The 11 Best Beaches in Colombia: Our Top Picks

Orientation: Map of the most beautiful beaches in Colombia

On this map we’ve marked our 11 favorite beaches in Colombia.

The most beautiful islands in Colombia

Colombia is home to stunning Caribbean islands straight out of a picture book. We recommend visiting at least one of them on your Colombia road trip. Here are our four island picks.

San Andrés

What do you need to know? San Andrés is a Colombian Caribbean island known for its dreamy beaches, turquoise water, and vibrant nightlife. Popular spots include Johnny Cay, Spratt Bright, and Cocoplum Bay.

Is San Andrés worth it? Yes — if you want a dreamy Caribbean island with solid accommodations and plenty of nightlife, absolutely. That said, San Andrés is very touristy, and you won’t find any secluded beaches here.

How do you get to San Andrés? By plane, since San Andrés is far from the mainland. Most major Colombian cities offer direct flights to the island. Most connections depart from the airport in Bogotá.

Our hotel pick for San Andrés: Aquamare Hotel

Isla Providencia

What do you need to know? Providencia lies north of San Andrés and is a bit more laid-back than its neighbor. The beaches are just as dreamy and noticeably less crowded. Our top picks are South West Bay, Fresh Water Bay, and Playa Manzanillo.

Is Providencia worth it? Yes — we actually find Providencia more paradise-like than San Andrés and would personally choose this island over the other every time.

How do you get to Providencia? By plane or boat from San Andrés. Flights take about 20 minutes and run more frequently than the ferries, which take about 3.5 hours.

Our hotel pick for Providencia: South West Bay Cabañas

Islas del Rosario

What do you need to know? The Rosario Islands are about a 45-minute boat ride from Cartagena. The archipelago consists of 28 islands, not all of which are open to tourists. The main island is Isla Grande.

Are the Rosario Islands worth it? Yes — they’re great for a day trip from Cartagena. If you have more time, you can also spend a night or two on the islands.

How do you get to the Rosario Islands? By boat from Cartagena. You can book a guided day tour to the Rosario Islands or take the public boats.

Our hotel pick for the Rosario Islands: Hotel Islabela (Isla Grande)

Islas de San Bernardo

What do you need to know? The Islas San Bernardo are also located near Cartagena. The archipelago consists of ten islands. The most popular among visitors is Mucura. Also worth a visit is the Isleta de Santa Cruz — one of the most densely populated places in the world.

Are the San Bernardo Islands worth it? Yes, the beaches are seriously stunning. That said, we’d suggest visiting only one of the two archipelagos — either Rosario or San Bernardo — since they’re quite similar to each other.

How do you get to the San Bernardo Islands? From Cartagena you can book guided day tours or take a public boat. The journey takes about two hours.

Our hotel pick for the San Bernardo Islands: Hotel Puntanorte (Tintipán Island)

The most beautiful beaches on Colombia’s Caribbean Coast

You don’t have to hop on a boat to enjoy a Caribbean beach in Colombia. There are beautiful spots right on the mainland along the Atlantic coast too.

Tayrona National Park

What do you need to know? Tayrona National Park is a natural paradise of rainforest and beaches, and one of the most popular attractions in Colombia. The park has several hiking trails leading to various dream beaches. The most popular trail leads to the swimming beaches of Cabo San Juan and La Piscina.

Is Tayrona National Park worth it? Definitely! Even though it’s very touristy, the beaches are absolutely beautiful — this is one of the best beaches in Colombia, full stop.

How do you get to Tayrona National Park? From the city of Santa Marta, take a bus for about an hour to the park entrance. Alternatively, you can book a guided tour from Santa Marta to Tayrona Park.

Our hotel pick for Tayrona National Park: For an authentic nature experience, you can stay in basic accommodations inside the park. We recommend the Ecohabs Tequendama Playa Cañaveral.

Palomino

What do you need to know? Palomino is a popular beach town on the Atlantic coast near Santa Marta. The beach is lined with palm trees, but there’s not much sandy beach left as the sea keeps encroaching. The water is great for surfing, though less ideal for swimming. You can cool off in the Palomino River instead — tubing is also on offer there.

Is Palomino worth it? It depends. We really loved the atmosphere in the town itself, but don’t set your expectations too high for the beach.

How do you get to Palomino? From Santa Marta, buses depart every 15 minutes from the Mercado Público to Palomino. The ride takes just under two hours and costs 12,000 COP.

Our hotel pick for Palomino: Palomino Sunrise

Playa del Pilón de Azúcar

What do you need to know? Playa del Pilón de Azúcar sits at the very tip of northeastern Colombia. The region is desert terrain, which gives Pilón de Azúcar its distinctive look — it’s a desert beach, quite unlike the typical Atlantic beaches in Colombia.

Is Playa del Pilón de Azúcar worth it? The beach itself? Absolutely. Getting there, however, is a bit of an ordeal, and the on-site accommodations are very basic. The region is very poor and you’ll have to do without any comforts whatsoever — so only you can decide if it’s worth the effort.

How do you get to Playa del Pilón de Azúcar? First, you need to reach the town of Cabo de la Vela. Take a bus from Palomino or Santa Marta to Riohacha, then another bus to Uribia, and from there cover the last stretch by jeep. The easier option is arranging transport directly from Palomino.

Where to stay near Playa del Pilón de Azúcar? You’ll come up empty on Booking.com when searching for hotels here. Your best bet is to look up places to stay in Cabo de la Vela on Google Maps — phone numbers for accommodations are listed there, and you can make reservations via WhatsApp.

Playa Blanca on Barú

What do you need to know? Playa Blanca is located on the Barú Peninsula and is one of the top highlights near Cartagena. You’ll find clear blue water and soft sandy beaches. Unfortunately, Playa Blanca is usually overcrowded and very touristy.

Is Playa Blanca worth it? It’s a mixed bag. The beach and the water are genuinely beautiful. But everything around it is pretty frustrating — Isla Barú has a lot of trash, and beach vendors will relentlessly try to get money out of you.

How do you get to Playa Blanca? Take a bus from Cartagena to Pascaballos, then grab a taxi to Playa Blanca. The total journey takes about 1.5 hours. Alternatively, boats depart from the Muelle de La Bodeguita, or you can book a guided tour to Playa Blanca from Cartagena.

Our hotel pick for Playa Blanca: Hotel Calamari Baru

Playa Soledad

What do you need to know? Playa Soledad is located in the far north of Colombia, near the border with Panama. Since it’s not on the classic tourist route, you’ll mostly encounter Colombian vacationers here. The beach is small and there’s only one hotel with a restaurant. Swimming is great, as the water is usually calm and crystal clear.

Is Playa Soledad worth it? Yes, but only if you’re spending an extended amount of time in Colombia — the beach is far from the country’s main attractions.

How do you get to Playa Soledad? First, you need to get to Capurganá. You can reach it by plane from Medellín. From Capurganá, take a boat to Playa Soledad or hike there — it’s about a four-hour walk.

Our hotel pick for Playa Soledad: Hotel Bahía Aguacate (in Capurganá)

The most beautiful beaches on Colombia’s Pacific Coast

Colombia’s Pacific Coast is wilder and far less touristy. There’s little infrastructure, and many places can only be reached by boat. In return, you’ll find secluded beaches, untouched nature, and abundant wildlife. The Pacific Coast is really more of a destination for adventurers, nature lovers, and surfers than for traditional beach vacationers.

Almejal

What do you need to know? Almejal is a small town west of Medellín on the Pacific Coast. You’ll find plenty of secluded beaches here — some with wide stretches of sand, others with rocky shores. It’s a surfer’s paradise, and the sunsets are seriously incredible.

Is Almejal worth it? Yes — if the Pacific Coast appeals to you, we’d definitely recommend Almejal. Compared to many other Pacific spots, there’s relatively little trash here and you have a small but solid selection of places to stay.

How do you get to Almejal? By plane from Medellín. You fly into Bahía Solano Airport (Aeropuerto José Celestino Mutis). From there, arrange a transfer to your accommodation — you can book it directly through your hotel in Almejal.

Our hotel pick for Almejal: Tortuga Bay Eco Hotel

Guachalito

What do you need to know? Playa Guachalito is located further south along the Pacific Coast than Almejal. The beach is surrounded by untouched nature and there are only a few accommodations. It’s perfect for surfers, those seeking peace and quiet, and whale watching. Fair warning though: it rains here a lot.

Is Playa Guachalito worth it? Yes, if you love secluded, tranquil beaches far from the crowds.

How do you get to Playa Guachalito? First, fly to Nuquí (Aeropuerto Reyes Murillo). Flights are available from Medellín or Bogotá, for example. From Nuquí, take a boat to Playa Guachalito — you can book the transfer through your accommodation in Guachalito.

Our hotel pick for Playa Guachalito: Hotel Meraki Nuqui

Practical tips for your beach vacation in Colombia

Before you book your trip to the best beaches in Colombia, here are a few handy things to keep in mind:

Best time to visit and water temperatures at Colombia’s beaches

Colombia is warm year-round — and that goes for the ocean too, so you can swim at any time of year. The Atlantic stays at around 26°C (79°F) and is always suitable for swimming. The Pacific is usually a few degrees cooler, but almost always warm enough to get in.

The best time to visit Colombia for a beach vacation is generally December through March and July. We go into more detail about Colombia’s climate in a separate article.

More travel tips for Colombia

Before your vacation in Colombia, make sure to do more research about the country. We’ve written one article with safety tips and another with additional information on travel costs, language, and more.