Cartagena1 tour

Manzanillo Beach

Playa Manzanillo is the beach of Manzanillo del Mar, a village in Cartagena's northern zone, on the road to Barranquilla. It is a calm cove between two headlands, and the most popular way to visit is the all-inclusive day pass at Hotel Estelar Playa Manzanillo.

What Playa Manzanillo is

It is a cove framed by two headlands, one on each side, lined with palm trees and mangroves. Manzanillo del Mar used to be a small fishing village; today the local community sits alongside hotels, residential developments and a golf course.

It is about 15 minutes from Cartagena on the road to Barranquilla, which makes it a beach day with no boat ride: you get there by road.

Source: Panorama Cultural

Where it is

Manzanillo del Mar is a village (corregimiento) in Cartagena's northern zone, which means it is part of the Cartagena district.

Do not mix it up with other places called Manzanillo, such as the port in Mexico or the beach in Costa Rica: "Playa Manzanillo Cartagena" means this one.

Source: El Universal (Cartagena)

Getting there

Hotel Estelar Playa Manzanillo is on the Anillo Vial, Manzanillo del Mar road, km 4, about 12 kilometers from Rafael Núñez International Airport.

The day pass does not include transportation, so most people take a taxi or drive from Bocagrande, the Old City or the northern zone. Arrange your ride back too, since the day pass ends at 5:00 p.m.

Source: Hotel Estelar Playa Manzanillo (official site)

The all-inclusive day pass at Hotel Estelar

Our Manzanillo option is a full day at Hotel Estelar Playa Manzanillo, a beachfront all-inclusive resort with two pools. It runs from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and includes:

Access to the pools and the beach
Towels for the beach and pool
Snacks in the morning (11:30 a.m.) and afternoon (4:00 to 4:30 p.m.)
Buffet lunch
Open bar with local-brand drinks: whisky, rum, vodka, gin, aguardiente, cocktails and mocktails, fresh juices, sodas and water
Group activities led by the hotel's entertainment team
Use of the facilities

Transportation to the hotel and any service not on this list are not included.

Is the beach public?

Yes. In Colombia beaches are public property: they cannot be sold to private owners, who can only get concessions, permits or licenses to use them. That applies to Manzanillo like any other beach in the country.

What is private are the hotels' facilities: pools, restaurants, bar and towels. Those are what the day pass gives you.

Source: Constitutional Court of Colombia, ruling T-1186 of 2004 (quoting Decree 2324 of 1984, art. 166)

What to bring

Swimsuit and sunscreen
A change of clothes for the ride back
Money for the round-trip taxi, which is not included
No need for a towel: the hotel provides one

Frequently asked questions

Where is Playa Manzanillo?

In Manzanillo del Mar, a village in Cartagena's northern zone on the road to Barranquilla. It is about 15 minutes from the city.

What are the day pass hours?

10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Snacks are served at 11:30 a.m. and between 4:00 and 4:30 p.m.

Is transportation included?

No. You get to Hotel Estelar Playa Manzanillo on your own, usually by taxi or car.

What does the open bar include?

Local-brand drinks: whisky, rum, vodka, gin, aguardiente, cocktails and mocktails, fresh juices, sodas and water.

Do I need to bring a towel?

No. Beach and pool towels are included.

Do I need to book ahead?

Yes. The day pass is booked in advance; you cannot just walk into the hotel.

Go with us

These are the tours we run to Manzanillo Beach. Prices come live from our catalog, in Colombian pesos (COP) per adult. Tour pages are in Spanish; write to us on WhatsApp for anything you need.

7 hfrom $ 370.000