Bocagrande
A modern peninsula district south of the Old Town, lined with high-rises and nicknamed “the Miami of Colombia,” with city beaches, seafood restaurants, and shopping malls.
Bocagrande is a narrow peninsula about 3 kilometers south of the Old Town. It is bordered by the Caribbean Sea on one side and Cartagena's inner bay on the other. Development began in the mid-20th century, and today high-rise apartments and hotels line the peninsula. Seen from the city walls, they form a modern skyline above the water, earning the district the nickname “the Miami of Colombia.” The seaside edge of the peninsula has several kilometers of urban beaches. The sand is grayish-brown and the water is not particularly clear, but the area is easy to reach, making it a good place to sunbathe, swim, and eat seafood between sightseeing stops. Along the beach you'll find vendors renting umbrellas and loungers (negotiate the price first), selling fresh coconut, mango, and “coconut rice with fried fish,” as well as people offering massages and hair braiding. If you're pestered too persistently, a firm “No, gracias” will do. Avenida San Martín is the main street, with restaurants, banks, supermarkets, and shopping centers, making it convenient for shopping and currency exchange. At the tip of the peninsula are the quieter Castillogrande district and the small lagoon El Laguito. In the evening you can walk along the bay and watch the sunset in the direction of the Old Town. The area is also home to the Hotel Caribe, a classic hotel dating from the 1930s, whose garden has deer and parrots. Many mid-range chain hotels are concentrated here, usually cheaper than those in the Old Town, so it is a practical place to stay. Getting there: a taxi from the Clock Tower takes about 10 minutes. Buses and the Transcaribe rapid bus also serve the area. Walking along the seafront takes about 40 minutes, passing Santa Clara beach and the “Old Shoes” monument near San Felipe de Barajas Castle.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Museum of Modern Art of Cartagena
- Naval Museum of the Caribbean
- San Pedro Claver Church
- Getsemaní
- Museo del Oro Zenú
- Palace of the Inquisition
- Plaza de Bolívar
- Walled City & Clock Tower