The temperature outside hit a sultry 85° F — and it was only 9 a.m.
Fortunately the city of Cartagena rests on Colombia’s Caribbean coast, meaning there is no shortage of white sandy beaches to help us escape the heat.
And I needed to escape.
DayTours4U had the answer: I partnered with the travel agency to visit Punta Arena, a welcoming beach located a quick 15-minute boat ride from Cartagena.
Punta Arena Beach
I was looking for turquoise waters and Caribbean island vibes, and that’s exactly what I got.
The beach getaway began at 9:30 a.m., leaving from the Castillo Grande area of the city. (Tip: Look for the boat going to the “Beach Hostel.”)
Half the fun was hopping on a small speedboat and zipping through the bay away from Cartagena’s impressive skyline.
A group of us were taken to a semi-private beach in front of a bohemian hotel, where lounge beds, hammocks, a private pool and bar were at our disposal. I had escaped the bustling city and was overjoyed to spend the day in paradise. The boat back to civilization only left at 4 p.m.
I kicked back on my lounge bed and nostalgically gazed at Cartagena’s skyline across the ocean; it reminded me a bit of my home, Miami.
Happy to be one of the first to arrive, I dove straight into the ocean.
The beach in front of the Beach Hostel felt more private than others in the area. While there were a few boats and jet skis zooming in and out, the beach never felt overcrowded. And few vendors bothered us, which we’ve read can be an issue at other beaches around Cartagena.
We were offered a traditional Caribbean lunch of fried fish or chicken, savory coconut rice, patacon and salad. I chose the grilled fish, and it was absolutely delicious.
A few micheladas later, I was dozing off to the sound of the waves crashing on shore.
Eating My Way Through Cartagena
My much-needed beach getaway brought me back to the city feeling refreshed. I had a couple of days left in Cartagena, and I decided to book another tour with DayTours4U. This time, the focus would be food.
I have this mantra, “There’s no better way to get to know a place than to eat your way through it.”
Don’t you agree?
Before saying my final goodbye to Colombia, I booked a street food tour, my last chance to experience the true local flavors of Cartagena.
The walking tour took us past the tourist shops into an area between the Old Town and Getsemani, an area where locals go to do business and sell food.
We first stopped to chat with a woman selling casabe, a crispy flat bread made from yucca flour filled with sweet plantain.
“Don’t feel pressured to eat it all,” our tour guide warned us. “There’s a lot more to come!”
We were off to a pretty sweet start, but our tastebuds weren’t prepared for what came next. Now, our second dish was something I’d never eat from a street stand, at least not on my own. If you have a weak stomach, take this as a warning! Next up was Colombian ceviche, and wow, was it delicious.
We painted the creamy pink mixture of crab and shrimp over crackers and washed it down with tangy lulo juice. It ended up being my favorite stop on the tour.
Over the next hour I’d try a variety of new and unfamiliar flavors, from salt-covered fruit to chewy, fresh cheese. We feasted on corn buns stuffed with fresh white Colombian cheese, thick chunks of guava, several colorful fruits and fried delicacies like egg-filled arepas.
My second favorite stop was a fruit stand, where our tour guide purchased green mango that came covered in salt and lime, something I’d never know to ask for if it weren’t for this tour.
On hindsight, I recommend anyone doing this tour to skip lunch. You’ll be fed so much delicious food.
Goodbye, South America
There was no better way to say goodbye to South America than swimming and eating my way through Cartagena.
After spending the last four months backpacking across this continent, my boyfriend Guil and I were happy to lay back, relax and enjoy the vibrant Caribbean culture that pulsates through the city.
The food, the people, the beaches, the culture; it was the perfect combination for a bittersweet goodbye. Thank you Cartagena for making us want to return to Colombia before we even left. We have a feeling we’ll be back sooner than later.
Book your tour with DayTours4U here via their Colombian site, Colombia4U.
Disclosure: While I received two complimentary tours from DayTours4U, the opinions expressed in this article are my own.
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