The Rosario Islands are Colombia’s most famous and touristy archipelago. However, Colombia’s islands are numerous and very varied. You’ll find paradise islands with white sand, turquoise seas, and coconut trees, and wild islands with lush forests. You’ll find a former high-security prison island, but a natural treasure, and islands with a seven-colored sea. Or even an island lost in the middle of the ocean with a wealth of underwater life. Whatever your desire, the islands of Colombia will satisfy your imagination.
THE ISLANDS OF COLOMBIA: THE CARIBBEAN
Las Islas del Rosario
It’s impossible to miss the 28 coral islands that make up a large part of the Coral Islands of Rosario and San Bernardo National Natural Park. The Natural Park protects 120,000 hectares of exotic landscapes and translucent waters of the Caribbean Sea. Here you’ll discover coral, marine plants, mangroves, exotic fish, and sublime white-sand beaches. Diving is possible, as the islands boast a coral reef. Kayaking, cycling, and bioluminescent phytoplankton are also possible.
Of all Colombia’s islands, the Rosario Islands are the best known and most visited. We recommend visiting Isla Grande and Isla Coralina, however, the quality hotel infrastructure is rather limited.
Isla Baru is a peninsula that is not part of the Rosario Islands. We do not recommend visiting it, except for the far north, where the magnificent Hotel Las Islas is located. The Rosario Islands are only accessible by boat from Cartagena.
The San Bernardo Archipelago
The Coral Islands of Rosario and San Bernardo National Natural Park is comprised of the Rosario Islands archipelago and the San Bernardo archipelago. It is composed of 10 islands of great beauty, with white sand beaches and turquoise seas, just out of a postcard! They are among the most beautiful islands in Colombia. Access is from Tolú, a seaside resort on the mainland, as well as from Cartagena.
We particularly recommend Múcura Island and Tintipan Island. The former is lined with white sand, coconut trees, and beaches covered with shell beds. Locals live in a small village in the north of the island. It takes 30 minutes to walk around the island. Tintipan Island is made up of several canals, inland islands, mangroves, and white sand beaches. It is a larger and wilder island than Mucura. When the moon is new, it’s possible to see bioluminescent phytoplankton at night. The hotel offerings on both islands are interesting and suitable for different profiles and budgets. At sunset, the sky turns azure blue, pink, and orange, offering you a truly poetic moment.
Isla Palma is also another option. The beaches are breathtaking, and it’s the only Colombian island to house a biopark with flamingos, monkeys, and more.
The archipelago of San Andres and Providencia
San Andres Island
Located 700 kilometers northwest of Colombia, San Andres Island is arguably the second most beautiful of Colombia’s islands. San Andres Island is accessible by plane with direct flights from Cartagena and Bogota. It’s a favorite among scuba divers and its colorful coral reefs. Its calm waters, reggae vibe, and colorful architecture make San Andres one of the hidden treasures of the Caribbean. San Andres Island is also renowned for its seven-colored sea! Shades of blue and green stretch to the horizon, creating a breathtaking landscape. Your itinerary for the trip includes swimming, windsurfing, kitesurfing, diving, hiking, and more.
Providencia Island
Providencia Island is a paradise for eco-tourism and for travelers looking for authenticity. It is nicknamed “the flower of the ocean”. Crystal clear and warm waters, white sand beaches, blue and sunny skies, exuberant tropical forests, colorful houses, warm and welcoming inhabitants and incredible seabeds which have allowed it to be classified as a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. For us, it is the most beautiful island of Colombia. During your stay on Providencia, you can also discover the small island of Santa Catalina which is connected to Providencia by a floating bridge and where a pleasant and relaxing atmosphere reigns. You can admire Morgan’s Rock and the McBean Lagoon Natural Park where the sea is tinted 7 shades of blue and a renowned snorkeling spot with a boat tour.
Tierra Bomba Island
Tierra Bomba Island is the perfect place for a day trip from Cartagena. Located in the Bay of Cartagena, just a 10-minute boat ride from the ports of El Laguito and Castillogrande, and the Los Pegasos dock, it offers impressive views of the city, with the Monastery of La Popa, Bocagrande, and Castillogrande in the background. The main attraction on this island is the Fort of San Fernando de Bocachica, but you can also enjoy the sea. The sea isn’t as beautiful as on the Rosario and San Bernardo islands, but the hotel offerings are attractive.
The Islands of Colombia: the Pacific
If the Caribbean Sea makes travelers dream of relaxation and postcard landscapes, the Colombian Pacific islands will allow you to discover the exuberance of the forest and the observation of imposing and unique animals in the world.
Gorgona Island
Gorgona Island National Natural Park is located 30 kilometers off the Colombian coast. For 23 years, between 1690 and 1983, the island housed a high-security prison for Colombia’s most dangerous criminals. The conditions of the prisoners were very poor, and most died on the spot. Today, the island is a paradise for humpback whale watching, whale shark watching, and scuba diving in general. Its terrestrial and marine nature is well preserved, making it a prime eco-tourism destination. The island is also home to several colonies of hundreds of monkeys, dozens of species of seabirds, and a coral reef.
Malpelo Island
Malpelo Island is listed by UNESCO as one of the best scuba diving sites in the world. It is located 490 km off the Colombian coast. The island is home to manta and leopard rays, dolphins, turtles, and sharks, including the incredible hammerhead shark migration! It’s a paradise for experienced divers. Of all Colombia’s islands, Malpelo is the wildest, most unpredictable, and spectacular.
One thing is certain, among the places to visit in Colombia, besides the highlands of the Andes mountain range, the colonial villages and the coffee plantations, the islands of Colombia are a must-see destination in the country.
