I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, attempting to get comfortable with the stillness of the remote La Rocca Island. I shifted my body over an oversized bean bag perched in the sand, careful not to spill the freshly brewed cacao I held in one hand, journal in the other.
After a few days of multi-sensory adventure in Cartagena’s El Centro—where the vibrant hues match the pulsating local energy, from the palenqueras balancing mixed fruit baskets over their lemon and scarlet-hued gowns to the hustling club promoters popping out of bass-pumping doorways—I was learning what silence sounded like again.
Earlier that day, I left the colorful Colombian city skyline behind and cruised about 30 minutes toward a seemingly remote island, overgrown with a covering of sea grape leaves and a tangle of aerial mangrove roots. After ascending a zagging flight of sandy stairs, however, an unlikely scene revealed itself: a series of palapalas surrounded a sweeping infinity pool and an open kitchen lined with platters of freshly cubed pineapple, papaya, and dragonfruit.
Here, I’d spend the day with OMM Wellness founder, Ana Muñoz, on a day-long retreat that comprised journaling, dancing, yoga, and self-reflection. Muñoz, a transpersonal psychologist and certified health coach, established OMM in 2022. It was a natural extension from her current role as co-founder of TwoTravel, a Cartagena-based luxury concierge specializing in custom-tailored group itineraries where she had witnessed an uptick in wellness-focused bookings, especially following the pandemic.
“I always thought Cartagena was a great destination for wellness tourism, but I was initially focused on sun and beach tourism,” shared Muñoz. Since its founding in 2018, TwoTravel has offered a variety of customized wellness activities for clients, including yoga classes, dance lessons, and personalized trainers, however, in addition to lifestyle and leisure travel, now TwoTravel and OMM Wellness work together to curate immersive retreats from one-off experiences (like the day trip I was on) to 12-night experiences for their wellness-minded clientele.
“With its laidback way of life and coastal Caribbean location, Cartagena is an ideal destination for wellness tourism, shares TwoTravel cofounder Ray Kanevsky. “There’s a peaceful communion with nature,” he says, noting the juxtaposition of the UNESCO World Heritage colonial architecture of Old Town contrasting the beaches, mountains, and rivers all within day-trip proximity of Cartagena. Not to mention—private islands, only a 30-minute power boat ride from shore, which TwoTravel can rent out for what Kanevsky calls “the ultimate wellness escape, complete with 360-degree views of turquoise waters, total privacy, and all-access concierge service.”
