Playa Manzanillo: Cartagena's quiet Caribbean beach

Manzanillo del Mar is a fishing village on Cartagena's northern coast, and its beach — Playa Manzanillo — is one of the last quiet stretches of Caribbean sand near the city. While Bocagrande and the Rosario Islands draw the crowds, Manzanillo stays calm: open sand, warm shallow water, and sunsets over the sea with almost no one around.

Our apartment in Morros Park, Serena del Mar sits about a 2-minute walk from the shore, so you can swim before breakfast and be back on the balcony with a coffee before the day heats up.

From Rafael Núñez International Airport (CTG), Manzanillo del Mar is roughly 25–35 minutes by taxi or ride-hailing app, heading north along the Vía al Mar. From the Walled City, allow about 30–40 minutes depending on traffic.

If you're staying with us, you won't need transport at all — the beach, pools and local restaurants are all walkable.

Manzanillo is known for its simple beachfront eateries serving the day's catch: fried fish with coconut rice, patacones and fresh ceviche, usually at a fraction of Walled City prices. Ask for the pescado frito del día — it's what the village has eaten for generations.

For nights in, the apartment's fully equipped kitchen (fridge with water/ice dispenser, air fryer, coffee maker) makes it easy to cook with ingredients from the local shops.

Cartagena is warm year-round (27–32 °C / 80–90 °F). The driest, breeziest months are December to April — peak season, so book early. May to November brings short tropical showers, greener landscapes and quieter beaches. The sea stays swimmable in every month.