Cartagena Free Tour: Historic Center & San Diego District

Tour Details

Squares, walls, churches, cobbled streets… would you like to discover the historic center of Cartagena de Indias and the San Diego district? Welcome to this complete free tour. At the scheduled time, we’ll meet at Plaza de la Aduana to begin a journey through more than 400 years of history.

At this emblematic spot, we’ll travel back to the colonial era to learn about some of the city’s most important chapters, such as maritime trade and slavery. We’ll see the Old Customs House, now home to Cartagena’s City Hall, and from here we’ll walk to Plaza de San Pedro Claver.

During the tour, we’ll review the history of various notable figures who passed through Cartagena, such as Admiral Christopher Columbus and Edgardo Carmona. In this square, we’ll see the exterior of monuments like the Convent of San Pedro Claver. We’ll then walk to Plaza de Bolívar, home to the Zenú Gold Museum and the Palace of the Inquisition, where we’ll learn about the darkest legends of colonial Cartagena.

Walking a little further, we’ll reach the Cathedral of Saint Catherine of Alexandria. Did you know it was one of the first cathedrals built in South America? After hearing stories of pirates and religious persecution, we’ll head to Plaza de la Proclamación, where the Governor’s Palace is located. We’ll then go to Plaza de Santo Domingo, where we’ll take a closer look at Fernando Botero’s sculpture Gertrudis. It’s said that anyone who touches it attracts good luck.

Once in the San Diego district, we’ll discover the striking colors of the buildings within the walled city. Viceregal houses, urban art, floral decorations, and many traditions await us along the way. We’ll pass through Plaza de San Diego, where we’ll see the former convent that’s now the Hotel Santa Clara.

If you’re a literature lover, Gabriel García Márquez will be one of the protagonists of this part of the tour. We’ll reveal some of the real stories that inspired the writer before heading to Las Bóvedas, a former military structure where gunpowder and ammunition were once stored.

Today, however, Las Bóvedas is home to numerous craft shops and stores selling local products. To round off the free tour, we’ll enjoy fascinating views of the Caribbean Sea and Cartagena’s city walls.

After 2.5 hours of touring, we’ll say goodbye here and bring the visit to an end.

Group Size

This free tour doesn't admit groups of more than 6 people, even if they book the activity separately.