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Activities A Short Boat Ride Away From Cartagena
The sound of waves crashing into the rocks on the beach. The beautiful white sand all over your feet as you and your girlfriends dance to your favorite music. The finest cocktails made with fresh fruit juice served in coconuts as you tan under the sun. Doesn’t it sound like paradise?
There are so many spectacular places that are a short boat trip from the city of Cartagena; here are 7 that you should visit!
- Playa Blanca
A short 45-minute boat ride from Cartagena city, Playa Blanca is situated on the magnificent Isla Barú. Over the years, it’s evolved as a popular tourist spot, and if you’re looking for a lively, colorful atmosphere, there’s no place better than here. The best way to get there is to book a private boat rental so that you’re not tied down to an itinerary like most tour services in Cartagena will offer. It’s recommended that you arrive early to scope out the place and to have your pick of the best cabanas for yourself and the girls so you can enjoy your time at the beach. You’ll be able to soak in the spectacular view that Playa Blanca has to offer as you sip on signature cocktails out of hollowed-out pineapples and have a splendid beach day!
- Bora Bora Cartagena
The famous Bora Bora Cartagena beach club is just an hour from the city! The club itself has its speedboat service, which you can get from Cartagena to the beach club, which is on the beautiful Rosario Island. The staff will welcome you on the property with a complimentary cocktail which will set the tone for the perfect relaxing day you’ll have at Bora Bora Cartagena. The weekdays are calmer, so visit then if you’re hoping to tan in the sun, eat scrumptious food, and soak in the pristine, clear water of the ocean. However, if you want to experience the Colombian club culture and dance until your feet hurt, the beach club on the weekends is precisely what you’re looking for!
- Playa Libre
A spectacular beach pavilion located on Isla Grande, a day spent at Playa Libre will be everything you hope for from a beach day! You’ll be able to get a shuttle service to the beachfront, and you and your girls are sure to have a gala time, sticking your toes in the sand and watching the waves come and go. Under the gorgeous sun, you can sip on refreshing cocktails, drink water out of fresh coconuts, and gorge on delicious food. If any of your girlfriends are adventure buffs, it’s also the perfect beach to try snorkeling. So if you’re looking to spend time in paradise, there’s nothing better than a day trip to Playa Libre!
- Blue Apple Beach Club
The Blue Apple Beach Club is located in the unique Blue Apple boutique hotel, inches away from the Caribbean Sea! If you’re a lover of music, dancing away to glory, and meeting new people from across the world (since this place attracts many tourists from across the globe), this is the place for you. You’ll be able to reach this property by a private boat charter, and have a chance to go horse riding, diving, snorkeling, or even get a massage. What’s even cooler is that it’s an independently run business that supports its community and the environment through its in-house initiative called Green Apple that creates jobs for locals, reuses glass waste, and reduces wastage accumulated by a number of eco-friendly procedures! Bonus: If you do visit be sure to get a taste of the crispy pork skin chicharrones, while you sip on either a Cartagena Mule or a Coco Loco!
- Isla Cholón
Located in the southern part of Isla Barú is the picturesque Isla Cholón, home to the largest coral reef in the area and a lovely place to visit just an hour from the city. A top-rated destination amongst tourists, it’s the perfect place to relax on the beach during the day and dance until the sun comes up! Here, you’ll get a chance to dine on tables set in shallow water where you can eat fresh lobster, drink chilled beer, and wiggle your toes in the crystal clear water. A perfect mix of calm and chaos, Isla Cholón has all that you’d look for from an ideal beachside experience. Bonus: If you can, try and catch the sunrise after a night of partying, the sky turns all hues of pink and orange, making it a sight like no other!
- Fenix
If you’re looking for a place that feels like a tropical music festival, head to Fenix! While located in Hotel Fenix Beach Cartagena, in Isla Tierra Bomba, you and your girls can get a day pass for spending the day at the beach club! Known for their immaculate service, the staff at Fenix will be extremely accommodating to your every need. Here you can devour your favorite dishes, drink cocktails made by expert bartenders on-site (if you like the coconut, be sure to try the piña colada), and lounge in the lovely beach cabanas. In addition, you can also play a game of beach volleyball with your girls, dance to the tunes of the DJ (every evening), or get massages. Here, you’ll have a luxurious beach day without it weighing on your pocket. So what are you waiting for? Get your day pass to Fenix now!
- Makani
Barely a 15-minute boat ride from Cartagena is Makani, the epitome of opulence and luxury! It is a fantastic beach club with incredible pools that overlook the horizon accompanied by a restaurant that services exquisite delicacies made with locally sourced produce. Here, you and your girls will feel like royalty as you lounge in the beach club’s expansive, relaxing areas and sip on fine chilled wine, or even get a soothing massage from the property’s specialists! If you’re looking for a beach club with quality food, immaculate service, and a calm atmosphere with a killer view, Makani will check all your boxes and leave you in awe!
Whether you hope to go to a trendy beach club that’s budget-friendly and has a DJ every night or doze off to sleep in a luxury beach cabana to the sound of the waves, you’ll have a plethora of options just a short boat trip from Cartagena, that’ll be perfect for your girlfriends and you!
Photos courtesy of: @jorge_cortex, @boraboracartagena, @fenixbeachcartagena, @allaccesscolombia, @makani.lbc, @cartagenatourscolombia