Celebrating My 40th Birthday in Cartagena: Real Housewives Vibes, Culture, and All the Love

Photoshoot at the Tiny Village Cartagena by @Naturalcultureent

Your girl is officially 40! And you know I had to do it big. I'm a huge birthday person, so when this milestone came around, I wanted to do something memorable and share the moment with people I love. Usually I travel solo (I love the freedom), but this time I invited family and friends to join me for a group trip that turned out to be one of the most beautiful experiences of my life. Now I’m still a solo travel girlie, but for this moment I’m glad I chose to share it with others.

Why Cartagena?

As someone who teaches AP African American Studies, I’ve become more intentional about traveling to places tied to the African Diaspora. Colombia, especially Palenque, is rich with that history. Palenque was the first free Black town in the Americas, founded by formerly enslaved Africans. Plus, Colombia is affordable which I wanted to ensure with it being a large group, easily accessible with multiple flights, and full of flavor—from the food to the people.

Where We Stayed: Tiny Village Cartagena

I booked out the entire Tiny Village Cartagena, a Black-owned mini resort on a private island. Akil, the owner, started communicating with me well in advance and helped me create a custom itinerary focused on the things I told him I love. History, good food, and local culture. There are 10 villas, a pool, rooftop lounge, outdoor dining area, outdoor gym, and the sweetest chef ever, Tia, who cooked for us daily.

Day 1: Arrival + Birthday Dinner in the Old City

Immigration was a beast! Most of us arrived in the afternoon (and it was a Wednesday for reference) and were met with a 3 hour wait. As we made friends in the immigration line, those who had been to Cartagena before said they had never encountered such a long wait, so this may not be the norm. Akil met us at the airport and ensured we made it to our bus and then boat transportation (remember we were on a private island and not inland). Once we arrived, we were welcomed with fresh watermelon juice. The resort looked even better than the photos. We were all in awe and walked around taking pictures like kids in a candy store. We settled in and prepared for dinner. That night, we had dinner at Doña Lola—a romantic, colonial-style restaurant with unforgettable green mashed potatoes and salmon. This was our first introduction into how amazing all of the food and drinks in Cartagena would be. It was such a beautiful place to kick off my official birthday. We walked the Old City afterward before heading back to the resort by boat.

Day 2: Palenque History Tour + Cultural Exchange Happy Hour

Tia spoiled us with breakfast (fresh eggs, fruit, juices, and homemade sauces). Then, we hit the road to Palenque in a sprinter van that gave full Real Housewives Trip energy. Upon arrival we were met by our guide Victor (aka Colombia Bae 😉) who shared the deep history of Black people in Palenque. We shared a toast of moonshine made by his uncle in their home before going to visit a performing arts school. The students at the school educated us on and performed a number of cultural dances and music. After that we visited a natural healing doctor who shared how he uses spices, herbs, and oils to keep the community healthy. We were able to purchase different remedies and even be prayed over by the doctor. For lunch we went back to Victor’s home where his sister prepared one of the best meals of the trip. We could choose between chicken, fish, pork chops or vegetarian. We all chose either chicken or fish. Our meals were served with the main dish over a coconut rice with a sauce over it and an avocado salad. We washed it down with aguapanela, which I later found out some people were mixing with the moonshine. SMH at my guests for holding out on me because that sounds like an amazing combination. Aguapanela isn’t quite like a sweet tea but it is a dark colored sweet drink made from sugarcane.

That night, we joined locals at Baroca Rooftop for a Cultural Exchange Happy Hour. Akil arranged for us to pair up with locals that wanted to practice their English with native speakers and learn about our culture. We practiced Spanish; they practiced English. I wasn’t sure if my guests would be into this experience, but I was happy that they fully got into it. At the end of the night we took over the music and started taking turns sharing a song and dance that reflected our cultures and started teaching it to each other. To represent for our culture we taught them things like The Cupid Shuffle and classics like the Electric Slide to Before I Let Go. We ordered food and drinks here which were all good. This night was a real authentic local connection.

Day 3: Lovers & Friends Day (Valentine’s Day)

We started the day with a beautiful catered bottomless brunch on the resort grounds. I gave my guests handwritten thank-you cards and soaked up the love they returned to me. After brunch was a free day. Guests chose their own adventures—some choosing to get a day resort pass, visit the spa and do a photoshoot in the city. I did a photoshoot at the resort because I wanted to capture the space where I brought in this new chapter on film. I rested a bit after the photoshoot and was fully prepared to have dinner alone. To my surprise some of my cousins and friends got dressed and ready to come have dinner with me. Our hosts Maloi and Akil had to work a bit of magic as it was Valentine's Day and most restaurants were all out of reservations. Since it was a large group that required even more magic, but Akil got it done. I had my heart set on dinner at Agua de León, and it made it happen. The restaurant was very upscale and beautiful aesthetically. Thankfully the food and drinks were just as good. My favorite mill was the squash and squid ink pasta. My friend said her octopus was one of the best meals she’s had. We wrapped the night with live music and dancing at Havana Club.

Day 4: Yacht Day + '80s Baby Dinner Party

What I thought was a boat ride turned out to be a full-on yacht experience! We had two bedrooms, two full bathrooms (with a shower), a living room, a full, multiple spaces outside and crew quarters. We island-hopped, danced, ate, drank, and partied in the ocean (literally). Vendors were also in the water offering massages, jet skis, jewelry and fruit. The energy was unmatched.

That night, we had a private 5-course '80s-themed dinner at the resort. Everyone dressed like their parents would have dressed when they were made in the '80s, and we played Bobby Brown who is one of my personal favorites among other 80s hits.

Day 5: Farewell Brunch

Our final breakfast from Tia was bittersweet. We recapped the trip, laughed, and shared our highlights from the trip. Everyone left at different times, but the bond we formed was solid. This was one of the best trips I’ve ever had.

Planning Tips

Group Coordination: I created a GroupMe and a Pinterest board with outfit inspo, travel tips, and reminders. I also used a Google Form to collect preferences.
Budgeting: For a full resort buyout, we paid about $800-900 per person, including breakfast and activities. We paid separately for dinners in the city.
Communication: We used WhatsApp to stay in touch with resort staff. Airport transfers were pre-arranged.
Hair Warning: Cartagena is HUMID. Plan your hair accordingly.

Want to see more? Visit my IG at @brandisfoodiediary and click on my Cartagena Highlight. You’ll see tons of videos from this memorable experience.

Final Thoughts

Turning 40 in Cartagena, surrounded by love, culture, and history, was everything I didn’t know I needed. If you’re looking for birthday trip ideas, especially for a group, Tiny Village Cartagena should be on your list.

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