Cartagena de Indias and Barú Island Combo
Overview
Discover the perfect blend of culture and coastal bliss with this 8-day, 7-night adventure to Cartagena de Indias and Barú Island. Start your journey in the heart of a vibrant, historic city before unwinding on the sun-soaked shores of a Caribbean paradise. With comfortable accommodations, seamless transfers and guided experiences included, this package offers the ideal mix of exploration and relaxation, making it the perfect escape for travellers looking to soak in the spirit of Colombia with ease.
This itinerary features More Moments activities included with your package.
If your itinerary includes domestic and/or regional flight tickets, as well as entry tickets to landmarks that require passport details, you must call Air Canada Vacations immediately upon receiving your booking confirmation. Failure to provide Air Canada Vacations with your passport details may result in the unavailability of domestic and/or regional flight tickets and entry passes for certain landmarks included in your tour package. It is mandatory to call Air Canada Vacations at the number provided in your electronic confirmation as soon as your booking is confirmed to submit your passport details.
Format
Locations
- Cartagena
- Baru
Inclusions
- Round-trip flight to Cartagena de Indias (if Flight & Hotel option is chosen)
- Shared airport and sightseeing transfers
- Inter-city shared transfers as per itinerary
- 7 nights Superior Accommodation (2 nights in Cartagena de Indias and 5 nights in Barú Island)
- All-inclusive accommodation in Cartagena de Indias and Barú Island
More Moments activities included:
- Cartagena de Indias half-day city tour
- Option to select one of the following: Snorkelling Tour or Sunset Tour in Barú Island
- Colombia National Aviary Tour in Barú Island
- Luminous Swimming with Plankton Tour in Barú Island
- White Night Tour in Cartagena de Indias
- Hotel taxes (except for those customers travelling with a Colombian passport), fees and service charges Service of English-speaking local guide
- Entrance fees for the monuments, as mentioned in the itinerary
Earn extra Aeroplan® points per member on this tour.
Itinerary
Day 1
Welcome to Cartagena de Indias
Daytime flight to Rafael Núñez International Airport.
Upon arrival, you will need to clear customs and immigration. Afterward, proceed to collect your luggage and proceed to the exit, where a local representative will be waiting for you, holding a sign with your name. They will assist you with your transfer to your hotel to check in.
The rest of the day is at your leisure.
Meal(s): Dinner
Day 2
Cartagena de Indias – Barú Island
After an early breakfast and check-out, meet a local tour guide in the hotel lobby for an immersive half-day city tour. Stroll through the colourful streets of Cartagena de Indias, soaking in the vibrant atmosphere, rich history and stunning architecture of its most iconic and picturesque landmarks.
Following the tour, return to your hotel for lunch and collect your luggage before being transferred to your next destination, beautiful Barú Island. Upon arrival, check-in and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.
More Moments Activities Included
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Cartagena de Indias: Half-day city tour
Embark on a fascinating journey through Cartagena de Indias’s ancient and modern charms, beginning with a visit to one of its most iconic landmarks: The Castle of San Felipe de Barajas. Continue with a panoramic tour of the city. Then, enjoy a leisurely walk through the historic centre where you’ll encounter a vibrant mix of churches, museums, plazas, restaurants, shops and jewelry stores. Continue with a visit to Getsemaní, a once-forgotten, now-thriving bohemian neighbourhood.
Notes:
Difficulty level: 1
Recommendations: Sunscreen, hat, light clothing and comfortable walking shoes
Meal(s): Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 3
Barú Island
Enjoy a delicious breakfast at the hotel before embarking on today’s tour. You will have the opportunity to choose between a *snorkelling adventure or a **sunset tour. Just be sure to inform your local representative of your preferred tour and time of departure.
*This tour offers two departures: 7:30 a.m. Return: 9:00 a.m. and 9:45 a.m. Return: 11:30 a.m.
** This tour departs at 5:00 p.m. and returns at 6:00 p.m. Refreshing drinks, including wine, are included during the tour. If you are prone to seasickness, please plan accordingly.
Following your chosen excursion, you'll return to your hotel on the beautiful Barú Island for a relaxing evening at your own pace.
More Moments Activities Included
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Barú Island: Choose one of the following two tours: Snorkelling Tour
Designed for those who love to explore crystal-clear waters and exotic marine life from the surface, this activity takes place between the stunning beaches of Barú and the Islas del Rosario.
Activity Details:
Duration: 1 hour
Includes: Land and sea transportation, snorkelling equipment and a professional guide
Recommendations: Wear comfortable clothing and pack a swimsuit, beach towel and sunblock
Please note: This activity is not suitable for pregnant women, individuals with spinal problems or anyone under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
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Sunset Tour
Admire the sunset as you skirt the Portonaito Marsh and sail along the coast of Barú Island towards Punta Gigante (weather and navigation conditions permitting). All the while, enjoy the ambiance created by soothing instrumental music. On board, you'll be served a refreshing drink, including wine.
Activity Details:
Duration: 1 hour
Difficulty Level: 1 – 3
Includes: Transportation by speedboat, captain and a glass of wine
Recommendations: Packa a swimsuit, towel and water shoes
Please note: This activity is not suitable for pregnant women, individuals with spinal problems or participants under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Meal(s): Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 4
Barú Island
After an early breakfast, embark on a unique and exciting experience! Accompanied by a local guide, you’ll visit the Colombia National Aviary, where over 170 bird species thrive in carefully recreated natural-style habitats, offering a close-up look at Colombia’s incredible avian diversity.
Afterwards, you’ll return to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.
More Moments Activities Included
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Colombia National Aviary Tour
Enjoy a fascinating tour of Colombia’s first bird-themed park, a conservation-focused entity featuring modern exhibits and recreated natural environments that represent the habitats of hundreds of bird species across 7 hectares. Its main objective is to promote awareness of Colombia’s rich bird diversity, encouraging sustainable use and responsible management through animal welfare practices.
Activity Details:
Difficulty Level: I
Includes: Ground transportation, English/French-speaking tour guide, entrance fee to the National Aviary of Colombia and one bottle of water per person
Recommendations: Wear light clothing, comfortable walking shoes, a hat and pack sunscreen.
Meal(s): Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 5
Barú Island
Spend the day at your leisure, relax by the beach, explore your surroundings or simply unwind and enjoy the all-inclusive comforts of your hotel. In the early evening, a local tour guide will pick you up for a magical experience: Luminous Swimming with Plankton tour. This activity takes you into calm waters where, with each movement, you'll witness the mesmerizing glow of bioluminescent plankton—an unforgettable natural phenomenon that lights up the night.
Afterwards, you will be transferred back to your hotel. The rest of the evening is at your leisure.
More Moments Activities Included
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Luminous Swimming with Plankton Tour
The Portonaito Marsh boasts one of the highest concentrations of plankton in the region, transforming a night swim into a captivating display of bioluminescence. This enchanting phenomenon makes every moment, from the boat ride and observing marine life in their natural habitat to taking a refreshing, luminous swim, truly unforgettable.
Bioluminescence is produced by a microscopic planktonic alga from the Dinoflagellate group called Noctiluca. When disturbed, it emits a glowing light, the intensity of which depends on the plankton concentration in the water.
Activity Details:
Duration: 1 hour
Includes: Speedboat transportation, captain, Spanish-speaking guide and life vest
Recommendations: Swimwear, wet shoes, towel and comfortable clothing
Please note: This activity is not suitable for pregnant women, individuals with spinal problems or participants under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Meal(s): Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 6
Barú Island – Cartagena de Indias – Barú Island
Enjoy a full day at your own pace, whether lounging on the beach, exploring local sights or simply relaxing in your comfortable surroundings. As the afternoon turns to evening, your transfer will pick you up from your Barú Island hotel and transfer you to La Bodeguita Pier in Cartagena de Indias for an enchanting White Night Tour. Dress in white attire and get ready to be pampered with a delicious buffet dinner served on board as you cruise beneath the stars. This magical evening promises breathtaking views, wonderful company and an unforgettable experience.
After the cruise, you will be returned to La Bodeguita pier, where your transfer will be waiting for you to take you back to your hotel on Barú Island.
More Moments Activities Included
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White Night Tour
Enjoy a magical and unforgettable experience aboard a comfortable boat, savouring an exquisite dinner and lively rumba under the stars, all while admiring the dazzling lights of the magnificent Cartagena de Indias. The city’s nighttime view is truly unique, making this three-hour tour with our warm and attentive staff a highlight of your visit.
Activity Details:
Includes: Hotel-to-dock accompaniment, tax, welcome cocktail, opening folkloric presentation (thematic show on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays), a 3-hour tour of Cartagena de Indias Bay with an entertainer, DJ, dancers, dance shows and contests, open bar featuring national liquors—Aguardiente, rum and vodka (no beer), soft drinks served in a glass, purified water from a dispenser and a buffet dinner.
Departures: Daily, Monday to Sunday
Recommendations: Casual clothing
Return: 11:30 p.m.
Please note: The transfer from Cartagena de Indias to your hotel in Barú Island departs at 11:30 p.m. from the meeting point in the city, with a 10-minute grace period. Passengers who miss the return transfer must arrange their own transport back to the hotel.
Meal(s): Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 7
Cartagena de Indias
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and spend the morning at your own pace. After completing the check-out formalities, savour a relaxing lunch before your transfer takes you back to your hotel in Cartagena de Indias.
Upon arrival, check-in and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.
Meal(s): Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 8
Cartagena de Indias – Canada
After breakfast and check-out, your transfer will take you to Rafael Núñez International Airport for your return flight back to Canada.
Meal(s): Breakfast
Accommodations
Where you'll stay
Superior Accommodation
Location
Hotel
Room details
Unless otherwise indicated, guests will stay in a standard room at all hotels during the trip.
Bed size(s): 1 double and a sofa bed or 2 twin beds and a sofa bed. No rollaway beds available
Room occupancy:
ALL: Minimum: 1 guests / Maximum 3 guests
Important Information
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Weekly departures from December 20, 2025, to April 11, 2026
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Tours Exclusions
- Hotel taxes are NOT included for customers travelling with a Colombian passport; proof of nationality will be required upon check-in.
- Gratuities
- Airport taxes (where applicable)
- Meals outside of the ones mentioned within the itinerary below.
- Transfers for any optional activities and any other transfer services required outside of the itinerary above.
- Entrance to other landmarks not mentioned in the itinerary.
- Additional activities and excursions
- Visa fees (where applicable)
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The More Moments activities/excursions mentioned in the itinerary are all included in the package but may be rescheduled to take place on an earlier or later day, depending on availability and operational day.
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- Car - Shared transfer service from/to airports.
- Car - Shared transfer service for all sightseeing.
- Car- Round-trip -inter-city transfer service from Cartagena de Indias and Barú Island
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Please be advised that upon arrival at Rafael Núñez International Airport in Cartagena de Indias, our local representative will request a picture of your passport (main page and entry stamp). This procedure ensures that you are not charged the hotel taxes, fees and service charges upon check-in. Hotel taxes, fees and service charges are not included for customers travelling with a Colombian passport.
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Your stays in Cartagena de Indias de Indias and Barú Island are at all-inclusive hotels, where all meals, as well as alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, are included.