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Bazurto Market Adventure Tour in Cartagena

Name: Bazurto Market Adventure Tour in Cartagena
Brand: Insider Tours
SKU: 29696P3
Price: 71.11 USD
Rating: 5.0 (177 reviews)

Cartagena, Colombia

From $71.11

Select Date and Travelers

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

3 hours
Pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Bazurto Market is Cartagena’s largest and busiest market, and it’s a maze of colorful stalls, exotic foods and local artisans. This guided visit will take you to the heart of the market, where you’ll get the chance to meet the vendors, watch craftsmen at work, sample local delicacies and enjoy a delicious Colombian lunch.

Guided tour of Bazurto Market in Cartagena
Immerse yourself in local life at the buzzing Bazurto Market
Explore the stalls, take photos and meet the vendors
Sample herbal medicine; listen to local music and watch crafts demonstrations
Enjoy a typical Colombian lunch at Ceci's restaurant, featured on Anthony Bourdain's TV show
Great-value tour includes hotel pickup and lunch

What's Included

Lunch
Snacks
Transport
Local guide
Hotel pickup and drop-off in the City Center (extra fees apply if not within the Walled City)

Personal expenses

Meeting and Pickup

You can head directly to your preferred meeting point, or request pickup.

Meeting points

Select a meeting point

Type to search

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Start time

09:00 AM

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Pickup details

Remember, the pick up service may contain extra fees according the location! City centre and getsemani doesn't have any extra fees for pick up!

What To Expect

Begin your tour with pickup from your central Cartagena hotel and a short ride to Bazurto Market. First, pass through Cartagena’s colorful Getsemani neighborhood, famous for its graffiti street art and hip nightlife, and pay a visit to a local shopping mall, before venturing into the buzzing marketplace.

Follow your guide around the labyrinth of stalls, stopping to take a peek at a metal mechanic workshop, and watch the local craftsmen at work. Next, visit a music store, where you can sip a cold beer as you listen to ‘Champeta’, the urban folklore music that remains hugely popular throughout the region. You’ll even get to take away a CD of some of your favorite music.

Learn more about the fascinating history of the market and the Getsemani neighborhood as you stop to browse the stalls and chat with the vendors. Pause for refreshments (included) at a fresh juice stall, then meet one of the market’s most legendary poster artists. You’ll even have the chance to have a handmade poster created with your own personal message. Continue to the herbsman stand, where you’ll get to sample a traditional Colombian healing potion, then marvel at the butcher’s stalls, laden with different cuts of meat.

After working up an appetite walking around the market, stop to enjoy lunch at the legendary Ceci's restaurant, which was famously featured on American chef Anthony Bourdain's TV show. After tucking into an array of Colombian specialties, enjoy a short walk through the fish market before exiting the market, where a driver will be waiting to take you back to your hotel.

Cartagena Insider Tours

3 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not wheelchair accessible
Most travelers can participate

Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there are not enough passengers to meet requirements for group tours. The minimum number of travelers is four (4). In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not recommended for people with walking disabilities or difficulties or for people using a wheelchair
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Reviews

5.0

177 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

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Showing 1-10 of 177 reviews

Great experience to see Cartagena beyond the tourist areas

Tiffany_C, May 2024

Marcy (guide) and Gustavo (translator) were excellent local experts to take us through Bazurto Market. I am glad we had guides to explain the history as well as the different types of food we were trying. It was great to be able to see a real glimpse of life in Cartagena beyond the tourist areas. Highly recommend having Marcy as your guide to not only learn about local foods but also traditions and music.

Bazaar Bazurto is bizarre!

Leslee_W, Mar 2024

Exceptional because of Jesús David! He offered so much interesting pieces of history and knows so many of the people working there as he used to go as a child. There were many stops and gifts along the way. Loved the 'DeeJ' and music knowledge, metal worker, the fruit juice guy to start, as well as sampling from the vendor. The artist/poster maker was fun. Actually everything was! Highly recommend Jesús as he's so connected and passionate. Would strongly advise a tour simply to cover all the ground we did and not get lost. I feel participants should be in decent physical shape as well. Safety was never an issue. Actually a better value than anticipated 😉

Response from Host, Mar 2024

Thank you for your valuable opionion on our Bazurto Market Tour. Come again to Cartagena and sample our other tours with the locals.

Amazing trip outside the city - totally worth it!

Robert_S, Mar 2024

Had such a wonderful time with Mary and our translator Victoria. They did such a wonderful job telling us about the history of the Bazurto Market and the place the market has in the lives of local residents. It was great being able to take public transit there and getting a feel for the bus system and then going through the maze of vendors across the market. We stopped at a variety of stalls, from a fruit stand where we got to try so many fruits i had never heard of, to local music producer who helped us understand the sonic landscape of the city all the way to a local poster artist who help us create a token for of our time at the market. While this experience isn’t for everyone, it’s perfect for those looking to get off the beaten path, go outside of the tourist areas of the city and experience cartagena in a way that only locals can. My personal highlight was getting to eat at Cecilia’s in the Market, where lunch was provided and we had delicious seafood rice, plantain and drinks. This is the same restaurant anthony bourdain ate at when i’m the city and i get why he was so wowed by the food! Overall the best Viator experience i have had to date and could not recommend more

Response from Host, Mar 2024

We really appreciate your opinion. Thanks again for touring Bazurto with us.

Excellent Bazurto Market Experience.

Patricia_H, Mar 2024

We had a great time on this trip to the Bazurto Market. Marcy was our official guide from was well connected to people there, to be sure we were had a nice time. This was a smaller group so we had lots of time to ask question, see many different areas, and test a lot of fruit and lunch treats. I’d highly recommend going with a guide market on this trip. It makes the encounter better for the locals and tourists having a local interface. Everything was much like the trip was advertised to be. Very nice job all around!

Response from Host, Mar 2024

Thank you very much. It was a pleasure for us to have you take our Bazurto Market Adventure Tour.

Alvaro is the best guide for Bazurto

Kathleen_L, Feb 2024

Really interesting and fun tour with the kind, intelligent and friendly guide Alvaro. We enjoyed taking the clean and efficient local bus, sampling fruits, walking through the market and Chinatown and seeing the beautiful murals, listening to champeta, and seeing artists hand-letter posters and do metalsmithing. Lunch was fine and the air conditioning was welcome after a few hours of warm walking. I'm so glad we did this -- it felt like we got away from the other tourists and got a slice of reality.

Response from Host, Feb 2024

Thank you very much for your review. Yes, I agree with you. Alvaro does a great job. Hope to see you again on another tour with Insider.

Bazurto Market

Ron_N, Feb 2024

The market was a great experience. Seeing all of the different foods and products being sold. Lunch spot was great. Our guide was fantastic. Highly recommend

Response from Host, Feb 2024

Thanks. We continue to improve and your opinions help us in reaching ou goals.

A great way to visit Cartagena's biggest and craziest public market

JEFFREY_K, Jan 2024

This was a great way to experience the huge and chaotic market if you don't want to go on your own. Alvaro was a wonderful guide, and provided much more than just a tour around the place, giving lots of great details about the history, music, culture, etc. Many reviews will say the Bazurto is dangerous or filthy, but don't be discouraged. It is indeed an enormous, crazy, dirty place, much like similar markets all over the world. I was very happy to have a guide, but at no point did I feel unsafe or threatened. The neighborhood is easily reachable on Cartagena's bus system, which might be confusing, but is quite safe. So you could probably go on your own, but a guide can help you navigate, and help you to try foods that might be risky if you didn't know where to buy the best and cleanest. Highly recommended.

Response from Host, Feb 2024

Thank you for your valuable opinions. Glad you enjoyed Bazurto Market. Come back soon we have other very interesting tours.

Stood up.

troyfearnow, Jan 2024

They did not show up at the meeting location. I left after about 20 minutes, and they replied saying that the Internet was slow and that they didn't receive my reservation that I made the night before. They offered to go later, and the refund was prompt and they apologized.

Response from Host, Feb 2024

Very sorry for this inconvenient. We had problems with our internet buit we promise that we shall try to improve much more in the future.

Fantastic Tour

TANDRA_B, Dec 2023

What I booked is the experience I wanted ! Far from the super popular touristy areas this gives you a true authentic version of daily life in Cartagena, Columbia. If you’re into true traveling and not just vacationing then this is the tour for you ! Meet locals ,taste authentic food, drink local beer and learn columbian style dance moves. Elda and Alvaro our guides were beyond fantastic ! Very knowledgeable, friendly and showed us a lot about life in Cartengena. Never once felt unsafe. We requested an additional tour to the Old Walled City and was able to ride Public transportation with the guides which was a good experience also! Note This tour is not a Luxury vacation tour. This tour is really about connecting with the Locals way of living !

So happy I booked this tour!!

Angel_P, Dec 2023

My visit to Bazurto Market was one of the best parts of my trip to Cartagena! We did so much and got to experience so many different aspects of the local culture - from food to art, music, beer, dancing, and industry. Our tour guide, Jesùs, was such a sweetheart. He was so kind, knowledgable, charming, and helpful. He knows so much about the history and people. He knew everybody there, and people seemed genuinely excited to see him as he was showing us around and were so welcoming to us. The market is definitely best with a tour guide to get a full understanding of everything going on there. The food was delicious and I spent most of my time laughing and smiling.

Life altering

Alicia_C, Dec 2023

Alvaro was incredibly knowledgeable about the area and took us to areas that showcased Cartagena's history. He cares about his community and enjoys what he does. We had a unique experience because of him, and I don't feel we would have the same appreciation for the city without him. Eternally grateful for his time and care.

If you want to have the local experience - this is your tour

Gabriel_B, Dec 2023

We had an amazing trip with Alvaro. We tasted delicious fruits, saw every inch of the market, went to the neighbourhood and got a free champeta dance lesson. Thank you Alvaro!

Immerse yourself in the real Cartagena ❤️

lisa_w, Nov 2023

Alvaro was a wonderful tour guide. Really immersed us into the real culture of Cartagena! His knowledge and professionalism was outstanding. Thank you!

The least touristy thing you can do in Cartagena

Amy_C, Nov 2023

Do not miss the opportunity to explore this market with Álvaro. Bazurto is notorious for being a dangerous place unfriendly to tourists. I would not have been able to go there on my own, especially as a solo female traveler, but I really wanted to visit this location that is so popular with the locals. Álvaro has put a lot of thought into this tour, from the history of the market itself to the mini tour of Chinatown and all the items included. We tried fruits and then they made a jugo en agua from my favorite one. I learned about the indigenous people and the significance of trenzas. The history of salsa in Cartagena and how it brought peace to communities in conflict. The different types of Champeta music and how they sound. He snapped photos of me in front of murals, with the El Runner and the art he made for me. He led me thru the narrow maze of alleys and I bought a (much needed!) hand fan. The last stop was a terrific restaurant (with super cold AC) where he ordered a delicious spread of fish, soup, these plantains cooked in a popular red soda with cinnamon and clove, aguapanela, and coconut rice. I left with a piece of art, a champeta cd, a full belly, and a new friend. I got to experience the Cartagena Metro, another thing I would not have attempted on my own. He even offered to walk me back to my hotel. Álvaro is a bright young man with great English and fantastic energy. He genuinely cared about my experience on the tour and I felt safe with him. Highly recommend.

Response from Host, Nov 2023

Thanks. All your comments makes us feel we have to be the best.

A Unique Experience

Myron_M, Oct 2023

We had a wonderful time touring the Market. The different fruits, vegetables, smells, tastes. It was an absolute great experience. Our tour guide Alvaro is very knowledgeable of the history of the area. He is so personable, that when we ever go back, I plan to personally reach out to him. We left feeling as if we made a new friend.

Amazing Experience as a Solo Female!

Krystle_G, Sep 2023

If you are looking to learn, engage and experience the culture outside of the touristy areas, then book this tour. It’s not to be mistaken for glitz and glamour. It is a tour that shows the reality of the city. You get to really see how the culture live their day to day lives. As a solo female traveler, I had an amazing experience and I felt extremely safe everywhere I went. My guide, Alvaro, was so knowledgeable on his city and his culture’s history. You can see how much he loves showing people this side of his culture. We had a lot of fun and I would do this tour again and I highly recommend anyone else that’s not scared of trash and dirt to book this experience!

Response from Host, Sep 2023

We are happy that you enjoyed this tour, thank you so much for you comment.

Adventurous and Fulfilling

Jason_B, Jun 2023

Seeing the city from a different angle was great. My guide Alvaro was very knowledgeable, friendly and accommodating. He provided details about the market and a history of the city surrounding the market. I would highly recommend this tour from Insider Tours.

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Thank you very much for you comment, this encourage us to keep doing things well.

I must admit, I did think...

Brandon_F, Jun 2023

I must admit, I did think this tour was a bit pricey at first, but you really do get your money’s worth! Not only was Álvaro a knowledgeable guide, he also made sure I left with a full belly and even some souvenirs! I had no idea the amount of historical significance this market holds for the Afro-Caribbean population in Colombia! It also inspired me to change my plans and take a day trip to Palenque!

Response from Host, Feb 2024

Great! Thanks. We ty to be inspiring and our guide is a real nice guy.

Authentic experience, unlike most tourist activities

Lacey_W, Jun 2023

Alvaro shared such a rich experience with us! He was personable, knowledgeable, and fun. The tour was filled with culture - we tried native fruits, listened to music, experienced art, and had the best meal we’ve had in Colombia so far. Alvaro shared about the history of the market and the surrounding neighborhood, music, and the Colombian culture. This was an authentic experience that can’t be replicated. Thanks to Alvaro it was a memorable one.

A unique experience

Serena_L, Apr 2023

Alvarro was my Tour guide and he was fantastic! He showed me China Town, gave me a wonderful breakdown of the history of the market, and even took me to an ATM safely. Despite many stalls closed due to Good Friday (note don’t go during the holidays), Alvarro showed me as much as he could and allowed us to taste the different fruits. Cecile’s was closed the day we went so can’t comment on Anthony Bourdain’s experience, but the food market was a great way to see where the locals shop and eat. Loved the graffiti poster artist and able to take the poster home. A great souvenir. Would recommend this tour for those who want to see more than what magazine photos show you of Cartagena.

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