The 14 Workshops in Cartagena That Earn Their Price

1.Small-Group Colombian Cooking Class in Cartagena with Local Chefs

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 466 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $99Our pick

Small-group Colombian Caribbean cooking class in Cartagena. Cook from scratch with local chefs, eat what you make, sip wine, get recipes.

“Super special tour with Daniel from Barranquilla — what a super fun and nice guy he is! Great menu with red snapper grilled (not deep fried!) with a coconut garlic sauce, fried plantains, coconut rice. And we started off with a market tour which was fantastic with Daniel leading the way and knowing so many of the fishermen, vendors and farmers. We sampled dishes from a restaurant. Went by AC van in comfort! Daniel’s assistant, Audi, was charming and so efficient in helping us prep for our lunch. Indispensable and full of character. Daniel is an excellent chef/teacher/storyteller. Perfect job for him! Don’t hesitate to put on a Colombian apron…”

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2.Dance Class In a Secret Rooftop Of The Old City

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 344 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $35

Salsa, Bachata and Champeta on a secret Getsemaní rooftop with drinks, friendly instruction and a video tutorial after class.

“Jorge and Jeff were great instructors, they broke everything down into bite sized pieces, which was greatly helpful because I’ve never taken a class in Salsa, Bachata, or Champeta. Came to class nervous, and left with confidence!”

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3.Emerald Museum & Jewelry Workshop: Behind the Scenes Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 291 reviews · 1 to 2 hours (approx.) · from $18

Cartagena emerald museum and jewelry workshop tour with hotel pickup, mine replicas, specimen viewing, and a factory-to-shop look at how emerald jewelry is made.

“We did not know we were getting a 3-4 hour tour. Was fabulous!! The museum was great. And we had private car tour of the town. We did buy a beautiful emerald.”

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4.Pub Crawl with Dancing Lessons and Free Shots

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 211 reviews · 6 hours · from $20

A 6-hour Cartagena Getsemaní pub crawl with salsa or champeta lessons, free shots, live music, and club hopping with local hosts for $20.

“It was an incredible experience! The vibes were great, and the fun was fantastic!”

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5.Cooking Class In A Real Restaurant At Old City

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 180 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $43

Hands-on Cartagena cooking class in Old City restaurant, cooking coconut rice, patacones, fish and empanadas, then eating together in a small group.

“Loved everything about this cooking class. The instructor herself didn't speak English but had a very, very energetic and excited translator. I truly felt like I was cooking from a family recipe book with my auntie that had all the pleasant vibes and fun. This was definitely a very hands-on, cook your own meal. During the cooking and instructions you were able to order drinks that were amazing from the restaurant.. Once everything was cooked, your food was plated and brought to you where you sat and enjoyed it together as a class.”

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6.SkyKitchen 4 Course Cooking Class

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 157 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $98

Cook a 4-course Colombian lunch in Cartagena with a local chef at SkyKitchen, capped at 12 people. 3 hours, recipes emailed.

“Romario was nothing short of amazing . He is very knowledgeable, patient clean and an overall amazing chef. He took his time with every course - he explained everything we were eating and doing thoroughly. I would definitely recommend him to anyone who is traveling to Cartagena.”

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7.Bazurto Market Tour and Cooking Class in Cartagena

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 131 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $130

Shop Bazurto Market, cook Cartagena classics with a local family, and enjoy lunch near Centro Historico for $130 in 4.5 hours.

“Just go!!! It was one of the best experiences I have ever had, shopping at the market and then cooking with Duran and Maria in their home. Great hosts, amazing food, loved every minute!”

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8.Group Salsa Class in Cartagena, Colombia

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 39 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $15Best value

One-hour beginner-friendly group salsa class in Cartagena's Getsemaní, with live entertainment and optional drinks.

“The experience was awesome! This is the class to take if you want to learn Salsa fundamentals…the instructor did an amazing job”

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10.Specialty Coffee Workshops in Cartagena

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 34 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $45

A small-group specialty coffee workshop in Cartagena with hands-on tastings at top cafes in El Centro and Getsemaní, plus an English guide.

“We had the most wonderful and informative coffee tasting with Daniel in Cartagena. He told us the entire story of coffee growing, harvesting, roasting and brewing. He did it in the most charming manner. He is an asset to your operation, Karen . We are grateful for such a delightful morning.”

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11.Bean to Bar: Cocoa and Chocolate Workshop

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · 1h 45m · from $101

Bean to bar cocoa workshop in Bolívar, Colombia. Make bonbons, truffles, or bars, then taste 40% to 100% chocolate with a passionate guide.

“Great indoor activity when the weather is not cooperating! It ended up being a private class with full access to the local chocolate production area (although no one was actively working on Sunday). It was nice that some steps of the chocolate-making process were completed ahead of time.”

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12.Cartagena Instagram Mobile Workshop: Scenic and Trendy Shots

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · 2 hours · from $75

A 2-hour small-group mobile photo workshop in Cartagena’s Getsemaní with Paola, focused on street art shots, composition, and Instagram style.

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13.1-Hour Paddleboard Rental or Private Lesson

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · 1 hour · from $28

Try standup paddleboarding in Cartagena on calm water. Options include a 1-hour private lesson or just rent a board with gear and safety included.

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14.Photography Workshop Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · 3 hours · from $121

A private 3-hour Cartagena photo workshop with a bilingual professional. Learn theory, then practice in Getsemaní and the Historic Center.

“Paola did a great job with the tour. Before we started, we reviewed the most important theoretical concepts. Afterward, we walked around Getsemaní and the Historic Center, where many opportunities for taking pictures exist. I was free to take any type of picture and at the same time, received tips and tricks on what to pay attention to. Furthermore, Paola asked me what I would like to focus on and made sure I was able to practice the same. Super friendly and helpful, many thanks!”

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