Is the most BEAUTIFUL BEACH IN COLOMBIA a tourist trap? 🇨🇴 COLOMBIA TRAVEL
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- Опубліковано 16 чер 2024
- Playa Blanca is the most popular day trip from Cartagena. And while it undoubtedly is the most beautiful beach on mainland Colombia, it is also controversial for its well documented scams.
I stayed on Isla Baru, just down the beach from Playa Blanca on Playa Tranquila and was able to see how to beach changed as tourists flooded it each day and have advice on how to avoid scams, the price for things and where to eat the best coastal food.
You can support my work at / ayngelina where I share tips that don't make it to videos and behind the scenes content.
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00:00 Cartagena Colombia
01:44 How to Get to Playa Blanca
03:58 Playa Tranquila Isla Baru
05:20 La Peruana Isla Baru
07:15 Food Shopping
07:58 Playa Blanca Hostel
11:29 Colombians at Playa Blanca
12:01 Nuestros Tres Tesoros Isla Baru
14:24 Playa Blanca Prices
16:19 Colombian Ceviche with Ketchup
#Cartagena #playablanca #colombia
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I'm always glad to see you post.
Thanks so much Jeff 😊
Beautiful place! Thanks for sharing!
It really is!
The little girl behind you at the start of your video had me cracking up, lol. 😄
Informative information as always!
Oh I know! I could see her and just went with it as she was so curious.
Cant wait, to see your tour on Cartagena!
Certain it will be as informative and have the production quality, all your reports have!
Cheers
My Cartagena tour was the highlight of my trip 😊
Thanks for the video! What's the direct link to the standardized price menu for Playa Blanca?
Beautiful beach! May I suggest that when you mention the local currency, include a pop-up on the screen of the US/Canadian currency conversion? Thank you for sharing!
Thanks so much for watching Charlie, I include US prices because I think most people, especially Canadians (like me) know the general currency exchange rate for USD to CAD. I wanted to keep things simple as then I'd also need to add Euro, Sterling and Asian currencies.
thanks again!
Any time!
Woww el paraíso!!
Absolutamente
The Caribean is always gorgeous.
The beautiful beach looked much more inviting than the last one although both had their own beautiful elements.
This is the most beautiful but where you stay definitely matters
I don't see the standardized menu pricelist for Playa Blanca at your website. Can u please provide the link? Thx
Unfortunately I had to remove it as several people told me that had changed and no longer exists.
Thanks for the tips!
I’m going to Columbia for a month in December and am planning to go to San Andres for a few days. Do you think it’s worth spending a few days in and around Cartagena as well? I’m not really looking to explore the city as much as I will be travelling all over the country. 🇨🇦
So although San Andres is part of Colombia it's actually an island off Nicaragua. You may know that but I just wanted to make sure. But if you go there for beach time you can probably skip the Cartagena beaches unless you're really a beach person. But you definitely want to see Cartagena city and may want to check out Tayrona National Park outside Santa Marta.
Colombia is HUGE so a month is a lot but don't get trapped at the beach, there are also wonderful places in the mountains so I would spend time down there as well.
Thanks! I am definitely I a beach person and coming from Canada I'd like to soak up as much of the sun and sand as possible. Haha
This is what I have planned so far and I think it's a nice balance. I am currently watching you videos on other places you have been - Playa Cristal so I may do that instead of Palomino. Not sure if you have been all over Columbia as I just came across your UA-cam channel but if you wouldn't mind taking a quick look at my itinerary below it would be greatly appreciated.
Bogota
Bogota
Bogota
Bogota to Tatacoa Desert (fly 1 hour) + 50 min drive?
Tatacoa Desert
Tatacoa to Salento (fly 3 hours incl. layover) + 50 min drive?
Salento
Salento
Salento to Medellin (fly 50 min) and then drive/bus to Guatape 1hr)
Guatape
Guatape to Medellin (drive/bus 2hrs)
Medellin
Medellin
Medellin
Medellin to San Andres
San Andres
San Andres
San Andres to Cartagena
Cartagena
Cartagena
Cartagena to Palomino (6hr bus…)
Palomino
Palomino to Tayrona (drive/bus 45min)
Tayrona National Park to Minca (drive/bus 50 min)
Minca
Minca
Minca to Santa Marta (drive/bus 45min)
Santa Marta fly to Bogota and then home@@ayngelina
So I think it’s too much time in Bogota. You need two days max as the weather isn’t great and there’s not a lot to do. I’d leave yourself one free day just in case you want to stay somewhere else longer. Just remember every travel day even if it doesn’t take long basically wastes the whole day because of getting to terminals early the actual travel and then getting to your new hotel.
Thanks! I’m really bad with just going with the flow, so I tend to book all my hotels in advance
Is this your first time in Latin America?
Ah this beach is on the MAINLAND! How have I not heard of it before? The sand and water are beautiful for sure, but the way they are treating it and how narrow it is, I can tell you this beach will be completely eroded in a few years. Only $1 or $2 is a reasonable price to be overcharged, I feel. I've been ripped off FAR, FAR worse! But that was a brilliant move from the restaurants. Glad at least some people still have morals. But I agree with Genesis that San Andres is probably better far beaches and maybe Tayrona. This one is way too overdeveloped and commercialized for my taste. But I enjoyed the video anyways. Nice to see you in a different country. I like your blue :p
You should visit the world's most densely populated island for me, while you're there.
It was an island and they built a causeway. San Andrés is no doubt the best but also closer to Nicaragua than Colombia.
nice sand. nice water. but no beach. too crowded. too many 'buildings'. did you get to the rosario islands?
Not yet but it's on my list!
What was the name of the hostel you stayed at? Looking to stay in that area in a few weeks.
I can’t remember the name but it was on Booking
A beautiful beach but I do not like that hut like environment. I am looking forward to a nice high end hotel and white sand beach not golden sand beach. Where are those located? The ceviche looks terrific. Thank you.
The Caribbean coast of Colombia has a number of beaches with all inclusive hotels and resorts where you may find what you’re looking for 🙂
"Same beer, same cocktails, same beach" ❤
I’m so cheap! Unless I truly feel the accommodation is a real experience.
Those are the crowded beaches, try the golfo of San Bernando beaches Colombia, they are on the deep where the islands are and rent a private place, it is cheap yo! I recommend titipan Island. Yeah, rent a private apartment beachfront. I'm Colombian ❤
Thank you so much! I want to return to Colombia in 2024 so I’m putting this on my list
San bernardo is good but is boring. No clubs
Can you use a credit card 💳 or do you need cash for most transactions?
Credit card in supermarkets and tourist restaurants or expensive restaurants and sometimes with an additional fee otherwise it’s cash. The credit card companies charge South Americans businesses insane fees up to 13% to use their services so small businesses can’t afford it.
@@ayngelina thank you 😊
Happy to help. If you have specific food questions I’ve written a bunch on my website Baconismagic.ca
Take the taxi because the driver will stay with you and you can leave when you want . The boats can hit 4'-6' swells out on the water and you're with a large group some can get drunk then you can't find them
The taxi turned out to be a much better option for me. It’s not expensive if you’re traveling with others.
Hello Ayngelina. Thank you for your note on Barú! As a Colombian, I appreciate the efforts visitors from other countries make to promote our beaches. However, I must say that Baru is not the most beautiful beach in Colombia. That title is disputed among the beaches in Tayrona Park, Capurgana and Nuqui (Chocó) and the Islands in the Archipielago of San Bernardo. Even some of the beaches in San Andres Island are far more beatiful than Baru! No need to go too far from Baru, though ... Just a few miles from Baru you'll find Islas del Rosario. Next time, try Isla Grande - just an hour from Cartagena departing from the pier La Bodeguita. Isla Grande offers pristine waters, white sand beaches, and very few to no vendors!
Wow thank you for such a thoughtful response! I do have a video from Tayrona 😊 but I’m putting the others on my list for when I return in 2024 so please send me all your best recommendations 🙏
Hello Paul - I'm planning on coming to Columbia (Cartagena) next month for the first time. Where do you recommend staying for a single middle aged person who likes nice quiet beaches and decent hotels that is fairly easy to get to. I'm not crazy about the congestion and crowds shown in this video. I hear the beaches on the mainland are not that great.
Hello HugeKorgy! Cartagena is a beautiful place (downtown and the old part of the city) and it is really worth exploring it. My advise is spend a couple of days in Cartagena and take one or two of the various tours offered.
About the beaches in the mainland, that is true - they're not great. Definitely, stay at least a couple of nights in Isla Grande. Or take a day tour to Isla Tintipan, Isla Mucura, or Isla Palma in the Archipielago of San Bernardo. Many of the tours include Playa Blanca - that's the crowded, filled-with-vendors beach you want to avoid! So, make sure whatever tour you buy does not take you to Playa Blanca.
Here's a video you may find helpful:
ua-cam.com/video/T65LwCxhMLs/v-deo.html
@@PaulAndresJaramillo
Hello Paul - Not seeing your reply, I ended up booking 5 nights in Bocagrande. I like the idea of a day trip to Tintipan Island or the other San Bernardo islands. But, I'm not finding much online for an inclusive tour. Can you recommend a tour company. I know there is a ferry that leaves from Muelle de la Bodeguita to Tintipan Island. Is this the way to go? If so, how would activities like snorkeling work? Would I book that once I get there? Also, what do you think of Bora Bora for a day trip?
Hello Korgy!
I’m sorry you didn’t see my reply. Anyway, your decision sounds right. Boca Grande is a good sector in Cartagena. However, if you can still change your booking, I would suggest you spend at least one night in Isla Grande. Bora Bora Beach Club has beautiful facilities and offers great accommodation. But if you decide to go there on a day trip only, that is a good choice as well. There are other good options you may want to consider (you can compare them in Booking): Rosario EcoHotel, Hotel Cocoliso Island Resort, and Secreto Hostel).
About a tour operator, I know there are quite a few and all of them have both good and not so good reviews. I would consider two options, though: CTG Tours and Juan Ballena. Whatever tour you choose, I recommend that you buy it directly at a booth in La Bodeguita when you arrive in Cartagena, either very early in the morning the day of the tour, or the day before. Make sure to:
- Get a receipt with the name and/or the logo of the tour operator
- Find out exactly what the tour includes. (Ask: “¿Qué incluye el tour?”). A very clear and specific answer should follow.
- State very clearly that you do not want a tour that takes you to Playa Blanca (Say: “No quiero pasar por Playa Blanca o Barú.”). Many tours offer a trip around Islas del Rosario and include spending some time in Playa Blanca. So, be sure the tour you get takes you directly to the destination you want, whether Bora Bora, or Isla Tintipan, or any other beach in Islas del Rosario.
You will usually need to pay extra for the snorkeling activity. They will rent you the mask and the snorkel for a reasonable price. If you have your own equipment, it is even better. Some tours include a stop to snorkel in the coral reef (again, make sure to ask what the tour includes), but they usually stop in Playa Blanca for lunch. Here’s a tour I found that sounds very nice and you will probably like:
www.getyourguide.com/cartagena-l362/from-cartagena-rosario-islands-sailing-catamaran-excursion-t190080/?ranking_uuid=3d67db37-a6e7-4b0d-a8db-5a7e17638fb5
Enjoy your stay in Cartagena. I hope you have a great time! Let us know how your trip goes.
Is it safe to travel to Colombia?
I would not hesitate to do it but you may want to check out my other video with safety tips
I was very concerned about safety before I first went to Colombia. What I would say is, you will be okay. Try to find a good Airbnb host, if possible. The host will help you with small things. Also I didn’t go walking at night. Take a Uber or Cab. Also if possible, don’t travel with cash. Use Western Union and send yourself money when you need it. People say
“ go to Colombia with Cash, USD, “
why? That’s how people get robbed. Don’t carry a bunch of cash. If you don’t walk around with $5,000 USD in the United States why would you do that in a foreign country. It’s not smart. Other than that, you will be safe. Colombia turned out to be like a US Border town with a lot of Military and police, it’s pretty safe; especially when the Colombia Navy is right near the walled city and beaches.
Whats the peruvian place name?
La Peruana
Definitely a tourist trap, solicitations is really bad. They hover, follow you, even in the water they solicit you for jet skis and to sit on floaters. Do not recommend at all!
I wonder if they left me alone because I was alone. I believe people’s experiences but somehow I didn’t have the same situation.
This is just not my thing. I don’t care about the beach. This is for people who like traveling to go to a Beach.
Absolutely you’re right. I have videos about the beach and others about culinary travel with traditional food.
correction: the most beautiful beaches in colombia are in "san andres islands" it is the sea of 7 colors, the beaches of cartagena are horrible, super dirty, full of scammers and street vendors who suffocate and harass you every 30 seconds, in addition to their shops and restaurants do not have any type of regularization and they charge you at will without mentioning that their customer service is terrible, it is an experience to go and NEVER COME BACK.
I think you'll like this video as I talk about how controversial it is.
Wow, thanks for the heads up. That is very sad to hear. I've had too many bad experiences with scammers already.
just the beach experience, and what about the rest of the island?, I mean accommodation, running water, food prices, accessible renting facilities and prices.....
False. Baru is beautiful. No problem is you go to a beach club. The problem is when you want exclusivity no spending the necessary
She says the best beau to every video she puts, so there is where the scam starts lol
Can I have the taxi driver number? (Orlando)
Send me a message on Instagram at @ayngelina as I’m not sure he wants it shared publicly
Only Fish 🇵🇪 Peruvian ceviche ❤is the number 1 🥇 👌🤤so delicious , and Shrimp 🍤 ECUADORIAN ceviche or conchas negras are better 👌😍 than Peru 🇵🇪 lol but if is fish ceviche Peru is absolutely the winner 🏆 lol
Very good distinction here. I agree!
Don't go to Baru they will rip you off
Where do you suggest going?
It is a tourist trap and YOU WIll BE ROBBED
What did you think of my advice in the video? Was it accurate?