Colombia · WORKSHOPS
Good workshops & classes fill up in high season and the best go first. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes and how they actually differ.
Small-group Colombian Caribbean cooking class in Cartagena with local chefs. Cook a full menu, taste your work, and finish with wine.
“This was my favorite part of my entire trip . My girlfriend and I went and there were only 2 other people in the class. It was a very beautiful setting . Our instructor was so attentive and made sure to bring us all along .”
Learn salsa, merengue, bachata, and champeta on a private Getsemaní rooftop, with drinks and a video tutorial in about 2.5 hours.
“AMAZING!!! I love the class from start to finish. The hosts were great and it was so much fun. I would to come back and do it again. BOOK IT!!! Or be basic and boringgggggg”
Cartagena emerald museum and jewelry workshop tour with mine replicas, global emerald specimens, factory production, and hotel pickup for $18.
“This is a wonderful unique tour! for anyone interested in gemology, the emerald heritage of Colombia and emerald jewellery..My tour guide was very friendly and so knowledgeable on each aspect, I've learnt so much.. they even show you the making process in the factory which is above the museum. They collect you from your hotel at the time you choose and there is also a beautiful shop with various emerald jewellery made there, with your guide helping you to choose the best quality stone for your budget if you want to buy one.”
6-hour Cartagena night bar crawl with dance lessons, free shots, and club hopping in Getsemaní and the Old City for $20.
“Great vibe, probably the best night in Cartagena we had. Starting off at Viajero made it really easy to make friends from the beginning of the crawl! The guides were energetic and friendly as well 😁”
Hike Minca jungle to a coffee farm and Lost Waterfall, then enjoy lunch, a cocoa workshop, and a cacao museum stop from Santa Marta.
“Fun tour with Ronaldo through the forest to visit a waterfall, coffee farm and learn about the nature in Colombia. Highly recommend as a good way to learn about Minca!”
Cook a full Cartagena meal in a real Old City restaurant, from coconut rice and patacones to fish and empanadas, then eat together.
“Such a fantastic experience! Highly recommend it. The meal was delicious, the music was so fun and the atmosphere was perfect”
A small-group, hands-on 4-course Colombian cooking class in Cartagena, with a local chef, lunch included, and recipes after.
“I learned a lot about cooking with local Colombian ingredients such as lulo, a tasty citrusy fruit with seeds. Alvaro was very kind, patient, and informative. The dessert smelled so good while cooking I wanted to capture the smell and remember it forever. All of the dishes turned out perfectly. The kitchen space was beautiful and clean and the staff was very friendly. Such a great experience, I definitely recommend it!”
A small-group specialty coffee workshop in Bogotá’s Chapinero. Taste regional coffees, learn brewing tips, and walk under 1 mile.
“Overall this tour was very informative and is, for the most part, as advertised. We went to three different coffee shops, all near each other in a non-touristy part of Bogota. We had 3-5 cups of coffee and all of the coffees were quite exceptional! We were walked through how to professionally analyze coffee, the different between different coffees, and it was all explained within the context of where the coffee originated. The guide, Daniela, was very knowledgable was clearly passionate about specialty coffee and improving access to this to native Colombians. I think the tour could be improved by talking with the baristas more and potentially adding a snack.…”
Bazurto Market shopping and a hands-on cooking class in a family kitchen near Centro Historico, with lunch and round-trip transport.
“We couldn’t have hope for a better and more authentic experience trying this cooking class in Cartagena. The hosts, Angel and his wife, were so nice and welcomed us like family, and made this whole day really special. I would definitely recommend this class to anyone.”
Learn spray-paint graffiti in Bogotá, invent a throwup 3D name, practice with Cali or Diego, and paint in a mural-filled courtyard.
“I was very impressed both by the artist who led this workshop and by the gallery (OCIO) where it was hosted. The workshop started with a chance to explore the gallery, which is full of amazing prints by an array of Colombian artists. They also sell a line of printed clothing - really interesting work, and a chance to take home an exceptional souvenir. (If you don't take the workshop, you could still have a super visit to the gallery, which is close to the La Perseverancia Market and lots of eating options.) The grafitti workshop took place in a courtyard behind the building, with walls covered by experiments and…”
Create a Colombian emerald ring in a small Bogota workshop, learning emerald history and making a silver ring to keep.
“It was a great experience!!! I 100% recommend the workshop. The guide and the juweler explained everything.”
A private 90 minute salsa and Latin rhythms lesson in Bogotá, tailored for beginners, with clear steps and patient coaching.
“Great fun Great tutor speaks English well Nice and slow Definately learnt basic steps and has great fun”
One-hour group salsa class in Cartagena’s Getsemaní. Beginner to advanced steps, live music, clear coaching, and easy value at $15.
“Super sympa Attention l’adresse communiquer n’est pas la bonne. Nous sommes arrivées 10 mi. En retard du coup.”
Private surf class in Cartagena with certified instructor Hugo Gonzalez Chalela, tailored beginner coaching, safety first, and tons of feedback.
“I am not sure there are words to describe just how much we enjoyed our surfing lesson! Neither of us had ever surfed, but the kindness, patience and grace of our instructor had us riding waves after the first or second attempt. It was INCREDIBLE! I speak for both of us when I say it was one of the highlights of our entire trip to Cartagena. Without hesitation I would book another lesson and encourage anyone considering to do the same. You will not regret it -- perfect place and instructor to learn. Our sincerest thanks for such an amazing couple of hours!”
Specialty coffee workshop in Cartagena. Taste Colombian coffees at La Manchuria and Libertario, learn brewing basics, small group, 2 hours.
“Really excellent tour and learned so much about the history, growing, and business of coffee! Milena was great!”
Pick a hillside, a coastline or a coffee farm.
