Castillogrande

Looking out onto Tierrabomba, the largest island in the bay of Cartagena, Playa Castillogrande is substantially less populated than Playa Bocagrande. Another retreat of oil barons from the 1950s, Castillogrande is laid back, and is tightly lined with private clubs and resorts. As a result, there are far less hustlers, making for a much more relaxed experience.

Interestingly, at the turn of the century, to thwart English pirates, the city built an underwater wall about a hundred meters off the coast and so, the sea here is much calmer than on other beaches. Unfortunately, due to the regional port activities, the water isn’t particularly clean and so, most people tend to spend the day on the beach itself where you can rent a small pagoda for only a few dollars.

There are also several restaurants situated here, all of them offering a tasty selection of seafood from fresh fish filets to shrimp and lobster. Also, for those interested in water sports, there are many options available. On Sundays, this beach is at its busiest and is a great place for families to come and enjoy the afternoon.