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tsibanas
We stayed here for two nights and three days, and loved it. The beach is beautiful! Yes, there are vendors walking up and down, but they weren't aggressive or annoying, and didn't really bother us much. I definitely recommend staying a couple of nights in a hammock or cabana. It's the best here early in the morning and in the evening as most people leave and the beach is quiet. But even during the day it didn't feel that crowded, especially if you go away from where the tourist boats come. Getting there we took a bus from one of the hostels in Cartagena, and it was fast and easy. On the way back, we got a cab driver to take the two of us for 20,000 pesos. It seemed easier than the boats, although probably less picturesque.
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glassywaves247
This beach slams with people all day then they quickly disappear by night. Sleep in a hammock for a few dollars and wake up alone in paradise. I only spent one night there but if I had more time I would probably spend a week there. Hugos place is amazingly tranquilo and definitely recommend it.
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NDV209
Imagine a beautiful beach, now add hundreds of ramshackle cabanas, crowding the public part of the beach to a narrow sliver, hundreds of peddlers, and a few thousand tourists; subtract bathrooms and garbage cans and you get Playa Blanca. The absence of bathrooms and garbage cans has both very visible and invisible consequences. The visible ones include trash and human feces both on the beach and in the water. The invisible ones stem from the fact that none of the dozens of food hawkers on the beach have access to soap and water for washing their hands. With improvements in concession management and basic sanitation, this beach could be a very pleasant spot to visit. In the mean time, I would stay away.
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907paolal
We are comfortable travelers. We like a nice clean bed and a hot shower after the end of the day. At Playa Blanca we found both. While comparing hotel location and prices, we found out that the Decameron Baru is the only hotel on the same beach (at the end of it). Other small boutique hotels might be nicer and more intimate, but we are friends, not lovers and all of those seemed quite romantic. The price for those hotels was the same for the decameron. The choice was easy. Here's the catch, the decameron staff will do all in their power to keep you inside the hotel. They have a lot of rules that seriously.... Borders on the obscene (and I worked on an all inclusive chain before). So the hotel has this boat that takes you to Playa puntilla and from there you can walk up to Playa Blanca. Is a walk thru the beach, 15 mins to the middle of it (don't go to the end, too crowded), so don't let the staff bully you. They will tell you it a 45 minute walk to discourage people from going. Within a 5 min walk, you start to find the beach huts and such. The color of the sea is definitely worth it. Decameron has an ok beach, but the REAL Playa Blanca is ahead of you. When looking for a spot to lay down, eat and drink, look for Doña Arleth's place. The huts take a lot of space and you can hardly see the sand. If you go to the far end of the beach, you will find it more crowded. Stay on the beach adjacent to the hotel, if you like he place for your own. This place is past Banana Beach, past Hakuna Matata Hostel, and before the next big Hostel you will see. I think it is Hostel Playa Blanca. Arleth works along with three other local women who live in the nearest town, Santa Ana. You will soon notice it to be a small united community. They help.each other as much as possible. Moreover, these women don't own huts and thus, their income is limited and rely on what they can get during the day. Also, that means that you have much more space to enjoy the beach! We went there two times in a row. They will cook a fine lunch for you. Lobster at 25 usd, fish for 10 usd, beers at 2 usd. Sandra, their neighbor, sells beer a little cheaper. Go EARLY IN THE morning, before 9, the breeze will be a soft blow and you will swim into the depths and see the bottom of the seabed without a snorkel. That's how clear the water is. By 11 am the breeze will be much stronger and so will be the waves, thus preventing the amazing experience of crystal clear water. Decameron says they close their beach located in Playa Blanca at 3:30 (they are saving on staff costs), but you can ask local fisherman to take you back and forth. They will be puntual and you will have to bargain. We thought that 20 usd for two pple for taking you and brining you back is well worth it. We moved a little the local economy from that little town. We loved it. At 5 pm return to the hotel and get ready to watch the sunset from the beach beds located on the rocks on the right side of the beach... (walking from the hotels náutica past the beach bar) Enjoy the pelicans fishing and the happy chirping of the hundreds of parrots that arrive at 6 and head for the pool just to enjoy to live music in the buffet restaurant. The next day.... Go to playa blanca, and do it all over again. Apply generously, wash, repeat.
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bjsabina
If you love a beautiful beach with white sand and aqua water, then make sure you visit Playa Blanca. You need to be aware, though, of what to watch for. The vendors are plentiful and you need to be careful. Always establish a price before you accept a service, for example, a massage. If you don't, you may end up being told an atrocious amount for the service. The weekends are crazy busy. I was saddened, though, by the lack of care of the area. As beautiful as the beach is, if the people do not start cleaning up their garbage instead of just throwing it wherever they want, people will not want to go there.
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partydigest
The best beach. Go where the local Colombians go! Went on a bus called Opitours.com. Had a great time! Best value. The beach was perfect and the water was clean!
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Gr_Annie050505
My North American safety sensibilities took over during the boat ride to first Rosita Island and then to Playa Blanca . Very confusing to board the boat firstly. The trip through the rough waters was shear hell on a fibre glass boat with no padding to offset the pounding you took with each wave. Luckily we wore life jackets ( one of the rare safety measures ) but there was a one year old on board without a life jacket and it looked like about a 3 year old with an adult life jacket on which would have done him no good if we went into the drink ( which I thought might happen throughout the trip) To get on and off the boat at Playa Blanca was difficult as there is no dock. However the dangerous part was the people swimming right where the boats gunn their engines to get on shore. Surely there could be an area cordoned off for the boats. So many boats and not enough space to dock in the rough waters. Our boat actually hit other boats twice ,first while trying to dock at Rosita Island and then when leaving Playa Blanca.Are these boat drivers licenced ? Ours looked like Dowgie Houser and seemed to be encouraged to drive at great speeds into the waves by the young Colombians who as of yet don't realize they're mortal. If I'd known you could take a bus back I would have taken it.The driver had trouble starting the boat on the way back ,then it seemed to be listing and after travelling about 5 minutes very slowly he yelled something about "agua". Don't know if it was water in the engine or water coming in. Water in the boat was up to the floor boards. The topper was running out of gas just about when we were at the Cartagena dock and having to change tanks in transit !! Now for the good part of the trip - the scenery . Drove past many beautiful islands ( mind you at hair raising speed ) and both Rosita Island and Playa Blanca were enjoyable. The lunch served was tasty. If I had to do it over again I would take the larger boat ( Alcatraz? ) More my speed.
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Shickottawa
We took a taxi from the city for 200,000 peso for 4 people. Easy ride and better than the boats from what I have heard. They have a new bridge. The beach could be beautiful but garbage, vendors and many ugly sun tents for rent ruin it. The far right nd where the backpackers hang out is the nicest part of the beach. The reef is basically dead so snorkelling not great.
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johap943
if you are visiting Playa Blanca (isla Baru) for one day make sure to take a boat that takes you directly there. I booked for one that stopped at the aquarium for 45 mins (it took more than that). I personally didn't visit the aquarium, so I have to wait for the people to go in and do the tour. There is nothing to do there while you wait, so i feel I waste at least 1 hour there. The boat then was like a taxi, picking up and dropping people off to different islands (private islands), so while doing all of that, I finally got to Playa blanca around 2:20 and we were leaving at 4:00 pm. So, I only enjoyed the beach for almost 2 hrs. The beach and the water are beautiful. However, be aware this is a public beach. You will have some vendors, you just have to say NO. If you want to buy something, make sure to negotiate. Lunch was ok. If you like luxury things, this is not for you.
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Keckie62
This is our third time to Cartagena and taking several boat rides to Playa Blanca. We usually just walk or taxi to the Marina and take the package for a boat ride "lancha" to the island with a meal included. The boats fit several people and leave early and return by latest 4:00 because the water can get choppy after that. The choppiest seasons are Dec and Jan (yes we have gone and gotten wet if that bothers you). Otherwise the ride isn't bad. Our bad experience was taking the tour that stops in Boca Chica DO NOT take this one! It's a disgusting beach with bad food. Other times we have taken one that only goes to Playa Blanca and stays there for about 5 hrs with fried fish as usual and enjoyed ourselves. Of course you will have the vendors that come around to sell; it might bother some people but I just say no thank you and continue with my business. My husband who loves to talk enjoys it. By the way, it does help that we both know Spanish. And if you are nice to them they will do anything for you like bring you coconuts for your drinks. Which we buy our bottle of rum and bring to the island with us. Our favorite way, is going to the Private Beach where you have less people and less vendors for obvious reasons. Hope this was helpful, and for those who had terrible experiences hopefully you will return and enjoy it next time.
