Join Tour Amor on a Journey to find gems of the African Diaspora in Cali, Colombia, the Salsa Capital of the World PLUS Cartagena where African Culture Runs Deep!   

Join us August 2021  to embark on an extraordinary journey to Colombia to learn about the heritage & traditions of African Descendants of Colombia. Explore and learn the history and present day expressions from the Pacific Coast to the Caribbean. Our trip begins in Cali. We will explore the rich history of this vibrant city. We will also attend Petronio Alvarez Music Festival, entering its 25th year! Become immersed in the rhythms of Pacific Colombia. Rhythms such as the marimba and chirimia are amazingly vibrant and mesmerizing. 

As a transition we will make the journey to the next city, Cartagena!! We will immerse in the culture and experience the real Afro Cartagena, local market, the barrio and eat with locals! in addition, we will journey to San Basilio de Palenque.  A place where our enslaved Ancestors escaped to over 400 years ago. A place that still preserves much of it's African Heritage! 

Join Tour Amor as we encounter Africa in Colombia! 

Sandra Yvonne

Founder & Culture Experience Curator 

 * Itinerary dates are contingent on Petronio Alvarez confirming Festival Dates. 

* Itinerary is subject to change if deemed necessary 

Let the Journey Begin!! 

* Hotel Check-In 

*Unwind from a long flight poolside or explore til dinner 

* Welcome Dinner   

* Evening of Rumba and Salsa... We are going to partay!!!!!!!!!! 

Explore the cultural landscape of Cali.  

* Breakfast at Lodging 

 * Explore the streets of the city and discover amazing street art. 

* We'll visit a local market and sample food and drinks. 

* Visit the Museum of Anthropology La Merced, The Museo de Oro Calima, the Historic Center and the bohemian neighborhood of San Antonio, and Cristo del Rey Monument. 

*  Enjoy a typical Pacific Colombian cuisine lunch meal. 

* In the evening, we will make our way to Petronio Alvarez Music Festival for a full Afro-Colombian cultural experience! 

A day to Explore and Evening at Petronio! 

 
* Breakfast at Lodging  

* Explore Cali at your leisure. Enjoy the morning on your own: 

Things to do:

* Enjoy the mall

* Go sightseeing

* Go for a salsa lesson 

*Meet with the group late afternoon as we hit up  Petronio Alvarez Music Festival. 

*We’ll visit food stands and other cultural elements of the Festival, before listening to more of the incredible Afro-Pacific sounds. 

You will experience Africa tonight. There is nothing like the Petronio Alvarez Festival! 

If Petronio was not enough of the Diaspora- no worries, there's more!!

 
* Breakfast at Lodging  

* Today we jet set to Cartagena. Flight is approximately 60 minutes 

* Check-in to hotel 

* Enjoy a delicious Cartagena Coast lunch 

*Explore Cartgena on your own for the rest of the evening 

Cartagena- Cultural Immersion! 

 
* Breakfast at Lodging  

* Immerse into the local culture as we take a walking tour through Cartagena's "barrios"

* We visit the Bazurto market where locals frequent try local food and local fruits, learn about natives of Cartagena and the African influence.

* Take a stroll through Barrio 7 de Agosto 

* Enjoy lunch with the locals 

* Take all the IG Photo Ops in Getsemani where all streets are lined with graffiti murals

* Learn about music, food, people, customs and the religion

Wear your comfy shoes!! 

San Basilio de Palenque, UNESCO World Immaterial Heritage

Palenque was the first officially free town in the Americas. Boats loaded with Africans sailed the waters of Colombia's Magdalena River and, when one of them was shipwrecked, Domingo Benjos Biohó siezed the moment and escaped, along with several of his peers. 

 
* Breakfast at Lodging  

* Today we make the journey in our charter bus to Palenque. 

* Learn how Bantú African languages and practices survived for over 400 years in a little far off town, 1 hour away from Cartagena (plus urban traffic). 

*Enjoy typical food, (delicious lunch), music and get a language class of Lengua Palenquera which is only spoken by these over 3.000 people. 

It's so hard to say goodbye! 

We are glad that you decided to take this journey with Tour Amor and will be ready for our next Tour Amor adventure!! 

By now you have found a piece of Africa in two Colombia cities! You've been immersed in the music, traditions, ate and danced with locals. Most of all- you have met new travel buddies and maybe even Bae! :D

Hasta Luego Amores!

* Breakfast at Lodging  

*Airport Transfers Provided at Select Times