PLAYA BLANCA, BARU
Beautiful isn't it? Playa Blanca is, for my money, Cartagena's best beach. Not everyone feels the same. A quick glance at forums and Tripadvisor reviews will reveal that some people find it crowded and that overbearing touts make the experience completely unpleasant. Then there's the sometimes perilous journey home in high seas during the December- February high wind season.
I'm all about the full disclosure.
But saying all that. it's still where I prefer to go for my beach retreat time.
Avoid (or at least minimize, they are admittedly getting bigger and bigger every year) the crowds by going on a weekday and making your way up the quieter end of the beach (ooh.. should I really be telling everyone this?!). As far as the crazy homeward boatride, honestly, it can be intense, especially in Dec-March high winds season. If it seems more than you can handle, maybe take the road option (taxi or shuttlebus). For the touts.. a simple, but firm, no gracias and no eye-contact should usually suffice. Really they will ask me once or twice and then leave me alone when they see i'm not buying it. But that kind of thing really doesn't bother me and in fact, I prefer my beach with personality and people-watching and "realness". If you know it will bother you, maybe go for another option in the menu-list above.
Since #COVID the usual public speedboats aren't going to Playa Blanca, so that leaves taking your own taxi or arranging a driver. Or booking a day pass to one of the beach bars.
Our favourites are:
Nena Beach
Banana Beach
Ocean Blue
Ocean Blue is a beach house/restaurant on the quieter part of Playa Blanca (called Playa Tranquila). Their day pass includes return transport via shuttlebus leaving at 7am and returning at either 3.30pm or 7.30pm. Once the shuttle arrives to Playa Blanca beach, you will then be transported via speedboat that travels along the beach up to Playa Tranquil and hang out at their restaurant there. They have security boxes you can store your things.
Day Pass 140,000 pesos (discount for 4 + people)
Day Pass with Snorkel or Plankton Tour 200,000 pesos
Includes:
Staying until the night shuttle back, even if you don't do the plankton tour, allows to you enjoy Playa Blanca in its best moment - sunset after the crowds have gone home.
Here's some of Ocean Blue's happy snaps from people enjoying the day passes.
I'm all about the full disclosure.
But saying all that. it's still where I prefer to go for my beach retreat time.
Avoid (or at least minimize, they are admittedly getting bigger and bigger every year) the crowds by going on a weekday and making your way up the quieter end of the beach (ooh.. should I really be telling everyone this?!). As far as the crazy homeward boatride, honestly, it can be intense, especially in Dec-March high winds season. If it seems more than you can handle, maybe take the road option (taxi or shuttlebus). For the touts.. a simple, but firm, no gracias and no eye-contact should usually suffice. Really they will ask me once or twice and then leave me alone when they see i'm not buying it. But that kind of thing really doesn't bother me and in fact, I prefer my beach with personality and people-watching and "realness". If you know it will bother you, maybe go for another option in the menu-list above.
Since #COVID the usual public speedboats aren't going to Playa Blanca, so that leaves taking your own taxi or arranging a driver. Or booking a day pass to one of the beach bars.
Our favourites are:
Nena Beach
Banana Beach
Ocean Blue
Ocean Blue is a beach house/restaurant on the quieter part of Playa Blanca (called Playa Tranquila). Their day pass includes return transport via shuttlebus leaving at 7am and returning at either 3.30pm or 7.30pm. Once the shuttle arrives to Playa Blanca beach, you will then be transported via speedboat that travels along the beach up to Playa Tranquil and hang out at their restaurant there. They have security boxes you can store your things.
Day Pass 140,000 pesos (discount for 4 + people)
- Includes
- return shuttle transport
- Lunch
- Welcome cocktail
Day Pass with Snorkel or Plankton Tour 200,000 pesos
Includes:
- Return shuttle transport as above
- Lunch or Dinner (depending on arrival time)
- Snorkel (mornings) or Plankton tour (nights)
Staying until the night shuttle back, even if you don't do the plankton tour, allows to you enjoy Playa Blanca in its best moment - sunset after the crowds have gone home.
Here's some of Ocean Blue's happy snaps from people enjoying the day passes.
