What are the best beaches in Cartagena, Colombia?
What are the best beaches in Cartagena, Colombia?. Some friends who are about to travel to the Colombian coast asked me this question a few days ago, and this article was the result.
I am going to tell you about the Cartagena beaches, which ones I recommend you to visit and the ones you should not miss if you are looking for clear waters and Caribbean scenery. At the bottom you will find a map so you can easily locate them.
¿Qué encontrarás en este artículo?
Does Cartagena have any beaches?
First doubt that arises! Many people think when organizing a trip to this city on the Colombian coast, that if they want to visit beaches they have to add a few days in San Andres Island.
If there is the possibility of both destinations, I highly recommend it, since the beaches in San Andres are very nice, but sometimes the flight offers we get are only to Cartagena and we have to know that there are beaches in Cartagena de Indias too! Both in the city (since Cartagena has about 20 km of coastline) as well as in the surrounding areas.
Are the beaches in Cartagena nice?
The beaches in Cartagena could be classified in two: those in the city and those near Cartagena.
And what is the difference? The beaches in the city are not nice: dark sand, unattractive sea, many buildings. On the other hand, the beaches near Cartagena, which can be reached by land or sea trips that take from half an hour to 2 hours, are worthwhile. Most of the excursions depart from Los Pegasos Pier or La Bodeguita.
All the beaches of Cartagena do have in common that the water has a warm temperature, ideal to enjoy the sea all year round.
💯 Read about the best things to do in the city!
The best beaches in Cartagena de Indias (in the city)
There are several main beaches in the city of Cartagena itself: Bocagrande, El Laguito, Marbella beach or La Boquilla, are some of the most famous. Here’s what I thought of them.
Bocagrande beach
Bocagrande beach is the best known and most touristic, since in this neighborhood we find some of the most famous hotels where to stay in Cartagena, such as the Hyatt Regency, the Decameron or the InterContinental.
The advantage is that it is a very comfortable and safe beach, a few minutes from the historic center, so we can distribute the day between sightseeing and the sea. For example, we can visit the places to see in Cartagena in the morning and go to Bocagrande beach in the afternoon. We would not be able to do that in more distant beaches.
Another advantage is that we have all the services and comfort within walking distance: restaurants, bars, transportation, cabs, etc.
And along the beach, we have the boardwalk, ideal for walking at sunset.
What is the downside of Bocagrande beach? It is a dark sand beach, surrounded by high-rise buildings. Plus there are always a lot of street vendors who can be quite pushy. As a recommendation, if they offer you something for free, don’t believe it.
El Laguito beach
At the end of Bocagrande, after the Caribe hotel, the area called El Laguito begins and it ends at the Hilton. It is a beach similar to Bocagrande, although much quieter in terms of crowds and vendors.
Marbella beach
Another beach in Cartagena city is Playa Marbella, near the airport. It is large, cleaner, less touristy, open sea, but on my last trip I was advised to be careful with my belongings if I went to that area alone. So in case you visit it I advise you to check the situation at the tourist office in advance.
La Boquilla beach
It is the farthest of the beaches in Cartagena de Indias city that we will talk about in this article, as it is located about 6 km from the historic center. It is a long beach, with simple restaurants and several exclusive 4 and 5 star hotels such as the Holiday Inn Cartagena Morros, the Radisson or the Complex Las Americas Casa de Playa, but I was also informed that security on the beach is not so good, mostly towards the north of it.
It is a good beach for windsurfing and kitesurfing.
Cartagena Islands, the best beaches near Cartagena
Playa Blanca on Baru Island, perhaps the best beach in Cartagena
Baru Island has several beaches, but the most famous is called Playa Blanca. There are plenty of reasons. Playa Blanca has one of the most beautiful beaches in Cartagena and surroundings. The fine white sand and transparent turquoise sea that you did not see in Bocagrande or in the other beaches of the city, you will find it here.
Also at night, there is an area where you can see luminous plankton. This unique excursion can be booked here.
The only thing that detracts somewhat from the idyllic scenery is that in recent years it has become too crowded, both in people and in restaurants and beachfront accommodations. In addition, there are many insistent vendors, who we understand that they need to work, but if you are looking for a relaxing atmosphere, it could be a little complicated.
In case you are interested in diving, there are some sunken ships off the coast of Baru. You can hire one or two dives with transfers included here.
🌴 Book your Playa Blanca Day trip here.
Tierra Bomba
Tierra Bomba is a large island located only 15 minutes by boat from Cartagena. From it you have good views of Cartagena with its skyscrapers in the distance.
There are different areas of the island that can be visited. Historically it was a defensive island, so in the area of Bocachica it is possible to visit two forts: San José and San Fernando. But the best beaches are in Punta Arena.
It is possible to stay in Tierra Bomba. There are several options to choose from, but I recommend you to check the following, due to their good location and services: Dorado Punta Arena hotel or the Fenix Beach hotel, both with swimming pool and in front of the beach.
Another option is simply to hire a Tierra Bomba day trip that includes transfers, lunch and hammocks to relax, at a very good price.
Interested in yoga? Namaste Beach is a beachfront accommodation, and you can stay there or just book a day trip to spend the day at their facilities, with massages and a yoga class. Book it here.
Rosario Islands
Rosario Islands are part of the only Natural Marine Park in Colombia. They are less than an hour by boat from Cartagena, and there are several that can be visited in different excursions called “pasadía” or it is even possible to spend a couple of nights in some of them.
The typical tour takes you to one or more islands with restaurants to eat and places to snorkel or kayak.
Some good options for day trips:
- Rosario Islands by catamaran, with drinks, lunch and snorkel (see prices).
- 4 islands in 1 day, with lunch and snorkel (see prices).
- Isla Grande + Cholon + Luminous Plankton, with lunch (rates).
- Bora Bora beach with lunch (see prices).
- Isla del Encanto or Pirate Island, with lunch (see prices).
- Bendita beach, with lunch (prices).
Isla Grande, besides being the largest of the Rosario islands, seems to me the most beautiful, so I recommend spending the night there, while Pirate Island is the smallest island you can visit, although it is also very nice. In case you decide to stay in the Rosario Islands, there are alternatives from nice hostels like this one to resorts like the Cocoliso.
San Bernardo Islands
I didn’t know whether to include these beaches in Cartagena or not, since they are about 2 hours by boat (or more than 3 hours by land) from the city. But since it is possible to take day trips from Cartagena, it seemed like a good reason to include these islands in the list.
Although it is made up of several islands, the main beach to visit is Mucura Island. Tours usually stop at Santa Cruz del Islote, the world’s most crowded island.
The boat ride is usually bumpy, especially on the way back to Cartagena, but it is one of the most beautiful beaches to see. If you have more time, I recommend spending a couple of nights on Mucura Island.
No sabía si incluir estas playas en Cartagena de Indias o no, ya que se encuentran a unas 2 horas en lancha (o más de 3 horas por tierra) de la ciudad. Pero como es posible realizar excursiones desde Cartagena por el día, me pareció una buena razón para incluir este archipiélago en el listado.
🌴 Book a day trip to San Bernardo Islands.
Map – Best beaches in Cartagena, Colombia
And these have been some of the best beaches in Cartagena, Colombia. Would you add any others? In that case, leave us a comment so it is useful to future travelers. And if you found the article useful, you can help us a lot by sharing it on your social networks, thanks!
