Cartegena Colombia and surrounding area.
Colombia | Jan 6 - Jan 12, 2026

Martha
Martha G.
Grand Marais, MN | Reviewed on Jan 13, 2026

Guides were knowledgeable and very kind. All of the tours that we arranged were informative.
Cartegena: hit the highlights- really enjoyed the street food tour. Kayaking lovely but would be good to know that you are just going from one to point and back between land and island. Fishing was informative and a pleasant ride through the mangroves.
Santa Marta- Sebastian was a very articulate and knowledgeable tour guide. I feel we got an excellent tour. It was really nice to see something outside of Cartagena. And it was cooler.
Aaron was excellent and so knowledgeable. The highlight for us was the home that attracted so many beautiful birds. And we had an excellent lunch. Coffee plantation was OK but it would be good to know that we would not see any active work at the factory nor did we see a field of coffee plants. Waterfall lovely but could skip that.

Hotel Reviews
GHL Hotel Armería Real
Cartagena

It had an old charm. Staff were very friendly and kind. Location was wonderful.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Safe area to walk wherever.
Staff
Samir…
Cleanliness & Comfort
2 separate rooms & full bath
Hilton Garden Inn Santa Marta
Santa Marta

Easy walking distance to everything

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Kajak Adventure in Tierrabomba
Kajak Adventure in Tierrabomba
Cartagena

Let people know that they can swim when they arrive at the island

Guides, Drivers and Staff
Cartagena City Tour
Cartagena City Tour
Cartagena
La Boquilla Fishing Trip
La Boquilla Fishing Trip
Cartagena

An exposure to a whole different level of life - not just in the town, but of course the fishing community itself.

Cartagena Street Food Tour
Cartagena Street Food Tour
Cartagena
Santa Marta City Tour
Santa Marta City Tour
Colombia
Nature, Waterfalls & Coffee Farm in Minca
Nature, Waterfalls & Coffee Farm in Minca
Colombia

I would include more stops to see the birds and butterflies. The waterfall has a lot of steps so be prepared.

Local specialist: Michael Gold
Michael
Michael Gold
Local specialist in San Agustín, Huila, Colombia | Replied on Jan 13, 2026
Dear Martha,
thank you very much for taking the time to share such a thoughtful and detailed review. I’m really happy to hear that you enjoyed the guides, the different tours, and the experiences outside Cartagena, such as Santa Marta and Minca. It’s great to know those moments stood out for you.
I also truly appreciate your constructive feedback. Your notes about better setting expectations for the kayaking route, swimming opportunities, the coffee farm visit, and the physical demands at the...
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Dear Martha,
thank you very much for taking the time to share such a thoughtful and detailed review. I’m really happy to hear that you enjoyed the guides, the different tours, and the experiences outside Cartagena, such as Santa Marta and Minca. It’s great to know those moments stood out for you.
I also truly appreciate your constructive feedback. Your notes about better setting expectations for the kayaking route, swimming opportunities, the coffee farm visit, and the physical demands at the waterfall are very valuable. We will definitely use this input to communicate more clearly and fine-tune these experiences for future travelers.
It was a pleasure having you travel with us, and I’m glad Colombia left you with meaningful impressions - both cultural and natural. Thank you again for your trust and openness.
Warm regards,
Michael & The Chaska Tours Team