From my air-conditioned perch inside a picturesque bar in Cartagena, I have a view of the San Pedro de Claver church, made of golden coral stone and heavy wooden doors where many passersby stop to snap photos. The plaza just outside is surrounded by white and ochre-toned colonial buildings with carved balconies where the palanqueras wait, draped in jewel-toned ruffles with a bowl of tropical fruit balanced on their heads. I can hear the clip-clop of a carriage coming, such a familiar sound in the walled city, and traditional mode of transport.

I am snapped back into the present moment as a freshly mixed daiquiri is placed in front of me by Juan, the owner and master mixologist. “The daiquiri,” he explains, “exemplifies balance. A perfectly balanced daiquiri has the tartness of fresh lime juice, the sweetness of sugar and the tropical flavors of rum. Without any of these ingredients, the cocktail would simply not work.”

While I am not usually a daiquiri drinker, he explains that it’s a ‘trinity cocktail,’ the same as a negroni (hands down my favorite!), and if that’s the case, I can be convinced…plus it is way more Cartagena in vibe.

One of our brave guests volunteers to get behind the bar to mix up a signature cocktail under the bartender’s guidance. The bar is already quite cozy so the illuminated rows of dehydrated-fruit-infused spirits, house-made bitters, and botanical infusions, give it an apothecary-meets-speakeasy ambience.

We have covered a lot of ground these past days since arriving in Cartagena. Even after many visits here, the city still feels fantastical; almost like a movie-set (except it’s not): the ornate bougainvillea climbing the facades, the imposing walls of the fortress and its heavy cannons, vendors hawking freshly squeezed limonada to beat the heat under the palms, looking up to see a sloth sleeping peacefully in a magnolia tree, the never-ending murmur of salsa drifting out of open windows. Then there’s the constant sea breeze, and view, if you climb up on the walls or find a rooftop terrace.

Cartagena also has this yin-yang pull where you need nature to counter the city’s intensity. Earlier that day, we sailed out to the Rosario islands and the Baru peninsula where the crystal-clear turquoise Caribbean Sea appeared. We snorkeled, swam, sunbathed on a swath of golden sand, had massages on the beach and ate fresh lobster for lunch. It was paradise…

I am roused out of my daydreaming (again) by Juan who says,

“Ya te toca Liz!”

My turn at the bar?? I am usually the one drinking, not mixing…but…¿por qué no?

“What cocktail do you want to make? Penicillin or Sex on the Beach?”

I take a moment to consider my options. Well, besides being allergic to actual penicillin, I also have an aversion to whiskey. Sex on the beach seems very 1980s Miami Beach although fitting, or at least this city seduces me every single time. Let’s go with that…

I make my way behind the bar to the mise en place where the bartender points to everything I will need to pull this off, minus a dose of confidence that I have to find on my own.

I measure out the chilled vodka into the jigger, followed by smaller portions of peach schnapps, cranberry juice, and a chaser of orange juice. I add the ice into the shaker and seal it. Now comes the tricky part, and fun – the shaking. I channel my best version of Tom Cruise in Cocktail and with a firm, two-handed grip, go for it. This is actually harder than it looks (requires using my biceps). It takes a few seconds to find a rhythm as Juan coaches me from the other side of the bar. I need to maintain it for at least another 10 seconds to get the right dilution and temperature.

I fight to open the shaker – the seal is tight! The bartender arranges glasses in front of me and I strain the liquid, which is the color of a sunset, and place an orange peel and maraschino cherry on top. Just as the name promised, that was entertaining. Tonight is already our last night, how sad!, so we raise our glasses to cheer all the good times we have had in Cartagena, and Colombia, over this past week.

That’s the onda though in Cartagena. Fun. Playful. Lighthearted. And joyful. So much joy! I think Colombia’s cocktail culture is really symbolic of her energy. You fill your glass with (liquid) joy, then drink it, too.

Our upcoming trip to Colombia is from March 19-26, 2026, for more information on the trip contact us here to speak with our team