Visit San Basilio de Palenque, a piece of Africa's heart in America
5.0
3 Ratings
Cartagena de Indias
Explore San Basilio de Palenque: Dive into rich culture, history, and local traditions. Experience authentic hospitality, local cuisine, and vibrant music.
Duration: 5 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Pasaje Badillo - We’ll pick you up at your location, drive southeast of Cartagena for about 1 hour, pass by local neighbourhoods, the Industrial area and villages that surround the city to finally head to the African Village of San Basilio de Palenque.

  • Monumento a Benkos Bioho - Come and visit the heart of Africa in America declared human heritage site since 2008! This village founded in the middle of the colonial times offered a refuge for Africans who escaped slavery. Nowadays it has become a symbol of freedom and hope.

In this tour, you will visit different important spots in the village with a passionate, knowledgeable local guide that will tell you about the history, heritage and oral tradition of this little piece of Africa in the heart of the Maria Mountains in Colombia.

You will know about the personalities that made this village proud and visible for the whole world, as you will be able to enjoy the food and dancing -two of the strongest traditions passed through generations to this day- and above all, you will discover the vibrant culture of its people!

  • Pasaje Badillo - Drive about 1 hour to comeback to your Hotel in Cartagena
What's Included
  • Private transportation
  • Bottled water
  • Lunch
  • In-vehicle air conditioning
What's Not Included
  • Tips and expandable money.
Additional Information

This tour focus on the culture and history of Palenque. It allows its visitors to feel the village just as a local, interact with them and experience the hospitality of its inhabitants.

Come and enjoy the first free village of blacks in the entire Americas! Born in the middle of colonial times from revolution for freedom and hope, this village has become the birthplace of personalities like Box World Champion “Kid” Pambelé.

Come and meet a local, passionate and knowledgeable guide who will tell you their story and show you what makes this village different from any other. Try local food, sing and dance with locals happy to share its traditions with the world.

Location
Pasaje Badillo
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(3 Ratings)
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1 star
Shervin
Mar 16, 2023
When your guide is the queen of Cartagena, your tours are a bit better than the rest. - After mountain biking with Cindy all day, I asked her what else she offered as a guide. She then explained I could go to village of an African king, and box and dance and meet locals. I said of course. This experience was a truly beautiful and unique experience. To be able to have experience this with Cindy had to be different. She literally is walking into her friends houses and giving me tours. It’s insane when your tour guide already has a bunch of friends and is well respected in the area. Believe it or not, while you are there, you get to see what life is like outside all commercialized life. You get to feel more organic heartfelt people than anywhere else. I was most interested in Palenque because I am a boxer and I could to actually take a real lesson with real Colombian pro boxers who live in train in Palenque where so many of the greats are from. I asked them 1000 questions and they were so happy to rapid fire take turns answering all my questions. The amount of love those boxers had for sharing their experience was insane. Even if you have never ever boxed before, COME TRY THIS, but especially if you have, they can teach you the heart of South American boxing. I have to hand it to Cindy, this tour was unbelievable. It was so cool to follow such a well respected guide through such a remote part of the jungle. God bless! I also ate iguana eggs. All the boxers were eating them, so of course I had to try it. It was amazing and is my new favorite food. I have to find iguana eggs in Boston now somehow!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Select Date and Tickets
up to 10 guests
1 Adult
June 2024
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