Drumming and Dancing in Cartagena/La Boquilla
Overview
This is a joyful experience for all ages which directly supports a talented group of young people who have decided to produce lasting change in their community through their artistic endeavors. Also it gives you the opportunity to see the surrounding areas of Cartagena.
Inclusions
- Air-conditioned vehicle
What to expect
Itinerary
This tour will take you to La Boquilla, a fishing village where people live off the sea. Once you have immersed yourselves in the surroundings, you will get a chance to be not only a witness to, but an active participant in, the rich and powerful music and dance tradition of the Caribbean Coast of Colombia. You will take a starter’s class in drumming and dancing featuring champeta and other dances. After the workshop you can always take a dip in the sea. This is a joyful experience for all ages which directly supports a talented group of young people who have decided to produce lasting change in their community through their artistic endeavors. Optional: Lunch.
Stop At:
• La Boquilla, La Boquilla, Cartagena District, Bolivar Department
This tour will take you to La Boquilla, a fishing village where people live off the sea. Once you have immersed yourselves in the surroundings, you will get a chance to be not only a witness to, but an active participant in, the rich and powerful music and dance tradition of the Caribbean Coast of Colombia. You will take a starter’s class in drumming and dancing featuring champeta and other dances. After the workshop you can always take a dip in the sea. This is a joyful experience for all ages which directly supports a talented group of young people who have decided to produce lasting change in their community through their artistic endeavors. Optional: Lunch.
Stop At:
• La Boquilla, La Boquilla, Cartagena District, Bolivar Department
Additional information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Ticket delivery
You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start time of the experience.
NoleChristine
February 2020
This is a tour that is a delight to review. Email communication with her was wonderful as we planned this. The cost is dependent on how many are with you in the group and as it turned out it was just my husband and me. No problem. At the last minute, the NCL cruise line changed the day we wou...
This is a tour that is a delight to review. Email communication with her was wonderful as we planned this. The cost is dependent on how many are with you in the group and as it turned out it was just my husband and me. No problem. At the last minute, the NCL cruise line changed the day we would be in Cartagena and our time there. All was fine though as we were blessed that Marelvy herself could still do our tour. You know when your guide hugs you in greeting that it will be a great day. Our driver, Jose, was like a ninja. Whenever we were done with our walking portions, he was waiting for us and I was glad it was him and not me driving on those crazy roads! We began driving outside the city to La Popa, the highest point. Just gorgeous. She is a wealth of information and shared personal stories of herself as well. As we walk, she runs into so many people who know her. You can tell she loves her country. We went to Fort San Felipe, and then into the Old Walled City. We visited churches, clock tower etc. while learning so much. I said I wanted some coffee and we stopped at a store and she asked what the best coffee they had was. She asked if we wanted to shop more and got the sense she would have done what we asked of her. We were back in plenty of time to shop a bit. Tour lasted about 4.5 hours. Don't hesitate to book with her. You will love your day.FrankV216
December 2019
Wow, what a great tour we had of Cartagena with Marelvy! She is a very special tour operator, with a great love of her city that she wants to share with her guests. We had searched for an option to the cruise ship’s excursions, and found such good reviews for Marelvy’s tours, that we contacted he...
Wow, what a great tour we had of Cartagena with Marelvy! She is a very special tour operator, with a great love of her city that she wants to share with her guests. We had searched for an option to the cruise ship’s excursions, and found such good reviews for Marelvy’s tours, that we contacted her by email. We had an almost immediate response, with full information, pricing etc. We also had great information provided before the tour as to what to wear, where to meet, etc. She is very organized, thorough and proactive. The tour we did was a variation of her Hidden Treasures of Cartagena Tour, with visits included to sites not included on the ship’s itinerary, with a group size of under 20. Her driver was excellent as well, and we traveled in a small comfortable air conditioned van, allowing for easy access to the sites and a more personalized tour. Her English was perfect (she is also fluent in Spanish and French), her knowledge of history in general and of Cartagena specifically was excellent. More details about her very interesting background can be found on her website. At the end of the tour (6 hours vs. the ship’s abbreviated 4 hour tour), we all felt as if we had spent the day with a good friend and visited a fascinating city. We highly recommend her tour!JAG7
July 2019
As my (adult) son and I prepared for our four country visit to South America, we carefully researched various activities/options, seeking to maximize our time in each city. While we are generally not fond of tours (e.g. prefer time for spontaneous interaction/experiences), the outstanding review...
As my (adult) son and I prepared for our four country visit to South America, we carefully researched various activities/options, seeking to maximize our time in each city. While we are generally not fond of tours (e.g. prefer time for spontaneous interaction/experiences), the outstanding reviews of Marelvy convinced us to hire her to provide a private six-hour tour of Cartagena, which genuinely ended up being one of the highlights of our trip! In addition to being completely fluent in Spanish/English (and French), Marelvy's background as a teacher, combined with her lifelong familiarity with the city, afforded us unique insight of the people, culture, history and nature of Cartagena, all presented in a fascinating manner, while also keeping us on track to see everything as planned. Marelvy had a wonderful colleague assist as driver, which enabled her to fully engage throughout the tour, without distraction or delay (e.g. dropped off in crowded area, without concern about parking) and made it easy to stop for a quick photo, bathroom break or purchase. In addition, Marelvy's enthusiastic intelligence, along with her passion for the history/culture and people (many of whom have clear affection for her, as demonstrated throughout the tour) ensured a wonderful experience at a very reasonable price; indeed, Cartagena is very fortunate to have Marelvy as an institution in their community!Karen R
June 2019
Highly recommend Marelvy when touring Cartagena. A great tour guide who took us to see so many highlights of the city. She was also quick to respond back on emails.
Highly recommend Marelvy when touring Cartagena. A great tour guide who took us to see so many highlights of the city. She was also quick to respond back on emails.RobandMar
June 2019
We couldn't have asked for a better tour guide than Marelvy to show us around Cartagena - La Popa, Castillo of San Felipe, Getsemani, Spanish Cooperation building, the Old City Wall, the clock tower, Iglesia de Santo Domingo, etc. etc. It was our first time there and Marelvy took us not only to ...
We couldn't have asked for a better tour guide than Marelvy to show us around Cartagena - La Popa, Castillo of San Felipe, Getsemani, Spanish Cooperation building, the Old City Wall, the clock tower, Iglesia de Santo Domingo, etc. etc. It was our first time there and Marelvy took us not only to the usual tourist spots but also to hidden gems to show us how the local people live. All 4 couples in our tour group were so impressed with her knowledge, command of English, genuine warmth and friendliness. No wonder she gets only RAVE REVIEWS!Nancy R
March 2019
our tour with Julio. All 9 of us had a great time. I just wish we had more time off the ship. It was easy to meet Berina. We visited La Popa first and then the fortress. Being the only cruise ship in port and one of the first groups to get to La Popa was an added benefit. Julio was an engaging fe...
our tour with Julio. All 9 of us had a great time. I just wish we had more time off the ship. It was easy to meet Berina. We visited La Popa first and then the fortress. Being the only cruise ship in port and one of the first groups to get to La Popa was an added benefit. Julio was an engaging fellow and shared so much information with us about the sights, history, customs, religion, home life, vegetation, famous people, neighborhoods. He made me yearn to come back for the procession of the Virgin. We then went to Las Bovedas ( which I personally could have done without as all of the merchandise could have been bought in the walled city which was our next stop). The walled city was beautiful and so many people knew Julio and he them as we walked through. Made a stop at the chocolate museum shop, saw many sights, art and sculptures, local craft vendors,churches, learned local history of men and the church. It was nice being able to tie in historic things Julio told us at La Popa with the city as well. After the city we stopped at the Emerald museum which for me was another highlight as I wanted to purchase a Columbian emerald for my daughter who has a May birthday. Seeing the jewelers working and the large sample emeralds was another plus. Julio's knowledge and enthusiasm made for a really good day. I would recommend this tour to anyone I know going to Cartagena