Cartagena, Colombia is an amazing beach destination in Colombia. Established in the 1500s, it once was one of the most protected Spanish cities. While the main part of town can be a bit touristy, one of the many day trips from Cartagena will get you off the beaten path to some amazing places!
Where to Stay in Cartagena
TripAdvisor is a great place to start your hotel search. Search for the best Cartagena hotels here! You can also check out the following hotels:
- Hotel Cartagena Plaza
- Nacar Hotel Cartagena
- Hilton Cartagena Hotel
- Ermita, Cartagena
- Hyatt Regency Cartagena
- Intercontinental Cartagena de Indias
- Holiday Inn Express Cartagena Bocagrande
- Holiday Inn Cartagena Morros
Rosario Islands
A trip to the Rosario Islands is one of the best day trips from Cartagena. This gorgeous chain of islands lies right off the coast of Colombia. The boat ride to the island is just under an hour to travel the 23 miles to the island.
To get there, you can opt to take a public boat, but I highly recommend booking a tour to make for an easier trip. The tours are pretty affordable, sometimes running under $50 for the entire day including lunch.
Visiting the Rosario Islands is the perfect relaxing day trip. Not only do you get to relax on a gorgeous, secluded beach, but the water is also crystal clear and the perfect temperature for swimming and snorkeling. It is much less crowded than in Cartagena.
Make sure to book a massage on the beach to ensure a fully relaxing day. With many of the tours, a delicious lunch is also included. Visitors can also grab beverages from the bar. No matter what, you will not be sorry spending a relaxing day on the Rosario Islands.
La Boquilla
By Julien of Cultures Traveled
Nestled between the ocean and the mangroves, La Boquilla is a small fishing village located just six miles north of Cartagena.
It only takes about 20 minutes to get to La Boquilla from the historic walled city, making it one of the perfect day trips from Cartagena for those looking to explore one of the more secluded beaches in Cartagena.
If you get tired of lounging on the sand, you can also tour the mangrove swamp. With your guide, you will traverse the canals in a wooden canoe. This is a great way to see some of the local wildlife and learn about the importance of mangroves to the ecosystem.
In La Boquilla, you’ll also learn just how important fishing is to the local Afro-Colombian communities that live near Cartagena. And to further support them, be sure to have a lunch of fresh seafood on the beach with an ice-cold Cerveza! Just make sure you are both clear about the prices ahead of time.
Visiting La Boquilla is a nice adventure from Cartagena whether you’re looking for a relaxing day by the sea or wish to see a bit of nature.
Isla Barú
By Carley of Home to Havana
Best known for its crystal-clear waters and the aptly named white sand beach Playa Blanca, Isla Barú is a favorite escape and one of the best day trips from Cartagena, easily and affordably accessible for travelers on any budget.
Playa Blanca is the most popular destination on Isla Barú for travelers; lined with beach bars, restaurants, and hotels, this is a great area to enjoy a day on the beach with all the amenities. You can rent water sports equipment, beach chairs, and umbrellas, and even find tour operators offering excursions to nearby islands, so there is no lack of unique ways to enjoy a day here.
While the beach can get busy during the day, especially during high season, mid to late afternoon, when day trippers usually head home, is a completely different experience, and you’ll feel like you have the beach almost to yourself!
If Playa Blanca isn’t your scene, the rest of Isla Barú has plenty to offer. You’ll find beautiful hostels, eco-lodges, and even luxury hotels scattered along the coast and can enjoy white sandy beaches with much more privacy.
Isla Barú is easily accessible by shuttle bus or private transportation from Cartagena and is only 45 minutes away from the center of the city. One of the most popular ways to travel is by taking the shuttle bus from central Cartagena, which departs several times daily from Hostal Mamallena.
Alternatively, travel in style by booking a group excursion or private tour to Isla Barú by speedboat. These excursions are generally quite affordable and usually include stopping for snorkeling and cruising through the beautiful waters and nearby islands around Isla Barú.
Botanic Gardens
By Mel of Mel on the Go
The Jardín Botánico de Cartagena “Guillermo Piñeres” (Botanical Gardens) is a beautiful escape into the mountains above Cartagena. It makes for one of the best day trips from Cartagena, Colombia. Spend the morning communing with nature and spend the afternoon at a nearby resort before returning to the city.
Cartagena’s Botanical Gardens is nature at its finest. Six miles, or a thirty-minute drive, from Cartagena, the gardens are an oasis. It’s great for a walk, with well-maintained hiking trails winding past a variety of indigenous and exotic plants and trees. Home to many of Colombia’s indigenous animals, expect to see sloths, howler monkeys, and an impressive array of birds. Take part in a guided tour or birdwatching. TIP: bring a camera and binoculars if you have them, and pack a swimsuit for the second half of the excursion.
After enjoying the gardens, treat yourself to lunch and a relaxing dip in the pools at nearby Selva Negra. An afternoon at this resort is a perfect topper for this day trip from Cartagena. Nature and wild animals followed by lunch and luxury are a mere thirty minutes away.
The easiest way to get to the Botanical gardens is by car, whether you rent one or hire a driver. If a taxi, the driver will stay with you for the day for approximately $50-$75. Alternatively, Uber and InDriver are popular and often cheaper than taxis. Another option is by bus, with at least one transfer, and you’ll have to walk between the resort and the gardens, about .25 miles.
A day communing with nature and animals is a day well spent. You’ll return to Cartagena relaxed and rejuvenated for the rest of your adventures.
Totumo Volcano
By Dani of Scratch Your Mapa
Have you ever heard of a mud volcano? Well, welcome to one of the best day trips from Cartagena and the most epic things to do in Colombia. Totumo is a volcano that you can actually swim in! This unique location is an amazing day trip from Cartagena because it is just one hour down the coast from the city and is easily reachable.
This is one of the smallest volcanos in the world, at just 20 meters high. However, it runs 2,000 meters deep and is full of thick mud that you can immerse yourself in. It is actually so thick that you can effortlessly float while enjoying this extremely unique experience.
Don’t worry about getting dirty, though- there is a big lake on site, as well as a shower that you can pay around $1 USD to use. There are also restaurants and souvenir shops to check out while you’re there.
The Totumo Volcano can be visited by excursion or on your own by renting a car. There is just a small entrance fee to enter, and there is no hiking or effort required to reach the top, just one set of stairs.
Pink Sea of Galerazamba
By Adam of Cartagena Explorer
Located about 90 minutes and 37 miles north of Cartagena, the Pink Sea of Galerazamba is one of the more unique and interesting day trips from Cartagena, Colombia. Just outside a tiny town, it’s an interesting break from the hustle and bustle and historic boutique hotels of Cartagena’s Walled City.
In this little town, there is a natural sea salt mine on the coast. The high salinity of the waters causes tiny microorganisms to thrive. They, in turn, give the water a pink color. On a sunny day with a good breeze, it’s a really gorgeous site to see!
One thing to keep in mind is that if it has been raining or if the salt has been recently harvested, the pink effect can go away. It can be unpredictable, so it’s worth asking around before going. Generally, the periods from December to February and August to September are the best times.
It is also a bit difficult to reach. The best way to do this Cartagena day trip is to either hire a taxi to take you, have the driver wait, and then take you back to Cartagena, or go on a tour. Tours here are sometimes packaged with the mud volcano, which is nearby.
If you come on your own, expect to pay a small fee to the local guides. Also, be sure to listen if they tell you any areas are off-limits. This is usually due to the harvesting of salt. It’s a good idea to do this earlier in the day to beat the heat and hot sun, although you’ll definitely want a good hat and sunscreen regardless of when you do it. There’s not a lot out here, so you might want to bring along snacks or drinks too.
Palenque Freedom Tour
By Abi of I’m Going On An Adventure
For one of the best day trips from Cartagena, why not head to Palenque for the freedom tour? The wonderfully vibrant town of Palenque is a UNESCO World Heritage site and was such an interesting and educational place to visit.
During the day trip, which will take around an hour of travel, you will walk around the town exploring and getting to know the local community. Our guide, who was from Palenque, explained how in the 17th century, escaped slaves who had been brought over to Latin America from places such as Senegal, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia, had founded the town building walls to ensure their safety.
While we walked around, we learned more about African customs, beliefs, and ways of living. The tour was great at exploring the African roots of the people who live in Palenque and how their traditional culture has remained, still shown through music and dance.
It’s quite an immersive tour; if you like to get involved, it’s possible to play the drums with the locals and, although some people were a little shyer, most were welcoming and intrigued – still becoming accustomed to tourists. It was brilliant to be told stories (in Spanish) of how their ancestors had first arrived in the town.
A noteworthy mention about Palenque is that the people living there have preserved a distinct creole language brought over from Africa. The best way to fully appreciate the town and community is to visit on a guided tour. Your tour guide should be from Palenque and will be able to explain and answer any questions in a knowledgeable way.
Other Day Trips from Cartagena to Take
There are so many amazing day trips from Cartagena to take. There are many other gorgeous islands to visit off the coast of Cartagena. You could also head to Playa Blanca, Tierra Bomba Island, and the Mangrove Swamps. If you have extra time, make sure to explore more of Colombia such as Bogota, Cali, or Medellin.
