The Most Beautiful Beaches in Cartagena, Colombia

Playa Castillogrande

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The most luxurious of the beaches in Cartagena proper (though still free), Castillogrande’s dark sands and calm waters act as the front yard to gleaming white high rise apartment buildings and well-healed hotels. Located on the peninsula of Bocagrande, it’s a bit more secluded than other mainland beaches and has cleaner water and fewer vendors. A path along the extensive shoreline leads runners, bikers, and rollerbladers down its expanse, while other beachgoers relax on the shore for an ideal vantage point for a Cartagena sunset. Swimming is also more popular here than the other beaches due to an underground seawall (originally installed to deter pirates) that acts to temper the currents and waves. To have a more peaceful experience, find a spot to base yourself by the navel club where fewer vendors venture.

ADDRESS
Carrera 7, Distrito turístico y cultural, Club Cartagena #5, Castillogrande, Cartagena de Indias, Provincia de Cartagena, Bolívar, 130001, Colombia

Manzanillo del Mar

Courtesy of Stamp Hostel

Take a 35-minute taxi to the town of Manzanillo del Mar for wide stretches of dark sand beaches and relatively few tourists. The lack of people here also makes this one of the best beaches to take pictures at without having other tourists crowd into your shot. Other activities include chilling in a beachside hammock, horseback riding, and kitesurfing. Head to popular Restaurante Doña for a fried fish plate or go for dinner and cocktail specials at Stamp Hostel, which also hosts sunset parties with a live DJ. If you don’t want to rent a chair or umbrella for the day, bring a thick towel and sturdy flip flops so as not to burn your feet on the dark sand.

ADDRESS
Manzanillo del Mar, Provincia de Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia