The two questions we are asked most often, by some distance. Here are honest answers.
Do I need experience?
No. The large majority of our riders have never stood on a Segway before. Every tour begins with a training session on flat, closed ground where you learn to start, stop, turn and dismount. Nobody joins the road section until the guide is satisfied they are steady.
How hard is it to learn?
Easier than it looks. The machine self-balances, so your job is only to lean gently in the direction you want to go. Most people are comfortable within five minutes. The common mistake is over-correcting; the fix is to relax your knees and look ahead rather than down at your feet.
Is it safe?
Ridden at guided pace, with a helmet, on a briefed route, it is a low-risk activity. Our guides ride at the front and the back of the group, speeds are modest, and the route is chosen for surface quality rather than drama. Helmets and hi-vis vests are provided and worn throughout.
Requirements
Who should not ride
Anyone who is pregnant, has significant balance or inner-ear conditions, recent joint or back surgery, or is under the influence of alcohol. If you are unsure, tell us when you request the tour and we will give you a straight answer rather than let you find out on the day.
What about the hills?
Cartagena has some gradients, particularly up to the castle park. The machines handle them easily and the route is designed so that climbs happen after you are comfortable riding, never in the first ten minutes.
What if I try it and don't like it?
It happens occasionally, usually within the training session. If you decide not to ride after training, we will not send you off on a machine you are not happy with.
And the weather?
Cartagena is dry and sunny most of the year. Tours run in light rain; we cancel and reschedule or refund only for genuinely unsafe conditions.
If you are coming into Cartagena on a cruise, our Segway tour is built around your ship's departure time — we will reply to your request as soon as possible.