2021 Civic Group Cultural Exchange Tour Cartagena, Colombia

Four Days | Three Nights, Dates To Be Confirmed in Early August of 2021

Departing your city on a Thursday, Returning on Sunday afternoon.

Cost: $1,475 – $1,835 per person, double occupancy (exact cost based on group requirements)

SUMMARY

Cartagena is an extraordinary city located on the shores of the Caribbean Sea, in the north of Colombia. Its Old City with port, monuments and fortress has been named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. This honor is awarded only to areas that “transcend national boundaries and …(are) of common importance for present and future generations of all humanity”.

Cartagena is an alluring mix of exquisitely preserved historical sites and leading-edge creators of fashion and food. It is a  treasure that, today, is one of the most visited tourist destinations in Colombia

This trip of four days and three nights will be enough to create memories that will make you long to return for more. Visitors will enjoy the charms of majestic landscapes and the colorful colonial architecture that holds the secrets of history, art and culture. Cartagena’s walled city served as an inspiration to Gabriel García Márquez, winner of the 1982 Nobel Prize in Literature.

Cartagena’s mouth-watering gastronomic offerings will be the backbone of this adventure. Breakfasts, lunches and dinners will feature indigenous dishes and new creations from the Caribbean region. We will dine in the company of renowned chefs; coffee producers, chocolatiers, leaders in business, social entrepreneurs and public figures who will share their unique viewpoints of life in “The Magic City.” 

In addition to feasting on the foods or Cartegena, we will take guided tours of museums dedicated to history, modern art and emeralds. We will visit the impressive Palace of the Inquisition. We will walk the cobbled streets to visit the colorful and lively local market of the city and the Castillo San Felipe, the fortress first built in the 1500s. We will return to the old city to visit art galleries, shops of important designers and the best jewellers to enjoy an entertaining afternoon of shopping.

MEET YOUR CARTAGENA INSIDER

Tata lives, works and loves her beloved Colombia but especially, her home, Cartagena. She works full-time as the leader of Colombiana Bella, a nationwide gift service network, but has connected with Insider Excursions to provide bespoke tours for elite travelers and travel groups.

ACCOMMODATIONS | HOTEL MOVICH CARTAGENA DE INDIAS

The Movich Cartagena de Indias Hotel enjoys an unbeatable location in the historic center of Cartagena de Indias. It is located right next to the Plaza de la Aduana and two blocks from other important points such as the Clock Tower, the Convention Center and the Santo Domingo square. A perfect environment for shopping, restaurants and cultural visits. Rafael Núñez International Airport is just 15 minutes away by car.

Our travelers will discover the perfect hotel to savor the romantic spirit of the historic center of Cartagena. The Movich Cartagena de Indias Hotel is an exquisite colonial-style boutique hotel located in the walled city, and it is also the only hotel in the city that belongs to the exclusive Small Luxury Hotels of the World global network.

Among the wonders of this fantastic hotel, the exquisite service, the good gastronomy of its Alyzia restaurant and its spectacular terrace with pool and 360º views of the entire city stand out. A magical establishment with a spa, gym, meeting room, rooms with the most modern services and a warm and welcoming atmosphere. An ideal destination for couples who want to discover the corners of Cartagena and for business travelers.

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DAY ONE | LIVE EXPERIENCE WITH CITY MUSICIANS AND DANCERS, HORSE CAR RIDE AND DINNER WITH A CHEF

Cartagena is a vibrant city, with countless plans perfect for doing all kinds of tourism. For the first day we will be welcomed with a folkloric sample of music and dance that will allow us to know and understand the traditional and warm environment of the city. Then we can appreciate the sunset on the rooftop of the hotel with an exceptional view of the city.

We will also enjoy a VIP tour on horse carriages to appreciate the nightlife of the streets of Cartagena and hear some of its history. The tour will end at the Juan Del Mar Restaurant, where we meet Juan Del Mar himself, its Owner and renowned Chef from Cartagena and Colombia, to delight us with a delicious dinner.

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DAY TWO | WE WILL DISCOVER THE SUSTAINABLE GASTRONOMY MOVEMENT IN THE CITY

First we will have a breakfast in coffee season with coffee producers who will tell us about the process and selection of coffee while we enjoy a delicious cup of coffee and a rich typical breakfast. Then we will take a short walk through the history of Cartagena, we will visit the Palace of the Inquisition and some monuments, we will also walk through some of the most representative squares. At lunchtime, the appointment is at the Celele Por Proyecto Caribe Lab Restaurant in the Getsemaní neighborhood, where we will learn about the gastronomic culture and biodiversity that the Caribbean Region has, many of these resources are used to prepare different recipes in the restaurant. A few meters away we will enjoy the picturesque streets in Getsemaní, as we pass we will find graffiti artists and art paintings hanging on rustic old walls. Finally, we will arrive at Alquímico Bar, we will enter the world of the only Colombian bar among the 50 best in the world. We will enjoy sensory experiences while we learn more about the local culture with exclusive cocktails based on experimental infusions and our own dishes with Colombian ingredients and techniques.

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DAY THREE | AN APPROACH TO LOCAL LIFE

One of the typical foods most welcomed by locals and visitors is the popular “Arepa de Huevo”, and in the renowned Alyzia restaurant of the Hotel Movich they have the best. Thus we begin our third day of tour in the fantastic walled city. Then we will take a walk through the local market of the city. many travelers say that you don’t really know a city; if you don’t visit their market. so we will learn about the daily dynamics that are experienced in the Bazurto Market. We will also be able to delight ourselves there with delicious recipes that have passed from generation to generation.

After a local gastronomic experience, we will return to the hotel where we will do a quick recharge of energy, and then continue with the rest of the afternoon, as we will have a glamorous shopping tour. We will visit the shops of the most recognized fashion designers in the city, among them: Ketty Tinoco and Beatriz Camacho, among others. Following the design line, we will visit Lucy Jewelry, to meet the elegant designer Lucy, recognized for her exceptional designs that you will want to wear all. And for a complete shopping experience, we will visit a small gallery of very chic artisans.

Finally, our appointment is at the Candé Restaurant, 100% Cartagena cuisine, nominated for the LA BARRA Awards in the category: * Best traditional Colombian food restaurant *. Especially exquisite flavors. This old house has a charm that grabs you from the moment you enter. At night you feel in another era with the dim lights, the excellent attention of the staff and the live Caribbean music.

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DAY FOUR | THE FAREWELL

We start the day with a typical breakfast at the hotel. Then we move to the famous Castillo San Felipe de Barajas, a monumental Fort that many years ago served as a protective barrier for the city of Cartagena against the attack of invading pirates. So we say goodbye to this magical adventure of fantasies, experiences and exceptional flavors. Until next time!

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I WANT TO GO! LEARN MORE...

Contrary to popular belief, Lorem Ipsum is not simply random text. It has roots in a piece of classical Latin literature from 45 BC, making it over 2000 years old. Richard McClintock, a Latin professor at Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia, looked up one of the more obscure Latin words, consectetur, from a Lorem Ipsum passage, and going through the cites of the word in classical literature, discovered the undoubtable source. Lorem Ipsum comes from sections 1.10.32 and 1.10.33 of “de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum” (The Extremes of Good and Evil) by Cicero, written in 45 BC. This book is a treatise on the theory of ethics, very popular during the Renaissance. The first line of Lorem Ipsum, “Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet..”, comes from a line in section 1.10.32.

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I WANT TO GO! LEARN MORE...

Contrary to popular belief, Lorem Ipsum is not simply random text. It has roots in a piece of classical Latin literature from 45 BC, making it over 2000 years old. Richard McClintock, a Latin professor at Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia, looked up one of the more obscure Latin words, consectetur, from a Lorem Ipsum passage, and going through the cites of the word in classical literature, discovered the undoubtable source. Lorem Ipsum comes from sections 1.10.32 and 1.10.33 of “de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum” (The Extremes of Good and Evil) by Cicero, written in 45 BC. This book is a treatise on the theory of ethics, very popular during the Renaissance. The first line of Lorem Ipsum, “Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet..”, comes from a line in section 1.10.32.

The standard chunk of Lorem Ipsum used since the 1500s is reproduced below for those interested. Sections 1.10.32 and 1.10.33 from “de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum” by Cicero are also reproduced in their exact original form, accompanied by English versions from the 1914 translation by H. Rackham.

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