Playa Blanca Day Trip: Snorkeling & Raccoon Spotting (Honest Review)

If you are planning a trip to Cartagena, Colombia, there is a good chance that a visit to Playa Blanca is on your radar; honestly, it tends to show up pretty high on those “must-see” lists. I will give you the lowdown on my experience with a day trip that mixed a bit of snorkeling and some wildlife viewing, namely, hoping to catch those interesting raccoons that seem to have made this beach their hangout, and I hope my thoughts and experiences help you prep a bit for your possible trip.

Booking the Tour: What to Look For

I’m thinking that snagging a tour can be more or less effortless, as Cartagena basically is teeming with tour operators all hawking similar packages; that said, if you prefer things arranged in advance, lots of websites allow booking, just like your own tour. When browsing those tour options, you really want to check out things such as what all’s included (lunch, gear for snorkeling, transport) and peep those reviews. Look to be sure if they keep the group sizes somewhat down; basically, I find that small groups just make the day way more fun and personalized, actually.

Also, maybe see what their policy is around raccoon sightings; keep in mind, those tiny guys, just like the tides, you can’t ever fully predict; I mean, that way, your expectations are, say, reasonable. Oh, another thing; confirm, alright, how you will get there; some tours have you go by bus, and that, like, can take for-ev-er thanks to the island’s roads, while other services feature the speedboat ride, which tends to be faster and much more fun, actually, even if a little bumpy too, it’s almost a fair trade-off, really.

The Snorkeling Experience: Under the Sea

Let’s get to what you may see while snorkeling: well, do adjust expectations, because the snorkeling around Playa Blanca tends to be, I guess, decent but never truly show-stopping; it is very much more or less depending on what you have seen prior. The coral might be a little bleached, maybe just a little, and you are unlikely to find some super varied sea life; still, it might be interesting for beginners or someone looking for something chilled and quick to relax a bit.

That you should bring an underwater camera is a very important piece of advice; it can spice things up to, like, try to grab some photo opportunities if that’s of interest to you. Keep in mind, depending upon the weather, the visibility may change a little, or maybe it can change a whole bunch, too; be prepared to stay cool with somewhat reduced views after a storm.

Beach Time and the Raccoons of Playa Blanca

Of course, one big highlight for this day is to check out the raccoon residents, very infamous creatures. That they’re quite used to humans does mean that you’ll get a really good look; still, don’t touch the little guys or give them any food; actually, keep things pleasant both for them and for future visitors. Really, viewing wildlife respectfully could be said to be vital.

And speaking of Playa Blanca as a beach: imagine, is that, sugary white sand and pretty blue sea. But, do anticipate crowds. Oh, and vendors — expect them all day. If that makes you nuts, walking away, down along the beach where it’s a little emptier might very well be in your best interest. Also, bringing an umbrella would mean there’s some ensured shade during those daylight hours, that tend to peak in sunlight, anyway.

Food and Drink: What to Expect

Your lunch typically is included on tours; think: classic fare from Colombia such as fried fish, plantains and rice. You know, simple eats. Should you have some requirements, let your tour company know in advance so there are not really any big surprises later on. Drinks may be available from beach vendors, though, you see, keeping hydrated in this heat basically is pretty key, therefore, plan to get that H2O, you know.

Here’s something, though; make it a point to check all your food; that these raccoons I mentioned before, they can get daring! Never ever leave any food unattended is a piece of advice I strongly recommend.

Making the Most of Your Trip: Some Practical Tips

I want you to make the most of your Playa Blanca trip by really prepping a little: here are things I recommend you grab:

• Sunscreen: Just be really sure it is reef-friendly; is that, the reefs could benefit from your thoughtfulness.
• Bug spray: Little sand flies may prove annoying during early and later parts of day; so, do cover up.
• Cash: Certain vendors might not take cards, therefore, carry cash if hoping to get those extras like beverages and little souvenirs and trinkets, actually.
• Towel: While maybe they supply towels on the tour, actually, an additional towel might prove helpful.
• Water shoes: A very few areas hold rocks; thus, water footwear can certainly prove good if walking.

Also, it could be very helpful to be, basically, ready for hawkers; firm, polite responses are going to keep interactions easier. Watch your belongings carefully, that petty theft is likely in tourist areas, after all.

Think about what time to visit to try and get a bit less crowd action; morning hours prior to day-trippers showing up basically could feel more relaxed. Finally, just try to enjoy it! Playa Blanca just could be so lovely even with any hassles, and I mean the scenery is pretty wonderful, indeed.

A day out to Playa Blanca offers basically a combination that seems attractive: relaxing by those gorgeous shores, underwater visits by snorkeling, or even wild animal sightseeing chances which do sound exciting, doesn’t it? Maybe you consider what I have written, adjust your plans with that information in mind, and you will enjoy all kinds of neat things out on Playa Blanca and create those picture-postcard memories for years into the future.

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