Playa de Bocagrande
Playa de Bocagrande
3
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Suggested duration
1-2 hours
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  • Simon
    11 contributions
    Mauled and harassed
    Wish we had researched before about the beaches in Cartegena, they are rats nests. The moment we go close we were surrounded by hawkers and people obsessing about where we were going to sit and what we were going to drink. Eventually we gave in and was guided to sun loungers by the nicest of the group who promised us free sun loungers as long as we bought drinks. Which we did. Every 20 seconds someone approached waving in our faces selling drinks, knock off sunglasses etc and then we got accosted by two women who started rubbing our feet. When we decided to escape our “friend” demanded 100,000 pesos extra from us for the sunloungers, we paid just to get the hell out of there. Dirty sand, polluted water and non stop pestering. Thank god we are flying to the San Blas islands tomorrow- avoid the beach in Cartegena!!
    Visited January 2020
    Traveled with friends
    Written January 10, 2020
  • Suitcase Nomads
    Dallas, Texas82 contributions
    Great beach and not as bad as people say
    It's a wonderful beach with very inexpensive chairs and umbrellas available for rent, small waves so you can easily swim and clean (but sandy) water. It's ideal for families with young children. Some people don't like the sand but to me it's like most sand beaches in the world and I've been to over 50 beaches in the Americas, the Caribbean and Europe. In fact, it's better than many beaches because it doesn't have pebbles, rocks and broken shells to walk over. You have nice, flat, beautiful sand. The color of the sand is brown due to the nature of the source of the sand over history, so it's not white -- it's diversified. I've seen beautiful tan, black, green and other colored beaches in the world so I guess I don't see the problem that others saw. There are vendors along the beach at all times, just as in every beach in Mexico and the rest of the Americas I've seen, but most are quite understanding when you simply shake your head (when reading) or say "no, gracias" if you make eye contact. They actually find buyers of their stuff, like people who want a float, a beer, a snack or even lunch. I bought a fish lunch with rice, a patacon and small side salad for just $3.00 that was very good. There was one massage woman who touched my wife's shoulder from behind who became irate when my wife was understandably startled and blurted "don't touch me!" but it was a one-off and didn't hurt the rest of our day. I highly recommend this beach.
    Visited February 2020
    Written February 7, 2020
  • Alex N
    Sweden10 contributions
    Far from a great beach
    To many salespeople chasing you,, impossible to get a quiet moment. Very strict divided in small zones that you got to pay for the 2x3 meters,, feels like a chess table. Far from eastern beaches in Thailand. No stores or restaurants are located beachfront, they are all up on mainstream that are very noisy. Restaurants are in average less than mediocre in food and service. Will nog go here again.
    Visited October 2022
    Written November 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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3.0
655 reviews
Excellent
54
Very good
144
Average
187
Poor
133
Terrible
137

Stephanie M
2 contributions
Jan 2020
First beach we visited as our hotel was close by. We were immediately surrounded by ladies offering us massages and braids for my hair. Without us even saying "yes or no" they started massaging my brother and me. I told them to stop and to go away. All we wanted to do was eat in peace but this did not happen at all as we were approached by more vendors. Not one ounce of peace and quiet. Out of curiosity I asked how much they charged for a massage (mind you they use ocean water and god know whats inside those gatorade bottles which is supposed to be "lotion") the lady said 120K pesos which is $40. Ridiculous. The massage ladies kept coming over and insisting and they even asked to take my left overs when i wasn't even done eating. Super disappointing.
Written January 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

CanadianMichele123
Canada25 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
The beach is... ok ~ water itself was brown, beach seemed a bit dirty, but alright, until we saw a huge shard of glass.
There is no peace, you cannot even formulate a thought without being relentlessly harassed by countless aggressive hawkers.
Written February 26, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Britta S
Zurich, Switzerland238 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
I don‘t even know how to describe this experience. It was loud, annoying and zero relaxing. We were offered food, drinks, ice cream, massages and other stuff every 30 seconds. Jet skis were driving in between swimmers. Masseuses touched us and wouldn’t stop until be moved away. You can‘t just sit on a towel, cause of vendors putting up chairs and umbrellas everywhere. I don‘t get how large hotel chains set up their hotels next to a „beach“ like that. It‘s called Miami Beach of Colombia, but really it couldn‘t be furzher away from it. Don‘t waste your time.
Written January 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Isa T
Cusco, Peru2 contributions
Mar 2020
We wanted to sit by the beach and drink a few beers. Within seconds 3 women wanted to give me a back rub, foot massage and arm massage. I politely say no, thank you but they insist "tranquillo, tranquillo, just promotion... no fee." Regardless, I don't want any free massage now or any time later. But they are insistent and slather your back or arms with massage lotion and just give you a promotion massage. Then there are those aggressive, insistent vendors who sell bracelet, sunglasses, cotton candy, oysters and other fruits and drinks.... no amount of "mañana" or "gracias" would keep them away. No peace and quiet on this beach, music blaring out loud everywhere, trash and dog poo on the beach. I would never come back here nor recommend this to my friends.
Written March 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jl201504
Ham Lake, MN85 contributions
Jan 2020
I agree with the other reviews, stay away. We were walking the beach, and this fine young man who spoke English wanted to “host and guide us” helping us with ordering our drinks. Shortly thereafter, a woman came wanting to give me a massage. I said no. I continued to say no, and soon she was massaging my neck, stating, don’t worry it’s free. Then, she started working on my legs. I wanted my husband to tip her a little, because it was nice. Then, she said it will be 100,000 pesos. It didn’t end there. The “fine young man” who was helping us suggested a piano colada to drink. My husband received the bill, and that pina colada was 45000. We paid 18000 at nice restaurants. Fool me once... never again.
Written January 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Myles
29 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
The view is nice and that's all that is good. Awful place, never to return. You will get harassed and harassed. Unpleasant, overpriced, over rated, noisy, polluted. Pick a good flat or hotel with a pool and stick to that.
Written May 26, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Bianca L
Houston, TX26 contributions
Nov 2022 • Couples
This was by far the worst experience that I have ever had!!! The people on the beach were hounding us to buy all sorts of items and services. We were severely over charged for things and had 7 men follow us. My husband and I were scared we would be jumped and robbed. Never again! I will not be returning due to this experience.
Written November 24, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

bmalin77
Media, PA305 contributions
Jun 2022 • Friends
Water isn’t clear. Beach is totally covered in rough people selling massages, drugs, bad goods, trying to get tips, bothering you. It was easily the worst beach I’ve ever been to. If you are American or English you will stick out like a sore thumb an you will be hassled. And there are serious dealers and criminals there. We stayed at the Capilla. Just getting a beer you get hassled. Will never be back.
Written June 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Tom C
2 contributions
Dec 2022 • Friends
Constant harassment by sellers. We bought some beds and didn’t get one second to relax.

I eventually bought some grab meat and got completely ripped off. Stay away and find a private beach.

After around two hours it was unbearable, we left.
Written December 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Lisa1
London, UK156 contributions
Jul 2022 • Solo
If you are visiting Cartagena you don't stay here. It's busy, congested and just not really up to par. Customer service in restaurants is also lacking and the beach is disgusting. Stay in Getsemani or The Walled City which is calmer and much more of a pleasant cultural experience. Bocagrande just seems like a mess.
Written July 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Playa de Bocagrande (Cartagena) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

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