Snorkelling
Colourful fish.
REPÚBLICA DE COLOMBIA — Public domain · REPÚBLICA DE COLOMBIA — Public domain · REPÚBLICA DE COLOMBIA — Public domain · Maria Pia — CC BY-SA 4.0
An archipelago of small coral islands in the Caribbean south-west of Cartagena, made a national park in 1988 to protect one of the most important coral reefs on Colombia's Caribbean coast. The water is clear in shades of turquoise and blue, and the islands are covered in mangroves and palm trees. Boats leave in the morning from La Bodeguita pier in Cartagena, weaving among small islands, some topped with houses and wooden lodges. The main activities are snorkelling over the coral to see colourful fish, swimming in warm water and visiting the open-sea aquarium on one of the islands. Trips vary a lot: some stop at very crowded beaches full of vendors, others go to quiet islands with private lodges. So read the trip details before booking, and ask about extra fees and food. The sea can be rough on the boat ride, so bring seasickness tablets if you need them. The sun is very strong on the water and the coral fragile, so do not touch or stand on it, and use reef-safe sunscreen.
Colourful fish.
Between islands.
In the open sea.
Caribbean Sea south-west of Cartagena, about an hour by speedboat from La Bodeguita pier
Read the details: some trips go to crowded vendor beaches, others to quiet islands. Ask about the pier tax, park fees and food before paying.