Last Updated on 02/10/2026
Private Tour Guides in Cartagena de Indias: Walled City, Castillo San Felipe and the Rosario Islands
Licensed guides, private walking tours, fortress visits and island days on Colombia’s Caribbean coast
A private guide in Cartagena, Colombia works for your group only: the Walled City and San Diego on foot, the street art and plazas of Getsemaní, the Castillo San Felipe de Barajas and La Popa by car, or a full day by boat to the Rosario Islands. In Colombia a professional tour guide holds a Tarjeta Profesional de Guía de Turismo issued by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism. On this page you will find what that licence means, what a private guide costs, sample programmes, the best months to go and answers to common questions.
Alvaro M.
Each guide profile lists the languages the guide works in and the programmes they offer. Write to the guide from the profile to agree on the day, the route and the price.
The Clock Tower gate (Torre del Reloj) of the Walled City (ai illustrated)
Licensed Tour Guides in Colombia: What the Tarjeta Profesional Means
A licensed guide in Cartagena is a guide who holds the Tarjeta Profesional de Guía de Turismo. The profession is regulated by Article 94 of Law 300/1996, the General Tourism Law, as amended by Article 26 of Law 1558/2012. The detailed rules sit in Decree 1074/2015, the single regulatory decree for commerce, industry and tourism, whose guide section was rewritten by Decree 1053/2020.
Under Decree 1053/2020 the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism (MinCIT) issues the licence directly; before that, the Consejo Profesional de Guías de Turismo did. The licence does not expire and does not need to be renewed. The law also requires a professional guide to show knowledge of a second language.
Guides in Colombia count as tourism service providers. As such they register in the Registro Nacional de Turismo (RNT), the national tourism register, and update that registration every year.
In practice this gives you two numbers to ask for before you book: the guide’s Tarjeta Profesional number and the RNT number. A guide working under the national rules will have both and can show you the license card on the day.
English-Speaking Guides and Other Languages
Because the professional licence requires a second language, an English-speaking guide is a realistic request in Cartagena, both for visitors staying in the city and for cruise passengers with a day in port.
The languages each guide works in are listed on their profile above. If you need a guide in a language that is not shown there, write to us through the form at the end of this page and say which language and which dates you have in mind.
A private guide adds most at the Palacio de la Inquisición and the Castillo San Felipe, where the history of the colonial port, the Holy Office and the city’s defences makes more sense when someone connects the rooms and the ramparts for you.
Private Tours in Cartagena: Types and Sample Programmes
Private tours in Cartagena fall into five groups. The city centre is small enough to walk; the fortress, La Popa and the day trips need a vehicle or a boat. All five can be combined over two or three days.
Walking Tours of the Walled City
The historic centre, San Diego and Getsemaní on foot, with stops at the plazas, churches and the walls.
Fortress and Viewpoint Tours
Castillo San Felipe de Barajas and the convent on La Popa hill, the highest point of the city, by car.
Rosario Islands Boat Days
A full day at sea in the national marine park off the coast of Cartagena, reached only by boat.
Cultural Day Trips
San Basilio de Palenque, the Afro-Colombian town about 50 km from Cartagena, with a guide who knows its history.
Shore Excursions
Half-day private programmes timed around a cruise ship’s hours in port.
The three city programmes below show how a guide usually builds a half day or a short walk. Times and routes are agreed with the guide in advance.
The Walled City and San Diego
The walk starts at the Clock Tower gate and covers Plaza de los Coches, Plaza de Bolívar with the Palacio de la Inquisición, the cathedral and the streets of San Diego, ending on the walls. The Walled City is the core of the UNESCO World Heritage site “Port, Fortresses and Group of Monuments, Cartagena”, inscribed in 1984. A guide explains how the colonial port worked, who lived in which quarter and how the walls were built and used.
Colonial balconies in the Walled City (ai illustrated)
Getsemaní: Plazas, Street Art and Local Life
Getsemaní is the neighbourhood next to the Walled City, known for its painted streets and small plazas. A short walk with a guide works well in the late afternoon after the heat of the day, and it can be added to the Walled City walk to make a full day.
Painted streets of Getsemaní
Castillo San Felipe de Barajas and La Popa
The Castillo San Felipe de Barajas stands on a hill in the Pie del Cerro district. With its tunnels and passageways it is regarded as the most complex Spanish fortress in the Americas. From there the route climbs by car to the convent on La Popa hill, founded by Augustinian friars in 1607, for a view over the whole bay. Vehicle and entry tickets are paid separately from the guide’s fee.
Ramps and batteries of the Castillo San Felipe de Barajas
Day Trips from Cartagena with a Private Guide
Two full-day programmes take you out of the city: one by sea, one inland. In both cases the guide’s day rate covers the guide; the boat or the vehicle is booked and paid as a separate item.
Rosario Islands National Park
The Rosario Islands belong to the Corales del Rosario y de San Bernardo National Natural Park and can be reached only by sea. A park entry fee applies, and the authorities check that visitors carry accident and assistance insurance before they land on the islands or on Barú. A guide on board handles the timing of the crossing, the stops and the park formalities.
Corales del Rosario y de San Bernardo National Natural Park
San Basilio de Palenque
San Basilio de Palenque, about 50 km from Cartagena, is described as the first free African town in the Americas. UNESCO has recognised it as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity for its language, music and social traditions. The visit is best done with a guide who has contacts in the community and can explain what you see and hear.
San Basilio de Palenque
Private Tour Guide Prices in Cartagena
A private guide in Cartagena costs 15–25 USD per hour, 50–80 USD for a half day and 100–140 USD for a full day. Rates are set by each guide within this range. Entry tickets, vehicles and boats are separate costs.
| Service | Duration | Guide fee (USD) |
| Private guide, hourly | per hour | 15–25 |
| Private guide, half day | half day | 50–80 |
| Private guide, full day | full day | 100–140 |
| Vehicle, boat, entry tickets | as needed | paid separately |
Tickets are priced in Colombian pesos. At the Castillo San Felipe de Barajas the full adult ticket is 38,000 COP; children aged 6 to 13, students and teachers pay 16,000 COP; children under 6 enter free. The fortress is open every day from 7:00 to 18:00. Other sites, including the Palacio de la Inquisición and La Popa, charge their own entry; check the current price on the day, as the guide will.
Guide with Car: Getting to the Fortress, La Popa and Beyond
The Walled City and Getsemaní need no transport, but the Castillo San Felipe, La Popa and both day trips do. For these, the guide arranges a car and driver and travels with you, so the explanation continues between stops.
La Popa is the clearest case. There is no public transport up the hill, and walking up is not advised because of the heat and for safety reasons, so a car is the practical way to reach the convent. Agree the vehicle cost with the guide when you fix the programme; it is quoted on top of the guide’s fee.
For small groups a single car works for the city; for larger families or groups, ask the guide for a van so everyone travels together.
Getting Around Cartagena: Airport, Old Town and the Islands
Rafael Núñez International Airport is close to the centre: the Castillo San Felipe is about 15 minutes away by road, and less than 10 minutes from Plaza de los Coches in the historic centre. Inside the Walled City, San Diego and Getsemaní, walking is the normal way to move between sights.
For the Rosario Islands there is no road option; every visit starts with a boat crossing from Cartagena. Bring the identity document you travelled with and proof of travel insurance that covers accidents and assistance, since checks are carried out before landing.
When you plan a day that mixes walking and driving, tell the guide your hotel area. The route can then start at the nearest gate of the Walled City and finish where you want to have lunch or dinner.
Shore excursions: planning a port day
Cartagena is a port of call for Caribbean cruises, and many passengers have a single day ashore. A half-day private programme fits that window: the guide sets the start time around your ship’s arrival, and you agree a fixed return time with a margin before the all-aboard time printed in your ship’s daily programme. Give the guide your ship’s name and the time in port when you write.
Best Time to Visit Cartagena
The dry season in Cartagena runs from December to April, with mostly sunny days. From May to November is the rainy season; rain usually comes as short, heavy showers in the afternoon or evening rather than all-day rain.
The climate is hot and humid all year, which shapes how a guide plans the day. Walking tours start early in the morning or late in the afternoon, and the fortress is best visited at opening time.
On the last Sunday of each month from March to November, the Castillo San Felipe opens free of charge for Colombian citizens. Foreign visitors still pay the normal ticket on those days, and the fortress can be busier than usual.
Luxury and Tailor-Made Private Tours
A tailor-made day lets you combine the programmes on this page in the order you choose. Typical requests include a private boat for the Rosario Islands with a guide on board, a full day by car that takes in the Castillo San Felipe, La Popa and an evening walk in Getsemaní, or a two-day plan that adds Palenque.
The guide’s fee follows the same hourly and daily rates; the cost of a private boat or a premium vehicle is quoted separately by the guide once the plan is fixed.
Visa and Entry Formalities for Colombia
Entry rules depend on your nationality and are set by the Colombian authorities. Check the current visa requirements with the Cancillería de Colombia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, before you travel.
Migración Colombia runs the Check-MIG pre-registration form for travellers entering and leaving the country, available at apps.migracioncolombia.gov.co/pre-registro. Your airline or cruise line will tell you what it asks for at check-in.
How OfficialGuides Works in Cartagena
OfficialGuides.com lists independent guides who hold the Tarjeta Profesional de Guía de Turismo issued by Colombia’s Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism. You write directly to the guide who will run your day and agree the route, the time and the price with them.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a private tour guide in Cartagena cost?
A private guide costs 15–25 USD per hour, 50–80 USD for a half day and 100–140 USD for a full day. Each guide sets a rate within this range. Vehicles, boats and entry tickets are paid separately.
How can I check that a guide in Colombia is licensed?
Ask for the guide’s Tarjeta Profesional de Guía de Turismo and RNT number. The Tarjeta is issued by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism and does not expire; the RNT registration in the national tourism register is updated every year.
Is one day enough to see Cartagena with a guide?
One day covers the Walled City, Getsemaní and the Castillo San Felipe. The Rosario Islands and San Basilio de Palenque each take a further full day, so three days give a complete picture.
How much is the ticket for the Castillo San Felipe de Barajas?
The full adult ticket is 38,000 COP. Children aged 6 to 13, students and teachers pay 16,000 COP, and children under 6 enter free. The free last-Sunday openings apply to Colombian citizens only.
Can I book an English-speaking guide for a cruise stop?
Yes, a half-day private programme is the usual format for a port day. Send the guide your ship’s name and hours in port, and agree a return time that leaves a margin before all-aboard.
When is the dry season in Cartagena?
The dry season runs from December to April. From May to November showers are more frequent, usually short and in the afternoon or evening, so morning tours are the safest choice in those months.
Do I need insurance for the Rosario Islands?
Visitors to the Rosario Islands and Barú are checked for accident and assistance insurance. Carry proof of your travel policy on the day, together with your identity document.
Plan Your Day in Cartagena with a Licensed Guide
Write to a guide above, or send us your dates and the programme you have in mind using the form below.
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Prices, opening hours and entry rules on this page are given for planning and can change; confirm details with your guide and the site before your visit. Guides listed on OfficialGuides.com are independent professionals. See our legal disclaimer and privacy policy.
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