Bazurto Market Tour and Cooking Class in Cartagena

The Bazurto Market Tour and Cooking Class was one of the most memorable experiences of our trip to Cartagena. Jhon met us at the market and guided us through this lively, truly local environment while introducing us to local empanadas, fresh fruit, and juices along the way. The market is definitely not Whole Foods, but that is exactly what made it feel authentic, immersive, and special. After the market tour, we went to Jhon’s family home where his mom welcomed us like family. Together we prepared posta Cartagenera with delicious coconut rice and patacones. The food was incredible, but honestly the best part was the warm hospitality, conversation, and sharing a meal family-style together. If you want a genuine local experience and not just another tourist activity, we highly recommend this tour.

Excellent, family run business. Welcoming and involved everyone. The food was delicious and we learned a lot about Cartegena and Colombia through stories and sharing experiences. Booked them for another day trip during our stay based on the experience. Highly recommend!

We spent a wonderful morning with Duran Duran Tours, and it was truly one of the highlights of our time in Cartagena. We love cooking classes when we travel because they offer such a meaningful way to connect with local culture, and this experience exceeded every expectation. The day began by deciding what meal we would prepare, followed by a visit to Bazurto Market, the largest market in Cartagena. We sourced everything ourselves, fresh fish, fruits, vegetables, spices, and experienced the real energy of the market. What might look like chaos at first glance is actually an incredibly well-coordinated system of cooperative economics, with vendors selling goods and others providing services like carrying purchases or consolidating bags. It was fascinating to witness. From there, we went to the Duran family home, where Mama Duran (Maria) welcomed us and guided us through authentic Colombian cooking. We made tostones from scratch, fried and stuffed fish, traditional coconut rice, and fresh pineapple juice. Everything was hands-on, authentic, and rooted in family tradition. After cooking, we all sat down together to eat. It felt less like a tour and more like being welcomed into someone’s home, truly like sharing a meal with family. We learned not just about food, but about community, family, and life in Cartagena. If you’re looking for an authentic Colombian cooking class, I cannot recommend Duran Duran Tours highly enough. Perfect for couples or families, and a must-do experience in Cartagena.

This was the highlight of my week in Cartagena. I felt like I was home cooking with my family. Everything was delicious. The experience was wonderful.

Duran and his family were great. The Marieta was very busy and Duran made sure we were safe. We enjoyed the tour and the food. I would recommend this tour to anyone. Coming from the USA or anywhere in the world.

A unique experience in Cartagena, living the local life of the market, María angelica and her mother welcomed us into their home to teach us how to cook local dishes with the greatest SEASONING in Cartagena, we had an incredible morning and it is certainly worth the cooking tour.

You experience the real Colombian life. Market experience and real home cooking experience. People are very friendly and want to teach new things

This market and cooking class was one of the best tours! Maria and her mom opened up their home to teach us Colombian cooking and they were so welcoming and fun. The market was fun to explore and we learned so much about Cartagena. I highly suggest this tour with Maria Angelica and her mom. Thank you!

We all really enjoyed this experience- we had a market tour & cooking with a local family. The food was excellent & the experience one we won’t forget.

We had an unforgettable experience with Duran Duran Tours during the Bazurto Market & Cooking Class. Our hosts—Angel, Maria, and Maria Angelica—were so warm, welcoming, and kind. They guided us through Bazurto Market, helping us explore the local ingredients used in Colombian cooking. After the market, they welcomed us into their beautiful home, where we prepared a delicious traditional Colombian meal together. Every step of the experience felt personal and immersive. What stood out most was getting to spend time with such an amazing and gracious family. We loved hearing about their lives, joking around, learning about their traditions, and sharing such a memorable morning with them. This was one of the absolute highlights of our time in Cartagena—we can’t recommend it enough!