March 11 – 17, 2023
$2,449 per person based on double occupancy
$2,999 per person based on single occupancy
Save $150 per person if deposit is made by August 1, 2022
Deposit amount of $300 per person is due no later than December 25, 2022
Final payment is due no later than December, 2022
Retreat includes daily yoga with Carrie
Welcome to Cartagena, located on Colombia's Caribbean coast that combines beautiful, romantic urban spaces with some of the most picturesque beaches in the world. On this single stay 7-day trip, you will have the opportunity to see some of Cartagena’s most iconic sites, including the colonial walled city and fortress. Wellness activities on tour include a cooking class, a boat ride to the Rosario Islands, a city walking tour, kayaking and a visit to Totumo mud volcano. Grab some sunscreen and get ready to explore this wonderful city in Colombia!
Hotels:
- Hotel Bantu, Cartagena
Included:
Meals:
- 6 Breakfasts
- 5 Lunches
- 1 Dinners
Activities:
- Visit and immerse yourself in the Totumo mud volcano
- City walking tour of Cartagena
- Kayak city tour and Cartillogrande Beach
- Partake in a Salsa Dancing Class
- Motorboat ride and snorkeling in the Rosario Islands
- Visit the Bazurto Market and partake in a hands-on cooking class
Other Services:
- One airport transfer per group privately in an air-conditioned vehicle
- Transportation privately in an air-conditioned vehicle during the tours mentioned on the program
- Official English-Speaking guide service during the mentioned program
- Entrance fees, Road tolls, Taxes, Vat
Not Included:
- Tips for porters, guide and driver- the value of the tip is up to the client
- All other services not mentioned as included
- Personal expenses
- International airfare throughout the program
- International airport taxes, airport porter and extra baggage
- Hotel early check-in and late check-out
- Alcoholic drinks, personal expenses or entrance fees for any extra sightseeing or optional activities
- Travel insurance
Note:
- International flights should arrive and depart out of Cartagena International Airport (CTG)
Day
1
Cartagena
Welcome to the beautiful colonial city of Cartagena!
Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel for check-in. Spend the afternoon getting acquainted with the hotel property and amenities on site. Later in the evening, enjoy a traditional Colombian dinner.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Bantu
Day
2
Cartagena
After a leisurely breakfast and morning exercise, we will set out for a tour of the Totumo mud volcano.
This unique experience is certainly one that stimulates the five senses and will provide you with a lasting memory! Upon arrival, we will access the top of the volcano by a rustic wooden staircase. Once on top, plunge into the warm mud (which is said to have “miraculous effects”) and enjoy the healing properties. Many lagoons surround the volcano, providing a beautiful panoramic view of the area. After bathing in mud, we will walk down to the Lagoon of Totumo for a dip into the water to get gently and naturally clean again. Once back down on level ground, we will enjoy lunch, then transfer back to Cartagena to freshen up before continuing on a historic city walking tour.
During our walk, visit many historical sites including the Plaza de San Diego, the Plaza Fernandez of Madrid, the Park Bolivar, the Plaza de los coches, and the Plaza Santo Domingo. After our city tour, the rest of the evening is yours to explore at your leisure.
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel Bantu
Day
3
Cartagena
After breakfast, you will experience Cartagena from the water as you kayak the waters and overlook the beautiful skyline. During your time on the water, navigate the Catillogrande beaches where you can enjoy a different view of the city and Tierra Bomba Island. This quiet, safe and relaxing experience ends in the northern part of Cartillogrande beach where you will taste tropical fruits and soak in the beautiful surroundings. After the kayak tour, head back to the hotel for a free evening to explore the city and enjoy some relaxation.
Meals: Breakfast & Light Snacks
Accommodation: Hotel Bantu
Day
4
Cartagena
After a morning wellness activity and leisurely breakfast, you have the day to explore on your own. Enjoy the free time to explore where you can check out the many shops, cafes, or restaurants. In the afternoon, partake in a salsa dancing class!
Crazy Salsa's place is in the historic center of Cartagena and very close to the Parque de las Flores. A team of dancers awaits each participant, which lasts approximately one hour, and teaches you the basis steps of salsa dancing. This experience is fun, informative, and interactive!
Spend the evening exploring one of the many restaurants nearby.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Bantu
Day
5
Cartagena - Rosario Islands - Cartagena
Part of Cartagena’s charm is its location in front of the Caribbean Sea. What better way to enjoy the city and its surroundings than in a luxurious motorboat to live a nautical adventure without equal.
The tour begins with transportation to the pier where your captain and an assistant await you with the boat ready for a day of sunshine, blue waters, white sand, and good music. Once the engines start, we will leave the bay of Cartagena, and then make a panoramic tour to the Rosario Islands. Enjoy stops for lunch and snorkeling as you explore the marine life all around you.
Return to Cartagena in the evening, where the rest of the night is at leisure for you to explore the city on your own.
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel Bantu
Day
6
Cartagena
After breakfast, the morning is at leisure to enjoy the hotel amenities and relax. After lunch, we will venture off for our fully immersive Cartagena cuisine tour.
In this experience we learn to prepare traditional Colombian cuisine and of course taste along the way. By the end, our goal is for you to return home with not only a wonderful understanding of why food plays such a huge role in Colombian culture, but for you to dazzle future dinner party guests with a Colombian style four course meal!
The Bazurto market is a traditional market offering fish, meat, fruit, clothing, and is as important in Cartagena as the La Popa Convent or the Castle of San Felipe. It is a traditional market, barely visited by tourists. We can buy food or traditionally prepared Colombian dishes or just enjoy the local market of Cartagena in the early hours. Let this “underground” part of Cartagena enchant you; it is ideal for an adventure. We will walk through a maze of alleys, where the tour guide will introduce you to many fruits, herbs, vegetables, fish, seafood, and meats. There is also a spice market and natural healing pharmacies.
Gastronomy is an important part of the local culture, and the Cartageneros are proud of their Caribbean cuisine. Apart from tasting it, what would be better than learning how to prepare seafood, coconut rice, and other specialties of Cartagena’s cuisine? The cooking class takes place in a colonial house in the city center or in Getsemaní. The chef will give us a presentation about the ingredients before showing us how to prepare typical dishes. The class takes about three hours. Afterwards, we will eat together.
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel Bantu
Day
7
Cartagena
After your morning wellness activity and breakfast, we will bid farewell to Cartagena and transfer to the airport for our flight home.
Meals: Breakfast
The activity Level for this tour is:
Average - Some tours may include hiking or potential higher elevation hiking, biking, SUP, rafting, or kayaking in addition to walking on uneven surfaces or for longer periods of time.
Itinerary
Day
1
Cartagena
Welcome to the beautiful colonial city of Cartagena!
Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel for check-in. Spend the afternoon getting acquainted with the hotel property and amenities on site. Later in the evening, enjoy a traditional Colombian dinner.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Bantu
Day
2
Cartagena
After a leisurely breakfast and morning exercise, we will set out for a tour of the Totumo mud volcano.
This unique experience is certainly one that stimulates the five senses and will provide you with a lasting memory! Upon arrival, we will access the top of the volcano by a rustic wooden staircase. Once on top, plunge into the warm mud (which is said to have “miraculous effects”) and enjoy the healing properties. Many lagoons surround the volcano, providing a beautiful panoramic view of the area. After bathing in mud, we will walk down to the Lagoon of Totumo for a dip into the water to get gently and naturally clean again. Once back down on level ground, we will enjoy lunch, then transfer back to Cartagena to freshen up before continuing on a historic city walking tour.
During our walk, visit many historical sites including the Plaza de San Diego, the Plaza Fernandez of Madrid, the Park Bolivar, the Plaza de los coches, and the Plaza Santo Domingo. After our city tour, the rest of the evening is yours to explore at your leisure.
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel Bantu
Day
3
Cartagena
After breakfast, you will experience Cartagena from the water as you kayak the waters and overlook the beautiful skyline. During your time on the water, navigate the Catillogrande beaches where you can enjoy a different view of the city and Tierra Bomba Island. This quiet, safe and relaxing experience ends in the northern part of Cartillogrande beach where you will taste tropical fruits and soak in the beautiful surroundings. After the kayak tour, head back to the hotel for a free evening to explore the city and enjoy some relaxation.
Meals: Breakfast & Light Snacks
Accommodation: Hotel Bantu
Day
4
Cartagena
After a morning wellness activity and leisurely breakfast, you have the day to explore on your own. Enjoy the free time to explore where you can check out the many shops, cafes, or restaurants. In the afternoon, partake in a salsa dancing class!
Crazy Salsa's place is in the historic center of Cartagena and very close to the Parque de las Flores. A team of dancers awaits each participant, which lasts approximately one hour, and teaches you the basis steps of salsa dancing. This experience is fun, informative, and interactive!
Spend the evening exploring one of the many restaurants nearby.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Bantu
Day
5
Cartagena - Rosario Islands - Cartagena
Part of Cartagena’s charm is its location in front of the Caribbean Sea. What better way to enjoy the city and its surroundings than in a luxurious motorboat to live a nautical adventure without equal.
The tour begins with transportation to the pier where your captain and an assistant await you with the boat ready for a day of sunshine, blue waters, white sand, and good music. Once the engines start, we will leave the bay of Cartagena, and then make a panoramic tour to the Rosario Islands. Enjoy stops for lunch and snorkeling as you explore the marine life all around you.
Return to Cartagena in the evening, where the rest of the night is at leisure for you to explore the city on your own.
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel Bantu
Day
6
Cartagena
After breakfast, the morning is at leisure to enjoy the hotel amenities and relax. After lunch, we will venture off for our fully immersive Cartagena cuisine tour.
In this experience we learn to prepare traditional Colombian cuisine and of course taste along the way. By the end, our goal is for you to return home with not only a wonderful understanding of why food plays such a huge role in Colombian culture, but for you to dazzle future dinner party guests with a Colombian style four course meal!
The Bazurto market is a traditional market offering fish, meat, fruit, clothing, and is as important in Cartagena as the La Popa Convent or the Castle of San Felipe. It is a traditional market, barely visited by tourists. We can buy food or traditionally prepared Colombian dishes or just enjoy the local market of Cartagena in the early hours. Let this “underground” part of Cartagena enchant you; it is ideal for an adventure. We will walk through a maze of alleys, where the tour guide will introduce you to many fruits, herbs, vegetables, fish, seafood, and meats. There is also a spice market and natural healing pharmacies.
Gastronomy is an important part of the local culture, and the Cartageneros are proud of their Caribbean cuisine. Apart from tasting it, what would be better than learning how to prepare seafood, coconut rice, and other specialties of Cartagena’s cuisine? The cooking class takes place in a colonial house in the city center or in Getsemaní. The chef will give us a presentation about the ingredients before showing us how to prepare typical dishes. The class takes about three hours. Afterwards, we will eat together.
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel Bantu
Day
7
Cartagena
After your morning wellness activity and breakfast, we will bid farewell to Cartagena and transfer to the airport for our flight home.
Meals: Breakfast
The activity Level for this tour is:
Average - Some tours may include hiking or potential higher elevation hiking, biking, SUP, rafting, or kayaking in addition to walking on uneven surfaces or for longer periods of time.
Have Questions? Email Us
Terms, conditions and restrictions apply; pricing, availability, and other details subject to change and/ or apply to US or Canadian residents. Accommodation names are subject to availability. Should accommodation mentioned on specific itinerary not be available, a similar or higher rated accommodation will be substituted. Single room allotments are subject to availability and booked on a FCFS basis. Fit4Travel will work with each vendor or supplier to secure as many single rooms as possible to accommodate each traveler.