Cartagena was one of the Spanish Empire’s most important port cities and has a location on the northern coast of Colombia that made the city very wealthy. Just like merchants flocked to the city because of its location on the beautiful waters of the Pacific Ocean, so do tourists today. Cartagena is surrounding by white sand beaches and calm waters that help make the city a fantastic beach getaway. Combined with the colorful and charming old walled city and dazzling Bocagrande, Cartagena is sure to please even the most picky travelers.
We know that beach bums will love to hop their way along the beaches that hug the coast and islands so here are our top recommendations for where to go for a day on the beach in Cartagena!
Playa Blanca
Playa Blanca is by far the most famous beach near Cartagena. The beach is just a 40-minute boat ride from Cartagena (or a two-hour bus journey) and features bright blue waters and white sand beaches. The beach can get very crowded on weekends (and Colombians know how to turn a quiet beach into a party) so for a more laid-back atmosphere, make sure to come on weekdays. A trip to Playa Blanca can be combined with a visit to the Baru Bird Sanctuary and even an evening tour to swim with biolilluminescence. You can learn more about Playa Blanca including how to get there here.)
