Should You Visit Playa Blanca while in Cartagena?
Is Playa Blanca worth it? That depends. We'll say this: if you only have time for one beach, skip it in favor of others farther north (like Tayrona or Cabo de la Vela).
HOWEVER, if you like copious amounts of sand and sun: this post is for you. Playa Blanca is the best beach near Cartagena. We got a bit too sandy and ended up looking like lobsters by the end of our stay. But, hey, that's just us. If you visit, maximize your fun and minimize the bullshit. Here are our top tips.
1. Don’t Take a Tour
We avoid tours unless 1) they are the same price/cheaper or 2) they’re wayyy more convenient. You can definitely meet some fun people in big groups, but we usually find them to be overcrowded and too touristy for our liking. In the case of Playa Blanca, you’ll be sharing what is supposed to be a peaceful expanse of white sandy beach with hundreds of other people. Instead, follow our guide to get there on your own.
2. Stay Overnight
One of the great things about skipping the tour is that you can build your own time table. The many other blogs with posts about Playa Blanca are telling the truth: it gets way less crowded at night. If you want to hang out and relax, the only way to do that is to stay overnight and experience the beach when everybody leaves.
3. Stay on the Right Side of the Beach… Literally
Speaking of everyone, they all are on the left end of the beach. Now I’m saying left as in the direction of your left arm as you face the ocean, because I have no idea what actual direction that is. To avoid day trippers, head to the right of the beach. The outer limits get less crowded and have more overnight opportunities.
4. Sleep in a Hammock
So I’m not gonna say it’s comfortable per se, but staying in a hammock right on the beach is a pretty cool (or rather, a pretty fucking hot) experience. It can also turn the trip into a gnarly budget experience. We stopped by the little hole in the wall Casa Estrella and bargained for two hammocks (25,000 pesos for the pair). You might get them cheaper, depending on your luck. They also stored our bags for us in an empty room. The sound of the waves is idyllic, but it gets a bit sticky. If you’re not up for it, there are proper rooms dotted up and down the beach.
5. Pack the Essentials
If you’re staying in the hammocks, please please back some sort of bug control. There are little bitey things and they hurt. Like we said, sunscreen is also essential, as well as enough cash to get you there and back from Cartagena. Now, that being said, pack all these items in a tiny bag with anything else you think necessary so you can comfortably ride on the motorbike.
6. Sample Local Delicacies with Care
Hawkers walk up and down the beach with a variety of seafood items, many of them raw. We’re pretty loose with our stomachs, so we tried a few and had good luck. But, don’t expect your getting particularly fresh seafood, in the refrigerated sense of the word. If your nervous, some of the hostels make nice cooked dinners for 20,000 pesos a plate.
7. Check out the Wildlife
There is some surprising nature to be spotted on such a popular beach. We stumbled on a huge starfish that was visible straight through the crystal blue water. Some of the hostels will rent snorkels for about $15,000 pesos. We also heard tell of a phosphorescent plankton tour in the nighttime, though we didn’t venture out ourselves.
8. Chill Out
If you’re gonna go to Playa Blanca, you need to relax. There’s only so much you can do on a small stretch of beach. This was our downfall, but for those so inclined the relaxation possibilities are endless.
Thoughts on Playa Blanca? Let us know in the comments!
