Monumento a Benkos Bioho
Monumento a Benkos Bioho
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.5
14 reviews
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lamac66
Conyers, GA76 contributions
Jul 2019 • Couples
We took a private tour out to this community from Cartegena. Good journey and site seeing on the ride.
When we got there we stopped by the community center and got some deep historical knowledge.
We dropped by what would be our eventual lunch location, a residents home. We then continued the walk through the town and got the historical context on the monuments and murals.
We stopped by the town holistic medicinal specialist. Very interesting products! We participated in the cultural arts dance performance. Very interactive. We got a lesson on playing the drums to the music.
Then the grad finally. The meal for lunch! Grilled fish smothered with a mild curry sauce with peppers and onions. Fresh fish! Served with coconut rice and beans. The drink was a citrus flavor sweetened with sugar can liquid. Refreshing. All served on a large plantain leaf with a wooden utensil made from a stick or twig.
I definitely want to do this again.
When we got there we stopped by the community center and got some deep historical knowledge.
We dropped by what would be our eventual lunch location, a residents home. We then continued the walk through the town and got the historical context on the monuments and murals.
We stopped by the town holistic medicinal specialist. Very interesting products! We participated in the cultural arts dance performance. Very interactive. We got a lesson on playing the drums to the music.
Then the grad finally. The meal for lunch! Grilled fish smothered with a mild curry sauce with peppers and onions. Fresh fish! Served with coconut rice and beans. The drink was a citrus flavor sweetened with sugar can liquid. Refreshing. All served on a large plantain leaf with a wooden utensil made from a stick or twig.
I definitely want to do this again.
Written July 14, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sa-i44
San Diego, CA5,515 contributions
Jul 2018 • Couples
Benkos Bioho was a king in the Republic of Congo, back in the early 16th century. He was captured by the Spaniards, transported to Cartagena, and like his fellow Africans, to be sold into slavery. But his boat sank somewhere along the Magdalena river and he escaped, setting up an army with his fellow runaway slaves, and established the exile community of San Balisio de Palenque. Biohó also created an intelligence network, which helped to facilitate more escapes The king tried in vain to overcome Benko’s army, but continuously failed. So he gave up and signed a peach treaty which gave the people of Palenque their freedom. Unfortunately, the king really couldn’t be trusted, and in 1621 Benkos was captured and hung. Finally, in 1691, the Spanish Crown issued an official Royal Decree freeing all Palenqueros from slavery once again – this time, for good.
A statue of Bioho stands in the main square in Palenque, showing him breaking free of his chains and reaching for his motherland, West Africa.
A statue of Bioho stands in the main square in Palenque, showing him breaking free of his chains and reaching for his motherland, West Africa.
Written December 25, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kathychiara
West Bloomfield, MI189 contributions
Feb 2018 • Couples
400 year old city of first free slaves in America. We went with cartegena connections, had delicious local food in a home. Saw amazing local music combining hip hop w traditional, saw traditional dance. Very authentic and unique. Smithsonian goes here.
Written February 8, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Abovetheclouds
2,216 contributions
Aug 2023 • Solo
You are only likely to come here if you are doing a tour. The guide will bring you here as this is an important statue for the people of Palenque. History will be explained too. Small. Learn, take a photograph and done. You don't need long.
Written August 31, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ad.aeroplan
Cancun, Mexico81 contributions
Mar 2019
I spent less than 20,000 COP to visit this place when others have to spend US$100. It is noted for producing famous sons such as the boxer, Antonio, and others. Benkos Bioho was an ex king of the Republic of Congo before he was captured and brought in as a slave in Colombia. He managed to escape when the boat sank and he and others managed to find refuge in Palenque. The ladies are noted for selling fruits and wearing colour dresses with the colors of the Colombia flag.
Written March 24, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Albert L
4 contributions
Jan 2019
Excellent if you are into the culture and history. Not too much to see but the culture and people there is worthy to visit
Written January 20, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hawaiian Canuck
Vancouver, Canada2,088 contributions
Feb 2018 • Friends
YOU should go and visit this place. Its unique and different from anything else you will experience in Colombia.
I was sad to hear that very few people want or do visit this amazing little town called San Basilio De Palenque just a few hours drive away from Cartagena. As Kathychiara has said previously, this is a UNESCO designated historical site - a 400 year old city of the first free slaves in America.
Our Cartagena guide Yessica told us that if we go, we need to spend most of a day there and that we must hire a local guide for a tour. No problem! The trip to the town is picturesque and you experience another ecosystem of the many that make up the entire country.
Once we arrived we were greeted by locals and welcomed into their homes. We were assigned a local guide who took us around and stayed with us the entire time we were there. What was most impressive about the experience is that of the 3,500 people whom made up the population, most can trace their lineage to the first slave who established the town back in the early 1600's - Benkos Bioho. A simple yet powerful statue stands in the public square in the centre of town and boldly shows him breaking frees of the chains of slavery.
The town itself is modest and simple, but there is strong bonds and love here and you can feel it. It is amazing that a town can stay together for 400 years and not lose its identity or its drive towards a better life.
RECOMMENDATIONS: Do wear sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat. This place is super hot ( I say this as a native Hawaiian! I can stand heat but this was crazy!). Also bring some extra money because you can buy a number of local products like homemade candy, t-shirts, famed Palenque style music and other things. Many locals count on making extra money this way. I had only wished that the guide told us this before coming. It was hard to turn sellers away as we were going.
Overall, one of the highlights to my trip to Colombia.
I was sad to hear that very few people want or do visit this amazing little town called San Basilio De Palenque just a few hours drive away from Cartagena. As Kathychiara has said previously, this is a UNESCO designated historical site - a 400 year old city of the first free slaves in America.
Our Cartagena guide Yessica told us that if we go, we need to spend most of a day there and that we must hire a local guide for a tour. No problem! The trip to the town is picturesque and you experience another ecosystem of the many that make up the entire country.
Once we arrived we were greeted by locals and welcomed into their homes. We were assigned a local guide who took us around and stayed with us the entire time we were there. What was most impressive about the experience is that of the 3,500 people whom made up the population, most can trace their lineage to the first slave who established the town back in the early 1600's - Benkos Bioho. A simple yet powerful statue stands in the public square in the centre of town and boldly shows him breaking frees of the chains of slavery.
The town itself is modest and simple, but there is strong bonds and love here and you can feel it. It is amazing that a town can stay together for 400 years and not lose its identity or its drive towards a better life.
RECOMMENDATIONS: Do wear sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat. This place is super hot ( I say this as a native Hawaiian! I can stand heat but this was crazy!). Also bring some extra money because you can buy a number of local products like homemade candy, t-shirts, famed Palenque style music and other things. Many locals count on making extra money this way. I had only wished that the guide told us this before coming. It was hard to turn sellers away as we were going.
Overall, one of the highlights to my trip to Colombia.
Written March 21, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pueden verse en Palenque actividades culturales y música durante el mes de enero?
Written January 19, 2019
Hola, es recomendable el tour a San Basilio de Palenque con un niño menor de 5 años y una bebé de 6 meses? Agradezco sus comentarios.
Written March 20, 2018
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