Colombia boasts both Pacific and Caribbean coastline and some of the best beaches in South America.

Picture yourself with a coconut in hand, sitting on the soft sand and barely anyone in sight.  Now take your pick of the best beaches in Colombia to kick back, relax and soak up the sun.

Playa Taroa

Playa Taroa, Gallinas - Colombia. One of the best beaches in Colombia.
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Getting to Playa Taroa is not easy. If you make the effort, you’ll be rewarded with a Colombian beach that’s near-untouched and more beautiful than you thought possible. In short, you should definitely add it to your Colombia itinerary. 

You access Playa Taroa by sliding down the huge sand dune that cuts it off from the rest of the world – from there it’s all silky soft sand and an untouched beach leading to the warm Caribbean waters. Make sure you bring provisions with you, the beach’s solitude comes at a price.

Parque National Tayrona

Parque National Tayrona, a beautiful Colombian beach

The Parque National Tayrona is one of Colombia’s best beaches on the Caribbean coast. It’s also one of the more popular options on this list.

Set at the foot of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, the beaches in the park emerge from the dense jungle canopy in perfect bays of silvery white sand leading to a bright blue sea.

Picture perfect Parque National Tayrona is very much on the radar, so expect crowds during the high season. Low season is much quieter. In both seasons watch out for the red flags – the waters can be dangerous.

Read Next

Read this practical guide packed with everything you need to know about visiting the Tayrona National Park.

Capurganá y Sapzurro

Capurgana y Sapzurro - brilliant beach in Colombia
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The two laid back villages of Capurganá and Sapzurro are the definition of beach life.

A number of picture perfect Colombian beaches frame the area around Capurganá and Sapzurro – and it’s an easy hop over the border to Panama to visit another equally stunning beach, La Miel.

Getting There

At the tip of the infamous Darien Gap, Capurganá and Sapzurro are best accessed by a (lengthy) boat trip from Turbo or by plane.

Providencia & Santa Catalina

Providencia has some of the best beaches in Colombia
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Nestled well within the Caribbean sea, Providencia is the closest thing Colombia has to paradise. It’s no surprise that it’s home to some of the best beaches in Colombia.

The small island (it’s only 17km square) is known for its colourful houses, beautiful beaches and world-class diving.

There are few better places to spend your days sitting in a hammock, reading a book and staring out to sea. Santa Catalina, an even smaller island off Providencia’s north coast also has some fabulous beaches but be aware of the tides.

Playa Blanca

Playa Blanca - Colombia. A fabulous Colombian beach

Playa Blanca is located on the small island of Baru about an hour’s boat ride from Cartegena.

The name says it all.Though you can visit the playa on a day tour, it’s much more relaxed if you plan an overnight stay.

Expect beautiful white sand and near-deserted beach once the day tours from Cartegena depart around 4pm. So you’ll get sunrise and sunset to yourself.

Costeño Beach

There’s no large corporate developments or swanky hotels in Costeño Beach. It’s just a picture-perfect Colombian beach on the edge of a friendly village.

The wild and untamed beach is the perfect place to relax for a few days. Find your place on the 4km-long beach and settle in to chill for the day.

Top Tip

There are a few great hikes and sights around, but the beach and the laid-back village vibes are the main draw here.

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2 Comments

  1. Awesome list! I am going to Colombia in a couple weeks and am thinking about Playa Blanca and several other beaches you mentioned!

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