How can you spend 24 hours in Black-owned Cartagena?
A trip to Colombia is not complete without visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Cartagena.
Cartagena is a port city located on the northern coast of Colombia, facing the stunning Caribbean Sea. Known for its pristine beaches, historical monuments, Caribbean nightlife and fantastic cuisine, Cartagena is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. Gone are the days when Cartagena was known as the capital of a drug cartel – today the city is a thriving tourism hotspot.
Another reason to visit Cartagena is its unique and vibrant mix of cultures. Cartagena was once the largest slave port in the Americas, which created an interesting Afro-Colombian mix of traditions and culture in the city.
African influences run deep throughout Cartagena. So while you’re there, make sure you invest your time exploring the city’s pride and black magic. From hotels to landmarks, Cartagena has its own unique flavor – and its unique infusion of African culture has made it a must-visit for travelers of color around the world.
Here are some ways to embrace the black culture prevalent in this Latin American city—and how to spend 24 hours in black-owned Cartagena.
Stay at Downtown Cartagena’s “First Black Owned Hotel”.
like Travel Noire previously reportedShawn Roseburgh is the owner of Casa Noir— said to be the first and only black-owned hotel in downtown Cartagena. The Harlem native opened the hotel after falling in love with the vibrant city of Cartagena, where he wanted to bring more black culture and heritage to the city.
During your stay, be sure to check out the Roseburgh mural celebrating Carthage’s African roots. He commissioned local artists to create the stunning mural and now he has one Web page for the sale and promotion of local artists and their work.
Take a tour with a local black-owned tour company
Experience Cartagena the authentic way with the guidance of experienced tour guides. Taking a black-owned tour while in this Colombian city is a great way to learn about and appreciate Cartagena’s African history and culture.
One of the most popular tour guide experiences is with the Black-owned travel agency, Experience the real Cartagena. Alex Rocha, owner of Experience the Real Cartagena, said Travel Noire that he started the company after realizing that many locals and tourists did not know about black culture in Colombia.
With nine different tours around the city, Experience the Real Cartagena has something to offer every traveler looking for a real way to spend time in Cartagena.
Visit the city founded by escaped enslaved people
Palenque de San Basilio is a town located about an hour from Cartagena that was founded by escaped slaves in the 17th century. Palenque’s historical roots have made it a unique destination full of culture, traditions, music, art, African food and more.
Walk the streets of Palenque and enjoy the vibrant colors of the city’s buildings, as well as the brightly patterned clothing worn by the locals. Indulge your senses in the interesting language of Palenque, which consists of several influences such as French, Spanish, English, Portuguese and African Bantu languages. And while less than half of the residents still speak Palenquero, there are efforts to preserve the language.
Palenque was even named one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO because of Palenquero and the unique culture of the village.
Buy tropical sweets from Palenqueras
While in Palenque, you must buy something from the city palenqueras. These are the women you will see balancing bowls of fruit, sweets and other goods on their heads. It is not difficult to spot these women as they are often dressed in colorful skirts, dresses and scarves.
Palenqueras are an important part of Colombia and they work hard to preserve and share their history and culture with locals and visitors alike. Some local foods to look out for include fresh fruits, dried fruits, sugar cane and sweets.
Take an Afro-Colombian drumming workshop
Music and dance permeate the soul of Cartagena. You will surely hear the sounds of instruments as you walk the streets of the city, especially the beating of a drum will amaze your senses. Drums are a huge part of Afro-Colombian culture, so what better way to get the full experience than by taking a drumming workshop? You can find classes and tours all over Cartagena that promise to teach you the rhythm and sounds of Afro-Colombian music.
And if you can swing it, try to visit in October when the San Basilio de Palenque Drum Festival takes place. Also known as Drum Festivalthe event is held over several days and celebrates the beauty of the region through live music, dance, food and cultural workshops.
