NENA BEACH - PLAYA BLANCA - BARU
OK first, have you already read what we say about the different island options here? Then have you read what we say about Playa Blanca here? Yes? Great, we can continue.
Nena Beach Club is currently one of the most stylish ways to enjoy the white sand, blue water Playa Blanca beach, located on Isla Baru. Previously Playa Blanca visitors had to contend with a more rustic experience that included beach touts, plastic chairs, basic bathrooms and cash-only payment options (and to be honest, most didn't mind), but Nena Beach Club is something of a game-changer. It brings fashion, style and taste to what I have previously declared to be my favourite beach, and we are certainly grateful.
There are 3 main options;
1) daypass with transport via boat (245,000 pesos pp)
2) daypass transport via van or (225,000 pesos pp)
3) daypass without transport (195,000 pesos pp)
Daypass to Nena Beach is either via speedboat or air-conditioned van. Both options are not available every day.. frequently, due to weather conditions, the van is the only available option.
Your day pass includes:
Pick up from your hotel and drop-off at Clock Tower
Welcome Cocktail
Lunch
Use of facilities including freshwater showers
Towel
Sunbed
Security Lockers
Wifi
Doesn't include:
Extra food and drink
Marine Tax if you are taking the Speedboat option (23,000 pesos pp additional)
Additional activities you might want to purchase on Playa Blanca (massages, snorkel tours, jetski etc)
How it works:
Day pass with transport via speedboat or van begins with pick up from your centro/bocagrande hotel.
For the van option there are 2 different timeslots:
a) pickup 7am return 3pm
b) pick up 9.30am and return 5.30pm
For the return, you will be dropped off at the Clock Tower at the entry to Centro Historico.
The drive or boat trip to Playa Blanca are both about 50 minutes.
There will be a beach bed waiting for you along with a welcome cocktail. You can let the team know what time you want to have lunch and which option you will choose (there are 3 options included, but if you want to order something else or more that's fine, you just pay the difference. A round of golden fried patacones might be a good pre-snack lunch option, for example.
Other options
Day pass without transport 195,000 pesos pp
There might be many reasons you prefer to arrive via your own transport. You like to sleep in and want to take your own taxi. You have your own boat and prefer to boat yourself. You'd like to stay later on Playa Blanca and want to enjoy the sunset and maybe take a phosphorescent plankton snorkel. Whatever.
Although Playa Blanca is technically located on an island (Barú), there is now a bridge that enables you to access it via land.
Make your own way there.
If you take Taxi or shuttle bus or hitch a ride with another boat, of have your own car etc you can opt just to pay the day entry price.
All these options include:
Alcoholic Caribbean Cocktail on arrival
Beach Bed
Lunch (choice of 3 options, vegetarians catered for)
Personalised Customer Service
Changerooms and freshwater showers
Restaurant only
We can make a booking for you at the restaurant and you just pay what you consume. This option doesn't include a sun lounge and it isn't a set priced lunch.. but this could be a good option on a private boat day, or if you make your own way to Playa Blanca and are looking for a good restaurant and bar. If this is the case, it's best to let us make the reservation to ensure there is space. Just let us know!
Stay the night
Nena Beach Hotel is one of the best options to stay on Playa Blanca. Contact us for full options, but as a guide the pricing is as follows:
Options include:
Second floor queen room 305,000 pesos (garden view)
First floor queen room 290,000 pesos (no sea view)
Second floor queen room sea view 400,000 pesos
King suite sea view 450,000 pesos
Glamping sea view (with aircon) 400,000 pesos
All rooms include breakfast and are based on twin-share.
At night the Nena restaurant and bar is closed, but there a numerous other restaurants and bars operating in close proximity.
You should know: Playa Blanca is still a public beach and Nena Beach can't really control their neighbours nor the volume they may want to play their music at. Weekends will always be more crazy and crowded, but for the most part Nena Beach is a much more chill option. Also, if you arrive by land, you will still have to walk to Nena Beach Club through the mild chaos that is the space between the carpark and the beach. At least it will mean you will appreciate the relative sanctuary of calm and cleanliness when you arrive at Nena Beach Club. Also consider Banana Beach which is at a more quieter end of Playa Blanca.
Also, if you plan on getting a massage or any other service, we would recommend you ask one of the team members from Nena Beach to negotiate the price on your behalf first!
Children?
Children are permitted please ask us for pricing.
Book:
Let us know which day, which option, where you are staying (with address for pick up), how many people and what name we should put your booking under. A number that we can reach you on if there are any issues finding you would also be appreciated. email [email protected] or use the contact form below.
Nena Beach Club is currently one of the most stylish ways to enjoy the white sand, blue water Playa Blanca beach, located on Isla Baru. Previously Playa Blanca visitors had to contend with a more rustic experience that included beach touts, plastic chairs, basic bathrooms and cash-only payment options (and to be honest, most didn't mind), but Nena Beach Club is something of a game-changer. It brings fashion, style and taste to what I have previously declared to be my favourite beach, and we are certainly grateful.
There are 3 main options;
1) daypass with transport via boat (245,000 pesos pp)
2) daypass transport via van or (225,000 pesos pp)
3) daypass without transport (195,000 pesos pp)
Daypass to Nena Beach is either via speedboat or air-conditioned van. Both options are not available every day.. frequently, due to weather conditions, the van is the only available option.
Your day pass includes:
Pick up from your hotel and drop-off at Clock Tower
Welcome Cocktail
Lunch
Use of facilities including freshwater showers
Towel
Sunbed
Security Lockers
Wifi
Doesn't include:
Extra food and drink
Marine Tax if you are taking the Speedboat option (23,000 pesos pp additional)
Additional activities you might want to purchase on Playa Blanca (massages, snorkel tours, jetski etc)
How it works:
Day pass with transport via speedboat or van begins with pick up from your centro/bocagrande hotel.
For the van option there are 2 different timeslots:
a) pickup 7am return 3pm
b) pick up 9.30am and return 5.30pm
For the return, you will be dropped off at the Clock Tower at the entry to Centro Historico.
The drive or boat trip to Playa Blanca are both about 50 minutes.
There will be a beach bed waiting for you along with a welcome cocktail. You can let the team know what time you want to have lunch and which option you will choose (there are 3 options included, but if you want to order something else or more that's fine, you just pay the difference. A round of golden fried patacones might be a good pre-snack lunch option, for example.
Other options
Day pass without transport 195,000 pesos pp
There might be many reasons you prefer to arrive via your own transport. You like to sleep in and want to take your own taxi. You have your own boat and prefer to boat yourself. You'd like to stay later on Playa Blanca and want to enjoy the sunset and maybe take a phosphorescent plankton snorkel. Whatever.
Although Playa Blanca is technically located on an island (Barú), there is now a bridge that enables you to access it via land.
Make your own way there.
If you take Taxi or shuttle bus or hitch a ride with another boat, of have your own car etc you can opt just to pay the day entry price.
All these options include:
Alcoholic Caribbean Cocktail on arrival
Beach Bed
Lunch (choice of 3 options, vegetarians catered for)
Personalised Customer Service
Changerooms and freshwater showers
Restaurant only
We can make a booking for you at the restaurant and you just pay what you consume. This option doesn't include a sun lounge and it isn't a set priced lunch.. but this could be a good option on a private boat day, or if you make your own way to Playa Blanca and are looking for a good restaurant and bar. If this is the case, it's best to let us make the reservation to ensure there is space. Just let us know!
Stay the night
Nena Beach Hotel is one of the best options to stay on Playa Blanca. Contact us for full options, but as a guide the pricing is as follows:
Options include:
Second floor queen room 305,000 pesos (garden view)
First floor queen room 290,000 pesos (no sea view)
Second floor queen room sea view 400,000 pesos
King suite sea view 450,000 pesos
Glamping sea view (with aircon) 400,000 pesos
All rooms include breakfast and are based on twin-share.
At night the Nena restaurant and bar is closed, but there a numerous other restaurants and bars operating in close proximity.
You should know: Playa Blanca is still a public beach and Nena Beach can't really control their neighbours nor the volume they may want to play their music at. Weekends will always be more crazy and crowded, but for the most part Nena Beach is a much more chill option. Also, if you arrive by land, you will still have to walk to Nena Beach Club through the mild chaos that is the space between the carpark and the beach. At least it will mean you will appreciate the relative sanctuary of calm and cleanliness when you arrive at Nena Beach Club. Also consider Banana Beach which is at a more quieter end of Playa Blanca.
Also, if you plan on getting a massage or any other service, we would recommend you ask one of the team members from Nena Beach to negotiate the price on your behalf first!
Children?
Children are permitted please ask us for pricing.
Book:
Let us know which day, which option, where you are staying (with address for pick up), how many people and what name we should put your booking under. A number that we can reach you on if there are any issues finding you would also be appreciated. email [email protected] or use the contact form below.