Tour operator other than Dora.

We will be in Cartenga on Monday October 15th on the Island princess, Can someone recommend a good tour operator other than Dora. She is booked.

Thanks a bunch.

Have you at least considered booking an excursion through the ship?

We will be in Cartenga on Monday October 15th on the Island princess, Can someone recommend a good tour operator other than Dora. She is booked.

Thanks a bunch.

Do you need a tour operator? Have you considered doing it on your own? I made a friend from Cartegena and this is what he sent me for our up and coming trip while we are there. He works for the US Embassy.

The port is only about 10 - 15 minutes from the port so it is easy to get to the Old Town and back without worry of missing the ship. The Old Town is a must see in Cartagena. You can do your own tour and take in the majority of what you want to see and do and be able to do it at your own pace and more cheaply. There are taxis at the port which are authorized and safe. Here are some ideas:

• As you enter the port terminal, there will be someone giving out maps of the city and answering questions. They will give you free maps that are great for getting around the Old Town.

• Walk through the store (the big yellow old house) (visit it in more detail when you return)

• When you get outside the front of the store follow the signs to the taxi area.

• There will be guides that hound you to go on a tour. Even when you say that you want a taxi they will try to take you on a tour.

• Tell the taxi you want to be taken to the Old Town with a stop on the way to take pictures of the fort. To visit the Fort takes a fair amount of time and can be quite hot to climb. Most everyone stops in front to be able to take pictures. Ask the taxi driver how much and there should be a sign saying $20 to the Old Town. Agree before you go and tell him it is a one way fare. Don’t’ let them try to sell you some tour or that they’ll drive you around and also bring you back. The normal fare downtown is about $3 but since they’re inside the port they charge a lot more.

• You can have him drop you off at the clock tower which is one of the main entrances to the Old Town. From there you can do your own walking tour using the map. It has descriptions of the sights on the map. You can do a big loop and see the majority of the sights.

• Along the way you can get a snack, or something to drink as there are many places. There are also several shops if you want to shop any.

• You can come back. Either get any yellow taxi inside the Old Town or by going out the clock tower where you came in and going across the street to in front of the Convention Center. Just tell them that you're going back to the port and that you'll pay $5. They'll want more but if they don't accept it, look for another taxi. It will take on 10 - 15 minutes to get back to the port. As you return, you will go through Manga and there are many beautiful old colonial houses to see.

• When you get back, they will drop you off in front of the port store and it's nice to look around the park and see the birds and other animals. The people in the store are very nice and the prices are fixed (except for the jewelry) and they take credit cards. There is a simulated emerald museum that also has a nice display of emeralds (not for sale.)

• In the Old Town there will be many tourists and, like any place with tourists, watch your belongings. There are tourist police all around and it is very safe. Also lots of people want to sell you things and can be very pushy. Just say no and ignore them. The taxis will also try to take you to shopping places and show you other things but there’s always a charge or they have some connection to make money.

Enjoy your cruise. Stay safe.

You could also try and see if Claudia Vidal is available that day.  We have toured with her three times and each time has been great.  The most recent tour was just a few weeks ago.

We like her, too.  Have gone with her once and are booked again for January 2019.

On 10/5/2018 at 12:34 AM, lillulu said:

 

Do you need a tour operator? Have you considered doing it on your own? I made a friend from Cartegena and this is what he sent me for our up and coming trip while we are there. He works for the US Embassy.

 

The port is only about 10 - 15 minutes from the port so it is easy to get to the Old Town and back without worry of missing the ship. The Old Town is a must see in Cartagena. You can do your own tour and take in the majority of what you want to see and do and be able to do it at your own pace and more cheaply. There are taxis at the port which are authorized and safe. Here are some ideas:

• As you enter the port terminal, there will be someone giving out maps of the city and answering questions. They will give you free maps that are great for getting around the Old Town.

• Walk through the store (the big yellow old house) (visit it in more detail when you return)

• When you get outside the front of the store follow the signs to the taxi area.

• There will be guides that hound you to go on a tour. Even when you say that you want a taxi they will try to take you on a tour.

• Tell the taxi you want to be taken to the Old Town with a stop on the way to take pictures of the fort. To visit the Fort takes a fair amount of time and can be quite hot to climb. Most everyone stops in front to be able to take pictures. Ask the taxi driver how much and there should be a sign saying $20 to the Old Town. Agree before you go and tell him it is a one way fare. Don’t’ let them try to sell you some tour or that they’ll drive you around and also bring you back. The normal fare downtown is about $3 but since they’re inside the port they charge a lot more.

• You can have him drop you off at the clock tower which is one of the main entrances to the Old Town. From there you can do your own walking tour using the map. It has descriptions of the sights on the map. You can do a big loop and see the majority of the sights.

• Along the way you can get a snack, or something to drink as there are many places. There are also several shops if you want to shop any.

• You can come back. Either get any yellow taxi inside the Old Town or by going out the clock tower where you came in and going across the street to in front of the Convention Center. Just tell them that you're going back to the port and that you'll pay $5. They'll want more but if they don't accept it, look for another taxi. It will take on 10 - 15 minutes to get back to the port. As you return, you will go through Manga and there are many beautiful old colonial houses to see.

• When you get back, they will drop you off in front of the port store and it's nice to look around the park and see the birds and other animals. The people in the store are very nice and the prices are fixed (except for the jewelry) and they take credit cards. There is a simulated emerald museum that also has a nice display of emeralds (not for sale.)

• In the Old Town there will be many tourists and, like any place with tourists, watch your belongings. There are tourist police all around and it is very safe. Also lots of people want to sell you things and can be very pushy. Just say no and ignore them. The taxis will also try to take you to shopping places and show you other things but there’s always a charge or they have some connection to make money.

Enjoy your cruise. Stay safe.

Thank you for this.  This type of information is exactly what I was looking for.

On 2/16/2019 at 9:49 PM, BKLYNPONY said:

Thank you for this.  This type of information is exactly what I was looking for.

You are welcome. Glad it can help people. We enjoyed every bit of it. I actually want to catch a cruise there again.

On 7/18/2019 at 7:08 PM, lillulu said:

You are welcome. Glad it can help people. We enjoyed every bit of it. I actually want to catch a cruise there again.

I am looking at doing the same thing in Cartagena in January.  Is there anything you can add to your friend's instructions?  Did it all go as planned?

14 hours ago, waiting2retire said:

 

I am looking at doing the same thing in Cartagena in January.  Is there anything you can add to your friend's instructions?  Did it all go as planned?

 

Hello waiting to retire. It all went as planned. They did try to steer us toward other taxi's but we were adamant of what we wanted and made sure on the agreed upon price. Now he shows you where he parks so when you get ready to leave, he will be over there waiting for you if you choose to ride back with who took you there. You will be bombarded by people who will actually kling to you to give you a tour. We agreed to a price with one gentleman but, we will never do that again. He just would not listen to what I was telling him and we finally just told him here is your money have a nice day. He was persistant but I was prepared for that. And just told him we enjoyed the tour, thank you and have  wonderful day. Here is your money. We departed ways and went and finished looking around like we wanted to.

Have a wonderful time. Enjoy!