If you’re looking for a destination with beautiful beaches, fresh food, and historic landmarks, Colombia checks all of those boxes. To explore this diverse South American country, consider Contiki’s Hola Colombia Tour. The 12-day trip includes stops in Tayrona National Park, Medellin, and Cartagena, a city that’s emerged as a top travel destination.
Situated on Colombia’s Caribbean coast, Cartagena offers top-notch restaurants, museums, and colonial architecture, and it’s also a great jumping-off point to explore nearby attractions. From idyllic islands to rejuvenating mud baths, here are the best five-day trips from Cartagena.
1. Isla Tierra Bomba
Isla Tierra Bomba is a rugged island about a 15-minute boat ride from the coast of Cartagena. It’s so close you can see the skyscrapers of Cartagena’s skyline, and the island is home to several uncrowded, white sand beaches. You can hang out at one of the few bars and restaurants scattered across the island or choose from a few different boho-style beach hotels for a laid back beach day. We’re partial to Blue Apple Beach, a trendy beachfront boutique hotel that hosts laid-back day parties accompanied by pretty drinks and fresh bites.
2. Isla Grand, Rosario Islands
Another option for an island day trip is Isla Grand, the largest of the Rosario Islands. Isla Grand is about an hour’s boat ride from Cartagena, and since you’re just here for the day, plan to spend time snorkeling, kayaking, or lying on the beach. Isla Grand is also home to several trendy beach clubs like Bora Bora Beach Club that offer day passes so you can party all day and be back in Cartagena before the sun sets. If you want to see more of the Rosario Islands, you can arrange a boat tour that’ll make stops at several Rosario Islands including Isla Grand, Cholón, and Agua Azul.
3. Playa Blanca, Isla Baru
Playa Blanca lives up to its name. The popular white sand beach on Isla Baru, about an hour south of Cartagena, is a tropical paradise. The beach can get crowded with locals and visitors on the weekends, so try to visit during the week. Playa Blanca isn’t the place you go to be alone by the shore, but it provides a colorful setting for jet skiing, boating, or snorkeling. The beachfront is also lined with beach shacks and restaurants that serve fresh-off-the-boat seafood and ice-cold beer. You can get here from Cartagena in a few ways: by taxi, bus, or boat – if you want to take the scenic route.
4. San Basilio de Palenque
Known as Palenque, this tiny town is an hour and a half from Cartagena and is full of history and culture. Palenque was the first free town in the Americas, established by Africans who escaped slavery in Colombia. Nested in the mountains and insulated from outside influence, the town has kept its African roots and is home to many talented musicians and artists. One of the town’s most famous exports is the brightly dressed Palenque women who make the commute to Cartagena to sell fruit and take photos with visitors. If you visit, hire a guide who can direct you to the live music performances and provide a tour of the street murals.
5. El Totumo
Bring an old swimsuit and change of clothes when you visit the El Totumo mud volcano. The attraction is about an hour outside Cartagena, and it can get busy, so we advise arriving early. Once you get here, you’ll store your belongings in a locker and make your way up a set of steep stairs before lowering yourself into a deep vat of warm, volcanic mud. Expect to float shoulder to shoulder with other visitors and end up with mud in all your crevices. If you’re comfortable, opt for the leg massage or the post mud bath rinse offered by local attendants. Both the massage and rinse are additional services, and tips are expected.
