Tierra Bomba from Cartagena: Beach Day, Beach Club or ATV?
6 min read
For most people: the Makani Luxury Day Pass — a beach club day on the island for €79.15, 4.6 stars from 85 reviews. For a simple, low-cost beach day: the Punta Arena beach day at €12.78, rated 3.4 from 139 reviews. For something more active: the guided ATV tour, €111.96, 4.9 stars from 118 reviews.
Tierra Bomba is the island facing Cartagena. The listing for the beach day says it is just 7 minutes from the city by boat, and that is the whole appeal: you get a sea day without the long boat ride to the Rosario Islands.
Side by side
| Tour | Length | From | Rating | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Punta Arena beach day | Full day, return 2–5 pm | €12.78 | 3.4 (139) | A low-cost beach day |
| Speedboat tour with the San Fernando fort | 6–7 hours | €50.88 | 4.1 (136) | History and a quiet beach |
| Makani Luxury Day Pass | 7 hours (three time slots) | €79.15 | 4.6 (85) | A comfortable beach club |
| Guided ATV tour | 2.5 hours | €111.96 | 4.9 (118) | Active travellers |
The cheap beach day
The Punta Arena day lists return speedboat transport with life jackets, chairs and a table, and no boat or tourist taxes; the typical lunch of fish or chicken, coconut rice, salad and patacón comes with the lunch option. It starts at the Nuevo Hospital de Bocagrande pier in Castillogrande, hotel pickup is not included, and boats come back between 2 pm and 5 pm at a time you give the host. The listing warns that the speedboat is fast, can be bumpy and may get you wet. At €12.78 per person, that is a lot of beach for the money. Read recent reviews before booking: a rating of 3.4 from 139 reviews suggests a basic experience, so expect a simple beach and an assigned restaurant, not a resort.
See dates and prices for the Punta Arena beach day
The beach club
The Makani day pass sells access to a beach club on the island’s shore. At €79.15 against €12.78 for the Punta Arena day, and rated 4.6 against 3.4, the extra money buys comfort: loungers, a large pool and a quieter club. The listing names loungers in the sand area, the boat transfer, pool access, a non-alcoholic welcome drink and wi-fi. Lunch appears in the same list as the paid pool upgrade, so check on the booking page whether it is included; you may not bring your own food or drinks. Day passes run in three slots (9 am–4 pm, 10 am–5 pm, 11 am–6 pm). The itinerary starts at Gate 1 of Muelle de la Bodeguita, but the inclusions describe the boat from Bocagrande, so confirm the pier when you contact the club by WhatsApp after booking. Upgrades such as the Mahalo Pool or the daybeds cost extra, from COP 280,000 per person, and the pass is not suitable for people over 70.
Check availability for the Makani Luxury Day Pass
The ATV tour
The guided quad tour runs 2.5 hours across the island with stops at beaches. At €111.96 for 2.5 hours, rated 4.9, it is a short, active outing rather than a beach day. See more in our horseback and ATV category.
The history option
The speedboat tour is described as a walking tour of the island along San Fernando Beach and past the historic San Fernando fort. It is the one for people who want some history with their beach. It leaves Muelle de la Bodeguita at 9 am and is back at 3 pm. Lunch and the Playa Morena club’s facilities are included, and you pay the COP 10,000 port tax at the dock. It is not suitable for pregnant women, people with back problems or people with limited mobility.
Honest notes
- Going on your own is possible, with boats from the pier by the old town, but agree on the price before boarding. Packaged days include the transport, which is the point.
- It is not the Rosario Islands. The water and the sand are different; for that, see our island boat guide.
- Check ages and conditions on the booking page. The Makani pass is not suitable for people over 70, and the fort speedboat day is not suitable for pregnant women, people with back problems or people with limited mobility. On the Punta Arena day, infants up to 2 ride on a parent’s lap, without lunch. For minimum ages, check the booking page before booking with children.
Our recommendation
Book the Makani Luxury Day Pass for a proper beach day, unless someone in your group is over 70, and the cheap Punta Arena day only if price is the deciding factor.
