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Agoodjié Achiote: Afrocolombian Woman Warrior Experience

8 days/7 nights

July 1-8, 2026

Join the Imperial Corps Agooodjié & the Kpodjito of the African Diaspora HRM Queen Mother Dr. Dówóti Désir

for a one-of-a-kind culturally immersive warrior experience in Cali and Cartagena, Colombia

Book your spot today! Limited availability

Book Now!

Itinerary  (Tentative)

8 days/ 7 nights 
$2999*
*Each traveler has their own room and bathroom

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Day 1: Learning and Healing

Arrive via private transportation to the hotel. 

 

Check in is at 3:00 PM. 

Welcome dinner and Imperial Corps Agoodjié Initiation Ceremony with Her Royal Majesty Queen Mother Sêmevo and members of The Royal Palace of the African Diaspora.

Image by JUAN MANUEL GONZALEZ RESTREPO

Day 2: Cali History
 

Experience Afro-Colombia’s rich history in one of the most African-centered cities in the country. With neighborhoods filled with vibrant murals, we learn unknown Black history and the surprising social and political vision of the people.    

One of the ways Agoodjié demonstrate their strength is by walking the terrain. Test your endurance with a scenic hike to the breathtaking visita points of the City of Tres Cruces. 

In the evening, a workshop on traditional plant medicine from sabedores who were entrusted by their elders to carry on their healing practices, open our path to spiritual repair.

Day 3: Martial Arts 
Salsa in the Calle

Grima is an Afro-Colombian martial arts form developed by Africans as a form of self- defense and resistance against Spanish enslavers and oppressive plantation owners. Accompanied by music, Grima is also an oral tradition that honors the community’s role in the national struggle for independence.  The afternoon workshop, led by local experts, will ignite the divine warrior within you. 

The evening is capped off by joining hundreds of revelers on the streets of Cali for the weekly Friday-night salsa party celebrating the universal language of dance. Impromptu salsa dance lessons are available.   

Image by Andra C Taylor Jr
Image by Todd Cravens

Day 4: Whale Watching

On this day, we reflect on the living rhythms of the sea with reverence and ceremony.  We honor the spirits of the deep waters and our Ancestors with a day of whale watching off the Colombian Pacific coast.

Day 5: Cartagena

Fly to Cartagena in the morning, and check into accommodations.

Free time until the AfroColombian history graffiti tour. 

Image by Ricardo Gomez Angel
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Day 6: Palenque

San Basilico of Palenque, designated by UNESCO as “Africa in Colombia” is a world heritage site widely recognized as the first free town founded by enslaved Africans in the Americas.  As we explore Palenque’s living traditions: music, dance, storytelling and learn the Palenque Creole language, we will sample its unique world class food, emphasizing the importance of achiote in its cuisine. 

Day 7: Cartagena-Island hopping

Island hopping in Cartagena is a half-day escape through the crystal-clear waters, white-sand beaches. Opitonal activities include snorkeling, swimming, and fresh seafood stops as you hop between a few of the coast’s most beautiful cays.

We will arrive at the dock around mid-day. Spend the rest of the free afternoon luxuriating in the beauty day.

A farewell dinner with the Queen Mother, crowns the beginning of new international friendships and your formal affiliation with the Imperial Corps Agoodjié of the African Diaspora. www.imperialcorpsagoodjie.org    

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Day 8: Farewell
 

Say goodbye to your new travel family, and think back on the new expeirences fondly. 

Check out is 12:00pm

What's Included

Private Accommodations with ensuite bathroom
Private Transportation
Excursions

Airport transfers

Domestic flight from CLO to CTG 
(Cali to Cartagena)

Daily Breakfast
3 Lunches
2 Dinners

On the ground support
Multilingual Staff
Full Tours

Payment Plan

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What's NOT Included in the package

Travel Insurance

Roundtrip airfare

Beauty or medical services

Meals not mentioned

Extra tours and excursions

Transfers not mentioned

Tips

Image by Ricardo Gomez Angel

About the Host

Her Royal Majesty Queen Mother Dr. Dòwòti Désir, Sêmévo 1st of the Royal Palace of the African Diaspora, has been an eminent figure since her enthronement in 2022 as Queen Mother of the African Diaspora, Benin Republic. With a mission to spotlight African spirituality and promoting the history and culture of the West African country, she has become a leading proponent for Bénin Republic.  Due to her extensive travel experiences, she is committed to understanding and valorizing the role of women as warriors and resistance fighters in the liberation struggles of Black and Brown peoples as part of her mandate. 

Her traditional title, Kpodjito, meaning "She Who Birthed the Leopard," establishes her as the foundation of The Royal Palace of the African Diaspora. The Ambassador-at-Large of the High Counsel of Kings of Bénin, she is also the Founder and Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Corps Agoodjié of the African Diaspora, a distinguished educational and leadership program for women of African descent and their allies. As Commander-in-Chief, the Kpodjito has established a transformative platform dedicated to empowering Black women and honoring their pivotal role in liberation movements. The Imperial Corps Agoodjié, inspired by the historic women warriors of Dahomey, serves as both an educational and leadership incubator, blending tradition with contemporary strategies for social change. Through immersive cultural experiences—rituals, workshops, intergenerational dialogues, and spiritual pilgrimages in Africa, the Caribbean and the United States—she fosters spaces where women of African descent can reclaim leadership, deepen their resistance strategies, heal, and celebrate their collective heritage. These experiences not only nurture personal growth but also galvanize participants to actively engage in the ongoing struggle for spiritual reparations, justice and self-determination in their communities. 

A co-writer of a documentary based on her scholarship, Vodou: A Theology of Liberation (2021) directed by Dalian Adofo & Verona Spence-Adofo, Queen Mother Dr. Désir is featured in the 2025 Michel Meyers, documentary film, Sa Majesté de la Mers et les Oceans; the 2024 documentary by award-winning filmmaker, Mati Diop Dahomey; Spirit is Eternal (2017) produced by Dalian Adofo & Verona Spence-Adofo; and Malcolm’s Echo: The Legacy of Malcolm X (2008) by Dami Akinnusi. As a scholar her intellectual formation is African centered in critical theory, postmodern human geography, contemporary art, and theology. The Queen Mother studied and graduated from Barnard College, Columbia University (BA); Center for Curatorial Studies, Bard College (MA); and The New Seminary (D. Min).

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FAQ

Get Informed

What airports do I fly in and out of

Fly into Cali (CTO) airport and fly out of Cartagena (CTG).

Is there double occupancy available?

No. The package is based on single occupancy. Each traveler will have their own room and en-suite bathroom.

Who attends ?

We get a mixture of women who are first-time travelers, experienced travelers, and solo travelers who want to try groups. While the women often range in age and background, common themes are the desire to have a safe space to unapologetically be themselves, build connections with one another, and openness to new experiences and cultures.

What time should I arrive and what time should I leave Cartagena?

Check-in is at 3:00 pm. Plan to arrive to Cali no later than 6 pm on the first day to ensure your attendance at the welcome dinner. 

 

 Check-out is at 12:00 pm the final day of the trip. 

What travel style is this trip?

The Agoodjiè Cali/Cartagena trip is a unique, culturally immersive experience. Your accommodations will be comfortable and stylish and have regular hotel amenities. Dining options will range from high-end locations to local dining spots. Transportation will be comfortable and private. 

How big is the travel group

The group will have a maximum of 10 women. The beauty of intimate groups is the personal attention each member gets and the meaningful moments of bonding with the other women.

How active should I be?

You should be moderately active and comfortable traveling independently. Expect regular walking, stairs, and being on your feet for a few hours. Participants must be able to manage their own luggage, belongings, and meeting times without one-on-one assistance.

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