If you want to dig beneath the tourist sites and really learn about the culture and history of Colombia, this 'Freedom Tour' of San Basilio de Palenque is ideal. With a knowledgeable local tour guide you'll visit a variety of places that demonstrate how the distinct African culture has been maintained for centuries. Learn about traditional music and dance, folk medicine, and Palenque's unique language.

A fun and educational tour for curious travelers
This private tour can be customized to suit your needs
A Palenquero lunch and drink of rum will be provided
Transfers from Cartagena hotels are include

What's Included

Lunch
Air-conditioned vehicle
Transportation to and from hotel in Cartagena
Profesional local
Demonstration of traditional dance and music
Alcoholic Beverages

Meeting And Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Start time

08:00 AM

Pickup details

we try to pick up all clients at your hotel if it is impossible to pick them up at your hotel for some reason we will contact you and give you a meeting point.

What To Expect

Monumento a Benkos Bioho

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Service animals allowed

Infant seats available
Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

about cancellations.

Traveler Photos

Traveler Tips

Also bring some water, cool clothes and comfortable shoes and an umbrella or hat (for shade) because it is hot in the sun.

It would be quite comfortable for 2 or 3 people.

Reviews

5.0

208 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

Showing 1-10 of 208 reviews

Extremely Educational

Charlotte_B, May 2023

The postive: Extremely educational! Learned a tremendous amount of knowledge that will stay with me forever! This tour really makes you appreciate your life and how fortunate we are. Opportunities to improve: It would be helpful to state in the tour description that the drive is 90 minutes to get there from Cartagena. Second we were told the night before the tour that we would be picked up at 7:40 we rushed to get ready and skipped breakfast and was not actually picked up until 8:25 Better communication would enhance the experience. If you are going on this tour. Eat a breakfast and bring a couple of bottles of water and snacks!

Amazing!

Ezinne_E, May 2023

Eric was an amazing tour guide who was really engaging in his storytelling of the Palenque community and also really fun at the same time. Probably the best part of my trip and lunch was the best food I had in Colombia

Must see!

Robblynn_G, May 2023

The Freedom Tour of Palenque was outstanding! Our tour guide, Ronald, was beyond amazing! We were picked up on time. Learned lots of history and how this community is still important to this day and should never be forgotten. I highly recommend this tour. You will enjoy it!

A must!

Stephon_A, May 2023

Glad we chose this excursion. It was very informative and you are immersed in culture from beginning to end.

Phenomenal

Jerome_H, May 2023

This was a great & very educational tour I would suggest it's a must see when in Colombia, the host was great I felt safe the whole time it's. It something they teach in school even though it's very significant to our history.

Excellent Tour

Michael_D, May 2023

Great tour! The guide and driver were great. The locals in Palenque were very welcoming and I feel like we got a great overview of the history and culture of this unique place. Lunch was delicious and they happily accommodated dietary needs. Highly recommend if you’re in Cartagena.

Best tour to Palengue

Candace_B, May 2023

There’s so much culture knowledge and history in one town! There’s so much to see learn and take away with you. The food is soooo good the people are nice. This is a must see your when visiting Cartagena you won’t regret it.

1 traveler found this review helpful

The Black Experience in Palenque

Lynell_R, Apr 2023

If you like to experience different cultures , then you should take this tour. It was great to see the black experience from a different perspective. There are definitely shared experience and commonalities that we have in our histories. The people were warm and welcoming. Everyone knows everyone there. Erik, our tour guide, made us feel like we belong there. I learned so much.

Educational, Inspirational and memorable.

gpalmer88, Apr 2023

This was the best choice I could have made. I love learning about the Palenque people and their truly inspirational journey. One of the girls got sick on our trip and our tour guide offered up his family home so she could rest up. I felt like part of the family. Super cool experience. There were too many difference experiences to list them all. We made music, danced, boxed ate, and laughed. 10/10

Erik was a great tour...

Najiyah_W, Apr 2023

Erik was a great tour guide. Very personable and knowledgeable. The town people were welcoming & made me feel at home. Lunch was delicious. Great tour. Highly recommend.

April 2023

Carlan_M, Apr 2023

Visited with my 17 year old niece. Communication was smoothe and easy from beginning to end. The drive from the city to the town is roughly an hour. Our driver offered to make stops along the way for bathroom and food. We were greeted by Eric and given these beautiful keepsake towels which is needed. The sun is HAWT!! Please keep in mind that this is a living town with current residents. Please be respectful while moving through during the town. We saw the beautiful artwork, some greetings. We stopped at the boxing gym, saw the school. Visited the museum. Took a drum and dance lesson. This tour was so RICH! It was humbling beautiful. It is a must! Eric you are the best and thank you for your time and wisdom! Forever grateful

1 traveler found this review helpful

Amazing Tour

Erica_B, Apr 2023

This tour was amazing from beginning to end! Eric arrived to pick me up at exactly the time he said he would. He was very informative and kind. I would recommend this tour to everyone. Thank you Eric for everything!

Great day trip

James_W, Apr 2023

Amazing tour, picked me up on time and it was an easy ride. Learning the story of Palenque was great

Amazing guides. Beautiful community.

tcgbs4yzz9, Apr 2023

Erick was our tour guide and Edwin was our driver. Both were amazing and very well connected and known within the community. Felt like a private tour. Learned so much about Palenge/Palenque history and culture while experiencing the community. It is HOT, so wear comfy, breathable clothing and walking shoes.

1 traveler found this review helpful

Historical and Beautiful

Chantale_S, Mar 2023

This tour was packed with so much historical information. I thoroughly enjoyed the visit to the museum, the visit to the medicine man, the graffiti and the food. Our tour guide Erik was kind and informative.

It was nice to learn...

Winston_R, Mar 2023

It was nice to learn about black culture in palenque. The people were nice and the tour was very informative. I would recommend it as a must see.

Palenque a hidden gem

Ayana_R, Mar 2023

This was a great experience, especially for those who want to know more about Columbian black history. I am black person from Jamaica but the history and pride shown in this community really resonated with me. The food, clothing, culture reminds me of my home country. Please wear comfortable clothing, wear sun screen and a hat if you go during warm season. Also, many thanks to our driver Jason taking us safely there and back. Erick was very kind, knowledgeable and passionate about sharing the history Palenque. Please support and visit the community.

The dancing, boxing, and...

Sheena_C, Mar 2023

The dancing, boxing, and overall culture was amazing. It was a beautiful experience. Our tour guide was absolutely the best.

1 traveler found this review helpful

A great day-trip out of Colombia

George_R, Mar 2023

A great tour with a superb guide, Erik. He and the villagers showed a fierce sense of pride of their culture, food, language, history, tradition, and Black heritage. Erik picked us up at our hotel. Communication was excellent. Small group - 4, making it so comfortable. We have always had great experience with Viator Tours - price, communication, level of service, expertise of guides. Highly recommend

Erik’s love shined through!

Simone_M, Mar 2023

So many memorable parts of this trip- from our guide Erik’s clear love and conviction for his homeland and people, to the young dancers, to the music we made, the hospitality and the history shared with us. I loved how interactive it was, and as a Caribbean American, it was great to learn the struggles of the enslaved here and how they gained their freedom. Everyone should definitely do this tour.

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