D is for… Day Trips to the Beach

The Best Day Trips to the Beach in Cartagena

Known as Colombia’s northern queen, Cartagena attracts holidaymakers with her colorful cobbled streets, bougainvillea-draped mansions and some of the best food and drink experiences in South America.

But, with an average temperature of 27.7ºC and 2,500 hours of sunshine a year, there’s something else visitors can’t leave Cartagena without experiencing, and that’s a day on the beach.

No matter how many museums, rooftop cocktail bars or boutique shops you plan on ticking off your Cartagena bucket list, you’ll want to save at least one day to explore some of Colombia’s best beach and snorkeling spots. But, with over 120km of pristine Caribbean coastline to choose from, how do you decide which Cartagena beach day trip is best for you?

That’s where This Is Colombia is on hand to help. We've has been scouring every stretch of sand and hidden swimming spot in Colombia for years and our talented team of travel advisors have narrowed down some of our favorite Cartagena beach trips especially for you.

Feel free to book your trip here or contact one of our team to combine a few trips to the beach in a m2ore beach-intensive itinerary.

Rosarios Islands Day Trip

The Rosario Islands – an archipelago made up of 27 small coral islands – is one of Northern Colombia’s most popular national parks and the most popular beach day trip in Cartagena.

Surrounded by colorful coral reefs and crystal-clear waters, these idyllic islets offer some of the best snorkeling and diving opportunities in Colombia. But that’s not all: powdery white sands, luxury boutique hotels, and fresh seafood restaurants make this protected natural wonder the perfect place to indulge for the day.

Isla Grande – the largest island of the archipelago – offers some of the best family-friendly beach resorts, where you and the kids can splash around in the oceanfront pool, chill on the beach beds or explore the island’s colorful underwater world with a snorkel – all without the crowds of Playa Blanca or Bocagrande.

A day trip to our favourite spot on Isla Grande includes return transportation, a traditional buffet lunch, and day pass access to one of the top island resorts in Cartagena.

Island Hopping with Your Own Private Boat

Ever dreamed of sailing off into the Carribean on your own private yacht? This highly personalized island-hopping adventure allows you to explore the Rosario National Park at your own pace.

With a choice of some of Cartagena’s top luxury speedboats, yachts, and sailboats, you’ll set sail for the archipelago’s most beautiful spots, such as the white-sand-blue-sea paradise of Baru Island and the party-loving bay of Cholon, in style.

With the help of This Is Cartagena’s travel experts, you'll get to decide every detail, from what seafood goes on the menu, the cocktails you’d like your private concierge to greet you with on arrival and the soundtrack you’d like the DJ to play as you depart from the dock in Cartagena.

If there’s a particular bay or snorkeling spot you’d like to go to, that’s up to you too. Only with this eight-hour luxury boat ride through the islands can take in all of Cartagena’s most exotic beaches. Yacht you waiting for skipper?

The Rosario Islands on a Big Catamaran

If you're not in a hurry and still fancy taking your Cartagena island adventure to the next level, then a cruise on one of the city’s most luxurious catamarans might just be for you.

This laid-back Big Cat...amaran adventure allows you to escape the crowds by exploring the Rosario Islands – a popular national park just 35 km southwest of Cartagena – from the comfort of a luxurious, 82 ft sailboat.

On this luxury day trip, you’ll get to cruise through the islands: sailing through beautiful cerulean and turquoise water and explore the most vibrant coral reefs in Colombia. With plenty of opportunities to swim, snorkel, and take in some rays up on the wood-floored deck, the crew will prepare a delicious seafood lunch.

While you don't actually make it to the beach on this trip there's nothing but blue water and palm tree-dotted islets around you so you won’t care as you dive into the blissful blue once again.

This might just be the best lunchtime view you’ve ever had. If you want the same smooth experience in the evening, try the shortened sunset spin around the bay with the same operator.

Baru Bird Sanctuary and Lunch at Playa Blanca

If you’re traveling as a family and you have people in the group that just can’t sit still, then a whole day of beach bumming might not tick all the boxes. Combining a trip to the Baru Bird Sanctuary – a natural reserve home to over 125 species of birds – with a beach lunch on Playa Blanca is the perfect way to mix adventure and beach time into a single day. Accessible by road, it’s also a great option for people who want to make it to the beach from Cartagena without getting seasick on a boat.

First, you’ll explore Cartagena’s incredible bird sanctuary with a one-hour guided walk through the island’s protected dry forest, where you’ll get to spot parrots, condors, flamingos, and hummingbirds. After an opportunity to interact with some of our spectacular feathered friends, you’ll be whisked off for a fresh fish lunch (think grilled red snapper and coconut rice) on Playa Blanca, the most famous beach in Cartagena.

Known for its golden sands and bright turquoise water, Playa Blanca can get crowded but you’ll still enjoy the chance to take a dip in the warm Caribbean waters and spread out on the powdery sand, you’ll be just about ready to take your air-conditioned van back to your hotel in Cartagena.

Mountain Biking Beach Day Trip

Sometimes, a beach day in the Caribbean feels all the more perfect when you’ve had to work for it. This mountain biking adventure will have you peddling 3km through the dry forests of Tierrabomba, Cartagena’s biggest island.

As well as spotting a variety of birds and other wildlife along the nature trails, you’ll also learn about Cartagena’s colonial history with a stop at San Fernando Castle and Angel San Rafael, two maritime forts the Spanish used to fight off English and French pirates in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Once you arrive at your final destination, Bocachica or Punta Arena, opt for a traditional lunch on the beach or, if luxury beach beds, an oceanfront infinity pool and hammock-side cocktails sound like your kind of thing, upgrade to a gourmet lunch at one of our favorite beach clubs. You’ve got beach clubs galore to choose from with Blue Apple or Fenix Beach Club our two favorites.

A Day at Blue Apple Beach Club

When you picture yourself at the beach, do you think of a sandy towel and plastic beer cups, or is it plush loungers, waiter service and a glass of Provençal rosé that comes to mind? If it’s the latter, then a day at Blue Apple Beach Club should be high on your Cartagena beach day list.

Hidden between the swaying palm trees of southern Tierra Bomba, Blue Apple Beach Club is one of Colombia’s chicest boutique hotels and beachside hangouts.

A day pass here grants you access to their St.Tropez-inspired infinity pool, private beach area, and a slow-food restaurant serving Caribbean favorites like shrimp ceviche, sea bass carpaccio and coconut rice.

Choose from soaking up the sun by the oceanfront pool to Dj-spun beats, or, if you’re the adventurous type, hire a paddleboard, take a yoga class or kayak to the nearby islands. The best part? Just a 30-minute boat ride from Cartagena, you won’t be wasting a single minute of sunshine on this luxury day trip.

Fenix Beach Club Day Trip

Surrounded by lush palm trees and uninterrupted views of the Carribean, Fenix Beach Club feels more like an island escape than a city beach club. But, just a ten-minute boat ride away from Cartagena, this is the closest you’ll get to beach paradise without having to travel.

This party-loving beach club boasts a private stretch of white sand and turquoise water with sweeping views over the Castillogrande skyline. Here, choose from sipping cocktails on the bamboo beach beds, taking a dip in the calm waters or, if you can’t sit still, challenge your fellow beach bums to a game of volleyball or table tennis.

A visitor day pass includes a welcome drink, a Caribbean-inspired lunch of fried fish, coconut rice and patacones and use of the club’s private beach and oceanfront swimming pool.

For an extra fee, you can also take a kayak, paddling, snorkeling or scuba diving tour. If you’re into the party scene, be sure to stick around after sunset for one of Cartagena’s best beachfront DJ sets.

Keep Cartagena's Beaches Clean

Plastic pollution of the oceans is a problem in Cartagena every bit as much as it is across the world.

Lack of recycling methods, alongside littering and poor waste management throughout the city, creates serious pollution problems — especially noticeable in the surrounding ocean waters and local beaches.

This Is Cartagena wants to avoid contribute to the contamination of Cartagena's beaches and, as such, encourages all visitors to avoid single-use plastics on their trips to the beach.

To help achieve our goal of zero single use plastics by 2020, we encourage all clients to bring their own water bottles and with our partners offer re-fill opportunities across the city.

We can provide guests that don't have their own water bottle with one on arrival in Cartagena so they can reduce their consumption of bottled water during their trip through Colombia. All you need to do is request one from our team. Contact a member of the team here.

If you would like to go a little further then our partners Domino Volunteers and Fundacion Bahia can help arrange it for you to participate in one of the regular ocean cleanups they organise with some of the hard-working foundations.

Don't have time to spare on your vacation but want to do something to help anyway? You can always make a donation to the cause at Global Giving.

Extend your Stay with a Stay at the Beach

If all this beach talk has you longing for some extended island time, why not consider an overnight stay at one of the top islands in Cartagena?

From family-friendly resorts to 10-room oceanfront boutiques, the islands that surround Cartagena offer a stunning collection of beachfront accommodation.

An overnight stay means you’ll not only have more time to sunbathe, swim and snorkel, but – perhaps most importantly – you’ll also get to experience Cartagena’s beaches at their quietest during the morning and late afternoons – when day-trippers are either yet to arrive or have already made their exit.