One of the popular tourist attractions while visiting Cartagena is a trip to El Totumo Mud Volcano. The mud in the volcano is said to have healing powers. We decided we were definitely going to check this one out and went with a tour group from our hostel. I’m not sure what I expected, but the volcano is a mound of dirt with a staircase that leads to the top. From there, you climb down the latter and hop in the mud.
There is no gravity in the mud volcano, so it’s really hard and weird to move about and the attendants just sort of slide you around. Both Danielle and I opted for the massage (3,000 pesos/~$1.50) and it was a mix of pure hilarity and relaxation. For an additional 3,000 pesos, an attendant will also take photos for you with your camera.
After around 20-25 minutes of playing in the mud, you head down to the lake to get washed (3,000 pesos). We were warned that the ladies try to get you naked and succeed they did. The Colombian women who wash everyone basically treat you as though you’re a small child and vigorously scrub you clean of the mud, including removing (and putting back on after) your bathing suit for a quick second. It was interesting to say the least.
It was a strange, but highly enjoyable activity and one I would recommend for those traveling through Cartagena! The only downside to the tour group, is that the mud volcano is small and they don’t efficiently space out the visitors. I might suggest grabbing a few friends and look into negotiating a taxi there and back (it’s about 30 minutes from Old Town Cartagena).
