Travel to Cartagena, Colombia: The Luxe Tribes Experience

Hola! We had to do it again…book another trip through Luxe Tribes travel agency, and this time we traveled to Cartagena, Colombia. I had never felt so welcomed and admired by so many different people while on vacation, especially by my melanated amigas/amigos! I did not feel out of place, and I did not want to leave. In this blog post, I will share and map out the itinerary of my Cartagena trip with Luxe Tribes. I can’t wait to tell you about it!…

Now let’s tRavel iN Style!

DAY 1: Airport & Welcome Dinner

We flew from Florida to Cartagena, Colombia (CTG) via Delta Airlines. Luxe Tribes now use their own mobile app for communicating instead of WhatsApp. The app included all travel members and tour guides, which ensured we all got to our scheduled destinations, questions answered, etc. Once we arrived at the airport in Cartagena, we were greeted by our Luxe Tribes tour guides and a private driver who transported us to our hotel, called OSH Hotel Cartagena. We settled in, sipped welcome mimosas, and sifted through our goodies that were arranged on our beds (from Luxe Tribes), and prepared for our dinner at Cande Cocina where we enjoyed authentic, Colombian delicacies and entertainment!

DAY 2: Walking Tour with Street Food & Professional Photoshoot

It is photoshoot day! Luxe Tribes provided us with our own personal photographer to capture our moments walking in the streets of Cartagena, with the beautiful Palenqueras ladies by our side. We also had a historian/tour guide, Oscar, who taught us about our black and indigenous legacy in Cartagena. He also introduced us to different flavorful food and fruit tasting during our walking tour.

Did You Know?… Emerald mines in Colombia are the most profitable mines in the world?!💚

Day 3: Boat Ride to Rosario Islands with VIP Beach Club Passes & Lunch

We headed to the white sandy beach to explore the Rosario Island at the most popular and fancy Bora Bora Beach Club via boat, which was about an hour ride. Once we got there, we were taken to our VIP cabanas and greeted with our special welcoming drinks. Even though that Colombian heat was super spicy🥵, I had not felt so relaxed in such a long time. The water was sparkling, clear blue and its temperature was just right; therefore, I had to get another “special drink” while in the water, as well (since I was a little parched from the heat lol). Thanks to our amazing host, Jesus, we were taken great care of, and our experience at the beach club was unforgettable!

Day 4: Palenque African Cultural Experience & Salsa Night

We visited San Basilio de Palenque, which was full of African culture and the history behind their freedom. Palenque was deemed the first official free town for enslaved Africans in the Americas during the 17th century. Our knowledgeable tour guide, Alberto, took us in the village to explore the culture, food, and entertainment of Palenque.

Later on, we took a salsa class in preparation of dancing in a salsa club later that night. I never knew how much body movement and technique went into learning salsa dancing. We were working our hips, literally! Thanks to our great instructor, we were ready to salsa that night. Unfortunately, my hips were not moving as fast as the singer Shakira, but I was able to remember one of the “one-two-step” dance moves I learned.

Day 5: Breakfast & Checkout Time

Sadly, after our final breakfast at the hotel, it was time to say goodbye. I did not want to leave the beautiful and culture-filled Cartagena! I will definitely have to do a repeat of this trip. Thanks Luxe Tribes and our lovely tour guide Astrid and her amazing team for giving us the best Colombian experience ever. Until next time🫡… Adios!