Luxury holidays in Isla Barú
Separated from the mainland by the Canal del Dique, idyllic Isla Barú is just an hour’s drive from bustling Cartagena, but has more in common with a far-flung Caribbean isle. When the city gets hot and hectic, urbanites like to decamp to the island’s white-sand beaches and mangrove-swathed shores, which are a hotbed of aquatic and avian activity. Alongside watersports and barbeques on the beach, the biggest attraction is the Corales del Rosario National Park, a protected series of reefs home to a multitude of brightly coloured sea life.
When to go
Peak season is from November to April, with the biggest crowds arriving in December and January. Go early or wait until February or March, when the weather’s still good but there’s less competition for spaces on the beach.