Cartagena is right on the Caribbean with beaches right at your feet. However, many prefer the island beaches; read on for options! Be aware of the prices & don’t get overcharged! Watch your belongings at all beaches.
CITY BEACHES
Because they are so easy to get to, the beaches by the city can be a bit crowded and you will likely be approached by a large number of vendors offering massages, hats, drinks, food, you name it. Your “no, gracias” will be well practiced by the end of the day. Beyond the beaches right in front of Casa Barbara, which are popular among locals (vs tourists), there are two other main areas for city beaches:
Bocagrande/Laguito: Bocagrande is the closest beach with Laguito just a little beyond. Either area is a $12,000 cab ride away. In Laguito, Restaurante Bar El Muelle allows restaurant guests to use chaise lounges and their fence keeps the vendors at a distance.
You’ll find paddle board, kite surfing, etc, lessons/rentals in Laguito at Windspot and Just Chill CTG; Karib Kayak & Paddle is nearby too.
Zona Norte: Take a cab for ~$20,000 or a $2,700 bus ride (red & white VehiTrans “buseta”). You want to go to one of the big hotels such as Las Americas or the Holiday Inn (past the airport) and get off there to enjoy the wide beach. You’ll find kite surfing schools/rentals here as well such as En Colombia Kitesurf and
THE ISLANDS
Tierrabomba: Get to an island beach without spending an hour to get there! Tierrabomba is just off the Bocagrande/Castillogrande peninsula, about 10 minutes in “lancha”. These very basic boats leave from behind the Hospital Nuevo Bocagrande & there are no docks so your feet will get wet getting in & out; be prepared!
Cartagena Connections describes beach options located near the village of Punta Arena, such as Namaste Beach Club.
Blue Apple Beach House is a popular spot with more “party” on weekends/holidays than during the week, so choose your day depending on what you like!
Tierrabomba Island is also where the Fundación Amigos del Mar is located (although in a different location from the beaches) an organization we support via Pack For A Purpose.
PLAYA BLANCA, BARU
While only an island because the peninsula was “sliced off” by a colonial canal, Isla Barú, where Playa Blanca is located, is part of the national park but not the chain of Rosario Islands. You can reach Barú/Playa Blanca via bus or taxi as well as boat.
A typical day trip on a fast boat for Playa Blanca includes lunch, and an optional visit to an aquarium or snorkeling (each for an additional fee). If you don’t want to go to the aquarium or snorkeling, make sure you jump off the boat (literally–there is no dock) when they stop at Playa Blanca on the way out to the islands (they will return to Playa Blanca after the aquarium/snorkeling and drop people as well; plus of course pick you up to return to Cartagena at the end of the day). You can book a Playa Blanca day at the tourist dock (“muelle turístico”) just outside the walled city towards Bocagrande, or at any of several travel agencies in the walled city. Note that figuring out the boats can be a bit challenging, but just ask (& keep asking) and people will help!
There is also the option of traveling to Playa Blanca by bus with no port tax; this is definitely less stressful than the boat & the bus has AC, although on occasion traffic can be a challenge.
This video by Cartagena Connections gives you a brief introduction to & a few tips for a day at Playa Blanca by bus. Note that midday and weekends/holidays can be pretty crowded at Playa Blanca and there will be lots of vendors. (Again, you can practice your “no, gracias”!)
ROSARIO ISLANDS
Many of the islands are privately owned by hotels and day trips can be arranged directly with them or their representatives; these tours will be more expensive than the previously mentioned trips, but you will be able to get in to and out of the boat via a dock, you will not be subject to as many vendors, and in general the facilities will be nicer than at Playa Blanca. Cartagena Explorer has some good tips on visiting the Rosarios. Many have recommended Isla Bela and Isla del Encanto.
PRIVATE BOATS Have a captain & crew at your service to take you on an island tour! You can charter a boat for the day with music, snorkel equipment, and a refrigerator from ~COP$1,500,000 and up depending on the type of boat, number of people, etc. Boating Cartagena comes recommended.
DIVING/SNORKELING Paraiso Dive Center has fully bilingual dive masters who are a lot of fun too! A typical day often includes time at the Blue Apple Beach House on the island of Tierrabomba.
Cartagena Explorer also offers
a great rundown on beach options in & around Cartagena.