Cartagena: La Punta Beach Club Day Pass (Lunch included)

La Punta Beach Club turns a short boat ride from Cartagena into a full day of music, food, swimming, and lounging by the bay. I like the shaded beachfront bed, which gives you a fixed place to relax, and I like the choice of six included lunches, from island-style fish to sushi and poke bowls. The big consideration is the water: some beaches farther from the mainland may be clearer, and one visit found La Punta’s sea less impressive than its service and facilities.

I also like the flexible return choices at 4:30, 5:30, or 6:30 p.m. You can stay later for a bonfire and music until 10 p.m., or ask about a hotel stay. The staff earns warm praise, including spa therapists Venus and Kandy, but remember to budget COP $14,000 for the pier boarding tax and extra for massages, kayaks, or the expanded menu.

Key Points to Know Before You Go

• A short boat ride reaches Tierra Bomba: Depart from Muelle de la Bodeguita and cross Cartagena Bay in roughly 15 to 20 minutes.
• Six lunches are included: Choose island fish, grilled chicken, pizza, sushi, poke, or garden paella, with a soft drink and seasonal dessert.
• Your beachfront bed is reserved: You get a shaded place to rest, plus access to the pool, bar, restaurant, swings, volleyball court, and dance floor.
• Music shapes the day: Resident DJs play House, Disco, and World Latin music through a high-fidelity sound system.
• Return times are flexible: Boats head back at 4:30, 5:30, or 6:30 p.m., with a later fire-and-music option until 10 p.m.
• Extra charges matter: Add COP $14,000 for the pier tax, COP $25,000 for the full food menu, and more for spa treatments or kayaks.

Leaving Cartagena From Muelle de la Bodeguita

Your day begins at Muelle de la Bodeguita, the central dock on Avenida Blas de Lezo, close to Cartagena’s old city. This is a working departure point for island trips, so allow time to find the correct check-in area among tour booths, vendors, and boat traffic.

Departures for La Punta begin at 9:30 a.m. and continue hourly until 1:30 p.m. The later departures can work if you want a shorter beach visit, but I would choose an earlier boat for the best use of a full-day pass. You have more time for lunch, the pool, photos, and a slow afternoon by the water.

The pier boarding tax is not part of the $76 price. Set aside COP $14,000 for it. That small extra cost is easy to miss when comparing beach clubs, so include it in your day budget.

The ride across Cartagena Bay takes about 15 to 20 minutes. You pass the Virgin of the Fishermen statue and get a pleasant view of the water before reaching Tierra Bomba Island. This is not a long island crossing, which is useful if you want a beach day without spending much of the morning in transit.

Arriving at La Punta and Finding Your Place

At La Punta, staff greet you with a welcome drink and help you check in. You are then shown to a beachfront bed under palm-frond shade. That assigned spot is one of the more practical parts of the pass. Instead of hunting for a chair after arriving, you have a home base for bags, drinks, reading, and rest.

The beds face the bay, so you can keep the water in view even when you are taking a break from the sun. Shade is especially useful in Cartagena, where a full day outdoors can become tiring long before sunset. Bring sunscreen, and use it often. It is the only item specifically listed as essential, but it is also the item most likely to save your afternoon.

La Punta is arranged as a beach club rather than a quiet, empty shore. You will find a 360-degree bar, a dance floor, sea-facing swings, a floating platform, a pool, and a volleyball court. The design leans heavily toward leisure and photos, with Phoenix-winged doors, nest-like seating, and swings set toward the sea.

Those photo spots are fun if you enjoy taking pictures, but they are not the main reason to book. The real value is having a complete day-use setup: transport, food, a reserved bed, music, and access to several places to sit or swim.

House, Disco, and Latin Music by the Water

Music begins shaping the mood soon after arrival. Resident DJs play House, Disco, and World Latin music through a strong sound system. You can dance near the water, stay on your bed with a drink, or move between the social areas and the pool.

I would not choose this place if your ideal beach day means near-total silence. The music is a central part of the setting, not background decoration. For couples and friends who want a party feel mixed with swimming and sun, that is a real plus. For readers hoping for a calm escape, the sound may wear thin over several hours.

The music also gives the day a loose rhythm. Mornings can begin with a drink and time to settle in. Lunch creates a natural pause. Later, the bar, dance floor, pool, and beach areas give you several ways to spend the afternoon without needing another organized activity.

You are not required to dance or join the social side. The reserved bed and shaded areas let you take the day at your own pace. I like that balance, even though the club’s overall character is clearly lively rather than secluded.

Choosing Between Six Included Lunches

Lunch is included in the pass, and you choose from six main dishes:

• Island-style fish
• Grilled chicken breast
• Pizza
• Sushi
• Poke bowls
• Garden paella

Each option comes with a soft drink and a seasonal dessert. This makes the $76 price easier to assess because you are not paying separately for the main meal after arriving. It also gives mixed groups some flexibility. One person can choose regional fish while another orders pizza or poke.

The island fish and garden paella are the choices I would consider first if you want food connected to the setting. The sushi and poke bowls offer lighter alternatives, while grilled chicken and pizza are familiar picks for less adventurous eaters.

There is also a larger menu for an additional COP $25,000. That expands the choices to vegetarian dishes, pastas, burgers, soups, and traditional rice dishes. The extra fee makes sense if you have a specific dietary preference or want something beyond the six included plates. If the standard choices suit you, you can keep the day pass more economical.

After lunch, cocktails served in natural coconuts add a playful island touch. Soft drinks and the welcome drink are part of the included food and drink setup described for the pass, while the broader gourmet menu gives you more paid options. Check the exact drink arrangements when booking if you want more than the included selections.

Pool, Swings, Volleyball, and Time in the Water

La Punta gives you more to do than sit on the sand. You can use the crystal-clear pool, play beach volleyball, sit at the swings, or walk onto the floating platform. The 360-degree bar and dance floor keep the center of the club social, while the beachfront bed offers a quieter place to reset.

The sea itself is the part to approach with realistic expectations. The beach is attractive, but the water may not have the clarity you picture from more distant Caribbean islands. One three-star assessment specifically found the beach below the level of other nearby options and said the water was not as clear. Another positive assessment praised the beach but still noted the sea as the weak point.

That difference matters. If your priority is crystal-clear water and a classic island beach, you may prefer a club that requires a longer boat ride from Cartagena. If you care more about easy access, music, lunch, a pool, and a polished day-use setup, La Punta makes a stronger case.

The floating platform and pool are useful backups when the sea conditions do not match your hopes. You can still cool off, swim, and enjoy the setting without making the water the sole focus of the day.

Optional Spa Treatments and Kayaking

Massages and kayaks are not included. You pay extra for either, so ask about current prices and availability after arrival. The club presents the massage as a relaxation option and kayaking as a way to add activity to the afternoon.

The spa has received especially warm praise for Venus and Kandy, both noted for professional service. That is useful if a massage is part of your perfect beach day, but I would not assume it fits the base price. Treat it as an optional upgrade and keep enough time free if you want to schedule one.

Kayaking offers a change from the music and pool. Since no detailed route or duration is provided, ask the beach staff what is available that day before paying. The same advice applies to spa appointments, particularly during busy periods.

Sunset, Bonfire, and the Choice to Stay Late

You can arrange a return to Cartagena at 4:30, 5:30, or 6:30 p.m. The 6:30 departure gives you the best chance to enjoy the late afternoon and sunset, while the earlier boats suit anyone who wants to return for dinner in the old city.

There is also an evening option with fire and music until 10 p.m. Ask the transport coordinator about the arrangements before you settle in, because staying late changes the simple day-trip plan. Hotel availability can also be requested if you want to extend the visit beyond the beach pass.

The bonfire option gives La Punta a second personality. During the day, it is a music-heavy beach club with lunch and pool time. At night, firelight and music offer a slower finish, though you should confirm exactly what transport or accommodation is available before counting on it.

I like having that choice, especially for a special occasion or a night when you do not want to hurry back to Cartagena. Still, most people booking a day pass will probably use one of the three listed return times.

What the $76 Price Really Buys

At $76 per person, this is not the cheapest way to reach a beach near Cartagena. The price includes round-trip boat transport, a beachfront bed, access to the club facilities, and one of six lunches with a soft drink and seasonal dessert. You also get the setting, DJ program, pool, bar access, swings, dance floor, and volleyball area.

That package can be good value if you would otherwise pay separately for a boat, lunch, a day bed, and drinks. It is less compelling if you plan to spend most of the day swimming in clear sea water and do not care about music, photo areas, or pool access.

Add the COP $14,000 pier tax to the headline price. You may also pay COP $25,000 for the full menu, plus extra for a massage or kayak. The pass is best viewed as a managed day at a beach club, not simply a boat ticket to a public beach.

The strongest value comes from the reserved beachfront bed and included lunch. Those two details remove much of the uncertainty from a beach day. You know where you can rest, and you have a meal choice waiting without needing to negotiate menus or search for another restaurant.

Who Will Enjoy La Punta Most

I would recommend La Punta to couples, groups of friends, and solo visitors who like a social beach club with music and several ways to spend the day. It also suits people who want an easy island outing but do not want a long boat journey.

You are likely to enjoy it if you value:

• A full-day schedule with flexible return times
• Music from House, Disco, and Latin styles
• A reserved shaded bed
• Lunch included in the admission
• Pool access and photo-friendly spaces
• Optional spa treatments, kayaking, and a late bonfire

I would think twice if your main goal is a quiet beach, very clear water, or a simple low-cost swim. The beach water has drawn mixed impressions, and the club’s music and social design may not match a peaceful shoreline escape.

The experience is not suitable for wheelchair users. Food, drinks, alcohol, drugs, weapons, sharp objects, and personal speakers are not allowed to be brought in. You should also avoid packing a speaker because the club already provides its own music system.

My Practical Verdict

La Punta Beach Club is a polished, easy beach day with a party pulse. I like the short crossing, the assigned shaded bed, the six lunch choices, and the choice of returning before sunset or staying for the fire. The staff service is a clear strength, with especially kind praise for the welcome and for spa work by Venus and Kandy.

The main weakness is the sea. If you want the clearest water in the Cartagena area, look at farther island options before booking. If you want a comfortable day with music, food, a pool, and no need to organize each piece yourself, La Punta is a sensible pick.

Book it when you want the beach club experience more than a remote-island beach. Choose an early departure, bring sunscreen, keep COP $14,000 for the pier tax, and ask about late transport before deciding to stay for the bonfire.

FAQ

Where does the La Punta Beach Club trip leave from?

It leaves from Muelle de la Bodeguita on Avenida Blas de Lezo in Cartagena, close to the historic city center.

How long is the boat ride to La Punta?

The boat ride takes about 15 to 20 minutes across Cartagena Bay.

What time do boats leave Cartagena?

Departures begin at 9:30 a.m. and continue every hour until 1:30 p.m.

What lunch choices are included?

You can choose island fish, grilled chicken breast, pizza, sushi, poke bowls, or garden paella. Each includes a soft drink and seasonal dessert.

Is the pier tax included in the price?

No. The tourist pier boarding tax costs COP $14,000.

Are massages and kayaks included?

No. Massages and kayaks are available for an additional fee.

Can I stay after sunset?

You can ask about an evening option with a bonfire and music until 10 p.m. Hotel availability may also be requested.