Decameron Barú
Decameron Barú has one powerful selling point: Playa Blanca. The beach on Isla Barú is widely called the best on Colombia's Caribbean coast, and the resort sits on it among tropical forest, 75 minutes by road from Cartagena. It opened in 2010 as Royal Decameron Barú (several booking sites still use that name) and now carries the chain's Decameron Barú, A Trademark All Inclusive branding. An October 2024 renovation redid the lobby, the entertainment areas, the children's water park and the open-air show stage, so the public spaces look fresher than the rooms. The vibe is a big Colombian family resort: Spanish-first, champeta on stage at night, and busy with Colombian families in school holidays.
Traveler Insights
Pros
- +Playa Blanca is the reason to come: white sand and clear water that earn the 'best beach on Colombia's Caribbean coast' label, and it empties out after about 4 PM when the Cartagena day boats leave
- +The peninsula setting among tropical forest feels genuinely remote, 75 minutes by road from Cartagena (Barú is bridge-connected), with iguanas on the grounds and nothing resort-like in sight
- +366 rooms in 10 low blocks: 256 Standard with garden-view balconies, 65 Standard Plus and 45 Ocean Front Plus with the sea straight off the balcony. The Plus categories add unlimited Wi-Fi, a daily-restocked minibar and a welcome bottle of wine
- +Evenings are busy, not dead: a live show every night on the open-air stage (champeta and other Caribbean music, dance, cultural shows), Bar Teatrino beside it, a disco from 11 PM to 2 AM, bars open 9 AM to 2 AM and a late snack from 11 PM to 2 AM
- +Four pools plus a children's water park with shallow pools and slides, refreshed in the October 2024 renovation that also redid the lobby, entertainment areas and show stage
- +A long list of included non-motorized water sports: kayaks, sea bikes, canoes, catamarans, windsurfing and surfing, plus a mini scuba lesson in the pool
- +Strong value for a dedicated beach stay out of Cartagena: around $350 a night for two, all-inclusive, with a spa, air-conditioned gym and two tennis courts on site, well under what comparable Mexico or Dominican Republic beach resorts charge
Cons
- −The front desk is the weak point. 2026 guests describe check-in queues of an hour or more, under-trained or curt desk staff, requests (towels, birthday arrangements) that never arrive, and a fee for early check-in, which the resort grants only subject to availability
- −Wildlife joins you at meals: 2026 reviewers describe raccoons climbing onto tables and birds eating off plates in the main restaurant. Keep food covered and do not expect staff to intervene
- −Dining is mixed: September 2026 guests called the food very good, others mediocre. The three à la carte venues (Catch of the Day, Il Fuoco, Asia-Asia) are reservation-only, the reservation app fails often, and one guest found the seafood restaurant required a 7:30 AM in-person booking
- −The pools close around 5:30 PM according to recent guests, so there is no evening swim; the night moves to the stage, bars and disco instead
- −The property dates from 2010 and shows it outside the renovated public areas: 2026 reviewers cite aged rooms, plumbing faults and 'very low maintenance', and an August 2025 guest said the buildings need work
- −Lots of stairs and few ramps across the 10 blocks (March 2026 family), so ask for a ground-floor room if you have a stroller or limited mobility
- −Water entry at the main swimming sections is rocky; bring water shoes or the 'beautiful beach' promise loses some shine
- −Wi-Fi is listed as unlimited only for the 110 Plus-category rooms, and an August 2025 guest found the internet poor; with Cartagena 75 minutes away, you are also stuck with the resort's food if it disappoints
Meals run through Portonao, the buffet (breakfast 7 to 10:30 AM, lunch 12 to 2:30 PM, dinner 6:30 to 10 PM), with three reservation-only à la carte rooms: Catch of the Day for seafood, Il Fuoco for Italian and Asia-Asia. Snacks run 11 AM to 5 PM, a coffee break 5 to 6:30 PM and a late snack 11 PM to 2 AM. Four bars (Pelícano at pool 2, Gaviotas at pool 3, the Lobby Bar and Bar Teatrino at the show area) pour from 9 AM to 2 AM. The four pools and kids water park close in the late afternoon. Rooms split 256 Standard, 65 Standard Plus and 45 Ocean Front Plus, all with air conditioning, balcony, TV, fridge and safe; only the Plus categories include unlimited Wi-Fi and a minibar. Service is the sore spot: front-desk waits and attitude, the broken reservation app and raccoons and birds at the restaurant tables recur in 2026 reviews, while the entertainment and beach teams earn consistent praise.
It suits travelers who want a Colombian Caribbean beach in all-inclusive form and understand the country's resort infrastructure sits a notch below Mexico or the Dominican Republic. At around $350 a night for two it undercuts those destinations, and it is the only true beach all-inclusive near Cartagena; Decameron Cartagena, its in-city sister, has the old town on its doorstep but no beach like this. Day-trippers crowd Playa Blanca until mid-afternoon, boat trips to the Islas del Rosario reefs cost extra, and Cartagena's walled city is a long day out rather than an evening option.
Common Questions
What should I expect at check-in?
How remote is the resort from Cartagena?
What is Playa Blanca actually like and is it worth the trip?
Is there anything to do in the evening?
Is the snorkeling good here?
What should I bring that the resort does not provide?
Restaurants (4)
| Type | Restaurants |
|---|---|
| Buffet | Portonao |
| Italian | IL Fuoco |
| Asian | Asia-Asia |
| Seafood | La Pesca del Día |
From the resort's own dining pages. Only restaurants the resort lists are shown. All are covered by the all-inclusive rate, per the resort.
What's nearby
Playa Blanca (Barú)35 min drive · 7.8 mi
More things to do (3)
- Rosario Islands day trip · excursion35 min drive · 7.8 mi
- Marina de Barú · marina25 min drive · 6.3 mi
- Aviario Nacional de Colombia · wildlife35 min drive · 7.7 mi
Amenities
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Google Reviews★ 4.5 · 10,145 reviews
“Big beautiful resort. The facilities are well laid out at this spectacular location. We selected superior accommodations and it was well worth it. Specialty restaurants every night. The food at the buffet and the restaurants were excellent and we ar...”
“The Spa personnel were great. The buffet manager Ever was outstanding. He help make our stay a pleasure and mi wife enjoyed her birthday at the resort. The food is great great view from the hotel, great food at the buffet and specialty restaurants an...”
