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

The bay is your first taste of La Punta. This day pass pairs a short boat ride from Cartagena with a shaded beachfront bed, a welcome drink, and a full afternoon of music, swimming, food, and sea views. I especially like the easy 15 to 20 minute crossing and the choice of six included lunch dishes. The main thing to consider is the beach itself: the water may not look as clear as at more distant island clubs.

La Punta works best if you want a social beach day rather than a quiet castaway escape. I like the resident DJ, the pool, swings, volleyball court, and sunset options. Service also earns strong praise, including warm help from staff members Venus and Kandy at the spa. At $76 per person, the pass is fair if you use the facilities and included meal, but less compelling if your only goal is the clearest possible swimming water.

Key points to know before you go

• Short boat ride: Depart from Muelle de la Bodeguita and reach Tierra Bomba in roughly 15 to 20 minutes.
• Shaded beachfront bed: Your pass includes a reserved beach bed under palm fronds, a useful base for the day.
• Six included lunches: Choose island fish, grilled chicken, pizza, sushi, poke, or garden paella, with a soft drink and seasonal dessert.
• Music-led atmosphere: House, Disco, and World Latin music keep the club lively, with a dance floor beside the sea.
• Sunset flexibility: Return boats are scheduled for 4:30, 5:30, or 6:30 p.m., with a later fire-and-music option until 10 p.m.
• Beach quality varies: The setting is attractive, but the water may be less clear than at beaches farther from Cartagena.

Leaving Cartagena from Muelle de la Bodeguita

Your day starts at Muelle de la Bodeguita, on Avenida Blas de Lezo near Cartagena’s historic center. This is a central departure point for boat trips, so allow time to find the right meeting area and complete the pier formalities.

Boats for La Punta leave every hour from 9:30 a.m. through 1:30 p.m. The boarding tax is separate and costs COP 14,000. That fee is easy to overlook when comparing prices, so add it to your budget from the start.

The transfer is by speedboat across Cartagena Bay. The crossing takes about 15 minutes in the description, while the planned route allows roughly 20 minutes. Either way, it is short enough that you will not lose much of your beach day. You pass the statue of the Virgin of the Fishermen, which gives the ride a pleasant local touch instead of making it feel like a simple transfer.

You may want to bring sunscreen in a small day bag. Food, drinks, alcohol, drugs, weapons, sharp objects, and personal speakers are not allowed. That last rule matters because La Punta already provides the music.

Arriving at La Punta on Tierra Bomba

The arrival sets the tone. Staff greet you with a welcome drink and guide you to a beachfront bed under palm shade. Having a dedicated place to leave your things and return to between swims makes the day easier than finding an unclaimed patch of sand.

The bed also gives you a view across the bay. Palm fronds provide shade, though you should still use sunscreen, especially during the hottest part of the afternoon. The club has a polished resort feel, with staff attention and designed photo spots rather than an undeveloped beach setting.

La Punta is on Tierra Bomba, close to Cartagena, so the setting offers convenience more than remoteness. You get a quick escape from the city without committing to a long island crossing. That is a real advantage for a one-day visit, families with limited time, or anyone who prefers less time in a boat.

The tradeoff is the shoreline. One U.S. visitor rated the experience as only average because the beach and water did not match beaches farther from the mainland. Another review praised the beach and staff but still noted that the sea itself was not the strongest feature. I would choose La Punta for the club experience, not solely for crystal-clear water.

Lunch choices that make the $76 price easier to judge

The pass includes one of six lunch dishes:

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

Each included meal comes with a soft drink and seasonal dessert. This is a useful amount of food for a full day by the water, and it gives the pass more value than a simple chair rental.

The menu covers several tastes. The island fish and garden paella fit the Caribbean setting best, while pizza, chicken, sushi, and poke provide familiar choices for mixed groups. The garden paella is also the included option for someone looking for a meat-free meal, though the wider menu offers more vegetarian choices for an added charge.

For COP 25,000 more, you can order from the full menu. That expanded selection includes vegetarian dishes, pastas, burgers, soups, and traditional rice plates. I would treat this as an optional upgrade, not a required expense. If one of the six included meals suits you, the basic pass should be enough. If lunch is a major part of your beach-club day, the extra fee gives you more freedom.

The supplied information describes the experience as covering food and drinks, but the clearly listed meal inclusion is lunch with a soft drink and dessert. Cocktails, including drinks served in natural coconuts, may be separate. Ask the staff before ordering if you want a clear account of what the pass covers.

Pool, swings, volleyball, and the main social scene

La Punta is built for movement and mingling. You can swim in the crystal-clear pool, play beach volleyball, use the floating platform, or sit at the 360-degree bar. Sea-facing swings and a dance floor add to the club feel.

The DJ provides the soundtrack, with House, Disco, and World Latin music. The sound system is designed for a party atmosphere, so this is not the place to expect a silent afternoon with only the sound of waves. You can still relax on your bed, but music remains a central part of the experience.

That mix makes La Punta a good choice for friends, couples who like an active setting, and anyone who wants a beach day with a social pulse. It may be less suitable if you want a quiet reading day or a long, empty stretch of sand.

The floating platform and swings are also useful if you enjoy taking photos. La Punta has Phoenix-winged doors, nest-like seats, and swings facing the sea. These are decorative rather than cultural sights, but they give the club a playful identity and plenty of photo backdrops.

A natural coconut cocktail can be a fun addition after lunch. Keep in mind that the supplied details do not clearly state that these cocktails are included in the $76 pass, so confirm the price at the bar.

Massage and kayak options

You can add a massage or kayak trip for an extra fee. These are not part of the base price, so plan for additional spending if you want more than the included facilities.

The spa received particularly warm praise. A visitor specifically credited Venus and Kandy for professional service and said the welcome and attention from the whole staff made the person want to return. That is useful context if you are considering a massage as part of the day rather than treating it as a minor extra.

I would reserve some flexibility in your schedule instead of trying to pack in every activity. The pool, lunch, music, beach bed, and boat schedule already fill the day. A massage makes sense if relaxation is your main goal; kayaking suits you better if you want a short active break.

Choosing your return time and staying through sunset

Return boats leave at 4:30, 5:30, or 6:30 p.m. The range matters because La Punta can work as either a relaxed afternoon outing or a longer sunset visit.

The earliest departure gives you a shorter day but may suit you if you have evening plans in Cartagena. The 5:30 boat provides a middle option. The 6:30 departure lets you stay for more of the beach-club program and watch the day fade over the bay.

You can also ask about staying for fire, music, and a bonfire-style evening until 10 p.m. This option depends on arrangements and availability, so do not assume that the late stay is automatic. Accommodation at the hotel may also be available if you want to remain overnight.

The evening extension changes the character of the visit. A daytime pass is mainly about pool time, lunch, and music by the water. Staying later adds a social night element, but you should confirm transport and any accommodation details directly with the coordinator before committing.

How good is the service?

Service is one of La Punta’s strongest points. The welcome drink, escort to your beach bed, and transport coordinator give the day a guided structure without making it feel like a tightly managed sightseeing tour.

The overall rating is 4.3 out of 5 from 11 ratings. The clearest praise centers on friendly staff and attentive service. One Spanish-language review said the welcome felt like being at home and singled out the spa service from Venus and Kandy. Another rating simply praised the service.

That positive attention helps justify the club price, especially if you value having staff available for meals, return arrangements, and optional services. Still, service cannot change the basic geography. La Punta is near Cartagena, and the water may not be as clear as at more distant beaches.

Is the day pass good value at $76?

At $76 per person, the pass is not the cheapest way to sit near the sea. Its value depends on how much of the package you use.

The price includes round-trip boat transportation, a beachfront bed, access to the pool, volleyball court, bar and restaurant areas, swings, and other facilities. It also includes a choice of lunch, a soft drink, and dessert. For a full day with music and organized return times, that is a reasonable package.

The value improves if you:

• Use the beach bed for most of the day
• Eat the included lunch
• Swim in the pool and use the club facilities
• Stay for the DJ sets and sunset
• Prefer a short boat transfer
• Want staff help with the day’s arrangements

The value drops if you plan to leave early, skip lunch, avoid music, or mainly want untouched sand and very clear water. In that case, a farther island beach may be a better fit, even if reaching it takes longer.

Remember the COP 14,000 pier tax. Add any COP 25,000 full-menu upgrade, massage, kayak, cocktails, or other personal purchases to your estimate. The pass is best viewed as a day-club package, not simply a beach admission ticket.

Who should book La Punta?

I would recommend La Punta to you if you want a convenient escape from Cartagena with music, lunch, shade, a pool, and a defined place to spend the day. It suits people who enjoy a polished beach-club setting and do not want to organize separate boat tickets, meals, and seating.

It is also a good fit for a group with different interests. One person can swim, another can use the pool, someone else can play volleyball, and another can book a massage. The six lunch choices make group dining easier.

I would be more cautious if your top priority is the clearest sea around Cartagena. The close location is convenient, but the water quality and beach appearance may not compare with more distant island beaches. You should also think twice if you dislike loud music or a party-oriented setting.

The experience is not wheelchair suitable. English and Spanish support is available, which helps with check-in, lunch choices, return transport, and optional services.

Final verdict: book it for the club, not just the beach

La Punta Beach Club gives you an easy full day on Tierra Bomba, with a short crossing, a shaded beachfront bed, included lunch, pool access, music, and several ways to stay active. The staff service is a real strength, and the late return or fire-side option gives the day more flexibility than a standard beach transfer.

I would book it when you want comfort and atmosphere close to Cartagena. I would choose another beach if clear water and a quieter, more natural shoreline matter most. Before paying, budget for the pier tax and confirm which drinks and optional services cost extra. That small bit of planning will make the $76 pass easier to judge and help you enjoy La Punta for what it is: a lively, convenient beach club with a Caribbean setting.

FAQ

Where does the La Punta Beach Club boat leave from?

The boat leaves from Muelle de la Bodeguita on Avenida Blas de Lezo in Cartagena, near the historic city center.

How long is the boat ride to La Punta?

The crossing takes about 15 to 20 minutes across Cartagena Bay by speedboat.

What time do boats depart for La Punta?

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

What lunch is included in the pass?

You can choose island fish, grilled chicken breast, pizza, sushi, a poke bowl, or garden paella. Lunch 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 and is paid separately.

What time can I return to Cartagena?

Return departures are available at 4:30, 5:30, and 6:30 p.m. You can also ask about staying for music and a fire until 10 p.m.

Are massages and kayaking included?

No. Massages and kayak trips are available for an additional fee.