booker.”"

fpgirl

December 1, 2016

"Benny and his driver took us on a wonderful tour of the city. We stopped at all the main attractions, and Benny was willing to let us take as much time as we wanted. He made sure to get us back to the cruise ship in plenty of time. His vehicle was clean and air conditioned. Great tour"

TomC

December 21, 2016

"Martín Rosales made this short (cruise) stay in Cartagena a wonderful and interesting experience. He took us to as many places we could possibly go to in our short available time, was knowledgable, informative, friendly and made us feel welcome and appreciated. We had lots of fun with locals – speaking Spanish helps of course – and wish to return asap to see more of this fascinating city. Will always contact Martín Rosales as he really made this day a special one!"

WolfgangH

January 5, 2017

"I booked this tour several months before our Panama Cruise. Our group of four were in port for just a day and wanted to get a feel for the local culture and history…we were not disappointed! A young woman met us at the designated spot and time, then escorted us to the parking area where Martin and a driver met us. What a great sweep of the city we saw with Martin both in the van and on foot. Thank you for a memorable day!"

Ptroskos

January 8, 2017

"“My wife and I spent a day in Cartagena during a cruise. Since we were going to be there only for the day, I did research on T/A to find a tour guide that would take us around the city. While many had very good reviews and I am sure they go a good job, the consistently excellent reviews that Martin received convinced me to contact him and schedule his 5+ hour private tour. It proved to be money well spent and less than half of what I would have had to pay to take a ship-sponsored excursion with a bus load of people.Martin picked us up at the pier in an air-conditioned car (it is very hot in Cartagena!). He has an assistant who drives the car while Martin displays his vast knowledge of Cartagena, its history, people, neighborhoods, economy, etc.. The pride that he has in his city and country shows through easily and he was extremely interesting to listen to and exchange conversation with. His English is outstanding! We toured all of the main attractions and neighborhoods of Cartagena, and the benefit of having an assistant drive the car is that the we and Martin were dropped off at the front door of each attraction and at the end of that segment, our driver and nicely cooled car were waiting for us at the end and ready to take us to our next stop.My wife and I travel quite extensively and love going to new destinations. If we could find someone as competent and as interesting as Martin at each locale, I would be extremely happy. He made us want to return to the beautiful city of Cartagena again for a longer visit.”"

stevea

January 16, 2017

"We used this tour when our cruise visited Cartagena on 1/1/17. We had a large group of 50 – 60 persons and they handled it splendidly. Two persons in our group had to fly out that day and they waited for us while we were delayed by customs and port officials.They customized three different itineraries for our group and accommodated all of our requests (including two rides to the airport that day). They always responded our emails with many questions prior to the tour in a very timely manner. We highly recommend this tour."

Therese10

January 17, 2017

"We were on an Oceania cruise and had found the ship sponsored tours large and superficial. So, we booked Martin’s tour on TripAdvisor. Martin was there at the dock to greet our group of 7 and he and his driver took us around the city in a small van. He was extremely well informed and conversational. We saw more than I expected we could of this beautiful city and its culture. We even saw Bill and Hillary’s Cartagena home."

kathyh

January 18, 2017

"Our group of 8 from the Island Princess met guide Martin at the dock. A slight mix up regarding meeting point delayed us only a few minutes. The air conditioned van was welcome in the heat of Cartagena. We drove around Manga Island and saw some beautiful homes, as well as the fort. We drove up to the amazing La popa monastery and San Pedro Claver church. Great history lesson and a great view. We ultimately ended up inside the old walled city. Martin walked us around to all the historic sites. Stopped at Juan val dez for coffee purchases. It was a great tour – Cartagena is a beautiful city!"

kspearSalem_OR

January 18, 2017

"Martin took our group of 5 on a wonderful city tour. His love for his city showed in his enthusiasm for sharing it with us. We did both walking tour & driving through different areas of the city in a very comfortable, clean air conditioned van. Due to our ship’s late arrival, our time in port was a bit less than we anticipated, but he did a great job of fitting in all the things we wanted to see! THANKS!!"

paharlen

January 20, 2017

"“Martin was able to solve an issue we had right away when we met up. From theport to the actual city, you are taken care of start to finish. Martin was definitely knowledgeable and friendly and showed us the beautiful city. We highly recommend him!”"

exploradiva

January 23, 2017

"Just my wife, self, Martin and his driver, thus Martin focused on the wheres and whats of the tour stops. Picked us up right at the dock, hot day and his air conditioned car made my limited walking ability a cinch. As Princess cancelled the Nicaragua port, and the flu bug on board caught me just prior to Cabo port, these factors soured remainder of cruise. Martin added a couple of extra stops that cruise ship did not offer at our request. Suggest this private tour over any that cruise ship offered. Cruise stop here March 4, 2017."

whatsnewski

March 26, 2017

"Like many other TA reviewers, we were in Cartagena for one day on a cruise. Before leaving home, I researched the shore excursions offered by the cruise and by private tour companies. Because of TA reviews, Cartagena Tour Guides was an easy decision for me. Martin’s email communication was prompt and clear. He responded within hours, to answer any questions I had. When we arrived in Cartagena, we were greeted at the dock and Martin had a wheelchair awaiting for my mother-in-law. What I loved most about out tour, is that Martin took everyone’s needs into consideration. We would never had had that on a shore excursion. We visited most of the highlights we wanted to see (the monastery was closed for repair), and we walked and drove through the streets of Cartagena. Martin’s driver was safe, professional and he helped my mum-in-law purchase little trinkets from street vendors, while the rest of us were climbing around the fortress! The van was comfortable and air-conditioned, thank goodness, because it was quite a humid day. We were never rushed, and we all enjoyed a mojito (except Martin) at an outside restaurant in the main square. Whatever you wish to do in Cartagena, Martin and his team will come through for you!"

GAHF

April 16, 2017

"I found this company on Trip Advisor and booked our tour well in advance of our cruise. Martin responded to all email correspondences and he gave us our tour. He has a driver so he can focus on giving the tour. Cartagena was very hot so having the air conditioned car was a pleasure. Cartagena is such an interesting place and Martin really gave us more information than we would have gotten ourselves. He really knows Cartagena. We didn’t really have any wasted time as the driver could drop us off and pick us up easily. Although Martin covers all of the highlights, there was time to add in a few things of particular interest to us. We were in Cartagena for part of the day and there was no problem making it back to the cruise ship in time. We enjoyed every minute of the tour. We moved at our pace and it was great not having to wait for stragglers in the big group tours. Outstanding tour!!!"

Helaineusa

April 23, 2017

"“My husband and myself and six others from our cruise ship spent the day with Martin. I had booked with Martin several months in advance and he was always very prompt to respond and answer my questions.Prior to the tour, Martin sent me a detailed map and instructions for where he would meet our group coming from the cruise line. His map was excellent and he was waiting with a very new and clean van for the 8 of us. In all of my small group tours, I have never had such a nice, roomy van. Plenty of legroom and easy to get in and out of. Martin had a driver so that he could turn his attention to us. His English is excellent and he is enthusiastic about his city. It was raining off and on and Martin provided nice large umbrellas for us to use as we toured various sights. At every stop the driver would put down a step stool to make it easier to exit the van and then help us out. We did the City tour of the Old City. We had stops at San Felipe Fortress, the Pope monastery on top of a hill with a 360 view of the city, a nice walk in Old Town and then a stop at a handicrafts market. Old Town is lovely…beautiful flowers, buildings had been refurbished and we stopped for a Cartagena specialty – coconut lemonade. It was delicious and refreshing.I often book private tours at ports that we stop at. This had to be one of the best tours we have taken anywhere! I very highly recommend Martin’s company, Cartagena Tour Guides. They will take excellent care of you and make you feel so welcome to their beautiful city.”"

Keoweecruiser

October 4, 2017

"We enjoyed the tour and were able to see lots of Cartegena. I would advise taking extra bottled water even though your guide provides 1 bottle. It is very hot during the day when you are walking up and down ramps at the fort. Private tours are so much better the ship’s cruise excursions, because you get to feel the culture."

236stephenv

October 11, 2017

"“I contacted Martin Rosales of Cartagena Tour Guides, months ahead of our cruise for a private tour with our group of 14 (ages 16 to 74). He was always very quick to respond to my emails and gave great instructions on where to meet. We were quick to get off the cruise ship once it was docked, and were greeted by a lovely young gal with a big smile holding a sign with our name. We were able to get to many areas before the buses from cruise ship tours arrived. Martin is very proud of his city and gave us a wonderful 4 hour tour visiting the old parts along with the modern. We had a very nice, clean & roomy, air conditioned vehicle. Our driver was great, and he was always ready to help at each stop, with a little step stool and taking our hand to help us down.It was great not having to pay for the tour until the end, which was in USD and so very reasonable.Martin was a very personable & knowledgeable guide, who provided a very comfortable atmosphere. We would highly recommend him to others visiting beautiful Cartagena.Thank You Martin for making our stop in Cartagena so enjoyable.”"

LilO

February 15, 2018

"Martin is awesome! Making the arrangements was very easy, via email. He is fluent in English and very easy to understand. He and his driver were waiting at the dock as arranged. Martin, my husband and I were dropped off in downtown and we we spent the next 6 hours together exploring and learning about Cartagena. We had wanted to eat some authentic food and he took us to a local place for Arepas. We toured all the known places as well as the theater and a 1700s house now converted to a bed and breakfast. This allowed us to climb to the roof to get an arial view of Cartagena. We saw the Botero sculpture, the university and GGM memorial. We climbed the fort and all along felt very comfortable. It wa supposed to be a 4 hour tour and it turned out to be more like 6. His driver picked us up at the base of the port and we were dropped back off ta the pier. I recommend him highly. Dont hesitate, book him now!!"

MCB28

May 13, 2018

"Four of us went on a private tour with Martin when our cruise ship stopped in Cartagena. Excellent tour!. Totally customized, stopping whenever we asked, adjusting to change in ship itinerary. Well worth the money!"

ledpost

May 19, 2018

"Three of us went on a private tour arranged through Martin when our cruise ship docked in Cartagena in April. Email arrangements were quick and accurate; we were met on time at a location that was easy to access. Our tour guide David spoke excellent English and knew both historical and current information about the city and sights. Our driver Felix was courteous and experienced. Tour was adapted to meet my daughter’s shopping request and my husband’s bum knee. Would highly recommend."

Beaubaygirl

June 1, 2018

"“Martin Rosales confirmed our tour quickly by email..What a delightful experience..Saw the Old and New areas of Cartagena…I highly recommend this tour company..Very knowledgeable..courteous..Just a delightful experience..Price was much less than ships price and it was private just for us..We were delivered back to our ship safe and sound…..”"

dbrouse1

November 17, 2018

"“This tour was great! I arranged the tour with Martin, the owner of the company and was pleased with his quick response.Our tour guides were at port early so they were there to meet us as soon as we got off the ship.We had a driver, Winnie and a guide,Elquin. Elquin was spoke fluent English so there was no communication problems. He was very knowledgeable and gave us a great tour.I would definitely recommend Cartagena Tour Guides.”"

Cruiser38681544327

November 25, 2018

"“When our cruise ship stopped at Cartagena (Colombia). We would like to see more of Cartagena since each optional excursion organized by the cruise ship could only visit a subset of Cartagena icons. Hence we decided to contact Cartagena Tour Guides after intensive internet research.It was a prompt and professional response from Martin from the first email till the final shore excursion booking confirmation.The instruction how to meet him was very clear and accurate. We left the ship after it docked, walked less than 10 minutes from the ship exit to meet Cartagena Tour Guides representative who held a sign with our names. Then we walked another 5 minutes with the representative to meet Martin.We had wonderful time, car is very nice and with air conditioning. We felt secured for the entire excursion. Martin explained the history of each icons in very details. We enjoyed the explanation tremendously.We visited Manga Island, Las Bóvedas, The cathedral of Cartagena, Plaza de la proclamación and Plaza de Bolívar, La Popa Monastery and San Felipe Fortress,Walking Tour Inside the walled City.Note that La Popa Monastery could only be visited by small car since the entrance and road were narrow.The main thing is that you can trust Cartagena Tour Guides to look after you and make sure you have a good time, seeing as many Cartagena icons as we like, specially the stopover was less than 8 hours.We are glad that we booked with Cartagena Tour Guides.Thank you, Martin”"

lieninh

November 28, 2018

"We (two couples, age 60) booked Martin for a tour in mid-December 2018 as we were in Cartagena off a cruise ship. Everything met or exceeded expectations. The tour was timely, the transport comfortable and the narrative detailed and interesting. Martin was a good communicator before arrival. Other friends have already booked Martin on our recommendation. Don’t hesitate to customize the tour to your needs and interests."

Craig B

December 19, 2018

"Not satisfied with the mega bus tours we usually get from choosing a cruise excursion, we found Martin Rosales via Trip Advisor. First clue that he would be great was his quick response to my email request for information. He is very communicative. We were a group of 6 adults off a cruise ship. 5 of the 6 had never been to Cartagena before. Martin was there at the docks to meet us with a nice air-conditioned van. Extremely informative of the city, its history, it many sights,….we saw it all, yet at a pace of our choosing. You want to see this city on a limited schedule, Martin is your tour guide."

Ron H

December 24, 2018

"I booked this tour through Martin Rosales and I must say I received prompt replies to all correspondence. We were a total of 17 people from a cruise ship and wanted to book a private tour independently. We were not disappointed, David was our tour guide and William our driver.…"

marija

February 18, 2019

"Excellent tour with much consideration for elderly such as walking to top of fort. He kept a pace to see as much as we could in the time the cruise ship allowed, yet provided needed breaks at some plazas."

Ole D

February 19, 2019

"We had a great guide called David really interesting facts and took us to a tasty – just what was needed – ice cream shop! Great city would recommend a visit. Obviously not wealthy but money is being put into refurbishing the beautiful old buildings. We were on a cruise and were dropped off in car park with a walk to the ship. Had to walk through a wonderful bird sanctuary lots of parrots flying about, iguanas, birds of paradise and fantastic Carribean dancers. Great end to a wonderful day."

Dawn

March 6, 2019

"We were four people from a cruise ship who wanted to see only certain special areas and have a Vegan lunch, and learn things. Our guide spoke excellent English, followed our requests perfectly and we liked his choices of additional ideas. He made sure that we got to a restaurant that had food to our liking. I have no idea what their other options are, but if you ask, they will let you know."

Cathy Church

July 6, 2019