If you are looking for stunning beaches you must go the Rosario Islands because Cartagena isn’t famous for its beaches. Truth is that beaches in the city aren’t that nice. The sand is brown and the water isn’t very clear, but this doesn’t mean you can’t have a fabulous beach day, because despite of it all, beaches here can be a lot of fun and there is plenty of action.
First of all, you can buy almost everything. Handicrafts, sunglasses (fake of course), hats, toys, fruits, fish, rent jet skies, bananas, or even get a massage (which we don’t recommend). Just keep in mind that you MUST always agree on a price with the vendor before accepting anything. Otherwise it is very likely that you will be deceived.
If you are staying in Bocagrande or Castillogrande, you can go to the beach in Castillogrande. This beach is very wide and long, so there is plenty of space. The sea is very tranquil and you can rent tents and seats. Remember to ask for the price first. From this beach you can also hire a boat if you want to cross the bay to Tierra Bomba. On sundays it gets extremely crowded with locals from in and around town, so we strongly advise you visit this beach any other day.
The beach in Bocagrande is under construction, but when it gets finished it is supposed to be very nice, we’ll keep you posted.
The other option is to go to the northern zone. This is a very long beach. It starts near the Hotel Las Américas and extends for several kilometers. If you like watersports, you should definitely go to Manzanillo Beach. There you will find windsurf and kitesurf equipment rental and instructors. The beach here is also very wide and you can find tents and umbrellas for rent as well. The sand is still brown and the water cloudy, but it is clean and safe for swimming, although it is not as tranquil as the sea in Castillogrande due to the wind and that it is open water, not a bay like the other one.
The rest of the beaches you see around the old town and near the road coming from the airport are not recommended.
If you prefer to go to the islands for better beaches, visit our post on Beach Clubs.
