Playa Blanca, Cartagena´s most beautiful beach
For most people Playa Blanca is a must see when visiting Cartagena. It´s a kilometres long white sand beach with crystal clear waters and well worth a visit, whether it´s for a day trip or for a night or two. Contrary to what some people seem to think, it is not over run by tourism(except for a few hours during the day when the tour boats arrive). It is possible to find a stretch where you can be by yourself, especially if you stay overnight. Isla Baru is kinda part of the Rosario islands, but it´s man made. The island itself was created when a huge navigation ditch was made and it was cut from the mainland over 300 years ago by the spanish.
Theres a bunch of basic accommodation places at Playa Blanca, ranging from 7000 for a hammock, 10000 for a tent and 50000 for a room. Get off the boat, walk to the left and you´ll find somewhere pretty easily. There are two main options for getting to Isla Baru, both include lunch. The port can be hectic with heaps of people, try and get there half an hour early to be sure you don´t miss the boat, there´s no refunds if you do! Both trips visit the Rosario islands and make one stop on the island with the outside aquarium which has dolphins and sharks. (extra 20000 entrance fee). Instead of visiting the Aquarium you can go for a snorkel tour- there´s lots of fish and coral to be seen, or simply just chill out at the small beach instead. If you take the fast boat and you don´t particularly want to see the aquarium, you can ask the captain to be dropped off directly at Playa Blanca, skipping the Rosario Islands.
There are now three ways to get to the Playa Blanca and the Rosario Islands:
1) The Fast Boat
2) The Slow Boat:
3) AC Shuttle overland
The boats leave from the tourist dock in Cartagena, just outside the walls of Cartagena’s old town, about a 10 minute walk from the hostel. Both include a short tour past the Rosarios and a stop for 1 hour at the aquarium in the Rosarios. The aquarium is open air and involves a variety of tanks and a dolphin and shark show. The entramce is 20 000 pesos, not included in the price of the tour. If you don’t want to enter the aquarium theres a small beach to take advantage of and a restaurant. The shuttle is the best option for those staying overnight on Playa Blanca.
1) The Fast Boat
The boat leaves from the Tourist dock at 9am and goes first for a mini tour around the Islas del Rosario before stopping on one of the islands to visit the Aquarium (entrance 20,000 pesos). Alternatively you can do a snorkel tour or just laze on the small beach instead of visitng the aquarium. You will arrive at Playa Blanca about 1pm where you will be served a delicious typical dish for lunch. The returning boat leaves Playa Blanca around 3-3.30pm and arrives back in Cartagena around 4.30pm. With the fast boat you have the option of skipping the Rosario Islands if you wish and asking to be dropped straight off at Playa Blanca on the way, enjoying all day at the beach there.
- Price per person: 60,ooo pesos
- Includes: All water transport, mini-tour of the Rosario Islands, lunch
- Does not include: 12,000 taxes additional paid at the dockor optional aquarium entry or snorkel tour
2) The Slow Boat:
The boat departs at 8am and first heads to the Rosario Islands for a minitour before stopping off at one island to see the Aquarium (alternatively you can do a snorkel tour or just laze on the small beach there). Then it’s off to Playa Blanca for a tasty typical lunch, with the boat leaving to return to Cartagena around 3-3.30pm, arriving back around 5.3opm. There is 4 different seating levels on the boat and also a small bar and cafe. It is a lot slower than the lancha, but it makes for a more comfortable ride.The boat leaves from the Tourist dock at 9am and goes first for a mini tour around the Islas del Rosario before stopping on one of the islands to visit the Aquarium (entrance 20,000 pesos). Alternatively you can do a snorkel tour or just laze on the small beach instead of visitng the aquarium. You will arrive at Playa Blanca about 1pm where you will be served a delicious typical dish for lunch. The returning boat leaves Playa Blanca around 3-3.30pm and arrives back in Cartagena around 4.30pm. With the fast boat you have the option of skipping the Rosario Islands if you wish and asking to be dropped straight off at Playa Blanca on the way, enjoying all day at the beach there.
- Price per person: 50,000 pesos
- Includes: All water transport, mini-tour of the Rosario Islands, lunch
- Does not include: 12,000 taxes additional paid at the dockor optional aquarium entry or snorkel tour
3) AC Shuttle overland
Playa Blanca, Isla Baru Shuttle:
We have our own van with twice daily departures to Playa Blanca. Departures are from the front of the hostel and go directly to the beach, without stopping at every hostel along the way.
- Departures times from Cartagena: 9am & 1pm
- Price: 35,000 pesos pp one way/50,000 pesos pp return NO TAXES
Travel time should be an hour but it can vary depending on traffic. . The best option for those wanting to stay the night is to take the shuttle, stay over nad catch a boat back in afternoon the following day or whenever you want to leave.