Day 7-8 | Playa Blanca – Cartagena, Colombia

An hour outside of Cartagena, this remote beach is alive with beauty and serenity.  This was a well needed escape for 24 hours.

When we arrived by a small van, we were directed to walk across and down some large boulders.  After a short walk over the rocks and through some bush, there was the bright and calm turquoise water glistening in the sun.  The beach is narrow and long; a half moon cove hugged and protected by green cliffs with islands in the distance.  Just beautiful.

We walked about 300 meters (as the locals would describe it) and found what we were looking for; Hugo’s Place.  We were told by many fellow travelers (don’t call them tourists) that this was the place to stay the night.  They were right.  We met Hugo right away and he was as nice as most of the Colombians we met on this trip.  “Mi case es su case,”  he may or may not have said, but that’s how we felt.  We immediately asked if there was room for us for the night, as they don’t book anything online since there is only electricity from 6-8pm; fresh water showers were from 5-7pm; we used neither that night.  To our excitement there were plenty of beds and hammocks to choose from; $14 per night.  After hearing that the area with the beds didn’t get much breeze, and since it was hot and humid, we decided on the hammocks.  Later that night we would second guess our decision as a massive storm rolled in and brought with it cold whistling winds.  We didn’t have blankets or many clothes for that matter, so my thin travel towel became my only source for warmth.  It was worth it, however, because the lighting over the black misty ocean was an incredible sight to see.

I didn’t have many expectations for this beach or place, but regardless I was constantly pleasantly surprised and even elated with my time there.  Dinner that evening was amazing.  Fresh whole fish that one must carefully dissect and navigate through tiny bones to eat.  Night swimming with slightly phosphorescent algae was invigorating.  Chatting through the quiet evening hours with other fellow travelers, drinking Aguila beer, sharing travel stories;  It was a special moment and the highlight of the first week in Colombia.

The next day was actually very productive and active.  Having no internet really helps focus down what can be done to the essential tasks.  On the list of completed items:  Swam for 45 mins up and down the beach, meditated for 20 minutes at the water’s edge, 4-handed full body (almost) massage on the sand ($10 for 30 minutes), ran with Joe for 45 mins, read “Where ever you go, there you are” for 1 hour, had a healthy lunch and then headed back to Cartagena.

For us, it was a quiet and refreshing 24 hours of beach beauty and goal getting.  As we arrived on a Thursday and left Friday, we missed many of the strolling venders that interrupt the peace.  I recommend going on a weekday, like we did, in order to skip some of the haggling I hear happens often.  Or maybe we were just lucky, but Playa Blanca is worth visiting and definitely stay the night… or two… or three.