Playa Blanca is certainly Cartagena’s most famous beach on Colombia’s Caribbean coast. A few years ago, Playa Blanca was still a quiet, heavenly beach.
But today it’s Cartagena’s most visited beach (maybe even Colombia’s most visited beach?) and many problems linked to mass tourism are making themselves felt.
In this post, we’ll give you some information if you want to discover Playa Blanca, but above all we’ll give you our arguments for avoiding Playa Blanca altogether!
Disclaimer: we apologize in advance for any grammatical or syntactic errors, as our native language is not English (we're a Colombian-French couple), so we hope you'll forgive us and still enjoy the information we share with you! Please note that all the information on our blog is based on our own experience, and is checked and updated regularly.
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Playa blanca on the Baru Island
Cartagena’s most famous beach
Oh… Playa Blanca… white sand, turquoise water, coconut palms… Paradise! And yet… today, Playa Blanca is a beach we totally advise against!
Mass tourism has led to over-exploitation, pollution and over-frequentation, all of which we totally disapprove of.
Between the tents, the restaurants that don’t always respect basic sanitary standards, the street vendors, the garbage and the jet skis, there isn’t an inch of space for the repose of the soul that one seeks on a beach in the tropics.
Every year, numerous press articles highlight the problems associated with tourism in Playa Blanca and what could happen in terms of environmental, social, health and safety issues if nothing is done to regulate tourism. So far, the situation is only getting worse.
During Semana Santa, Cartagena City Council began sending police to the Baru bridge and the Bocagrande pier to try and regulate entry to Playa Blanca.
Every week, there’s a scandal because a tourist is improperly charged $80.000 COP for a fish fry or $25.000 COP for a beer. Meanwhile, birds choke on plastic bags and jet-skis provide the soundtrack to this paradisiacal landscape.
Street vendors
According to investigations carried out by the Attorney General’s office, on a long weekend or during the vacations, 2.200 visitors and 1.200 vendors gather on Playa Blanca every day.
Many problems and scams have been reported in Cartagena, so don’t let yourself be taken in, especially when it comes to massages: if you don’t want a massage, don’t let them touch you, otherwise you’ll be asked to pay, and it can turn into a real drama. If you are interested in a massage (why not), always ask for the price before accepting anything, or you may be in for a nasty surprise.
Playa Cholon
Just so you know, the same problems associated with massive tourism are developing not only on Playa Blanca, but also on Playa Cholon.
Alternatives to Playa Blanca
Beaches of Isla Baru
Isla Baru has a thousand advantages that it would be a shame to overlook. But for peace of mind and the chance to laze on a dream beach, we recommend that, as with the Rosario islands, you book your own accommodation with access to a private beach..
In our opinion, this is the best way to fully enjoy the area, and even Playa Blanca, which becomes much more breathable in the late afternoon once you’ve left the day tours behind 😉
Here are a few beaches in Baru if you’re looking for alternatives to Playa Blanca:
- Punta Iguana
- Agua Azul
- Playa Puntilla
- Playa de los Muertos
- Playa Bobo
- Punta Baru
Most of these beaches belong to hotels or hostals, so it’s best to contact them to arrange your visit. You can also reach the beaches from Playa Blanca.
Favorite things to do
Tour to Isla Bela
with a english-speaking agency
Day tours to Playa Blanca
Practical information
We’ll say it again, but we really don’t recommend these day tours to Playa Blanca, Baru or las Islas del Rosario for that matter.
Of course, this is just our opinion, and many travellers take day tours. (Do they really know what to expect?) In any case, yes, it could be an option if you really don’t have time to stay longer and you absolutely must see these beaches.
At the very least, we’d advise you to avoid going at weekends and to take the simplest tours that simply take you to Playa Blanca without passing through the Rosario islands, so you can make the most of the beach.
Info on Playa Blanca tours
If you absolutely must take a tour of Playa Blanca, here’s some information to help you:
- Departure from the tourist port around 8 a.m. – Return around 3 p.m
- These tours usually include transportation and lunch.
- Agencies often have a piece of beach allocated to them, and some have a better location than others.
- Tours can be taken either by lancha (more expensive) or by bus (longer)
- Beware of “informal” tours, i.e. unofficial tours: there’s no guarantee of the quality and safety of the service, so don’t be fooled. Check that agencies are RNT (Registro nacional de Turismo) registered
Average price for a day package by bus
- Approx. $40.000 COP including transport and meals
CAUTION: most buses pick up passengers from neighborhood to neighborhood, so don’t expect your bus to be on time or to leave directly for Isla Baru.
Average price for a day lancha package
- Approx. $100.000 COP including transport and meals (add $16.500 COP for port taxes)
CAUTION: as everywhere in Cartagena, prices can be crazy, so take the time to find out the right price before accepting a proposal. Ask at your hotel reception for an idea of the prices charged for these activities.
Rent a boat in Cartagena
Visit the islands with a skipper
Renting a boat is the best to enjoy the Rosario Islands. You’re alon with your skipper that leads you to the best places, far from the crowd.
Where to stay on Isla Baru and the Rosary Islands
, Cartagena, Islas del Rosario
Hostal
Media Luna Hostel
A hostal recommended by our readers on the Baru peninsula in the Rosario archipelago. Far from Playa Blanca, you’ll find the peace and quiet of a small private beach and pretty bungalows!
Cartagena, Islas del Rosario
Hotel
Isla Bela
An eco-friendly hotel on Isla Marina in the archipelago of the Rosaire islands. The price is commensurate with the services and the setting! Treat yourself.
Cartagena, Islas del Rosario
Hostal
Secreto Hostel
A charming hostal located on Isla Grande, offering double rooms and dormitory beds in a green setting with access to a small beach. Highly recommended by our friends in Cartagena!
How to get to Playa Blanca
We’ve already told you why we think it’s best to avoid Playa Blanca, but if all that hasn’t put you off, here are the options for getting to Playa Blanca or the other beaches of Baru: You can get there either by boat or by road, since Isla Baru is actually a peninsula connected to the mainland by a bridge. Once there, everything is possible at Playa Blanca: eating, drinking, all kinds of activities and tours.
Getting to Baru by lancha
- Duration: approx. 45 min
- Fare: approx. $60.000 COP and $16.500 COP port tax
Getting to Baru by bus
- Duration: approx. 1h – 1h30
- Fare: approx. $2.100 COP
Get on the bus at the foot of the India Catalina monument and ask if it is heading towards Pasacaballos. Once off the bus at the Pasacaballos stop, a number of motorcycle cabs will take you the rest of the way to the beach ($10.000 COP / 30 min)
Getting to Baru by cab
- Fare: about $81.000 COP
- Time: approx. 50 min
