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HBCU Alumni Weekend: July 2 – July 6, 2026 Cartagena, Colombia
July 2–6, 2026 | July 4th Weekend | MOOD Travel Club
The Yard Goes Coastal Cartagena 2026
The Yard Goes Coastal Cartagena 2026
Calling all HBCU Alumni and lovers of the culture. No need to wait until October. MOOD Travel Club is bringing the energy of your favorite Homecoming to the colorful streets of Cartagena, Colombia for the ultimate July 4th weekend.
July 2 – 6, 2026 Cartagena, Colombia 
HBCU Alumni Weekend 
July 4th Weekend
- Spots are limited. Payment plans available. 25% deposit secures your package.
- Alumni from across the country are already securing their spots. 3 packages available — Explorer, Destiny VIP & The MOOD VIP Villa.
Trip at a Glance
- 5 Epic days of food, fun, history & culture
- 3 Package tiers from beachfront hotel to luxury private villa
- Palenque 1st free African town in the Americas
- Catamaran island hop to Rosario Islands with DJ & open bar
- Professional daily photographer included — content on lock
What Is This Trip?
Homecoming. But Make It Caribbean.
Imagine your favorite HBCU tailgate — but the stage is a private catamaran on the Caribbean Sea. The crowd is a squad of alumni, entrepreneurs, and tastemakers from HBCUs all over the country. The playlist? Afro-Colombian drums meets R&B. The vibe? Unmistakably HBCU.
MOOD Travel Club is taking the spirit of the Yard to Cartagena, Colombia one of the most colorful, soul-stirring cities in the world and blending it with the deep roots of Afro-Colombian culture. This isn’t just a trip. It’s a link-up for the diaspora.
No logistics. No stress. Just melanin, music, and magic. Come solo, bring your line, or roll deep with your crew. You’re leaving with family.
HBCU Energy | 
Caribbean Vibes | 
Afro-Colombian Roots | 
R&B Nights | 
July 4th Weekend | 
Content Secured
Choose Your Experience
Three tiers. One unforgettable weekend.
Whether you want hotel comfort or a luxury private villa with your crew, there’s a MOOD package built for you. All packages include the non-negotiables.
Explorer
Beachfront Hotel · Best for solo travelers, couples & friends
- From $1,280 / person DBL
- Single occupancy: $1,600
- 25% deposit = ~$320–$400 secures your spot
Inclusions:
- ✓ Beachfront hotel accommodation (5 nights)
- ✓ Daily breakfast included
- ✓ Guided Palenque tour + traditional lunch
- ✓ Catamaran boat day to Rosario Islands
- ✓ On-board drinks & appetizers
- ✓ Boat day catered lunch
- ✓ Welcome gift & professional daily photographer
- ✓ Rooftop open bar party (not included)
- ✓ Latin Dinner Show (not included)
- ✓ R&B Dinner Cruise (not included)
Destiny VIP Most Popular
Beachfront Hotel · Full inclusions — the complete experience
- From $1,820 / person DBL
- Single occupancy: $2,140
- 25% deposit = ~$455–$535 secures your spot
Inclusions:
- ✓ Beachfront hotel accommodation (5 nights)
- ✓ Daily breakfast included
- ✓ Guided Palenque tour + traditional lunch
- ✓ Catamaran boat day to Rosario Islands
- ✓ On-board drinks, bites & lunch
- ✓ Rooftop Welcome Party — Don Julio open bar & bites (2 hrs)
- ✓ 3-Course Latin Dinner Show
- ✓ R&B Dinner Cruise + 3-course farewell dinner
- ✓ Beachfront pool party — 2-hr open bar & bites
- ✓ Welcome gift & professional daily photographer
The MOOD VIP Villa
Luxury Private Villa · 16 spots only — the “Host House” experience
- From $1,975 / person DBL
- Single occupancy: $2,320
- Only 16 spots — Luxury Private Villa
Inclusions:
- ✓ Luxury private villa accommodation (5 nights)
- ✓ Full all-inclusive dining — breakfast, lunch & dinner daily
- ✓ Private chef included
- ✓ Guided Palenque tour + traditional lunch
- ✓ Catamaran boat day to Rosario Islands + lunch
- ✓ Don Julio open bar party — bites & cocktails
- ✓ 3-Course Latin Dinner Show
- ✓ R&B Dinner Cruise + 3-course farewell dinner
- ✓ Beachfront pool party — 2-hr open bar & bites
- ✓ Welcome gift & professional daily photographer
The 5-Day Itinerary
Curated for the culture.
From the moment you touch down at CTG, we handle everything so you can focus on the fit. Here’s what 5 days of HBCU energy in Cartagena looks like.
Day 01 — July 2
🥂 The Icebreaker — Rooftop Welcome Party
Welcome to the Yard, Cartagena Edition. Check in, settle into your hotel or villa, and meet your people. The evening kicks off with a rooftop meet-and-greet featuring a 2-hour Don Julio open bar, signature cocktails, and appetizers. This is your orientation into the weekend ahead.
- Don Julio Open Bar
- Rooftop Venue
- Appetizers Included
Day 02 — July 3
🥁 The Pilgrimage — Palenque & Latin Dinner Show
Today is about roots. We take a guided journey to San Basilio de Palenque — the first free African town in the Americas, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Experience the living descendants of freedom, hear the drumbeats of Afro-Colombian culture, and share a traditional lunch in the community. The evening closes with a 3-course Latin Dinner Show — culinary artistry meets performance.
- UNESCO Heritage Site
- Traditional Lunch
- 3-Course Dinner Show
Day 03 — July 4
⛵ The Main Event — Island Hopping Tailgate Catamaran Day
Happy 4th. You’re celebrating on a catamaran on the Caribbean Sea. This is the pinnacle of the weekend — a full day of island hopping to the Rosario Islands with a live DJ, drinks, appetizers, and a catered lunch. Think HBCU tailgate energy, but the parking lot is the open ocean. This is the moment you’ll be talking about for years.
- Catamaran Cruise
- Live DJ
- Rosario Islands
- Lunch Included
Day 04 — July 5
🏊 The Soak — Beachfront Pool Party
This is how you do a Caribbean afternoon right. A 2-hour open bar and bites rooftop pool party with your entire MOOD crew — soaking up the Caribbean sun in pure style. Cold drinks, good music, great people, and views that make every photo look like a travel magazine cover. The perfect way to recharge before the grand finale.
- 2-Hour Open Bar
- Rooftop Pool
- Bites Included
- Caribbean Views
Day 05 — July 6
🚢 The Finale — All-White R&B Dinner Cruise
The send-off has to match the weekend. Dress in your finest whites and board the R&B Dinner Cruise around the Bay of Cartagena. A 3-course farewell dinner with waterfront views, R&B soundtrack, and the entire MOOD family together one last time. Toast to an unforgettable weekend — and start planning your return.
- All-White Dress Code
- R&B Cruise
- 3-Course Dinner
- Bay of Cartagena
Why Cartagena?
The city that hits different
Cartagena isn’t just beautiful. It’s Black history, Caribbean soul, and Latin energy wrapped into one walled city on the Colombian coast. For the diaspora, it’s deeply personal.
The Afro-Colombian community of Palenque, located just outside Cartagena, was the first free African settlement in the entire Americas. The city itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The music, the food, the people. All of it roots back to African heritage. This is culture travel at its highest level.
- UNESCO Walled City
Cartagena’s historic walled city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, featuring some of the best preserved colonial architecture in the Americas. - Afro-Colombian Roots
Palenque, 45 minutes from Cartagena, was the first free African town in the Americas. The culture, language, and music here are unlike anywhere else on Earth. - Caribbean Paradise
Crystal clear Caribbean waters, the Rosario Islands, and a coastline that makes every photo look professionally shot. Year-round sun. No passport stress. Just vibes. - Food, Music & Nightlife
World class cuisine, rooftop bars, and cumbia and champeta in the streets of Getsemaní. Cartagena’s nightlife scene can rival any city in the world.
Who Is MOOD Travel Club?
Travel Made For the Culture
MOOD Travel Club creates epic group itineraries for Black travelers who want the best food, fun, history, and culture the world has to offer. We attract professionals and elevated travelers who value experience, not just destinations. We don’t do ordinary. We don’t do forgettable. Every MOOD trip is curated, fully managed, and designed to connect you with a community of like-minded travelers who become lifelong family.
- Black-owned and operated
- Group travel done right
- Food, culture, and history first
- Professional photography included
- Community that lasts beyond the trip
Don’t Watch the Recap Video Wishing You Were There.
The MOOD Villa (The MOOD Package) has only 16 spots. All packages are limited. The only way to guarantee your spot is to pay your deposit now.
The Yard Is Going Coastal Secure Your Spot on The Yard.
Alumni from HBCUs across the country are locking in their packages. The MOOD Villa has only 16 spots. Don’t be the one watching the recap video. Secure your spot with a 25% deposit today.
🎉 Book My Package — 25% Deposit | Questions? Contact MOOD
July 2–6, 2026 · Cartagena, Colombia · HBCU Alumni Weekend · MOOD Travel Club
Got Questions? We got answers.
Got Questions? We got answers.
The HBCU Alumni Weekend is a 5-day group travel experience in Cartagena, Colombia from July 2–6, 2026, organized by MOOD Travel Club. It's designed for HBCU alumni and lovers of HBCU culture who want to experience the best of Cartagena's food, history, nightlife, and Afro-Colombian roots — with a community of like-minded travelers from HBCUs across the country. Think homecoming energy meets Caribbean paradise.
What is the deposit? A 25% deposit per package secures your spot. For the Explorer package, that's approximately $320–$400. For Destiny VIP, approximately $455–$535. For The MOOD Villa package, approximately $494–$580. You can pay in full at any time. Payment plans are available for the remaining balance. Click "Book Now" to complete your deposit and lock in your package and occupancy type on the MOOD Travel Club website.
Explorer is the entry package — beachfront hotel, daily breakfast, Palenque tour, and catamaran boat day. It's perfect for travelers who want the core experience at the best value. Destiny VIP adds the full social calendar: Don Julio open bar party, 3-course Latin Dinner Show, R&B Dinner Cruise, and beachfront pool party — the complete weekend. The MOOD VIP Package upgrades you to a luxury private villa with a private chef and full all-inclusive dining. Only 16 villa spots are available, so this one moves fast.
Not at all! This experience is open to HBCU alumni AND lovers of HBCU energy, culture, and community. If you've ever wished you could feel the electricity of homecoming season without waiting for October — this trip is for you. MOOD Travel Club welcomes everyone who shows up for the culture.
Solo travelers are not just welcome — they're celebrated on MOOD trips. The entire trip is designed to connect strangers into family. By the rooftop welcome party on night one, you'll have found your people. Many MOOD solo travelers have become lifelong friends and travel partners from their first trip.
San Basilio de Palenque is a village located about 45 minutes from Cartagena, Colombia. It was the first free African town in the Americas — established by escaped enslaved Africans who fought for and won their freedom in the 17th century. It's a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage site, and the people of Palenque maintain a distinct language, music, and traditions that trace directly back to West and Central Africa. For any member of the African diaspora, visiting Palenque is a deeply moving and transformative experience.
Cartagena is one of the most visited tourist cities in Latin America and is extremely welcoming to Black travelers — particularly given its deep Afro-Colombian roots and history. MOOD Travel Club has a strong track record of safe, well-organized group trips to Cartagena. As with any travel, using common sense and staying with the group is recommended. Our team provides full on-the-ground support for the entire duration of the trip.
Do flights come with the package? Fly into Rafael Núñez International Airport (CTG) in Cartagena. Flights are not included in the packages — you'll book your own airfare. MOOD Travel Club will provide recommended arrival and departure times to ensure you don't miss any scheduled events. Many travelers fly through Bogotá (BOG) or connect through Miami, Atlanta, or New York.
MOOD Travel Club's full refund and cancellation policy is available on their website. We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance to protect your investment. Please review the Trip Contract and Terms & Conditions on moodtravelclub.com before completing your deposit.