Day trips · Cartagena · Colombia
5 best day trips from Cartagena
Where to go when you want a day away from Cartagena, and how long it really takes.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Sgonzalezb, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
The classic day trip from Cartagena is Rosario Islands (About 1 hour by speedboat). The closest option is Tierra Bomba, about 10 km away.
Key facts
- Day trips in this guide
- 5
- Closest
- Tierra Bomba (10 km)
- Most popular
- Rosario Islands
Day trips compared
| Destination | Distance | Travel time | How | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rosario Islands | 45 km | About 1 hour by speedboat | Speedboat or launch from the Muelle de la Bodeguita | Beach, Couples, Families |
| Playa Blanca, Barú | 40 km | About 1 hour by road or 45 minutes by boat | Taxi or tour van via the Pasacaballos bridge, or boat | Beach, Budget, First-timers |
| Totumo mud volcano | 50 km | About 1 hour by road | Organised tour from Cartagena | First-timers, Solo travellers |
| San Basilio de Palenque | 60 km | About 1.5 hours by road | Organised tour or private driver | Culture, Solo travellers |
| Tierra Bomba | 10 km | About 15–45 minutes by boat | Boat from Bocagrande or the Muelle de la Bodeguita | Budget, Beach, Families |
The day trips
45 km · About 1 hour by speedboat
1.Rosario Islands
The Islas del Rosario are a coral archipelago inside a national natural park, with clear water, snorkelling, small island beach clubs and the Oceanario aquarium on San Martín de Pajarales. Day tours usually visit several islands and stop for lunch; a night on an island makes for a quieter stay.
- Getting there
- Speedboat or launch from the Muelle de la Bodeguita
- Best for
- Beach, Couples, Families
40 km · About 1 hour by road or 45 minutes by boat
2.Playa Blanca, Barú
Barú's Playa Blanca has white sand and turquoise water and is the most popular beach near Cartagena. It is very crowded on weekends and holidays, with persistent vendors; quieter beach clubs on the Barú peninsula are an alternative.
- Getting there
- Taxi or tour van via the Pasacaballos bridge, or boat
- Best for
- Beach, Budget, First-timers
50 km · About 1 hour by road
3.Totumo mud volcano
El Totumo is a small mud cone about 15 metres high; visitors climb a ladder and float in its warm, thick mud, then are washed off by local women in the lagoon nearby. Tours often combine it with lunch in La Boquilla or Manzanillo.
- Getting there
- Organised tour from Cartagena
- Best for
- First-timers, Solo travellers
60 km · About 1.5 hours by road
4.San Basilio de Palenque
Founded by escaped enslaved Africans in the 17th century, Palenque is recognised by UNESCO for its culture and keeps its own Creole language, music and traditions. Guided community tours explain its history and include music and food.
- Getting there
- Organised tour or private driver
- Best for
- Culture, Solo travellers
10 km · About 15–45 minutes by boat
5.Tierra Bomba
The island across the bay has simple beaches, beach clubs facing the Bocagrande skyline and the colonial fort at Bocachica. It is the quickest and easiest island escape from the city.
- Getting there
- Boat from Bocagrande or the Muelle de la Bodeguita
- Best for
- Budget, Beach, Families
Day-trip tips
- Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
- Transcaribe is the city's bus rapid transit system along the main avenues; it is cheap but less useful for visitors than walking and taxis.
- For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best day trip from Cartagena?
Rosario Islands. The Islas del Rosario are a coral archipelago inside a national natural park, with clear water, snorkelling, small island beach clubs and the Oceanario aquarium on San Martín de Pajarales.
+How long does it take to get from Cartagena to Rosario Islands?
About 1 hour by speedboat — Speedboat or launch from the Muelle de la Bodeguita, about 45 km.
+How long does it take to get from Cartagena to Playa Blanca, Barú?
About 1 hour by road or 45 minutes by boat — Taxi or tour van via the Pasacaballos bridge, or boat, about 40 km.