Playa Blanca

For our last day in Cartagena, we wanted to enjoy some beach feeling, and the options around the city are actually plentiful. Various providers offer tours to the nearby islands, the Islas de Rosario, in different degrees of insistence. These are relatively expensive compared to others, and if you do some research on the internet, you get a mixed impression. Apparently, significantly more people are transported to the islands every day than is beneficial for their well-being, and it can get really crowded. Not exactly what we had in mind. Fortunately, there is a real alternative with the Baru Peninsula, and Playa Blanca, our destination, is now easily accessible by public transport thanks to a relatively new bridge. So we set off in scorching heat and positioned ourselves at a chaotic bus stop according to the description in an internet forum. Just to be safe, we also asked a police officer who confirmed that we were in the right spot. Now it's a matter of catching the right bus from the dented and worn-out buses arriving every minute, and quickly. The stop is short, and it doesn't make it any easier when all the bus attendants shout the destination of their vehicles into the crowd of waiting people at the same time. But we still managed to do it. Then begins an adventurous ride through the city - passing by the Mercado again, where we breathe in a whiff of "Sabor de Bazurto" again - a little bit in circles until the bus is full. Not for those in a hurry, but very authentic and without air conditioning. After about 1 ½ hours, we finally arrived in a city nearby where we switched to an SUV. The friendly bus conductor arranged that for us right away. And so we went on for about half an hour until we reached Playa Blanca, where white sand and turquoise blue Caribbean sea awaited us. Although already populated, the place still has a hippie vibe with bamboo huts, affordable accommodations, and many beach restaurants and bars. A little swimming, a little lounging, eating some fish, and downing a well-mixed mojito, which contributed to an already exhilarating experience. Since we weren't in a hurry to return, the option of taking a boat back to Cartagena was already gone, so we negotiated the trip back to the city directly with a driver and found a comfortable conclusion.

Unfortunately - really unfortunately - we have to say goodbye to Colombia tomorrow already. The short visit has definitely made us want more, and when you see what else this country has to offer, we plan to come back here for a longer stay as soon as possible. The people are incredibly friendly and cheerful. Cartagena is certainly not representative of the whole country, but the basic mentality is certainly comparable. I was asked several times about possible security concerns, but for Cartagena, such concerns are really not necessary. The police presence is massive, especially in the old town, but we never had an uncomfortable feeling anywhere else; instead, we had many encounters with very friendly and helpful people - and animals too.