The crater
Mud so thick that you float.
Dasha Shishkova — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Jaroslav Jelínek — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Lolito24 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Jaroslav Jelínek — CC BY-SA 4.0
El Totumo is a mud volcano on Colombia's Caribbean coast, in the municipality of Santa Catalina beside the Totumo swamp, near the border of Bolívar and Atlántico. It is only about 20 metres high, a cone of grey mud that you climb by a simple wooden stair to a crater full of liquid mud. Visitors come for an odd experience: climbing down into the crater and floating in mud so thick that it is hard to sink. Local people say the mud helps skin and joints, but these are local claims and not proven fact. Nearby villages such as Loma de Arena and Galerazamba live by fishing, salt and tourism. The scene is simple: a small hill, a stair and a narrow pool that holds a limited number at once. From the top you see the swamp and low coastal trees. After the mud, bathers go down to the swamp to wash. You can take a boat on the swamp to small mangrove islands. Stalls sell fried fish, coconut rice and cold drinks. The volcano is 49 km in a straight line north-east of Cartagena and 56.1 km south-west of Barranquilla. The pool is mixed, with men and women in swimwear, so watching from the top is a good option if you prefer. Local people press paid services on you, so agree a price or politely refuse. Bring cash, as cards are not usually taken, and remove jewellery before going in.
Mud so thick that you float.
The swamp and coastal trees.
Small mangrove islands.
Route 90A between Cartagena and Barranquilla, Bolívar department
Local people say so, but the claims are unproven, so treat it as a fun experience and not a cure.
No, you can climb the stair and watch from the top, which suits anyone who prefers to avoid the mixed pool.