Where to enjoy sun and sand on your Cartagena vacation.
The old town of Cartagena is nothing short of spectacular–a colonial wonderland of domed towers and narrow streets kissed with the cool breeze of the Caribbean just beyond the city’s ancient wall. But while Cartagena is set so close to the sea you can literally taste it, actually swimming in those waters is a rookie mistake. Even the city’s “nicest” beaches in Castillogrande and Bocagrande are littered with garbage and swarming with relentless vendors. No, the answer to your Cartagena beach dreams lies not in the city, itself, but on the nearby islands and distant beaches that surround the Caribbean Peninsula. While it used to be something of an adventure to reach these distant shores for a day of tranquility, the local tourism industry has since stepped up its game. Now a number of hotels and beach resorts offer day passes that will keep you up to your eyeballs in sun, sea, and sand without requiring you to choose between spending your whole vacation on a quiet island or in the center of it all.