Colombia · WORKSHOPS
The 15 workshops & classes here are the ones worth the money, each with what it costs, what travellers say afterwards and the one detail to check before you pay.
Review of Cartagena’s six-hour pub crawl, with dance lessons, free shots, local hosts, club entry, safety support, and nightlife tips.
“Great tour! If you are alone it is a great way to go around at night and enjoying the night life.”
Learn Bogotá graffiti from local artists in a hands-on two-hour workshop with spray cans, wall space, gallery art, and a 3D tag.
“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…”
Make an emerald ring in Bogotá with a local jeweler, learn Colombia’s gold history, and leave with a personal silver souvenir.
“We had such an amazing time. It felt like a one on one experience. We had incredible rings made and loved this experience. The only thing thing is that if you want a larger size emerald or a gold band it is an upcharge. We would do it again.”
Learn Colombian salsa, merengue, bachata, or vallenato in a private Bogotá class with patient instructors and practical dance-floor tips.
“My husband and I (60+) were attending a relative's wedding in Bogota and wanted to be able to hold our own on the dance floor, so we booked a 90 minute salsa lesson. Our instructor Laura was wonderful -- patient and did a great job helping us with the basic steps of merengue and salsa (including the special steps of Colombian salsa). It was a little tricky for us finding the studio, but Laura was responsive and helpful. There's a great big mall across the street if you want to shop and pick up an Uber from there. Highly recommend and we had a great time on the dance floor!”
Learn what to expect from Cartagena’s private Ohana surf lesson, including coaching, meeting point, value, timing, and who should book.
“If you’re even considering, just do it! I had a great time and learned so much in that short lesson. The instructor (Hugo) was super encouraging, he not only made sure I could surf on Day 1, he shared some cool resources to continue learning about the sport and surf culture. It was so much fun. Do it do it. You can do it.”
Taste Colombian specialty coffee in Cartagena, learn brewing and coffee culture, and visit Old Town and Getsemaní with a small English-speaking group.
“Our tour consisted of visiting different coffeeshops and learning about the process, as well as tasting coffee (yummy!). The tour guide was knowledgeable about the coffee process and the experience was absolutely amazing. I learned a lot and hope others can participate in this tour.”
Learn Colombian coffee history and brewing techniques with a barista at Avoeden Café in Medellín’s El Poblado district.
“Linda was an amazing host for our coffee workshop. We learned the end to end process of how coffee beans are picked, roasted, ground, and brewed. The coffee was delicious. She was communicative.”
Learn Colombian coffee from farm to cup with hands-on barista training, expert instruction, mountain views, and pickup from Medellín’s Arví station.
“A really good day! Weather delayed our arrival on the cable cars, and they were very accommodating and stayed late to make sure we had the full experience. We did not realize this tour included the sauna and massage experience, which was a pleasant surprise. The farm is located deep in the park, and the journey to get there is longer than expected, but great views. The guides and attendants were very kind and friendly!”
Review of Minca’s waterfall, coffee, and cocoa tour, with jungle walks, lunch, swimming, practical tips, price advice, and FAQs.
“best Guide ! And best tour, we saw a beautiful toucan too ! i recommend it”
Make chocolate in Bolívar, learn Colombia’s cacao story, and taste your creations during this hands-on 105-minute workshop.
“Very cool experience and tasty chocolate! would absolutely reccomend”
Learn mobile photography in Cartagena’s colorful Getsemani with Paola, from composition and poses to filters and Instagram-ready shots.
Learn San Andrés coconut weaving, island history, Creole culture, and make a handmade souvenir in this private 90-minute workshop.
“My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our time with Sky and his Dad. We started the experience by visiting their typical San Andes house with a very interesting history of the islands (with old photos) and the importance of the coconut trees before tourism became the main industry of the island. After, we learned how to craft items from coconut tree leaves and watched in awe as they crafted a sunhat and a fruit bowl from this amazing material. Truly old skills passed down from generation to generation. We also learned (hands on) how to make some simpler ornamental items such as a decorative bird and a necklace. This is…”
Explore Bogotá’s La Candelaria, taste Colombian coffee and cacao, and make latte art with a private local guide in four hours.
“Juanita was amazing and her English is fluent. We are a family of 6, with 4 teenagers (19, 18, 16 and 14yr) and she engaged us all for 4 hours. She was full of stories about Columbia’s history and she knows a huge amount, is passionate about her country and wants to share that with others. We really enjoyed the coffee/cacao experience where we were educated about the cacao and coffee process by a woman who has set up a great coffee/cacao shop. Juanita was really generous with her recommendations and helped us navigate the city with ideas for the next few days. I would thoroughly recommend Juanita and her…”
Review of Cartagena's one-hour paddleboard rental or private lesson, with practical advice on price, safety, transport, beach time, and value.
Learn photography while exploring Cartagena’s Historic Center and Getsemaní with a private bilingual photographer for three hours.
“Paola did a great job with the tour. Before we started, we reviewed the most important theoretical concepts. Afterward, we walked around Getsemaní and the Historic Center, where many opportunities for taking pictures exist. I was free to take any type of picture and at the same time, received tips and tricks on what to pay attention to. Furthermore, Paola asked me what I would like to focus on and made sure I was able to practice the same. Super friendly and helpful, many thanks!”
Pick a coast, a barrio or a coffee slope.
