The Pink Sea of Cartagena is one of the most fascinating and unusual locations, around 45 minutes north of the city. Because of the salt mine and town nearby, it is more appropriately called Salinas de Galerazamba, Colombia. From Cartagena, it is a fantastic full or half-day excursion. Continue reading to learn all there is to know about traveling to and experiencing the Pink Sea of Colombia from Cartagena, including the ideal time of year to visit the Salinas de Galerazamba, Colombia, and how to get there.
- A Useful Guide for Travelling to the Pink Sea – Contents
- Why Travel to Colombia’s Pink Sea?
- As to why the Pink Sea is pink.
- Near Cartagena, where is seems the Pink Sea located?
- How to Travel from Cartagena to the Pink Sea?
- A Visit to the Salinas de Galerazamba: What to Expect?
- What Time of Year Is Ideal for Travel?
Longer to read in its entirety, about 45 minutes, separate you from Cartagena to the Pink Sea.
For best results, combine with Mud Volcano and take a tour.
Best Tour: Exclusive Visit to Mud Volcano and Pink Sea
Second-Best Tour: Pink Sea + Mud Volcano Group Tour
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Why Travel to Colombia’s Pink Sea?
Well, first of all, it’s beautiful!
Of course, Cartagena is best famous for its stunning beaches—such as Playa Blanca and the surrounding Rosario Islands—as well as its enchanting colonial architecture, exciting nightlife, and ancient forts.
As a result, the Pink Sea has a little something special to offer. Because of the stunning pink seas that appear to run on forever into the distance, this trip is also relatively new, having just recently become popular from Cartagena a few years ago. Naturally, it went viral on Instagram.
When our niece and I eventually went there in July 2021, we thought it was incredibly cool. The fact that the guides are natives and have a loose cooperative structure also impressed me.
As a result, a trip to the Pink Sea region near Cartagena is an excellent opportunity to see some of the countryside and one of nature’s many marvels. It takes approximately 30 minutes to visit, but combining it with Totumo’s Mud Volcano is an exceptional attraction in and of itself (you can read more about it here). See below for tour information and how to reach the Pink Sea of the Salinas de Galerazamba.
Visiting Colombia’s pink beach in Cartagena is optional. But if you are in town while it’s pink (more on that also below). It seems like something you’d want to do, and you have the time. It’s something you should do while visiting Cartagena.
As to why the Pink Sea is pink.
Two things work together to give Colombia’s pink beach its pink hue. First, this location doubles as a sea salt mine due to the water’s high salinity. The existence of microalgae that favors the salinity is the second.
This alga gives the Cartagena pink water its pink hue, paired with a brilliant sun.
Near Cartagena, where I actually the Pink Sea located?
About 40 miles (or 60 kilometers) north of Cartagena, just outside the hamlet of Galerazamba, is where you’ll find the pink sea. Situated about midway between Cartagena and Barranquilla seems the Salinas de Galerazamba.
The pink sea of its salt mine is the only thing to see in the little village of Galerazamba. There is, however, some fascinating historical relevance to it. Supposedly, the town is the birthplace of the Indian Catalina, a native lady taken prisoner by the Spanish. She later served as Pedro de Heredia’s interpreter when he conquered Cartagena.
Following Cartagena’s declaration of independence, the India Catalina was chosen as the city’s emblem and seems still shown on the seal. A sizable park still has her monument on display today.
How to Travel from Cartagena to the Pink Sea?
Therefore, it was our good fortune to have our buddy Cesar drive us. This is a terrific idea if you have a lovely friend with a vehicle like Cesar.
If not, a tour is the best method to travel to Galerazamba and should be relatively simple to locate throughout the season. Mixing lunch with the mud volcano is common, and many include it. Combining the two into a one-day trip is a fantastic choice and the most outstanding deal if you want to visit it.
Booking a private tour of Cartagena’s pink sea and mud volcano is an option. If you’d prefer an exclusive experience for your party with BnB Colombia’s partners. Viator also offers shared trip bookings. GetYourGuide sometimes removes tours outside the season, but you may still check. I’ve also seen excursions listed there before. And lastly, your hostel or hotel can set up a tour.
You may also hire a cab to transport you, wait for you, and then return to Cartagena if you would rather not go on a tour. This might be an excellent alternative if you want to proceed at your speed and on your schedule. Still, the above private time is a better choice since it has a guide who can assist with translations and provide some background knowledge. Hiring a cab to transport you to Galerazamba will cost around $200,000. Lastly, you might attempt to rent a moto taxi from the northern region of Cartagena or go to the bus station and board a bus.
How to Anticipate at Galerazamba, Colombia’s Pink Sea?
Whether traveling alone or as part of a tour, a local will serve as your group’s guide when you get to Salinas de Galerzamba. Remember that this is a functioning salt mine. You need a guide to reach the region where Colombia’s Pink Sea seems situated.
In addition, if they are harvesting or have just harvested, there can be restricted sections. A significant portion seemed closed during our visit, as proved the norm. This is the location of the little salt pier that you may have seen in some pictures. Therefore, even though we could not visit or take any photos in that region, the portion of the Cartagena pink sea we could view was still quite beautiful.
The guides will give you some background information on the town’s history and the origins of the pink hue. To protect yourself from the sun, it’s a good idea to carry some sunscreen or a stylish long-sleeved shirt in an athletic design. Though you may get a drink or fresh coconut from sellers outside the gate, bringing some water is a good idea.
Lastly, remember to bring your camera! I have been using my Fujifilm X-S10 with the 16-80mm kit lens for all of the shots above. I have found it to be a great entry-level camera.
When Is the Best Time to Go to Cartagena’s Pink Sea?
August through September or December through February are the best times to visit Cartagena’s Pink Sea. These are the periods of year when there is minimal rain, and you’re all but sure to see the pink hue since rain interrupts it.
As you can see from our pictures, it was very pink when we visited at the beginning of July. Therefore, you should still be able to see the pink in June and July as long as it hasn’t been raining a lot in the days leading up to your visit. Pink is best created on bright, breezy days.
View from a distance of the pink sea, with a normal-colored stretch of water to the right and salt heaps in the foreground. As you can see, the water in the initial part of the mines was no longer pink since the salt had just been extracted when we visited, but the further area was still lovely and pink. Rain ruins the effect as well.
The salt harvesting also ruins the effect, but as far as I can tell, the guides have worked out a rotational harvesting schedule with the mining company, at least for the “pink seasons.” But to be sure, it is worthwhile to check with others to ensure the pink is entirely in effect.
The two rainiest months, April and October, differ from when I would schedule a trip. November can be unpredictable because it can rain a lot in some years and not in others. But considering October’s typically intense rains, I would only wager on a bit of pink at least the end of November. For the opposite reason, March is similar every year: occasionally it rains, sometimes it doesn’t.
Summary
The Pink Sea of Colombia, also called Salinas de Galerazamba, is a distinctive and alluring location worth seeing. It is located close to Cartagena. This gorgeous pink-hued water has become more well-known in recent years, partly because of its breathtaking beauty on Instagram. Microalgae that flourish in these circumstances and the water’s high salinity are responsible for the pink hue.
The Pink Sea is an essential destination in Galerazamba, approximately 40 miles north of Cartagena. Being the birthplace of the Indian Catalina, who was instrumental in Cartagena’s history, it is significant historically.
Traveling from Cartagena to the Pink Sea is relatively easy, and tour options frequently include a stop at the Mud Volcano. Alternatively, you may rent a motorbike taxi, hire a cab, or take a bus based on your interests.
Galerazamba is an operating salt mine, so a local will give you the runaround when you go there. Remember that certain areas may be off-limits, particularly in the months leading up to harvest. Packaging water, sunscreen, and a camera is advisable to capture the breathtaking scenery.
For the best chance of seeing the vibrant pink color of Cartagena’s Pink Sea, visit between August and September or between December and February, when there is less chance of rain. To fully experience this natural treasure, organize your vacation to avoid disruptions from rain.
In conclusion, visiting Colombia’s Pink Sea presents a singular chance to take in the breathtaking pink-hued waters, discover the ancient village of Galerazamba, and take in the spectacular natural beauty of this remarkable location.
