Baru and Playa Blanca Full Day

Cartagena, Colombia

Great choice

5+ bookings last month.

7 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Overview

Experience the idyllic splendor of Playa Blanca and Barú with a full-day package that combines round-trip transport from Cartagena and lunch. After a short drive from Cartagena, arrive on the pristine sands of Playa Blanca and recline in a hammock or sun lounger at a local hotel. Refresh with a dip in the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean Sea and then revitalize with lunch and a soft drink around midday. Your day will conclude with drop-off back in Cartagena.

Round-trip transport to Playa Blanca and lunch from Cartagena
Relax on the hammocks or sun loungers on a beach side hotel
Take a dip in the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean Sea
Enjoy a delicious lunch and choose between fish, meat or vegetarian options

What's Included

Lunch

You have $30.000 Cop for lunch ask for the menu (Fried fish, vegan, chicken and more are under 30.000 COP) for special dishes you pay the extra.
Local guide
Transport by air-conditioned minivan
Local taxes
Sun Chair

Alcoholics Drinks
Towels
Hotel pick up and drop-off
Massage

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Monumento Los Pegasos
Cl. 24, El Centro, Cartagena de Indias, Provincia de Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia
Los pegasos is a statue of two horses located in front of the clock towel across the AV, is important to keep in touch with us and the best way is whatsup. please be patient a member of the team will be with you. we have 2 departures at 6:30 to 2:00 pm and 9:30 am to 5:30 am

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Operating hours
.8:00 am

Itinerary

Playa Blanca

7 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Infants must sit on laps
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Most travelers can participate
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Refunds will not be issued if tour/activity is missed due to late or non-arrival of cruise ship
Availability for shows cannot be checked without making a booking. Credit cards will only be charged upon confirmation of show availability

The duration of transfers are approximate, the exact duration will depend on the time of day and traffic conditions
The place where you will spend the day is an Eco-Hostel, for that reason the installations and the bathrooms are rustics
Important Tips for Your Playa Blanca Visit Playa Blanca is the most beautiful, yet busiest, public beach among the islands. It features numerous local businesses offering services to visitors, each with its own rules and dynamics.
Regarding Local Vendors and Services As a public beach, you will encounter many local vendors offering various services and products. While our staff prioritizes your comfort, please be aware that nothing is truly free. Any seemingly complimentary offer will eventually lead to a request for payment. If you do not wish to pay for a service, please politely decline the offer, even if you are told it is "free." Always ask for the price before agreeing to any service or purchase.
Safety and Valuables We provide lockers for your belongings. If you and your companions enter the water, please do not leave your items unattended. Our provided lockers are the only truly secure place for your valuables. While our club premises are monitored by security cameras, it is always best to prevent the loss of your belongings by using the designated secure storage.
Our Commitment to Your Experience Our beach club is a secured space, and we manage the local vendors who operate within our area to ensure they are as non-intrusive as possible. We guarantee you will have the best experience on this public beach; we always take excellent care of our clients. Please use your payment card only for transactions within our Beach Club. Avoid using your card outside of our controlled area. Remember: Always ask for prices first before purchasing or accepting any service.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 30 travelers

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Cancellation Policy

This experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

4.0

based on 371 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Relax Beach Day

Ligia_M, Dec 2025

The morning of and transportation was a bit confusing as the website and the WhatsUp app said two different things as far as the meet location and or pick up from hotel. When we made the reservation it never asked to be picked up from hotel. We confirmed it morning of and canceled the uber as it was no longer needed. Bus picked us up on time and we were on our way with another group. Milton was our tour guide and he spoke English very well and answered all of our questions while on the bus. He was amazing and very nice guy. Once at the beach, it was amazing and so worth it to get a day bed. The food and drinks were yummy. The day was perfect. Thank you Milton for an amazing day and being there to answer our questions every step of the way.

Not relaxing

Christine_N, May 2023

There were too many boats in the area. Too many vendors. Too many flies on your food. Not a peaceful stay. Lunch was okay. The tour guides were nice.

Response from Host, May 2023

Thank you very much for your comment, we are sorry that it was not to your liking.

Stay away from this company

Andre_A, Nov 2022

Awful company. Stay away from them if possible. Their advertisement features a “comfortable air-conditioned transportation ” and it is actually an old van very unsafe. The expected pickup time was 6:30 am and they only showed up at 7:15am (45 minutes waiting for them). On the way we had to stop in the middle of the road to change to another van to go to the final destination. On the way back, we supposed to be back in Cartagena by 2:30 and we got back around 6pm. Other than the traffic, the reason for the delay was because our old-unsafe van, crashed against a tree and broke the windshield. Please consider another company

You get what you pay for

Jacqueline_G, Oct 2022

Great customer service from this vendor. The communication was excellent. Unfortunately, it was not a very good day to take this excursion. Traffic was horrible. What should have been a 1 hour trip turned into 3 hours. Less than a mile from the beach, we traveled on a dirt road that was extremely bumpy and crowded with tour buses, the locals on motorbikes, and roadside solicitors. Once we parked, there is a mud slick path lined with more vendor booths that led to the beach. I initially thought we took a different route because of all the traffic but realized that this was the way most of the tour groups got to their designated Playa Blanca location. After all this………the beach was nice and the water beautiful. You have your own spot complete with a covered sitting area and a bar for drinks. There was an additional cost for the loungers fit sunbathing. The meal is included. Stay away from the burgers if you’re not a fan of fake beef. Drinks were great especially the pina colada’s. There are ladies that will give you a great foot massage at an additional cost. The vendors will continue to harass you but please be kind in your delivery as this is how they earn a living. October is considered the rainy season so guess what….it rained most of the 4 hours we were scheduled to be out there. I did not mind a little rain on the beach but after the long drive and mud slick hike, it was time to call it a day. There are many reviews saying that this was a great excursion which means your experience may be different from mine. I just want to forewarn you of all the challenges you may incur getting to your destination. Even though this fall in the budget friendly category, It is not worth it for the price. You get what you pay for.

An unforgettable experience!

Lorena_A, Oct 2022

We had a fantastic experience with this trip. Everyone one was so nice and everything was well organized. I will recommend the experience 100% and I will certainly do it again! Thx so much!

Bad Experience

darron_o, Sep 2022

Doesn’t look like pictures. Too many flies. Water was nasty. Bathrooms👎, had to use water bucket to flush toilet. Cristian the tour guide and his driver were great. Alfonso was also great, made sure everyone was taking cared of. ( drinks & food) Aggressive women trying to give massages and do more than they say to charge you more.

Poor

housseini_b, Aug 2022

I don't advertise to anyone but customer service i need my refund back from them i dont believe they are taking advantage on people

Fun and Relaxing

Leticia_R, Aug 2022

The trip was very fun and relaxing… a lot of vendors coming by, but they were fun. I have a great time!

Don’t believe the hype!

Ife_R, Aug 2022

Starting from a 40 minute delay pick up, to no fresh water to wash hands, 25,000 pesos that covers a hot dog lunch, constant harassment from peddlers, lockers with no locks, paying 60,000 pesos extra for a bed behind the fence thinking it would provide privacy but not having a moments peace, this trip was a disappointment. There was absolutely no tour info given along the way. The waters of Playa Blanca were beautiful but this is no place to relax and enjoy the natural beauty. Skip it!

Long trip. Not worthwhile

Rafael_M, Jul 2022

Paid a fortune to reschedule due to an incident in the day of the tour. This was no island since the whole trip was by land. The beach and water were beautiful but crowded and vendors harrasing you every 3 minutes. Not worth the long trip there.

Response from Host, Aug 2022

Hi Rafael Thanks for your information we are always trying to get better maybe at the description you didn't notice that the transfer is on a van or bus we really sorry we also have options by boats for other places at the island i invite you to visit one of those.

Javier Castro

Castros2008, Jul 2022

Too expensive for what we get. Food was not good. The toughest meat ever.. to many flies to enjoy eating my fish.. drinks watery… never again Javier Castro

Think twice and Reconsider!!!

Chanelle00, Jul 2022

Not sure what happened here because based off the pictures and reviews this was going to be a much more upscale excursion: 1.) Bus: the bus was so dilapidated a piece of metal was sticking out from my seat so I had to use my hand as a shield to avoid being injured, it was so cramped your knees were in the other passengers back, the a/c wasn’t working, no music; 2.) Drive to beach: we must have drove through a shantytown; 3.) Walk to beach: walking through a very poor part of the beach, everything was in a hut like structure; 4.) Bathrooms: toilets did not flush, shower was salt water vs fresh water; 5.) THE WORST PART: Constant harassment from vendors; at one point I had to pay the massage lady to go away, and they DO NOT understand the concept of personal boundaries very un-consensual touching! It’s hard for me to write this review because the tour guide and staff at hut were pleasant but this excursion was just all around very uncomfortable. The only highlight of my day was the camaraderie built based off this terrible experience (we all felt bamboozled) and the lunch were I tried a delicious dish called mojarra.

Lovely Beach, Unpleasant Ride

Chaundra_G, Jul 2022

The bus seats were wet and we arrived at the meetup on time which seemed to be too early (6AM). We waited for an hour before beginning our route to pick up other passengers around town. We did not know that was an option, otherwise we would have slept in and gotten picked up too. By 8:15 or so we headed to the beach. All the while in a mildewy moist seats. The beach itself is beautiful amd Mambo Beach Club was enjoyable especially our server Andres.

José Saved the Day! Hooray!!

Justin_W, Jun 2022

Jose our tour guide was amazing! He made the tour comfortable and easy. Give him a raise. The beach was fun. The food was great. My only two pieces of feedback are: 1. Make departure time later than 6:45am. I didn’t get to enjoy breakfast at my hotel before having to leave to walk to the meeting point. 2. If 6:45am is going to remain the departure time maybe consider pushing lunch up from 12pm. I got hungry and angry waiting for food and just went to a different place on the beach to grab something to eat while waiting for food service so I wasn’t hungry when they FINALLY served food. The tour ends at 2pm. Serving lunch at 12 pm is just a bit late.

Mamba Beach Club

Michelle_K, Jun 2022

Playa Blanco on Isla Barú was beautiful. The hostess at Mamba Beach club, Maria, was amazing she was so sweet. They only downside was all the vendors that are allowed to go in and out which caused a bit of irritation while relaxing. They also took away from Maria’s tips. Vendors should only be allowed every 2 hours to allow visitors to relax more. Other than that it was a great experience and I will be back! Viva Cartagena❣️

TravelFriends

Yolanda_S, May 2022

We all have an enjoyable day trip to Baru and Playa Blanca. Only setback beach Vendors hustle the whole time and you can't keep them out of the area. Mambo Beach/Maria was excellent Hostess/Waitress

The Beach is Everything. Worth the Drive

Leonie_M, May 2022

I love nature, so driving out of the city of Cartagena to the beach was welcoming. We were given fruits as snack for the 70 minute ride. It went by fast since I wass very curious. We arrive at the parking lot where there were many natives selling different items. We trekked down a little grade to the beautiful blue ocean and white sand (nothing compared to the brown beaches in Bocagrande). Franklin, the tour guide was wonderful, he understood what hospitality means. He guided us in the right direction regarding the natives who sell their wares. The only complaint I have is there were flies but they kept spraying upin request. You literally get chairs as advertised. Not beach chairs or lounge chairs. However, you can purchase a cabana for less than $20 is which fits two. I suppose your whole crew could use.

Too much people begging...

Naomi_B, Apr 2022

Too much people begging and the staff allowed them to annoy the patrons even after numerous no’s. Couldn’t really relax and enjoy myself. And too much rocks in the beach.

Response from Host, Apr 2022

Hi Naomi we really sorry about your experience we care about you and local people of the island sells things is their first economic activity for this days is high season and it become more difficult to control it in a public beach, we hope you can give us a second chance.

If you like water activities!

Bethsabet_V, Apr 2022

A must do. We had a great time. The area that was exclusive to our group was more private than other areas which prevents from being hassled by vendors and massage therapist. You will still see some of them around because they have to earn a living but it could be a bit overwhelming. The water was rocky in the area so bring water shoes. But if you like water activities such as jet ski, banana boats and private tours to other island in the area this is the place to be. Clear blue waters. Beautiful. Just make sure to take Colombian pesos to tip. The tour guide and the service was great. Not for our elders. Hard to get into beach area, very rocky and have to go downhill to get in and uphill to come out of the beach area.

Response from Host, Apr 2022

Hi Beth thanks for your review for us is very important, the beach is rocky for this month every year we work every day to try to keep it clean for you.

The worst trip ever.

Danuta_S, Jan 2022

Instead of 6am it started at 10:30am. Guid forgot to speak in english so we need to ask for translation . Beach beds were not ready- we need to wait 1 hour. Lockers for bags not awailable. On the way back bus driver stoped sudenly in the middle of nowhere and said he wasn’t paied so he is not going to work anylonger. Higly NOT RECOMMENDED!!!!

sorry....I am not a negative person at all but this tour is a total rip off.

Nicholas_S, Dec 2021

If you like being told to be at a meeting point at 6AM and waiting 1.5 hours for the guide to show up, being packed like a sardine into a tiny minibus with no airconditioning --driven by a chaufer who recklessly almost runs over a guy on a motorcycle--, arriving at a beach littered with massive amounts of trash and garbage, listening to blasted reggatón music, being pestered constantly --literally every five minutes-- by insistent hawkers who want to sell you trinkets, massages, hairbraiding, shells, jewelry, and drugs, and eating greasy undercooked fish for lunch, this tour is perfect for YOU!

Birthday

Tiffany_J, Nov 2021

The tour guide and Manager was so nice and accommodating. We celebrated our birthday together. The staff was also willing to help with anything. Use translator a lot. Beach was wonderful just a lot of sellers.

Beach was beautiful , vendors aggressive

Marie_G, Sep 2021

The service was really nice , they picked up us from hotel and The ride was nice. Beach was beautiful and we got there early so the locals did not arrive yet. One reason I took one star , you will be aggressively pressured into buying stuff and services from vendors always coming into the private canbana and they should do more a job to not let them just walk in and wait on the beach

Response from Host, Oct 2021

Thanks a lot for the review we are always looking the way to keep you safe and guarantee the experience we are worry about the different ways you can feel uncomfortable and believe me we do everything possible to get it and solve it.

Can't be beat Value

Mohammad_N, Sep 2021

This was probably my best experience during my 5 days in Cartagena. I booked this experience for a Sunday and was kinda spectacle of the 630am pick up time, but glad it was early in the morning because you're basically the first ones on the beach and really get to take it all in before it starts to really get packed. We arrived around 8:30ish, I wasn't picked up until around 7am and we were there until around 3pm. We had around 10 people in our group. The weather was amazing and so was the food, I picked the Chicken option. The welcome drink and fruit was very delicious. Jose our host was great and spoke english which helped me a lot. In regards to beach vendors, I didn't really experience that many since we had a boarder around us and were a little bit further from the beach (cabannas in front of us), but was expecting them to be a lot worse from reading prior reviews, I actually even bought some jewelry from one vender (negotiate lol) . Also in regards to rocks in the water, small areas did have patches of rocks but you could see them since the water is so clear, no need to worry. Enjoy the water as much as possible early on because later on it does get crowded (around 12pm) with a lot of boats and jet skis which were annoying. Also under the "What to Expect" section it say snorkeling equipment but that was not provided, would have been really nice to have that though. I went solo and enjoyed every minute of it, I made friends in my group which also made the experience much more awesome! Overall great value, can't be beat, highly recommend!

Nice beach trip to Playa Blanca

Frank_S, Aug 2021

Well organised trip, good communication, early departure meant we were able to enjoy the best of the day at Playa Blanca. The guide and personnel at the beach were very friendly, gave good advice, we had a very good day trip. Negative points, outside the control of the tour organisers: annoying beach vendors, don’t take anything of value onto the beach, leave it in the lockers provided. Also there are underwater rocks on the beach, be careful!

Response from Host, Aug 2021

We appreciate your comment and that you had fun on the tour, we will take into account your recommendations to improve, thanks for understanding. We hope to see you soon to assist you.

Fun in the sun

Jerome_M, Jul 2021

Beach is beautiful and our guide Melondy can’t be beat! She took excellent care of us! I definitely recommend it and spend th 60 pesos or the cabana!!!!!!!!

Response from Host, Aug 2021

Thank you very much for choosing Backpackers to be your hosts, we appreciate your recommendation and your excellent rating, we hope you return to have the pleasure of serving you. Thanks a lot!

Nice trip for the price

Rebecca_S, Jun 2021

Jose was a wonderful guide. The place on the beach was nice and I received a fruit dish to begin and a drink. The sun chairs were nice and their was a shaded area when it got hotter. I traveled by myself and felt completely safe. The restrooms were clean.

Response from Host, Aug 2021

We appreciate your comment and that you had fun on the tour, we hope to see you soon to assist you.

Terrible- horrible

Martha_F, Jun 2021

This tour was a disgrace and should not be sold. Viator should be embarrassed to off this as a tour. The location was filthy and disgusting and did not resemble anything similar to what was advertised. Totally false advertising.

Response from Host, Aug 2021

We apologize for all the inconveniences presented :(, these recommendations help us to improve and be better every day. We hope to make up for this bad experience in the next time. Greetings!

Beautiful Beach/Excellent Experience!

Banafsheh_K, Mar 2021

The driver picked us up on-time (6:30 AM-6:45 AM), They were very professional, COVID friendly (everyone wore masks) and we had a great time! I would highly recommend this excursion. The beach was beautiful and we had our own private area to sit (including lounge chairs, bar/restaurant, lockers). It's not fancy, but very clean and does the job. We were only planning on going 1 time during our visit, but now have decided to go every weekend until we leave Colombia. Our guide (I think his name was Jose) was wonderful, gave us great tips in terms of interacting with locals on the beach and constantly checked on us to ensure we had everything we needed. While the drive back was long (a little over an hour), it was 100% worth it.

Playa Beach

James_M, Feb 2021

We had a great time at the beach minus the constant harassment of the vendors. Beautiful water and the lunch was a good meal. Jose was fantastic as he was very attentive to everyone’s needs. We would book this trip again, and request Jose again.