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By Lisa Cheng
With all the picturesque beaches, sun-soaked islands, and virgin rain forests that line Colombia's Caribbean coast, taking a break from bustling Cartagena is more accessible than you think. Here are eight easy options for adventure and the outdoors.
Photo Caption: Parque Tayrona in Colombia is a natural preserve close to Santa Marta on the Caribbean coast.
A Miami Beach vibe pervades at Bocagrande, the visitors' beach of choice thanks to its convenient location just outside Old Town. Here, high-rise hotels line long strips of sand, and restaurants and shops animate the Avenida St. Martin. It's the perfect place for sunbathers who don't want to let go of urban life.
How to Get There: Bocagrande is a 10-minute walk north from Old Town
Photo Caption: The beach at Bocagrande, Cartagena, Colombia
Equally commercial to Bocagrande, El Laguito -- located on the opposite side of the peninsula -- caters to a number of crowds: the young and bohemian (i.e. spring-break students pulsing to music) and families with children (since the waters are calm).
How to Get There: Head out of Centro on the Avenida San Martin; once you hit Carrera 1, it's a straight shot south.
Photo Caption: El Laguito beach, Cartagena, Colombia
A horseshoe-shaped bay backed by rugged peaks, this former fishing village is an essential pit stop on the backpackers' trail. Budget accommodations and late-night partiers occupy the place, though the main draw here is the scuba diving and numerous dive centers. A kaleidoscope of aquatic wonders (batfish, squid and brain coral) can be spotted not far from the shores.
How to Get There: Take a 15-minute bus ride from the town of Santa Marta, northeast of Cartagena.
Photo Caption: Tagana Bay, Santa Marta, Colombia
La Boquilla is a sleepy fishing village four miles north of Cartagena, situated on a peninsula bordered by the sea on one side and a mangrove swamp on the other. Oceanside is where kitesurfers practice their sport. Swampside, you can hire a local to take you on a tour of the mangroves in a dugout canoe.
How to Get There: From Cartegena, the easiest way to get to La Boquilla is by taxi; you can also take a bus from India Catalina.
Photo Caption: La Boquilla beach, Cartagena, Colombia
The island of Baru harbors a not-so-secret-gem: the Playa Blanca. True to its name, the beach is indeed a gorgeous stretch of sugary, white sand. It's a peaceful locale to nap in a hammock under the palms or to knock back a fruity cocktail in a thatched-roof cabana.
How to Get There: There are several ways to access Baru, which is 12 miles southwest of Cartagena: crossing the Bay of Cartagena on a boat or taking a ferry across the Canal del Dique. You can also take a bus or taxi.
Photo Caption: Playa Blanca, Isla Baru, Colombia
Locals go the extra mile to reach this group of 10 archipelagos -- more than three hours by car from Cartagena, followed by boat ride. The effort reaps rewards. Here, flora and fauna grow in abundance, fewer footprints mark the sand, and the water (unlike beaches closer to Cartagena) are crystalline.
How to Get There: Every morning, day tours leave from the Muelle Touristco in the coastal town of Tolu (a three-hour drive from Cartagena)
Photo Caption: Snorkeling during a tour of Islas de San Bernardo, Colombia
Most travelers visit this archipelago of 27 islands -- part of a national park -- on a full-day boat excursion, where you'll see coral sand beaches, inland lagoons, and colorful coral reefs while swimming and snorkeling. There's also aquarium on Isla de San Martin de Pajarales, a showcase of tropical marine life.
How to Get There: To reach the Islas del Rosario, take a boat from Cartagena, which leaves from the Muelle Turistico de la Bodeguita.
Photo Caption: Tour of Rosario Islands, Cartagena, Colombia
With all the picturesque beaches, sun-soaked islands, and virgin rain forests that line Colombia's Caribbean coast, taking a break from bustling Cartagena is more accessible than you think. Here are eight easy options for adventure and the outdoors.
Photo Caption: Parque Tayrona in Colombia is a natural preserve close to Santa Marta on the Caribbean coast.
How to Get There: Bocagrande is a 10-minute walk north from Old Town
Photo Caption: The beach at Bocagrande, Cartagena, Colombia
How to Get There: Head out of Centro on the Avenida San Martin; once you hit Carrera 1, it's a straight shot south.
Photo Caption: El Laguito beach, Cartagena, Colombia
How to Get There: Take a 15-minute bus ride from the town of Santa Marta, northeast of Cartagena.
Photo Caption: Tagana Bay, Santa Marta, Colombia
How to Get There: From Cartegena, the easiest way to get to La Boquilla is by taxi; you can also take a bus from India Catalina.
Photo Caption: La Boquilla beach, Cartagena, Colombia
How to Get There: There are several ways to access Baru, which is 12 miles southwest of Cartagena: crossing the Bay of Cartagena on a boat or taking a ferry across the Canal del Dique. You can also take a bus or taxi.
Photo Caption: Playa Blanca, Isla Baru, Colombia
How to Get There: Every morning, day tours leave from the Muelle Touristco in the coastal town of Tolu (a three-hour drive from Cartagena)
Photo Caption: Snorkeling during a tour of Islas de San Bernardo, Colombia
How to Get There: To reach the Islas del Rosario, take a boat from Cartagena, which leaves from the Muelle Turistico de la Bodeguita.
Photo Caption: Tour of Rosario Islands, Cartagena, Colombia