Walk through the history and magic of the Walled City with an expert local guide.
History in Every Step
Our walking tour of Cartagena de Indias takes you through the streets of the Walled City, allowing you to experience the rich history of “The Heroic City” with every step you take. Accompanied by an experienced tour guide, you will discover the secrets, legends, and colonial architecture that make Cartagena a unique place in the world. It will be an unforgettable experience.
Your Historical Tour Itinerary
A journey through the centuries, designed to captivate you.
Meeting Point & Introduction
We will meet at an emblematic place like the Clock Tower, where your guide will give you a brief introduction to the fascinating history of the city.
Exploring Squares & Streets
We will walk through the most important squares like Plaza de Bolívar and Plaza de Santo Domingo, and get lost in the colorful streets full of flowered balconies.
Stories, Myths & Legends
Your guide will share stories of pirates, slavery, and independence, as well as the myths and legends hidden in every corner of the walled city.
Conclusion & Recommendations
The tour will end at a central point, where your guide will be happy to give you local recommendations on restaurants, shops, and other activities.
Benefits of Your Private Tour
An experience designed exclusively for you.
Professional Tour Guide
Personalized Itinerary
Flexible Schedule
Local Recommendations
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Walled City of Cartagena?
The Walled City (Centro Historico) is the incredibly preserved colonial heart of Cartagena, surrounded by ancient stone walls built to protect the city from pirate attacks.
What is included in the Cartagena walking tour?
The tour includes an expert, bilingual local guide who walks you through the colorful streets, historic plazas, ancient churches, and the bohemian Getsemani neighborhood.
How long is the walking tour?
Our standard walking tour lasts about 3 hours. It is paced comfortably with stops in shade and options to buy water or coffee.
When is the best time of day to take a walking tour?
We highly recommend starting early at 8:30 AM or late at 4:00 PM. This helps you avoid the severe midday tropical heat and enjoy the best lighting for photography.
Will we visit Getsemani on the walking tour?
Yes, the tour usually bridges both the immaculate colonial streets of the historic center and the vibrant, mural-filled alleys of the Getsemani neighborhood.
Do we go up on the city walls?
Yes! Walking along sections of the ancient stone walls (Las Murallas) is a highlight of the tour, offering great views of the Caribbean Sea.
Is the walking tour strenuous?
The tour is generally easy and the terrain is flat. However, the cobblestone streets require comfortable walking shoes, and the tropical heat requires you to stay hydrated.
Can we stop for coffee or snacks during the tour?
Absolutely. With a private guide, you set the pace. If you want to stop for a famous Colombian coffee or a street snack, your guide will take you to the best spots.
Where does the walking tour start?
We can start the tour directly from your hotel lobby if you are staying in the historic center or Getsemani, or at a designated central meeting point like the Clock Tower.
Why do I need a guide to walk the city?
While you can walk the streets alone, a guide transforms the experience. They reveal the dark history of the Inquisition, decode the meanings behind the antique door knockers, and stop you from missing hidden gems.
Inquire about Private Walking Tour
TripAdvisor4.8★(270 reviews)
What Travelers Say About Us
Real reviews from real travelers — updated every 15 days from TripAdvisor.
★★★★★ February 2026
"Sightseeing tour of Cartagena by car"
I am grateful to Martin and our guide Margarita for organizing a wonderful private sightseeing tour of Cartagena by car. Martin was the only organizer who provided a very clear description of the service, a transparent p…
My husband and I took a cruise to Cartagena and contacted Martin to be our tour guide. Neither one of us can walk far — we use scooters. Martin and his staff got the scooters into his car and off we went for four wonderf…
Our family of four had a very interesting private tour of most of Cartagena's touristic sites, very well organized by Mildred. A comfortable car, a great driver and Jaime — the perfect guide for such a tour. We had a lot…
Initial contact was with Mildred who was very helpful. Her husband Martin was the guide — very knowledgeable, and the driver was very good. We were able to visit the aviary and even got in a few minutes before it opened,…
Perfect Cruise Excursion in Cartagena. Wonderful, Informative Tour from Start to Finish. Great Way to See Cartagena in One Day. Outstanding Service and Knowledgeable Guide. Stress-Free and Well Organized Experience. A Mu…
Martin was so easy to contact and gave us a wonderful experience. Saw some amazing sights and we were looked after very well. Our group were travelling on a world cruise and were very happy to get such a reasonable rate.…
Martin was a very knowledgeable and friendly tour guide! We really enjoyed the walking tour — and it was 45 degrees outside! I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone visiting Cartagena.
This was the second time in 3 months that we took this tour with Señor Martin — first in Dec. 2024 with my wife, and now in March 2025 with my son. Señor Martin is very knowledgeable, very kind, his English is very good.…
Martin was fantastic! He customized a tour for our 2 families. We only had 4 hours to see the city and he picked us up from the airport, gave us a 3-hour tour of the city and transported us an hour to our hotel in Baru. …
Highly recommend Martin and Cartagena Tour Guides. Martin was easy to communicate with via email. For the day of the tour, we were set up with JJ (Jacinto) and he was terrific! He knew so much about Cartagena and was ver…
Don Martín tiene un gran conocimiento de la ciudad y de su historia. Nos dio un tour sumamente completo, lleno de explicaciones sobre la historia de Cartagena y sobre su vida actual. Sin duda es una forma muy completa de…
"Fantastic, incredibly accommodating and great atmosphere"
Martin is amazing. We booked a private tour of Cartagena with only ten hours' notice, after midnight, via WhatsApp. He picked up our party of 7 (3 generations of family) in a luxurious, air-conditioned van, holding up a …
I cannot recommend Martin highly enough! I am in a wheelchair due to a spinal cord injury. Martin secured a vehicle I could get in and out of with assistance. The elevator at the monastery had been knocked out by lightni…
En los 10 días de estadía en Cartagena hemos compartido muchas excursiones las cuales fueron acompañadas por distintos guías de los cuales sólo puedo decir que son personas con mucho carisma, muy amables y serviciales. T…
Martin was a great guide. The entire family enjoyed our two-hour walking tour of the old city. Highly recommend it if you are planning a visit to Cartagena.
We had an outstanding tour with Martin. He showed us the best of Cartagena as well as some unique areas. We highly recommend Martin — we had a nice time. Driving in an air-conditioned vehicle was also a comfort. Thank yo…
Eduardo did an amazing job during our touring around Cartagena. We have 2 kids and he really took them into consideration during the tour regarding content, stamina and the heat! Highly recommend.
We had a great guide called David — really interesting facts and took us to a tasty ice cream shop! Great city, would recommend a visit. We were on a cruise and ended with a walk through a wonderful bird sanctuary with l…
Great Tour around and through the beautiful Old City of Cartagena, with one of the greatest guides — Captain Kirk! Very good explanations about the city and visit of some special places away from the typical tourist spot…
Excellent tour with much consideration for elderly guests, such as not walking to the top of the fort. He kept a great pace to see as much as we could in the time the cruise ship allowed, yet provided needed breaks at so…
El día de hoy tuvimos el placer de tomar un tour en la ciudad de Cartagena de Indias con Cartagena Tour Guides y fue de lo mejor. Martin Rosales nos recibió en el puerto de cruceros e iniciamos nuestro tour en un auto pr…
I booked this tour through Martin Rosales and received prompt replies to all correspondence. We were 17 people from a cruise ship wanting a private tour. David was our guide and William our driver. We had a lovely tour o…
We returned this past November and did a tour again with Martin. It was a very nice day spent with Martin and his driver. We were not rushed in any way — we avoided the crowds and had a very nice day. As we will be retur…
My husband and I opted for the private Taste & Eat Cartagena food tour and it was well worth it. I definitely recommend going on an empty stomach as you are eating throughout the tour. The first thing we ate were arepas …
My only regret about our tour with Martin is that we didn't book it for the first day of our trip! Martin is a local and he knows so much about Cartagena. He responded to my request within an hour, and we scheduled a tou…
I must praise Martin Rosales on how quickly he responded to my frantic email trying to arrange a private tour with a walker only 4 days before we needed it. Martin came through with a wonderful guide JZ and driver Oscar.…
Martin Rosales is a 'Cartagenero' — he has lived here all his life as has his family. He is extremely knowledgeable and speaks very good English. My wife and I booked a private tour and he and his driver picked us up at …
