A Local’s Guide to the Best Beaches in Cartagena, Colombia and Tips to Enjoy Them

No visit to Cartagena is complete without spending some time at the best beaches in Cartagena! You are in the Caribbean, after all. However, what is the best beach in Cartagena? To help you decide what are the best beaches in Cartagena for you, read on for this comprehensive guide to the best Cartagena, Colombia beaches!

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Best Cartagena Beaches – Contents

• Tips for Enjoying the Beaches in Cartagena
• Packing List for the Beach in Cartagena
• Best Cartagena Beaches in the Rosario Islands
• Best Cartagena Beaches in Barú
• Best Cartagena Beaches in Tierra Bomba
• Best Beaches in Cartagena Itself

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Tips for the Beaches in Cartagena, Colombia

If you’re coming to Colombia, the beaches in Cartagena are an obligatory stop. Even if doing a longer summer style trip, like for example traveling through South America for three weeks, be sure to set aside some time to enjoy Cartagena’s beaches!

While there are some other neat spots on Colombia’s Caribbean coast, the beaches near Cartagena offer the best combination of accessibility, fun, and beauty.

Here, I’m going to tell you all about the best beaches in Cartagena, but first some quick tips to properly enjoy them!

So, the truth is, the best Cartagena beaches are not located in the city itself, but are located outside the city.

The beaches in town are fine. I would probably say they are comparable to the beaches in my native South Carolina. So, they are perfectly nice.

However, the nicer beaches in town can get very crowded and are often overrun with vendors as well.

I find it near impossible to just relax in peace, and after a decade living in Cartagena, usually avoid the most popular beach in Cartagena itself of Bocagrande. There are some beaches in town that get less crowded and can be enjoyable to visit if you are limited on time or unable to get to the other nicer beaches near Cartagena. There are also some nice beachfront hotels in town that have good private beach areas.

However, the beaches in the islands outside of town are truly the best, and they are well worth the visit.

In the Rosario Islands and Barú, south of Cartagena, you’ll find crystal clear Caribbean waters that feel and look like paradise.

There is also good diving here. Doing a day trip or spending a night or two out there is, in my opinion, one of the all but obligatory things to do in Cartagena.

Whether you’re backpacking South America or just looking for a quick beach getaway, some time at the beach is a must.

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Some Quick Tips for Dealing with Vendors on the Beach

Cartagena’s beaches are unfortunately notorious for vendors, some of whom will try to rip you off. Here are some quick tips for avoiding overpaying.

Negotiate and Agree on Prices

This goes for everything, food, chairs, shade tents, drinks, any other services.

While it probably does not represent the majority, there are some who will try to drive up the prices or do things like tack on an exorbitant fee for “service.” Don’t be afraid to ask around and compare prices.

Just like with taxis, it’s best to always agree on prices.

When being offered shade and chairs, ask how much they are for the day. It’s also a good idea to go ahead and ask if they offer lunch service and how much as you can sometimes negotiate a package deal.

Technically, there are official prices for chairs and drinks, but they are not always adhered to, and in some cases if it’s later in the day or crowds are smaller, you may even be able to negotiate down. If you’re buying drinks, it’s a good idea to try to keep a running count.

It’s also a good idea to take a photo of the menu they show you. There are stories of people being shown one menu and set of prices when ordering and another with higher prices when paying.

In short, just don’t let the bill surprise you.

Dealing with Vendors

You’re pretty much guaranteed to have vendors approach you while on the Cartagena, Colombia beaches.

These range from people selling fruits, sweets, snacks, sunglasses, sarongs, other artisan goods, and even floats. You’ll almost always get a few rappers too. Some of the rappers are actually quite good and funny, some are awful and just obnoxious.

The vendors are a common complaint from people visiting the Cartagena. Beach vendors can be especially intense, with many trying their best not to take no for an answer.

Bracelet salesman, massage ladies, and oyster mongers tend to be the worst. Sometimes I wonder if their strategy isn’t to just get you to buy something so they leave you alone. The oyster sellers and massage ladies are especially bad about offering a “free sample” and feeding you or starting to massage you.

Let’s be clear, there’s no such thing as a free sample.

They will end up wanting money, so if you’re going to indulge, make sure you follow the above and agree on a price before hand.

If you’re not interested, be more insistent yourself and give them your firmest “No, gracias” and finger wag.

There’s no way around it, it can be very frustrating dealing with vendors on the beaches. Cartagena does have chronically high unemployment, and the reality is there are worse ways to earn a living (some of which you will probably also see offered on the beaches in Cartagena too). So, it is worth keeping that in mind.

If you want a fruit salad, why not get it from a vendor rather than a restaurant? If you want a neat, handmade bracelet, why not buy it from a vendor than a tourist shop?

And if you don’t just make clear you’re not interested and try to take it in stride.

Now that that’s out of the way, let’s get to this guide to the best beaches in Cartagena, Colombia. Obviously you’ll want to bring along your best beach lover gear, so first, I’m going to share a handful of things that are good to take along to the beaches in Cartagena, and then, I’ll discuss in more detail each of the aforementioned areas and the best spots in each.

Hopefully it will help you decide which Cartagena beach is the best for you to visit!

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Best Beaches in Cartagena Part 1: The Rosario Islands
Cartagena’s Caribbean Paradise

The Rosario Islands are located about an hour by boat southeast of Cartagena.

They, along with the beaches of Barú and the San Bernardo Islands further south, are part of a National Park rich with reefs and marine life. These coral islands have gorgeous clear and turquoise waters, and picturesque scenery.

Many of them are tiny, privately owned islands and they are some of the highest priced real estate in Colombia. Cartagena beaches in town proper pale in comparison.

Some, however, do house some Cartagena beach clubs and eco-resorts, and they are undoubtedly some of the best beaches in Cartagena. Most of these are located on Isla Grande, the largest of the islands, with a few more on Isleta (including our favorite) and a couple other scatted about on other islands.

Many offer both day passes and overnight lodging. I’m going to run down a few of the best ones here, but you can learn even more about the islands in my complete post on them.

Since these are coral islands, the beaches here can be a bit shelly and rocky, so it’s best to take along a good pair of watershoes. If you spend the night, you’ll definitely want bug spray for the night time mosquitos too.

Speaking of spending the night, do note that day passes usually include boat transportation, but for overnight stays, you may have to pay an additional fee for the boat, so double check and factor that in when comparing prices at these beaches in Cartagena, Colombia.

Private Boat Rental – Best Way to Enjoy the Islands

Doing a boat rental is undoubtedly the best way to see the islands and the most stylish and fun way to enjoy the beach in Cartagena, Colombia.

You can go where you like, with your group, and it can be as wild a party or as relaxed as you like. Most boat rentals include a cooler of ice so you can bring your own drinks of choice and will make several stops of your choice.

It’s common to head out to the islands, stop to swim and snorkel off the reefs, then head to either a beach in the islands or one of the places in Barú discussed below, but you should be able to work with your rental company and/or boat captain to go where you like.

Do keep in mind that any beach clubs or resorts you stop at will likely charge you to use their chairs and shade, although often you can get them thrown in as a courtesy if you also buy lunch.

Of course, you may just decide you don’t want to get off at a beach and all and just have an all day boat dance party!

Islabela – Best Place to Spend the Night or Have a Relaxed Cartagena Beach Day

Eco-Hotel Islabela is located in a gorgeous little bay on Isleta.

It is one of the few resorts in the Rosario Islands that has a true beach (although it is a bit rocky). They have a nice beach area with plenty of chairs and beach beds and has a relaxed atmosphere.

They also have terrific cabins, each set on their own private little waterfront area away from the main beach area.

One of the things I really liked about it as they partner with natives of the islands, who retain ownership of the land and earn part of the proceeds, a more sustainable and fair option for the natives than many of the other resorts.

Susana and I spent a few nights here in 2021 and absolutely loved it (read about our experience here). In fact, this would be my hands down top top place to spend a night in the islands. There are some higher end places, and some slightly cheaper places, but it’s very nice and is a pretty good value for a beach in Cartagena, Colombia.

Bora Bora Beach Club – Most Lively Beach in Cartagena

Located at the end of the narrow channel between Isla Grande and Isleta, Bora Bora Beach Club in Cartagena is a great spot for a fun day pass.

You’ve almost certainly seen photos of people hanging out under their white archway with a bell or walking up their stairs from the beach area on Instagram.

While not enormous, there is a decent beach area here, and lots of space for swimming in the pretty, clear waters out front. Up on the little ridge overlooking the beach, there’s a lot of space to hang out, and there is always a lively atmosphere.

Featuring a DJ and bar, Bora Bora Beach Club is more for those looking for a bit of a Cartagena beach party, and it’s even known to attract a celebrity or two every now and then.

Day passes include one of their beach beds and lunch. There is a nicer VIP area with a nicer lunch for an additional fee, and beachfront beds cost a bit more. Finally, there are some private group lounge areas for a somewhat more hefty additional fee.

Best Beaches in Cartagena Part 2: Isla Barú
A Close Second Caribbean Paradise

You’ll often see the Cartagena beaches of Barú lumped into the Rosario Islands.

That makes sense on the one hand, since Barú is part of the National Park and is outside of the city and the Rosarios are just off the coast of Barú, however it’s technically geographically wrong (Social Studies teacher here!).

Barú is an island, however, it’s not a natural island. It was a peninsula, and the Spanish cut the Canal del Dique across it, connecting the Magdalena River to the bay of Cartagena during the colonial era.

Therefore the area is referred to as the Isla Barú today.

Much of the area is covered in mangroves and there are a few small Afro-Colombian communities that live here. The town of Santa Ana on the island is actually where I spent my first year in Colombia as a volunteer teacher.

There are a handful of gorgeous beaches here, some on the mainland of the island peninsula, some on tiny islands in the mangrove swamp off the the southern end of the islands.

Some of the most famous and best in Colombia and Cartagena beaches are located here, including boat party spot Cholón and Playa Blanca, probably the most famous backpacker beach of Cartagena, Colombia.

Some of these spots can also be reached by land if you’re not a fan of boat rides. There are also generally larger, sandier beaches here than what you’ll find at out in the Rosario Islands.

The sea here is also that crystal clear, idyllic Caribbean turquoise water. Read on to learn about the best beaches of Cartagena in Barú.

Isla del Encanto – My Pick for the Overall Best Beach in Cartagena

Isla del Encanto is located on the southern side of the tip of the peninsula of Barú.

Susana and I spent a night here in early 2021, and I have to say it lives up to its name as an Island of Enchantment! You can read about our experience here.

There is a really big beach area here with lots of chairs. The water is super calm and the bottom is all soft sand. There are courtesy paddle boards and kayaks available to use. We loved the food and drinks, and the service was great.

The room was one of the nicest we’ve ever stayed in anywhere, and considering how isolated this is, it’s impressive they’ve put together 5 star quality rooms out here. There’s also two pools on site, one exclusively for overnight guests, and our beachfront dinner was lovely.

Besides being a great spot for a romantic getaway at the beach in Cartagena, it is family friendly as well, and there is a playground and kids pool area. It is definitely on the pricier side, although I appreciated that this is one of the few places that includes the cost of the boat in their overnight stays.

They also offer day passes, and honestly, considering how nice it is, the price of the day passes are pretty decent.

In a nice touch, they offer an optional tour that goes out to the Rosario Islands as well, so you can have the opportunity to see them and do some snorkeling there if you like, and then come back and relax on the larger beach here.

Cholón – Ultimate Boat Party Spot

Located on a tiny bit of beach on a tiny, mangrove covered island in a bay off the coast of Barú, Cholón might be the funnest of the beaches in Colombia, Cartagena, or anywhere for a party.

In the waist deep water on the sandbar off the beach, there are two rows of palm thatch huts for shade.

Boats pull up and tie up to them in a big semi-circle with the central area remaining as the perfect place to take a break from dance parties on the boat for a swim at this Cartagena, Colombia beach.

You can even have your lunch brought out and served on a table in the water!

We used to go to Cholón a lot, and we’ve had some good fun there. If you want to pretend you’re in a music video or just want to be able to mingle with some other people during your booze cruise, it’s the best spot to do it.

Learn more about Cholón at my complete guide to it here.

Playa Blanca – Gorgeous White Sand Beach

Ah Playa Blanca!

It sits on the northeastern coast of Barú, only about 15 minutes from the little town where I spent 2011 volunteering as a teacher. Back then, the beach was hardly developed, and there was no bridge from the mainland to the island, and the road wasn’t even paved. That made Playa Blanca a lighter traveled, backpackers paradise, where you could rent a hammock for 5 bucks or less.

The beach has grown up a lot since then though.

In fact, I think it has become a victim of its own beauty, as it can get overrun with crowds on weekends and holidays. It is still an absolutely gorgeous beach though, and can be visited for a good bit cheaper than the Rosario Islands or the more exclusive beaches in Barú.

For those inclined to spend the night, it can be great once the crowds have cleared out. Do be advised that accommodations will be very basic and there is no running water and only generator power on this Cartagena beach.

Still, it’s considerably cheaper than staying at the eco-lodges, hotels, and resorts in the islands.

Tierra Bomba – Island Beaches Closer to Cartagena

In the middle of the outer bay of Cartagena, you’ll find the island of Tierra Bomba, a large island that has several nice beaches, a couple small towns, and some nice Cartagena beach clubs.

The beaches here are not as nice as those in the islands and Barú, but they are definitely nicer than the beaches in town.

They are also easier to reach than the islands and Barú, only a short boat ride across the bay. Finally, the hotels and beach clubs here also tend to be more budget friendly, and it is fairly cheap to go on your own as well.

Punta Arena

Directly across from Bocagrande, you’ll find the area often referred to as Punta Arena.

There, you’ll get a gorgeous view of the modern city across the bay and there are several nice beach clubs and hotels where you can book a day pass or spend the night.

It is possible to just pay for a boat across to Punta Arena behind the Bocagrande Hospital in Castillogrande (the cost should be $20,000 pesos round trip, paid in full in the afternoon when you come back), however the nicer places I’ll discuss below have their own boats and usually include the cost of the boat in their prices.

Several of those places also are located in more secluded areas that give them a private beach area, and those are the ones I will recommend below.

Still, it is possible to do this more cheaply if you go on your own, just keep in mind if you want anything like chairs, a beach bed, umbrella, and lunch, you will have to pay for them and will likely end up spending closer to the cost of a day pass at one of the Cartagena beach clubs at Punta Arena.

I’d recommend shelling out the extra pesos and having the convenience of knowing you have a nice spot, a good lunch, and people who will make sure you are on the boat back! For a unique way to go, you could do a kayak excursion across the bay to Tierra Bomba.

Bocachica

On the southern tip of Tierra Bomba is the area known as Bocachica.

It is called Bocachica because it is the more narrow of the waterways that enter the Cartagena bay, the other being Bocagrande (get it: little mouth and big mouth).

During the colonial era, an underwater wall was built across the Bocagrande channel to prevent large ships from entering it and allow for easier defense of the city in the narrower Bocachica channel. There are 3 colonial forts in the Bocachica area, all of which are well preserved and well worth a visit for the history buffs.

You’ll also find a few cheaper beach spots on the beach by the main fort, and a bit further down, you’ll find one of the cooler beach clubs in Cartagena, Blue Apple Beach, which offers very nice bungalow accommodations as well as cool vibes for day trips (more on them below).

Bocachica can be reached by public boat taxi from the main docks outside the Walled City or by private boats offered in day passes at places like Blue Apple.

So, while if you’re only going to do one day or stay 1-2 nights at the beach, I’d recommend doing it at one of the other best beaches in Cartagena above, but if you want to do another beach day or spend a few nights somewhere that isn’t as crazily priced as those places in the islands, then consider one of the places below.

Palmarito Beach – Best Cartagena, Colombia Beach Value

We are big fans of Palmarito!

In fact, I think we’ve probably been here more than any other Cartagena beach club. What we really like about it as it sits in its own little bay area with the rocks out front that makes it feel like a private beach, making it feel more exclusive than some of the other places at Punta Arena that have similar prices.

There’s a big beach space here, and they have both chairs as well as beach beds available. They serve up very solid drinks (I love getting the Coco Locos here), and the drinks and beers are pretty reasonably priced for the beach.

Day passes include a solid buffet style lunch and access to the pool if you can actually drag yourself away from the beach. They do fun little dance competitions and have music throughout the day as well.

We have also spent the night here a few times. The rooms are solid and having dinner on the beach is really nice. The sunset over the bay is also really beautiful!

Blue Apple Beach Club – Good Vibes in Bocachica

We only recently finally made it out to Blue Apple, and we were not disappointed (read about it here).

This former private vacation home turned beach resort and club is located on the far side of Tierra Bomba, past Bocachica. That’s what distinguishes it, as it is pretty secluded and while there are some vacation homes nearby, you’re likely to see a mostly deserted Cartagena beach here.

As for Blue Apple itself, they have some beds overlooking the beach as well as plenty of chairs to hang out on the property. They also have a terrific pool area. Music and good vibes are on offer all day.

We also loved the drinks here! There are some neat, creative cocktails, all of which pair perfectly with the beach.

The food is also really good, and is sort of like a blend of Cartagena and beach bar food you might find in the US, which can be welcome when you’ve been eating Colombian food for a while or you are just an expat who gets excited about a chicken sandwich on ciabatta.

Fenix Beach Cartagena – Nice Luxury Option on Tierra Bomba

Fenix Beach is located a bit further up Tierra Bomba away from Punta Arena and closer to the exit of the bay.

There’s not much else around here, so it has a very exclusive, private feel. It also has a pretty unique view of the central and southern part of the city as well as the high rises of Bocagrande.

The facilities here are also very nice.

There are a lot of beach beds and a neat dining area. It’s also got some great Instagrammable spots of its own, with a wooden circle overlooking the beach, a swing overlooking the water, and a neat looking old tree above the dock.

There is a pool available both for guests staying the night and those coming on a day pass as well.

We’ve yet to actually make it out to Fenix ourselves, but it’s on our list of Cartagena beaches we need to check out.

Namaste Beach Club – Coolest Bungalows at Punta Arena

Namaste is another cool beach club and hotel on Tierra Bomba at Punta Arena.

There’s a great lounge area here that is private, although there is just a tiny bit of beach in front of it overlooking the water and you’ll find larger crowds just down the beach unlike the more private setting you’ll find at Palmarito and Blue Apple.

It is a big area though, and you can use the areas at the next door place named Bomba Beach as well.

This place has a neat vibe with some nice decorations with a yoga, far eastern theme. It’s definitely very Instagrammable too.

They also have some really neat looking bungalows behind the beach area. They actually hadn’t finished them the last time we were here but they are open now and they look really nice, so this is a good spot if you want to spend a night on Tierra Bomba.

Playa Azul aka Las Americas aka La Boquilla

Located on the northern edge of Cartagena, this is my favorite beach in town.

Maybe that’s just because we lived close to it, but I think it’s not only a decent, large beach, but it is just so much less crowded than the beaches of Bocagrande and with fewer vendors. That’s not to say there aren’t any crowds or vendors, but they are much less frustrating.

The area at the start of this beach just past the airport is known as Playa Azul, and it was redone in late 2019 and is very nice. It also has a special eco-friendly and sustainable designation.

A bit further up, you’ll find the resorts of Las Americas. They have a larger building known as the Torre del Mar and a smaller one known as Casa de Playa. Both make for good options for those looking for resort style beach accommodations in town, and the beaches in front are open to the public.

A bit past that, you’ll find La Boquilla, a small town that sits between the beach and the mangrove swamps beyond, and a traditional fishing village.

Here you can find some more budget friendly beach restaurants and hotels. For those looking for cheaper accommodations on the beach in Cartagena, Posada Kalea makes a good choice.

There are also some neat tours and activities that can be done from La Boquilla. You can do kite surfing lessons, go paratriking over the beach, rent a jet ski, or tour the mangroves (use the code ExploreColombia10 to get 10% off that mangrove tour).

While it’s a bit removed from downtown, this can be a nice, quiet area to stay for those looking to have a quieter, beach vacation in Cartagena.

In addition to the aforementioned Las Americas Casa de Playa, the Radisson Ocean Pavilion and the Holiday Inn Morros are nice beach resort options here.

Castillogrande – Hang out on the Well to Do’s Beach

Castillogrande is one of the most exclusive residential neighborhoods in Cartagena, located on a narrow little finger that curves off the end of the Bocagrande peninsula.

While, the residents themselves don’t love the fact that it’s a public beach, it is (all Colombia beaches in Cartagena and elsewhere are public property).

This beach used to be pretty mellow and not draw much in the way of crowds and vendors. That’s changed somewhat (probably why the residents have been complaining more about it). However, you’ll still generally find far fewer people here than on the main beaches of Bocagrande.

You can get to this Cartagena beach by walking behind the Hospital of Bocagrande, just beyond Laguito. This is where the boats to the beaches of Tierra Bomba depart from, but there are some shade spots a bit further down.

There’s not a whole lot else here, and the area is mostly residential, but you can rent a shade spot and some chairs and while it gets more crowded than it used to, it’s still likely to be more relaxed than the next beaches in Cartagena on this list.

El Laguito – Small, Relaxed Beach District of Cartagena

There’s an argument to be made El Laguito is simply part of Bocagrande, but I see it as kind of its own area.

El Laguito (the lake) is an area located at the tip of Bocagrande around, well, a big lake. If you look at the picture above it’s the far left area.

Here you’ll find a handful of hotels, such as the Cartagena Hilton, as well as residential buildings and restaurants in Laguito.

In fact, the restaurant El Muelle makes my list of the best places to see the sunset in Cartagena, and if you want to see the sunset from a Cartagena beach in town, Laguito is definitely the place to do it.

If you do decide to hang out here, I’d recommend doing it around El Muelle as you can use the beach chairs and umbrellas there if you buy drinks and/or food (their Coco Locos are really good by the way!). The upstairs deck is also pretty nice and the food is pretty solid.

The beach here isn’t very large, but if the crowds of the larger beaches around the corner on the front side of Bocagrande are too large, Laguito can be a decent Cartagena beach to spend some time.

You can also take surfing lessons here or do a neat sunset paddle board tour on the bay.

Bocagrande – Most Popular Cartagena Beach

You might be asking yourself why Bocagrande, one of the most well known Colombia beaches in Cartagena appears so low on this list of the best beaches in Cartagena, Colombia.

This is after all the area where you’ll find lots of hotels and the beaches that made Cartagena famous.

Well, to be honest, it’s because I am not a fan at all of the beach in Bocagrande.

That’s not because of the beaches themselves. In fact, they are pretty nice beaches, with big wide sections with lots of space and good for swimming.

However, they are a victim of their own success.

Not only can they get crowded, but they are crawling with vendors.

I remember one of the last times I went to the beach here on a Friday afternoon after work. I just wanted to relax, read, and have a beer or two, and every 30 seconds it’s someone coming by trying to sell me something, insisting that they make me a necklace with one bead as a “gift,” stuff like that.

I’m fairly sympathetic to the vendors, but honestly, they make the beach here very hard to enjoy.

I honestly don’t think I’ve been back to the beaches of Bocagrande in the daytime since then, and that was like 7 years ago.

Still, if you can live with the vendors, the beaches are nice enough, and of course, they are the most convenient to reach and there are lots of restaurants nearby.

There are also lots of hotels on the beach here that have their own beach areas where you can use complimentary chairs and umbrellas, and security guards may help deter vendors from bothering you too much (note again, beaches are public property in Colombia and there is no such thing as a private beach in Colombia or the beaches of Cartagena).

Some of the beachfront hotels I’d recommend around here include the Hotel Caribe and the Intercontinental.

Although not beachfront, the Estelar and Hyatt are also terrific hotels and just a short walk from the beach.

If you are just coming to hang out for a while, I’d recommend either the area near the end, around the Kiosco Bony (where you can buy drinks and food). This area is often referred to as Hollywood Beach Cartagena.

This is the largest area of the beach with the most space. It is likely to be crowded during the day, especially on weekends and peak travel periods.

I actually do think coming here in the evening once the crowds clear out can be fun (and I have done that in the last 7 years). You can usually rent a chair for pretty cheap, so if you want some fun cheaper night time drinks, pick up a bottle of rum and rent some chairs here (you can also buy beers at the beach).

Other areas I’d recommend if you do want to hit the beaches in Bocagrande, are the areas closer to the entrance of Bocagrande around where the Decameron All Inclusive hotel is located.

There are usually less people and vendors on this end of the beach and there are a few little beach bars where you can sit and have a beer and hang out.

El Cabrero and Marbella – Budget Beach Option in Town

When you come into Cartagena for the first time, one of the things that will probably stand out is you’ll go down a road along the waterfront, including past a big Cartagena sign, one of the best photo ops in Cartagena.

This area is composed of the neighborhoods of El Cabrero and Marbella, with Cabrero being right by the Walled City, and Marbella a bit further up towards the airport.

You’ll find larger beaches further up in Marbella, but generally less people in Cabrero. These beaches aren’t quite as large and nice as those in Bocagrande, but they are comparable, and they generally are way less crowded.

You can also find a handful of cheaper restaurants and bars across the street from the beach.

There are chairs and shade tents available for rent on some sections of these beaches, but they are also good to just hang out on a towel.

Two things to keep in mind for Cabrero and Marbella beach Cartagena are that on Sundays and Monday holidays, lots of local flock to these beaches from the barrios.

It gives them a cool, local vibe, you won’t find on the touristy Colombia beaches in Cartagena elsewhere, but they can get very, very crowded those days even though most other days there will be hardly anyone here.

The fact that there are less tourists here also means there is less police presence, and I have heard of people having their things stolen while in the water, so it’s best to make sure at least one person stays on the beach to watch over things (honestly, that’s good advice at all the beaches in Cartagena).

If you’re looking for some budget beachfront hotels, the Aixo Suites and Hotel Boutique del Mar are located here and make for decent choices that put you beach front and within a 15 minute walk of the Walled City.

Manzanillo – Nice Beach Near Cartagena but a Bit Hard to Reach

Maybe this deserves its own category as it’s more a beach near Cartagena than a beach in Cartagena, but it’s not in the islands like most of the best beaches near Cartagena, and it’s really close to the city, so I’m lumping it in with the beaches in Cartagena proper.

Manzanillo del Mar is located about 20 minutes outside of Cartagena, beyond La Boquilla.

It’s a pretty decent and big, wide beach.

While it doesn’t have that beautiful clear water like the islands or Playa Blanca, it is definitely nicer than the other beaches in the city itself, in my opinion.

It’s also a bit secluded and tends to draw a mostly local crowd and doesn’t get too crowded.

You can even go horseback riding here, that’s how not crowded it is.

The only downside is getting there. If you have your own car, made friends with someone who does, or are renting a car, then you can drive and park at the beach easy enough.

However, there’s not great public transportation to this Cartagena beach.

There are buses that go down the road, and then you can get out at the gas station known as Las Ramblas and then take mototaxis or possibly a taxi or collective taxi to the beach.

Or likewise, you can get to La Boquilla and then take a mototaxi.

Finally, you could get a taxi from town, but it is likely to be pricey, and you’ll have to arrange for them to come back and get your or wait for you.

All in all, I wouldn’t recommend going here just for the day if you’re just visiting Cartagena unless you have your own transportation.

It’s a nice beach, and a less touristy experience than the more popular Cartagena beachs, but the difficulty getting out there for a beach that’s comparable to what you’ll find in Tierra Bomba or even at Playa Azul in town isn’t worth it.

Better to spend the extra money to go to the islands or Barú.

That being said, if you’re looking to get out of town for a few days, there are several nice resorts out here.

We’ve stayed at the All Inclusive Estelar Playa Manzanillo for a staycation and thought was very nice. There is a great beach area, two pools, and all you can eat and drink. They do offer a free daily shuttle in to town as well, so if you’re looking for a more secluded beach vacation where you can still see town and not be stuck out in the islands it is a good option.