How to get to Playa Blanca from Cartagena: on your own or on a tour

Quick answer: According to travel guides and El Universal, Playa Blanca is on the Barú peninsula and the trip from Cartagena takes about an hour by car or by boat. The options on your own are car or taxi, a bus to Pasacaballos with a connection, or a boat from the La Bodeguita pier; a tour includes the transport.

Updated on 05/11/2026.

Three ways to get there on your own

Car or taxi: the most direct route, about an hour according to the guides; the final stretch may be a dirt road, especially in the rain.
Bus and connection: a bus towards Pasacaballos and then local transport. One guide warns that reaching Pasacaballos is not the same as reaching the beach: confirm the final stretch and how you will get back.
Boat: leaves from the La Bodeguita pier; it is the most scenic option, but the sea can be rough.

Fares and charges vary between guides and several are old, so we do not give them as a rule. At the beach it is wise to bring cash, according to the guides.

With a tour

With a tour, the transport, the schedule and the return are taken care of. Options on the site in Barú and Playa Blanca:

Tour	Place	Reference price
Mambo Beach Club day pass	Barú	US$ 39
National Aviary of Colombia + Playa Blanca	Barú	from US$ 83
Playa Blanca day trip	Barú	from US$ 31
Playa Tranquila day trip	Barú	US$ 48
Bioluminescent plankton + Barú beach club	Barú	US$ 97

Reference prices per person, in US dollars (USD), converted at the 01/11/2026 exchange rate and reviewed on 05/11/2026. The final price is the one shown by the partner at checkout.

Playa Blanca or the Rosario Islands

Guides usually say that Playa Blanca wins on the amount of sand and that the islands win on snorkelling and peace and quiet; many day tours combine both. Compare in the Rosario Islands guide.