Baru Island beach day from Cartagena: Mambo Beach Club

The Baru Bridge opened in 2014: before that, you needed a raft to reach this island.

A full-day beach trip from Cartagena to Baru Island, departing early morning with hotel pickup and returning by 2 pm. You spend the day at Mambo Beach Club on Playa Blanca, swimming in clear water and relaxing in included loungers and huts. The tour includes a bilingual guide, welcome drink, travel insurance, and a lunch voucher worth 30,000 pesos to use at the beach club menu. Children from age 1 are welcome. Infants sit on an adult's lap.

Options for this experience

3 options

From US$ 35 per person, depending on the option and date you choose.See dates & book

Enjoy Playa Blanca in the best spot on the beach. 07:00 Guide in English or Spanish

Mambo Beach with plankton 08:00 Guide in English or Spanish Bioluminescent plankton, 13 hours, with an afternoon snack

Mambo + Diving 08:00 Guide in English or Spanish Pickup is included from hotels in Bocagrande, Castillo, Laguito, Crespo and Zona Norte, with departure at 8 am. Diving activity includes transportation to the dive site, a 20-minute theory class, complete diving equipment, a 15-minute practical dive and a 40-minute coral dive. Mambo + Diving: Explore the most beautiful coral reefs of the islands by diving, then relax at the Mambo Beach club. Duration: 8 hours. Departure from the beach club at 4:00 pm, arriving back in Cartagena around 5:00 to 5:30 pm. Lunch is included with a 30,000 COP voucher, redeemable for one of the Caribbean dishes served at the MAMBO BEACH restaurant. Stops: Pegasus Pier, Baru Island, and Mambo Beach Club. Diving activity by air-conditioned bus or van: transportation in a comfortable air-conditioned bus or van and a standard passenger boat for scuba diving. Not included: expenses not specified in the plan and Balinese beds.

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Step-by-step itinerary

Beach day at Baru Island

• Pick up from accommodation early morning
• Cross Baru Bridge without stopping
• Walk to Mambo Beach Club
• Relax on loungers and explore waters
• Enjoy optional lunch at the beach club
• Departure from beach at 2 pm

What’s included

• Hotel or accommodation pickup in Cartagena between 6 and 7:30 am.
• air-conditioned transport to and from Baru Island.
• bilingual guide in English and Spanish.
• travel insurance.
• welcome drink upon arrival.
• use of loungers, sun chairs, huts, bathrooms and social areas at Mambo Beach Club.
• lunch voucher worth 30,000 pesos redeemable at the beach club menu.

Times

• Every day 07:00 08:00

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Before you book

Group Up to 100

Live guide English and Spanish

Meeting point and pickup Hotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Ages Adult (13 to 60 years) · Child (1 to 12 years)

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund. It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Good to know

Low physical effort Not recommended during pregnancy Infants must sit on laps

Operated by Nexxt Tours

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

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The experience

Pickup happens between 6 and 7:30 am from your hotel or accommodation in Cartagena, and you'll travel in an air-conditioned van with other travelers. The drive crosses the Baru Bridge, which connects the mainland to Baru Island and passes through the Corales del Rosario and San Bernardo National Natural Park. Baru itself is an artificial island formed nearly 100 years ago by the Canal del Dique. Until 2014, the only way across was by raft.

Once on the island, it's a short 5-minute walk to Mambo Beach Club, sitting right next to Playa Blanca. The club provides loungers, sun chairs, huts, bathrooms and social areas at no extra cost. You can swim in the crystal-clear turquoise water, dive, or stay dry with a book in the shade. Your lunch voucher covers items from the beach club menu. The club also serves a welcome drink when you arrive. Departure is at 2 pm, so you have most of the day to settle in.

Three options let you customize the experience: the standard Playa Blanca day, Mambo Beach plus a plankton tour, or Mambo Beach plus a diving excursion. All include the same beach club access, guide, insurance and lunch voucher. A bilingual guide (English and Spanish) stays with the group throughout.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (1 to 12 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the full day from pickup to return?

The tour runs 7 to 9 hours total, with pickup between 6 and 7:30 am and departure from the beach at 2 pm.

What's included in the lunch voucher?

The 30,000-peso lunch voucher is redeemable for items from Mambo Beach Club's à la carte menu. You choose what to order.

Can I bring my infant on this tour?

Yes, children from age 1 are welcome. Infants must sit on an adult's lap during transport.

What is Playa Blanca like compared to other beaches near Cartagena?

Playa Blanca is the only public beach inside the Corales del Rosario National Natural Park and is known for white sand and turquoise water. It sits within the protected park boundary.

Do I need to bring my own towel?

Towels are not included, so bring your own or purchase one at the beach club.

Is the plankton tour or diving option worth adding?

Both are available as paid add-ons at checkout. The plankton tour explores bioluminescent organisms in the water at night, while diving offers underwater exploration if you're certified or want to learn.