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Fitness, Food & Fun: Cartagena

Colombia

Fitness, Food & Fun: Cartagena

Cartagena is one of the most unique cities in South America, and we're excited to give you a unique active perspective of this historic and special place! Join us for daily workouts, local adventures, authentic cuisine, and more! From visiting a private island to salsa dancing the night away, this retreat is all about becoming immersed in the Colombian culture while enjoying being active!

Fitness:
Throughout the retreat, Coach Sarah Gawron will lead one to two daily workouts with a focus on high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and maintaining proper form. Depending on the rest of the day's activities, some workouts will be more restorative or mobility-focused and others will be more strength and conditioning based. All levels are welcome and will be accommodated and safely challenged!
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Adventure:
In addition to our daily workouts, we've got a week of unique local adventures and VIP experiences planned for you! Some of the highlights will be taking a private salsa dancing class (and then visiting a world-famous club with a live band) and spending a day on a private boat island hopping through the Rosario Islands. Plus, we'll explore the city with a private VIP walking tour where we will taste local delicacies and check out street art and trendy neighborhoods.

Relaxation:
With all the excitement and activities planned, there will also be plenty of free time to relax and chill. We will have beach days, free time to explore the city and shop for mochillas (beautiful bags woven by indigenous women) and a couple of nights off to try local restaurants. At the end of the day, this trip is for you, so if you want to go and do an extra activity or skip a planned one, go for it! 

What's Included

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  • 5 days / 4 nights accommodations at a luxurious boutique hotel with local charm, rich history and modern amenities
  • 1-2 daily fitness classes led by Coach Sarah focusing on HIIT, strength and conditioning, and mobility
  • VIP walking tour of Cartagena's trendiest neighborhoods and historic monuments (with food tastings included!)
  • Island hopping through the Rosario islands with a private boat and captain
  • Colombian-style salsa dancing lesson
  • Unlimited breakfast provided each morning
  • Two group dinners included: one at a top Cartagena restaurant and one home-cooked meal at a private home for authentic local flavors
  • Complimentary foot massage!
  • Professional photographs
  • Welcome Wellness Bag

Meet Coach Sarah Gawron

Sarah is passionate about health and fitness. Her dedication to a healthy lifestyle is rooted in her belief that wellness is beyond physical. In order to achieve optimal wellness, an individual needs to nurture their mind and spirit too. Her personal passion for health translates into helping and coaching those who want a similar lifestyle.  In recent years, she has coached many people through their personal journeys to find healthier and happier lives.
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Sarah teaches healthy habits to create a balanced lifestyle in and out of the gym. In order to create these positive rituals, Sarah will help you find your motivation or your “why”. Helping you find your “why” will help you become and stay motivated on your path to wellness. By creating specific and personal goals, Sarah will guide you to tap into your fullest potential.  She encourages those to trust their strength and ability in order to progress.
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Sarah focuses on building functional strength from the ground up by creating a strong foundation of movement quality before adding load. She specializes in kettlebell, barbell, and gymnastics strength and conditioning.  Sarah believes everyone has the ability to move well with strength, power, and grace. Follow her on Instagram @_coach_sarah.
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The Accommodations

We will find unique and luxurious accommodations at Casa Pestagua, a five-star boutique hotel in the heart of the old city. Walking down the cobblestone streets, you'd never expect this majestic property to exist, housing 11 suites and luxurious rooms to indulge you with the personalized service of a boutique hotel in the majestic spaces of a colonial palace. Known as "the most beautiful house in Cartagena", Casa Pestagua belonged to the 18th Century Count of Pestagua, a rich and powerful aristocrat who gave his name to this mansion with its impressive colonial architecture! The property has a pool, rooftop jacuzzi, restaurant, and spa services.
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Itinerary

Day 1
  • Welcome to Colombia! Guests will arrive in Cartagena and check in to our old city mansion. We'll meet for introductions and get to know each other at our first group workout, stretching out from our day of travel! In the evening, we've got a very special first night planned for our stay in Cartagena. We will go to the home of some friends of Ketanga who will prepare a multi-course dinner for us using local flavors and inspirations. We will hang out on the rooftop, eat fantastic food and enjoy spirited conversation.

Day 2
  • This morning we will wake up to the smell of Colombian coffee and the burn of a satisfying workout. Then we'll have a free morning to relax and explore the city. In the afternoon, we'll get acquainted with the city on a VIP walking tour. We will have a chance to explore the old town and trendy Getsemani neighborhood, taste some local flavors, and get ideas on where to go during free time! When we get back, we'll come together for a second workout, a more restorative mobility / stretch class, and then we'll have a free night!

Day 3
  • Today will start with an invigorating HIIT class and nourishing breakfast. Then the day will be free! Sign up for an additional tour or excursion, go shopping in town or simply relax at the pool, the day is yours! In the early evening we'll go for cocktails at a very special bar that promises unique libations with fresh ingredients in a magical setting! After a round of drinks (optional, of course), we'll head to our second class of the day. But instead of a workout, we'll head to a private salsa lesson where we'll learn the Colombian style of the popular dance! After working up an appetite dancing, we'll have dinner and then visit Cafe Havana (optional), the famous salsa venue where we can practice our new skills or just hang out and listen to the live band.

Day 4
  • On today's exciting agenda is a strength and conditioning class with Sarah followed by a day trip on a private boat to the Rosario Islands! We'll visit different beaches and islands and simply enjoy the scenery and company. In the afternoon, Sarah will lead a beach workout (for anyone who is interested in getting off their beach towel!) and then we'll make our way back to the mainland. In the evening, dinner will be included for the group at one of the best restaurants in town!

Day 5
  • On our final morning in Cartagena, we will have a HIIT class with Sarah followed by breakfast and goodbyes.

Testimonials

"I went on the July 2019 Cartagena trip and am completely obsessed! It was the first trip I have ventured on alone and am so happy I did it! The group was a wonderful mix of all ages and we meshed so well. I love the balance of fitness, activities, and exploring local culture. Coach Sarah is phenomenal, motivating, and so sweet. Also Stacy was on the trip and it was amazing to meet her and talk about all the work Ketanga does for fitness retreats! I am looking forward to my next trip with Ketanga already. This was an experience I will remember forever and have been talking about nonstop since returning home!" - Brooke

"I went to Colombia with Ketanga Fitness and had a fabulous time. The work outs were a great way to start the day and were designed to accommodate a variety of levels of fitness. The accommodations and food were top notch.   It was a great combination of fitness and sight seeing in a country I may not have otherwise traveled. I'm looking forward to my next adventure with Ketanga Fitness." - Amy

"I attended the Cartagena retreat in July and Stacy was so helpful answering all of my questions from the beginning. This was my first group travel trip and I loved that it was a diverse group of people from all over the US. I had so much fun connecting with everyone. This trip was honestly a perfect balance of fitness, local/cultural experiences, walking tours, bike tours, island hopping, coffee experience, personal free time, learning to salsa, food and overall a lot of fun. Great restaurant and bar choices and also an amazing hotel. People can really own their own vacation and not feel obligated to participate if they didn't want to. I personally loved being a part of it all and really appreciated the mix of agenda items on our itinerary as it allowed me to experience so many aspects of Cartagena. It took away a lot of the stress of planning everything and I left the trip feeling like I experienced so much in a few days. Sarah was also an amazing coach and put us to work! I loved that I also learned new workouts to incorporate while traveling. Overall, a 5 star amazing experience!" - Nina

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