Playa Blanca: Paradise on Colombia’s Caribbean Coast

Playa Blanca is an amazing, picturesque beach destination in Colombia. Taking the boat from Cartagena port feels like you’ve arrived at an island in the middle of the Caribbean. While it’s not an island, Playa Blanca sits are the end of a peninsula jutting into the Caribbean Sea.

Getting to Playa Blanca

You have a few options for getting to Playa Blanca from the Cartagena port – boat, bus, car. I recommend taking the direct boat, its faster, more convenient and gives you a unique view of the city and surrounding fishing and seaside communities.

Passing through the seaside villages you see what life is like outside of the city: makeshift homes and docks jutting into the sea, locals sitting on plastic chairs, drinking, playing cards, watching the boats go by, and kids playing in the water, swimming out to the boats as they pass, asking for some coins. Such a mix of simplicity, beauty and poverty.

Relaxing on Playa Blanca

The boat pulls right up to the beach and drops you off for a day in paradise. It’s a pretty touristy spot where the boats arrive, so walk up the beach to find some seclusion, appreciating the scenery around you as you explore.

Makeshift vendors sell fruit, drinks, wrap dresses and jewelry along the beach in the more populated spots. The further down you go though, the quieter it gets and the less people we saw.

EcoHostel Hakuna Matata

I stayed in Cartagena and just came for the day, but if I do it again, I’d definitely stay at one of the hostels right on the beach. . Take a morning stroll and watch the sunrise on the beach.