Volcán del Totumo
It's a mud volcano about 15 meters high in the municipality of Santa Catalina, a good hour north of Cartagena. You climb a staircase and float in the mud in the crater; afterward they wash you off in the lagoon.
- Hours
- Open during the day; tours leave at 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
- Price
- Admission about COP 20,000 per person; massage, photos and washing are extra, around COP 10,000 each (January 2026 guide, checked 2026-10-12).
- Price level
- $$$$$
- Duration
- Over 4 hours
- Address
- Road to the Volcán del Totumo, Loma de Arena, Santa Catalina, Bolívar
El Totumo is a mound of mud with a wooden staircase. At the top there's a pit of thick mud where you don't sink: you float. It's strange and fun, especially with a group.
The part the brochures leave out: in high season there's a line to get down into the crater, and almost everything is charged separately. There are people who massage you, people who take photos with your phone and women who wash you off in the lagoon, and each one asks to be paid. A January 2026 guide mentions COP 20,000 for admission and about COP 10,000 for each service.
Tours from Cartagena include transportation and are sold on their own or combined with a beach or the Galerazamba salt ponds. If you go, go early, before the buses arrive.
What to see
- The mud crater from above.
- The lagoon where visitors wash off.
- The view of the lagoon and mangroves from the top.
Getting there
- Tour from Cartagena with hotel pickup: from about COP 95,000 with transportation (Nomades, checked 2026-10-12).
- Car or taxi along the Vía al Mar toward Barranquilla: between 45 minutes and an hour and a quarter, depending on traffic.
Tips
- Wear an old swimsuit: the mud stains.
- Bring small bills and decide beforehand which services you want; say no to the ones you didn't ask for.
- Don't take jewelry or your phone into the pit; leave them with someone you trust.
- Go on the morning tour, before the lines.
FAQ
How much does it cost to get into the Volcán del Totumo?
About COP 20,000 per person according to a January 2026 guide; massage, photos and washing are paid separately.
How far is it from Cartagena?
About an hour north, along the Vía al Mar.
Is it worth it?
If the experience appeals to you, yes, but go knowing there are charges at every step and that it fills up by mid-morning.
Do you sink in the mud?
No. The mud is so dense that you float.
On the map
Photos: Jaroslav Jelínek, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Jaroslav Jelínek, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Jaroslav Jelínek, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
