The 5 Fishing Trips in Colombia That Earn Their Price

1.Mangrove Eco Tour & Fishing with Transportation

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 185 reviews · 2 hours · from $55Our pick

Travel from Cartagena to La Boquilla for a two-hour mangrove outing led by bilingual local guides such as Yeimy, Jamie, Andres, and Yamil. You’ll ride through quiet waterways, visit Fisherman Island, learn to cast a net and catch crabs, hear about the ecosystem, and join a short drum and dance session. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included.

“Yamey made me feel right at home in the community. She is very kind, funny, and knowledgeable. It brings me great joy that she is bringing recognition to such an important community and beautiful ecosystem that need to be protected.”

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2.Cartagena Fishing & Crabbing • Unique Local Experience with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 90 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $89Top rated

Spend four hours in Cartagena’s Ciénega de la Virgen with a private guide and local fisherman. Paddle mangrove channels, set crab traps, try weighted-net fishing, spot birds, and learn about edible snails. Finish with fish, chicken, or vegetarian lunch at a beach restaurant. Andres often handles translation and local context.

“John was an amazing guide! I cannot say enough great things about this tour. Everyone we encountered was friendly and welcoming. Crabbing and fishing were so fun and the extra little trip to the island was well worth it. If you are looking to get away from the busy city and interact with locals then this is the tour for you. I never felt unsafe or uncomfortable. Well worth the money!!”

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3.Typical lunch on beach, mangrove tour & fishing with natives

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 79 reviews · 4 hours · from $84

Leave Cartagena for La Boquilla, where a bilingual local guide leads you through mangroves, Fisherman Island, and a hands-on crab and net-fishing lesson. Meet Afro-descendant residents, hear drums, then eat fried fish, coconut rice, patacones, salad, and soup at a seaside restaurant. Pickup and drop-off are included.

“I was picked up promptly at my location. My guide was very knowledgeable and Yamil, the local expert, was very friendly and easy going. He taught us how to cast a net and you could see that he was in his element in the mangrove. Those two individuals had the right type of energy to make us appreciate this quiet activity that gave us a chance to enter in communion with the peaceful environment and understand the importance of the mangroves to serve as a barrier protecting properties and species. They play a big role in the ecological balance needed to nurture the wetland species. But this journey was also…”

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4.Mangroves, cultural fishing, black heritage town and lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 29 reviews · 3 hours · from $49Best value

Travel from Cartagena’s Crespo district to La Boquilla for a private three-hour outing with guides such as Alex and Luis. Paddle through mangrove tunnels, try casting a traditional fishing net, learn about Afro-Caribbean culture, and eat a local seafood lunch on the beach. English and Spanish guiding is available.

“Het was erg leuk om door de mangroves te varen en te horen over hoe het daar werkt. We hebben een paar keer het visnet mogen uitgooien om te kijken hoe dat werkte en toen gingen we weer terug om te lunchen. Ik denk dat we niet een uur in de boot hebben gezeten en daarna hebben we nog niet een uur geluncht. Lunch was overigens top. De gids was erg gezellig en kon goed kletsen, maar ik merkte wel dat hij op tijd zat. Het was duidelijk dat hij nog een afspraak na ons had. Al met al was het de ervaring ten goede geweest als het iets minder…”

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5.Cartagena Fishing, Crabbing, Birdwatching Experience + Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 21 reviews · 4 hours · from $79

Meet local fisherman Elias and an English-speaking guide such as Jon, Andre, or Erika in La Boquilla. Paddle through Ciénega de la Virgen, try traditional crab traps and net fishing, watch mangrove birds, then eat whole-fried fish or grilled chicken at a nearby beachfront restaurant. This is a private four-hour outing with flexible start times.

“Erika was wonderful. We had fun. Caught a few crabs and some shells - local fisherman got there first. I enjoyed seeing another part of Colombia that was definitely different from the city”

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