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Cartagena Beaches

Any recommendations for good beaches...I'm not looking to meet any prepagos, so please tell me where I should stay away. I just want a nice, clean, safe beach. I'm staying in Laguito, but willing to go to other beaches. Thanks.

By mjordan2169 on Feb 14, 2008, 11:06 in Friendly Talkzone.

mjordan2169 says on Feb 14, 2008, 11:52:

Sorry, someone must have hacked my account. Prepagos are ok w/ me! As long as the beach is safe, I'm game.

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Chelesupercono says on Feb 14, 2008, 12:56:

La Boquilla is nice........

never go to bed with someone crazier then you are, you will do it and you will regret it.......

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El Polo says on Feb 14, 2008, 12:57:

Isla Baru or Playa Blanca are both good

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ColombianoGringo (Moderator) (Trustee board) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Feb 14, 2008, 13:27:

"Isla Baru or Playa Blanca are both good"

I agree, but otherwise I was not blown away by Cartagena. The old city is nice, but otherwise, it struck me as a wannabe version of Miami. On the other hand, I really liked San Andres. I realize that it isn't perfect and I have been to much "nicer" places, but I really liked it and plan to go back often.

Yo me como los mocos debajo de la ruana pa que no me pidan.

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Simon says on Feb 14, 2008, 13:31:

Wannabe version of Miami? Que falta de respeto a 'La Heroica'! And why? Because it also has highrises? Who says Miami has the patent on those?

"Just an honest, decent Colombian trying to do the right thing."--Simon

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Coqueton says on Feb 14, 2008, 13:38:

When are you going to be there? I'll be there March 13 to the 24th. I may be free from some of the time and want to dive and soak up the sun but I also like to be a pimp, 100% bilingual here.

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ColombianoGringo (Moderator) (Trustee board) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Feb 14, 2008, 13:44:

Ay Simon,

Por que tomas todo tan a pecho?

I simply didn't think Cartagena was all that great. The beaches are mediocre and crowded with vendors and hookers. The people are nice, but that is true of most places in Colombia. All in all, I much prefer San Andres, although I would like to check out Tayrona as well.

The tourist areas struck me in Cartagena as being very like Miami and since you mention highrises, I was greatly reminded of the great Miami building boom of a few years ago that has turned into a complete condo glut. They are building entirely too many highrises in Cartagena. I fear they are going to experience the same type of condo market crash that Miami is currently experiencing.

Yo me como los mocos debajo de la ruana pa que no me pidan.

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Simon says on Feb 14, 2008, 13:49:

I will have to agree with you about the vendors, what a pain in the ass they are!! I once had this dude chase after me by the beach, practically harrassing me into buy some aphrodisiacal drink from him. Those vendors need to be regulated.

"Just an honest, decent Colombian trying to do the right thing."--Simon

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ColombianoGringo (Moderator) (Trustee board) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Feb 14, 2008, 13:52:

Honestly, the vendors didn't hassle us much except for on Playa Blanca when our Isla Rosario tour boat stopped there for lunch. Those guys were a pain. The only other time was a lady who would not take no for an answer when it came to a massage. She just grabbed my leg and started rubbing it with some nasty grease. My wife just stood there and laughed her ass off while I shooed the lady away.

Yo me como los mocos debajo de la ruana pa que no me pidan.

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Simon says on Feb 14, 2008, 13:59:

Referring like that about a UNESCO World Heritage Site is BS to me!

"Just an honest, decent Colombian trying to do the right thing."--Simon

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Chelesupercono says on Feb 14, 2008, 14:51:

I agree with you Gabberhead.......overpriced and people with a real bad attitude problem....better Santa Marta area......the beaches suck and very very polluted....

never go to bed with someone crazier then you are, you will do it and you will regret it.......

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pedro (☼Travelguide writer) says on Feb 14, 2008, 15:25:

None of the city beaches are all that great. Don't take it for granted that the water is even clean enough to swim in.

Now if you just want to drink a beer, listen to some music and get beach sand between your toes... La Boquilla, Castillogrande and Laguito beach are all OK for that purpose.

You need to go take a boat trip beyond the city limits to get to a nice beach.

"this may seem a strange post but it is not...when in colombia men need to be aware that colombia women may try to be seductive and entice a travelling gringo to have sex with them..to be forewarned is to be forearmed..." -- pow wow

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Leeroy says on Feb 14, 2008, 19:01:

Man, I've been to Cartagena 3 times. Never seen a whore. Not once. Never been propositioned or anything. I must be blind, naive or (un)lucky - as all I ever hear from everyone else is how it's the prostitution capital of everywhere.

And yes, Bocagrande sucks.

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Mr. Hollywood says on Feb 15, 2008, 13:48:

Exactly, anyone who goes to Cartagena looking for a beach is going to be sorely disappointed.

The old city is a beautiful place to hang out, one of the most romantic places to have a little getaway with a spouse or girlfriend (or both!) in the world, but it's NOT a beach destination.

For that in Colombia go to Tayrona.

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aztec says on Feb 16, 2008, 05:48:

The beach itself is not pretty. You need to go out to and beyond barrier islands to find beautiful Caribbean beaches there.

My wife and I also found the vendors too much. No problem if you are only there for a few days. You can put up with it for about a week. A few weeks is too much.

On the other hand if you live there they begin to recognize you and tend to leave you alone.

The old city is absolutely a place one needs to visit before he dies. It is a treasure.

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