The best beaches in Cartagena de Indias

Cartagena de Indias is declared by UNESCO as the most beautiful city in South America, and it may be so, its alleys, squares, the cobblestones, the fortress, everything makes it beautiful, and also the Caribbean, that tremendous blue sea and warm. Without you have decided to know this beautiful city, I propose a visit to its historic center, but I also suggest that you rest on any of its paradisiacal white sand beaches.

These are some of the wonders that you will have at your fingertips:

Bocagrande sector, one hundred percent pure animation

The closest beaches to this historic center of Cartagena de Indias, to the south of it, are the Bocagrande neighborhood, of golden sand and with many hotels, bars and restaurants. I would tell you that sometimes it is too crowded, with people who continually pass by the beach selling handicrafts, water, massages, fruit or natural juices. Within this same sector I include Castillogrande beach, and Laguito, which is perhaps the quietest in the area.

If you already want to leave a bit outside the city, but within the same sector I recommend the beaches of Marbella and La Boquilla.

La Boquilla beach, the tunnel of love and friendship

In this beach of La Boquilla you can eat seafood at a very good price, this is a fishermen's area, I would also tell you to make one Guided excursion through the mangroves in the area, either walking or canoeing. The Friendship Tunnel and the Love Tunnel are two places where Disney can easily be inspired for any of its romantic stories.

Continuing with the beaches near Cartagena de Indias, you cannot miss the opportunity to go to the Rosario Islands.

Rosario Islands, coral rosary

In the Rosario Islands you can find the authentic beaches of our imaginary over the Caribbean. It is an archipelago of 28 small islands, they are actually coral platforms, the Corales Islas del Rosario Natural Park has an area of ​​120.000 hectares of sea and coral bottom, and as you can imagine it is a true paradise for diving fans, in It is actually a paradise for anyone. The speedboat trip leaves from Cartagena de Indias and takes about 45 minutes.

Barú Peninsula, paradise on earth

The people of Cartagena call the Barú peninsula, the paradise on earth and they say that it is the most beautiful beach of all And, best of all, is that despite its beauty it is still a little exploited destination. In fact there are not too many hotels, and I recommend you look for accommodation among the locals. What makes Playa Blanca especially beautiful is the serenity of the Caribbean, its clarity and the sand, which in this corner is very white, as its name suggests and safe from currents that carry dirt. One of the typical dishes of this island is mojarra a la criolla and to accompany it ask for Kola Román, although if you are a teetotaler I do not recommend it. To get to the Barú peninsula you can go by land, it takes about two hours, or by sea, in a speedboat in which it takes about 45 minutes.

Isla Múcura, the picturesque island

For me, this island, located in the San Bernardo archipelago, is ideal for resting and taking long bike rides, For this I recommend that you be a local guide who will take you through all the nooks and crannies while telling you the legends of the island. It is a very picturesque place with fishermen who go out to fish in their wooden nacelles, their brightly painted houses with messages on the doors, and the thatched roofs. You can get to Múcura by plane, there is a landing strip rather than an airport, or by boat with capacity for 20 passengers from Cartagena de Indias, the journey lasts about two and a half hours, depending on the sea and this trip itself is already worth the visit. pain.

Isla Grande, the island of contrasts

Isla Grande is not as big as its name suggests, and as you go through it you will realize the contrasts that Colombia itself has, since communities far from the capital, La Heroica, live there with many shortcomings. In its almost 200 hectares you will find three ecosystems: coastal and inland lagoons, mangroves and tropical dry forests. There is an ecological path to know each one of them. It is the locals themselves who propose you to sit in the restaurants where you can taste the exquisite coconut rice. The plan in this place is to rest, rest and rest.

From my point of view these are the best beaches near Cartagena de Indias, But I just want to tell you a little something before finishing, if your idea is to sunbathe, in Colombia topless is not allowed, and the police can fine you for it. Also remember that throughout this area it gets dark very early, whatever the season, so that at five in the afternoon you can see beautiful sunsets and start enjoying the night.