Colombia · LUNCH EXPERIENCES
This is the shortlist you would send a friend: 15 lunch experiences worth the money, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the one thing to know before you commit.
One full day from Medellín to Guatapé, with Peñol Rock steps, a lake boat ride, and included breakfast and lunch. Comfortable group tour.
“This tour was absolutely amazing and for the price it’s unmatched. Everything from the food, to the views to our tour guide … in addition to getting to see a new area of Colombia I can not say enough great things about this tour!”
5-stop Rosario Islands day trip from Cartagena with lunch, fort views, snorkeling options, and VIP private beach access. 7 hours.
“Great tour. Charlotte was amazing, great energy and great personality fun all day long. Highly recommended”
Medellín to Guatapé in 10 to 11 hours with breakfast, lunch, a Lake Guatapé boat ride, and the famous 742 steps at Piedra del Peñol.
“Be on time for the pick up. This was a great experience, Yulie, our tour guide was super, and yes they speak English too. Because it’s a group tour, you do get to meet people from all over the world. The food was great and they have option for everyone. As a Jamaica, this Peñol rock was a bucket list and it was great. Very crowdy as it was holiday time.”
Medellín day trip to Guatapé and Piedra del Peñol: tastings, 750 steps, boat lunch, and Umbrella Street time.
“This was a great experience and was extremely balanced with something for everyone: trying different local food, unstructured time to explore Guatape, and some active time climbing El Penol. Highly recommend! The lunch cruise offered great views of the area as well.”
Catamaran cruise from Cartagena to the Rosario Islands with snorkeling, white sand swim stops, and a full onboard lunch plus nonalcoholic drinks.
“Fantastic way to get out on the water and see some of the sights! We had a fantastic couple of stops to snorkel and explore a white sandy beach and the food was fantastic. The music and overall vibe was great too. The only feedback I’d give is that we needed a bit more beach time!”
Rosario Islands day trip from Cartagena with fort stops, beach time, included lunch, and Eco or VIP snorkeling plus optional party energy.
“We booked the VIP tour because we were told it was a bigger boat with shade and would have a smoother ride. That did not happen. They stuck us on a small boat that had no shade and had no business being on such choppy water. We had our eyes closed for the hour ride back because we were constantly being whipped with sea water. A disaster. On top of that, it was apparently a yellow flag day—which they did not tell us until after we were out at the first island—so we had to cut our day short and rush through all the stops. The food was also cold…”
Catamaran day trip from Cartagena to Isla Grande and Barú for lunch, snorkeling gear, and plenty of swimming time in the Rosario Islands.
“This was a good experience to do when in Cartagena! I had heard a lot about the Rosario islands and from people I know had said not to do too many stops, and to get a good boat (theirs was way too small) which is the reason I went with this tour. I loved that it was a catamaran boat which helped with the rockiness and the relaxation (the nets were incredible) and we did only two stops which helped make it not too long and dragged out. Lunch was good nothing special but filled you up, and drinks weren’t included but not the end of the world. This was…”
Private Bogotá to Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral day trip with lunch, hotel pickup, and an underground 180-meter cathedral. Great value.
“The tour guide Giovanni and the driver John were right on time, they were professional, courteous and patient and it was raining both ways. Giovanni was very knowledgeable on the Salt Cathedral, the lunch food was good & taste at the "Brasa del Llano" including the live entertainment and dancing. We walked a bit around town in a light rain and had some "Obleas w/ Arequipe"; we had a great time :-). I recommend! this tour to anyone.”
Chiva day trip from Medellín to Guatapé: lake cruise, Hacienda La Manuela, farm tastings, and Guatapé Rock views, with lunch.
“The tour guide, and the driver where excellent. In my opinion you definitely get your money's worth.”
Cartagena’s Rosario Islands day tour: snorkel gear, three islands, beach club chairs and umbrellas, lunch, and panoramic views in 8 hours.
“Our guide Jesus was excellent. He was friendly and knowledgeable abut the area. He also gaged where we were having the most fun and decided that we would stay longer on that island. The crew on the boat were very nice and pleasant.”
Medellin coffee farm and horseback ride with tastings and Fiambre lunch. Includes poncho, snacks, transport, and an arriero diploma.
“This was a great and informative experience. The guide provided us with lots of information about coffee and the snacks and lunch were good. I wish that the horseback riding was a bit longer and on a trail.”
Medellín coffee tour to a San Sebastián de Palmitas finca, with tastings, snacks, lunch, and hotel pickup plus a muleteer outfit.
“What an amazing and immersive experience at Arrieros Finca! The tour was impressively well-organized, and our guide Laura Sofia was a true coffee expert who shared fascinating insights into the coffee farming process. It was a delightful and educational experience that would be perfect for friends and family groups alike. A big shout-out to the entire Arrieros Finca team and supporting staff for creating such a memorable visit!”
A half-day trip from Cartagena that pairs a guided Fort San Fernando walk with a calm Playa Morena beach club lunch.
“our tour to Playa Morena was very disappointing, and we would not return. The man who walked us around and gave us a tour was very friendly, however, the spot you spend the day looks nothing like the pictures. They do not give you a chaise to tan, the beach and water are not nice. The lady who gave my girl a massage charged an outrageous amount for a massage that wasn’t even good. There are better tours to go on.”
A 7-hour Cartagena trip to Baru with lunch, handled by an air-conditioned vehicle and stress-free pickup and drop-off options.
“Our prepaid reservation of transportation for 9 persons from Cartagena airport was a total disaster & service unacceptable. We waited at the airport for 1.5hrs in the heat & totally exhausted while the agent tried to find us a van to take us to our destination. Excuse after excuse only made things worse after a full day of traveling from Canada. The agents excuses were ridiculous such as the president is in town, i don’t know where your van is, the roads are closed, and the repeated “wait just another 10minutes & maybe your van will come” - did nothing to satisfy our group of exhausted travellers. Extremely frustrated &…”
Cartagena to San Basilio de Palenque in 6 hours, with dance, murals, museum stops, lunch with coconut rice and patacones, rum tasting.
“We had an amazing experience on our Palenque tour with Roiman. From start to finish, he was knowledgeable, engaging, and incredibly passionate about the history and culture of the area. He explained everything in a way that was easy to understand while still being rich with detail, and you could tell he genuinely loves what he does. Roiman was patient with questions, made sure everyone felt comfortable, and kept the tour moving at a great pace without ever feeling rushed. He shared fascinating stories and context that brought Palenque to life and made the experience feel meaningful, not just informational. If you are visiting Palenque and want a guide who…”
Pick a hillside, a coastline or a coffee farm.
