Trip report to Barranquilla: Latin-Wife / International Introductions, June 2008

[RJS]

Great report. i think this might convince me to give agencies a try.

[David]

Hey Puro,

Did you happen to visit the beach at all? How is the sand? The course of the grain: fine or rough?

I'm thinking about using Jamie's service very soon.

Thanks,
David

[purogringo]

David,
Surprisingly, I never actually made it to the beach. I saw it when I made the trip to Cartagena, and the sand looked fine, white, and gorgeous, but I never made it there. Photos I saw of the beach to the north looked nice, but the water isn't very close to Baq. I stayed near the beach for a few days (at Jamie's beach house) and even thought of going to check it out, but I was too busy socializing to go there. It would have made for a romantic walk after dinner I imagine. Unfortunately, I didn't have a need for it.

Others may have different opinions, but I think the primary reason to go to Baq is Latin Wife. It's otherwise not much of a city. The people are nice, but aesthetically it's lacking quite a bit.

But the water's warm I'm sure. I hope you find someone to go in with.

[the_ace33]

Hello David and Purogringo!

I visited a beach a bit outside of Barranquilla.  It was kind of like a park where they had water slides, pools and ofcourse the beach.  It was pretty fun the first time I went there.  I actually had a blast.  There was no current in the water and we were able to swim freely.  The water was actually clear too.  A couple days later I went back and it kinda sucked!  The water was mirky and the current was way too strong for swimming.  So I guess the weather makes a difference.  The Best beaches are the Island beaches.  On another trip we visited an island beach off of Cartegena.  Got there around 9am and caught a boat to get there.  Its kinda pricey but well worth it.  They give you lunch and all.  The water and sand is just amazing!  True Carribean. 

[David]

Hello David and Purogringo!

I visited a beach a bit outside of Barranquilla.  It was kind of like a park where they had water slides, pools and ofcourse the beach.  It was pretty fun the first time I went there.  I actually had a blast.  There was no current in the water and we were able to swim freely.  The water was actually clear too.  A couple days later I went back and it kinda sucked!  The water was mirky and the current was way too strong for swimming.  So I guess the weather makes a difference.  The Best beaches are the Island beaches.  On another trip we visited an island beach off of Cartegena.  Got there around 9am and caught a boat to get there.  Its kinda pricey but well worth it.  They give you lunch and all.  The water and sand is just amazing!  True Carribean.

Awesome! How far away is Baq from Cartagena? What transports are there to get from A to B? Do they run them often? What about shark attacks? Pricey as in how much?

Thanks! 

[the_ace33]

The distance from Barranquilla to Cartagena is approx 50 miles.  Santa Marta is a bit closer and I have heard the beaches there are to die for too.  I made my trip to Cartagena easy by renting a taxi for the day around $100.  So the taxi takes us all the way there.  We go eat at McDonalds and then head to the boat.  I think the boat fare to the islands was something like $60 for all 3 of us.  So we take off in the boat and eventually start to see the blue water.  we pass by a couple of islands where they are just telling us about them etc.  Then we get to a place where they say u can get out and spend the day here or you can go with us to the last island.  STAY THERE!  If not you will not get to spend as much time there and it is where you want to be.  I found out the hard way.  Anyhow they feed you a good lunch.  After several hours we returned from the offshore trip.  So we call up our rented taxi and he comes and picks us up and takes us around the city.  After we are all done seeing sites and what not he takes us back to Barranquilla.  easy peasy.  nice day trip.  Santa Marta would probably be more affordable because you do not have to take a boat to get to the nice beaches.  I did not see any sharks!  haha.  by the way take goggels with you.  Other methods to get out of Barranquilla cheaper would be the buses.  I know Jamie has got a ton of info at the office and the translators know all the options.