10 Best Beaches In COLOMBIA To Visit In 2025

This South American country is an unrivaled gem in tourism due to its rich culture, beautiful nature, and amazing people. Over three million tourists visit every year.

Ideally located on the Caribbean, Atlantic, and Pacific coasts, Colombia has more than 1,100 miles of coastline with some of the world’s most beautiful beaches.

Suggested: Is it safe to travel to Colombia?

Best Beaches In Colombia MAP

To help you navigate, we have compiled a list of the 10 best beaches in Colombia:

Playa Blanca or White Beach

Playa Blanca, also known as White Beach, is one of the most famous beaches in Cartagena and Colombia. It is located in the Magdalena Medio region, close to La Guajira and El Quindio, in the northern part of Colombia, about two hours from Cartagena.

This beach has a beautiful collection of shops, restaurants, cafés, and a large parking lot for those driving down. Several hotels there offer comfortable accommodations to tourists, too.

Playa Blanca is also one of the most popular destinations in Colombia for surfers due to the waves that rise from the sea and produce good surfing conditions.

Las Islas del Rosario

The Rosario Islands are an archipelago off Colombia’s Caribbean coast. Beach days, snorkeling excursions, and cocktail sunsets are all part of the things you can enjoy here. All of this is only a 45-minute boat ride away from Cartagena. For most travelers, that is a sufficient reason to pay a visit.

The Rosario Islands are one of the 46 national natural parks in Colombia and were established in 1988 to protect what is one of the most important coral reefs on the Colombian coast.

Locals and tourists flock to the Rosario Islands to enjoy this open-sea aquarium and oceanarium. Activities such as snorkeling and fishing are also available, for sports enthusiasts. 

Playas de Providencia

Playas de Providencia is an archipelago consisting of the North, South, and West Providencia islands. On the north side, there is an island known as Mucura, on the east side, another island named Quitasueno, and on the south side, there is a small island called Santa Catalina.

These three islands are part of Colombia’s San Andres Archipelago and are known for their variety of beaches. They have the recognition of the best beaches in Colombia.

The archipelago consists of beautiful white sand beaches with clear turquoise water and swaying palm trees. It features fine stone resorts, scenic beaches, quaint restaurants, and charming coves. For those who prefer more modernity, several resorts have been built since the mid-’90s.

Johnny Cay

Johnny Cay is one of the most known and praised cays in San Andres.

It is located about one mile in front of El Centro and is sometimes called Islote Sucre, the island of sugar, because of its white-sand beaches. Relaxing and picnicking are the main activities on this fantastic beach.

Johnny Cay also offers fishing and snorkeling opportunities along with a pristine beach. There are several restaurants on the island to enjoy some delicious seafood.

Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona

Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona is located in Colombia’s Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. These mountains are the highest peaks in Colombia and are mainly composed of Andesite formations.

Apart from its beaches, several stunning natural attractions can be explored within the area, including numerous lakes, beautiful rivers, waterfalls, mountainous forests, and much more.

Costeño Beach

The beautiful Costeño Beach is home to some natural attractions, and it is also a popular destination for visitors. The water here is calm and shallow, making it ideal for swimming and enjoying water sports like boating, kayaking, snorkeling, and fishing.

Costeño Beach is also famous for its abundance of beautiful and colorful birds. The hummingbirds can be seen here during the day and at night.

This beach is located off the beaten track so it’s an ideal place if you want to escape the crowds!

Guachalito (Pacific Side)

Perfectly placed on the Pacific, this is one of those places where the jungle perfectly meets the ocean, consequently creating an ecosystem you wouldn’t find in any other nation.

Guachalito is a beautiful stretch of coastline. It is away from the city crowds and provides some of the best surfing conditions on the coast. You can enjoy your day at the beach in peace because Guachalito is a quiet, private property.

Guachalito has been called the world’s best surf spot by the X Games television network, and you’ll find many pictures of surfers surfing this beautiful spot.

Punta Gallinas

Are you an adventure seeker? Punta Gallinas has you covered. The northernmost point of South America is on many travelers’ bucket lists and it’s not hard to tell why.

This remote spot boasts miles and miles of sand with beautiful ocean views. Walk the dunes, dip in the sea, or kitesurf. Visiting Punta Gallina is also a great opportunity to get to know the local indigenous culture – the Wayuu.

If you decide to stay overnight, you will be rewarded with a breathtaking sunset and starry sky. You might also get a chance to sleep in the traditional Wayuu ranchería and try some of their dishes, such as friche or stewed fish.

The best way to get to Punta Gallinas is through an agency. It’s much safer than going on your own and they will take care of your food, transport, as well as accommodation.

Playas de Palomino

Playas de Palomino is one of the best beaches in Colombia. It is another beach that forms part of the San Andres Archipelago on the north coast of Colombia.

It has been a popular vacation destination for many years. The entire island chain consists of clear turquoise waters, white-sand beaches, and palm-covered hills.

The islands are spread around the Caribbean Sea and are part of the Darién Province. The largest island here is Palomino, surrounded by smaller islands and private cays.

The islands are not very developed, and there is less traffic on their shores. And so, the best way to reach these beaches is by private boat or ferry.

Bahia Solano (Pacific Side)

Although Bahia Solano does not often appear on the list of most visited destinations in Colombia, it is growing in popularity as more and more tourists are drawn to its unique features.

First and foremost, the jungle astride Choco and Antioquia makes it only accessible by plane or water. Take a plane or charter flight from Bogotá, Cali, Medellin, or Quibdo for the first choice.

On the Pacific coast, you can surf, snorkel, dive, and watch dolphins, turtles, a variety of flora and fauna, and the internationally famed humpback whales.

From July to October, beachgoers can also spot the whale migration and “whale dances” from the beach.