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City Sightseeing Cartagena Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour Shore Excursion

Cartagena, Colombia

Shore Excursion City Sightseeing Cartagena Hop On Hop Off Tour

1 hour
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

When your cruise ship drops anchor in Cartagena—a coastal city where Colombian and Caribbean cultures combine—maximise your time with a hop-on hop-off City Sightseeing bus tour. Take a seat on the bus at Cartagena Cruise Port and then disembark at one of 16 stops whenever an attraction captures your attention. Tick off Old Town Cartagena, San Felipe de Barajas Castle, Las Bovedas, and many more while learning about the colonial city’s history from an audio guide.

City Sightseeing hop-on hop-off sightseeing tour of Cartagena
Create a personal sightseeing itinerary and explore Cartagena at leisure
Tick off top attractions such as Old Town Cartagena, San Felipe de Barajas Castle, and Las Bovedas
Hop on and off at any of the 16 stops around the city
Enjoy informative audio commentary on board the bus

What's Included

1-day hop-on hop-off bus tour
Guided 90 minute walking tour
Audio guide in 6 languages + free headphones

Cruise port pick-ups
Gratuities
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Food and drinks, unless specified

Meeting and Pickup

Start time

Opening hours

4/1/2024 - 3/31/2025
Monday - Sunday : 09:00 AM - 06:00 PM

What To Expect

Make the most of your time in Cartagena by embarking on a hop-on hop-off City Sightseeing bus tour when your cruise ship docks. Departing from Cartagena Cruise Port, the bus has 16 stops, allowing you to explore at your own pace. The tour runs daily from 9am to 6pm, with a 90-minute loop and a frequency of 45 minutes.

Hop off at attractions like Old Town Cartagena, San Felipe de Barajas Castle, and Castillo Grande Beach, among others, and hop back on when you're ready to move on. Enjoy informative audio commentary on the bus, detailing the history of this colonial city.

Both the 1- and 2-day tickets include entry to the Emerald Museum and a guided walking tour.

Hop-On Hop-Off Cartagena

14 Stops

10 Points of Interest

Duration: 1 hour

Operating Schedule: Schedule: 09:00 - 18:00 Loop: 90 Minutes Frequency: 45 Minutes

MUELLE DE LA BODEGUITA

Centro de Convenciones Cartagena de Indias

Fuerte de San Sebastián del Pastelillo

Monumento Torre del Reloj

San Felipe de Barajas Fort

Casa Museo Rafael Núñez

Playa del Boquetillo

Cl. 31 #1-2

Bocagrande Plaza Mall

Avenida San Martín

Casino Rio

Hotel Caribe By Faranda Grand, A Member of Radisson Individuals

Hilton Cartagena Hotel

Playa Castillo Grande

Points of interest passed by on this route

Walled City of Cartagena

Centro de Convenciones Cartagena de Indias

Casa Museo Rafael Nunez

Fuerte de San Sebastian del Pastelillo

Plaza Bocagrande Centro Comercial

Torre del Reloj

Muelle La Bodeguita

Playa de Castillo Grande

Rio Casino

Walled City of Cartagena

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Wheelchair accessible
Season: All Year Round
Stroller accessible
Tour runs from 9:00am - 6:00pm. Duration - 90 Minutes. Frequency - every 45 minutes.
Walking tour: Departs at 4:00pm. Duration - 90 minutes. Meeting point - Torre del Reloj bus stop.

Near public transportation
Most travelers can participate
Mobile and printed paper vouchers are accepted for this tour
With your voucher, enjoy flexible access for up to 12 months from the travel date you select at check-out.
Please note, Stop 3 San Sebastian del Pastelillo is out of service until further notice

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.

Traveler Photos

Reviews

3.5

124 reviews

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

Reviews by Viator travelers.

We perform checks on reviews

Showing 1-10 of 124 reviews

Disappointing experience in Cartagena

Dwaine, Feb 2024

Getting to and waiting for the transfer bus to take us to the hop on hop off was a real disappointment. First of all, it was a very warm day. We had to walk a long distance to our meeting location. Once we found the representative, he walked us all across a busy street to the corner area of a gas station parking lot. We had to watch, because the gas station parking lot was every bit as busy as the street and cars were flying by us. We witnessed on accident between a bus and a vehicle. We finally go onto a bus after waiting another 20 minutes for the bus to arrive , and waiting again for them to issue tickets to get on the tranfer bus. When we finally arrived at our meeting place to catch the hop on hop off bus, after waiting again, we just about were not able to board because the bus was so full. The bus representatives cleared their personal belongings off the seats so we could sit downstairs near the front of the bus.

Response from Host, Feb 2024

Dear customer, Thank you very much for sharing your feedback We are sorry to hear that this was your view of your experience with us. In this type of situation our staff at the stops will be happy to assist you if you do not get a response via the internet. We look forward to seeing you again at any other destination. Sales Agent

Not as streamline and efficient as in other cities.

ruyerfamily, Jan 2024

Getting off the cruise ship we were directed to the gas station across the street where we sat for 30 minutes. Schedule started at 9:00. We were driven to stop 2 where we had to get off and transfer to another bus. There was a lot of traffic so the loop took over 1.5 hours (not their fault)but when we boarded the bus we were told we could return at 12:30 or 1:30 to the cruise port and MUST be at stop 2. Alternatively we could take a taxi for about $10. We arrived back at 11:30 am and didn’t have time to continue on the loop and didn’t want the wait 60 minutes for the next hop on hop off so we took a taxi. Another couple were told the same thing but hung around and were able to get on the next hop on bus without having a white wrist tag to the cruise port. I have taken hop on hop off in many cities and never had an issue like this. Felt they were in cahoots with the taxi company. If you go to Cartagena and there’s 4 of you… take a taxi and have a private tour. It’ll be cheaper and more informative.

Disappointed!

Diane_Q, Jan 2024

Museum closed so could not visit. Traffic crazy. Not impressed with the city. Best part was the zoo coming off the ship.

Missed the bus!

jane_g, Nov 2023

We planned to sightsee in Cartagena Spain, not in Columbia! So we lost our money, instead we did off and on in Spain for only $7.00 each.

Buyer Beware Fornicat Emptor- Buyer is screwed!!

Libertad_R, Sep 2023

A disappointing experience. I tested positive for covid 24 hrs before the date of my hop on hop off ticket. I was symptomatic and quarantined in my room. I called Viator customer service and informed them of my covid status. I am requesting a refund. The reply I got was more documentation was needed. This is not mentioned any where in the website. When I was symptomatic I did a self test and it shows positive for covid. This tour operator just took my money. Buyer Beware, Fornicat Emptor! The Buyer is screwed for doing the responsible thing.

Response from Host, Sep 2023

Dear Customer, First of all, we want to thank you for your opinion. We are sorry that this was your perception of the tour. We take note of your comments to continue improving as much as possible and continue to guarantee a great service to all our customers. Kind regards, Customer support agent

Not as advertised.

Alan_S, Mar 2023

We had planned to take this excursion, but we met a couple on our ship who took it the day before. They had to take a taxi to the pickup location and NOT the Hop On/Hop Off bus next to the ship. While they requested an English tour, the tour was all in Spanish. They said all they experienced was terrible traffic and horns-honking. Surprisingly, they were delivered back to the port. We decided to just absorb the $30 cost for the two tickets and avoid the additional cost.

Old buses, boring route

Alena_I, Feb 2023

We arrived to Cartagena by cruise. The Viator website told us to proceed to the stop which is temporarily closed. There is no signs on that stop stating the fact. There are hasslers at the port dressed in hop on hop off jacket and a company pin , who try to sell you a taxi fo $20 to the nearest bus stop when uber cost us only $2. Later we learned that bus takes us to port, that rep failed to mention it. The route has nothing existing to see. In order to see old town, you have to get off . Bus is old, no AC. They give ear phones, which is a litter. Plastic wrapper on the floor, most of the ride just played music. It was actually pricey for the experience. Just take an Uber to old town and have a great experience by foot

Don’t follow their directions it’s a kluster

Judy_S, Feb 2023

Where do I begin? First, the instructions from the operator could not be any more wrong. It would take them all of five minutes to go on a word document, backspace and retype the correct information, but apparently that’s too much trouble. Instead, you will be frustrated and confused trying to find where you would pick up at the bus. The instructions clearly state in numerous areas that cruise ship passengers meet at stop #2 which is San Sebastián pastellilo Stop. However, stop # 2 is the convention center and stop #3 is San Sebastian de Pastellilo. Except that the San Sebastian stop is no longer in operation and that is on their brochure that you get when you get on the bus. They failed to mention this in any of the instructions so you will stand at the San Sebastian stop until some kind soul tells you that you have to go to stop number 2, which is the convention center. Secondly, in a day and age of mobile tickets used everywhere, this operator can’t advance and requires a paper ticket. So don’t think you’re gonna book this on a ship or on a trip with no access to a printer. Can’t imagine the business they are losing. We walked it, but probably best to get a cab to the convention center, you will see Juan Valdez coffee shop. The bus may stop at the sign or around the corner and the times are not correct either…plus, a 45 min tour all around, takes 2 hours..so there’s that..then at one point the tour guides said we had to get off, then they said we should stay on…it was a kluster. Oh, and the bus was full so if you did get off, there was no guarantee that the next bus would even have a seat for you. A cab from stop #2 back to the port should not be over $10. Do this: take a cab to the old city ($10) and enjoy, then cab back to port ($10). Skip the frustration dealing with this operator, life’s too short. I would attach pics but no feature for that. 🤨

Ok if you just need to fill a couple of hours ashore

Sara_M, Jan 2023

Very unnerving stepping out of the aviary into what can only be described as a mob of aggressive men who wouldn’t take “no thank you” as a response to their demands to take their trips / taxis. Disorganised start to the trip, was only by chance we found the waiting area at the petrol station. waited 40 mins to get a “connection bus”. Many wasted minutes while they tried to solve the mystery of the missing tickets. The bus was filled to capacity, no one waiting to hop back on was able to board. At the end of the trip we were told to “wait for an hour” to go back to the ship…. We declined and flagged a taxi back. Was nothing much to see on the trip :(

Sad/Sick

Patricia_D, Jan 2023

Woke up sick on the morning of the tour and was unable to take tour; unable to reach anyone at Viator to cancel.

Greatly misinformed by the provider!

Joseph_T, Dec 2022

Very disappointed in the manner in which the company gives the customer misinformation. We were given written information to meet the bus at "stop #2 San Sebastion." We take a taxi there to find out that stop was "out of swrvice". Then take a taxi to next stop. We get there & the guide tells the bus is full & they have a group already to get on the next bus. Finally get on a bus & given a brochure that totally had different instructions than the paper wecwere sent by the company. This was a terrible experience! You have seen our business for the last time!

the instructions on the...

Nanie_P, Dec 2022

the instructions on the email to redeem the hop on hop off tickets was confusing with regards to the location of the redemption center that was printed on the email was different. Wish it wand with no problem.

Waste of money

Lynn, Nov 2022

Staying dry on a wet day. Not very informative recording, with lots of music played between stops. You would be better taking a smaller private tour around the city by car rather than bus.

Unable to use as the tour was not available!

Cynthia_P, Nov 2022

When we arrived we found that the hop on hop off bus was not running owing to a fiesta ,so wasted our money. Can we get a refund?

Not for me

judy_K, Oct 2022

Cartagena is a very poor city with tons of filth and traffic.. vendors coming right up to the open air busses being very aggressive to the point of grabbing at your shirt sleeves to sell their wares. But busses were so crowded we didn't dare get off for fear of never being able to catch another esp. with all the traffic.

Loved it

Veronica_F, Apr 2022

I loved the tour. The attendant was wonderful, and I feel like I saw soamy things. This is also one of the best ways to get around the city.

Hop on hop

Charles_M, Mar 2020

Great way to see as much historical of Cartagena, Columbia as you desire. Take your time and take all the beauty of the old city in. The new city was ok. We really loved the old city. Great experiences.

Great Sightseeing Option

David_D, Mar 2020

The hop-on hop-off bus was great. The only problem we had was the explanation of how to get to the bus. A taxi was required. We were a little unclear of the address to go to and how much the taxi would be. Once we got to the bus, everything else was great.

Unused ticket

struver, Feb 2020

Sadly I was unable to use my pre- purchased ticket. The cost of getting to the redemption site from the cruise ship port was high and the process of getting to the right place(s) to get to use the ticket was not easy. I thought I’d be able to walk over quickly and redeem the ticket. Not The case at all

Old town walking tour is best part, and worth the cost of tour!

David_R, Dec 2019

Tour pick up at port was a plus for this cruiser. Guide on walking tour was great. Headphones on bus pointed out many sites and gave good explanations.