Colombia destinations, San Bernardo islands, Western Caribbean Coast
San Bernardo Islands
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The archipelago of San Bernardo is composed of 10 paradisiacal islands south of Cartagena, on the Western Caribbean Coast. Unfortunately, 95% of the islands are private, and there is very little space to enjoy the beach freely.
The choice of the island and your hotel is, therefore, crucial!
- Isla Tintipan has the most beautiful public beach. It is an excellent choice for couples.
- Isla Mucura is mainly private, and the size of its beaches is very limited. It is the right choice for a group of friends.
- Isla Palma is the closest to Rincon del Mar and has a hostel.
- Casa en el Agua is a famous hostel/island but overestimated, in my opinion.
The prices are quite high, so it is not the ideal place if you have a tight budget. If this is the case, staying at Rincon Del Mar is a highly recommended option as the atmosphere there is magical and authentic.
Note: Avoid weekends as many day tours depart from Tolu and the islands are crowded 😉
Articles about San Bernardo you must read before coming:
- How to pick the right San Bernardo island
- How to visit Isla Mucura and Isla Tintipan
- Santa Cruz del Islote: The Most Densely Populated Island On Earth
Getting to the San Bernardo Islands?
From Tolu to the San Bernardo Islands:
- Boats leave from Tolu around 8 am. The local companies there sell day trips, but you can ask to be dropped one Isla Mucura or Tintipan. | 1 hour
From Rincon del Mar to the San Bernardo islands:
- Organize a trip with a local fisherman (100 – 150 000 COP) | 40 min.
- You can also stop on Isla Palma | 25 min
From Cartagena to the San Bernardo islands:
- Take a boat from the touristic harbor (Muelle de la Bodeguia) to the San Bernardo Islands. Tell them the name of your hotel on Isla Mucura or Tintipan. 8 Kg max. More information here | Tranquiteasy | 2 hours
Table of Contents
Click on the orange links below ⬇️ and scroll down ⬇️ to read the chosen section.
- Isla Mucura?
- Isla Tintipan?
- Isla Palma?
- Island hotel?
- Things to do?
- Our articles
- Bars & restaurants
- Nearby places?
- Map of Colombia
Where to stay in Isla Mucura
There are not many beaches on Isla Mucura. You can walk to the tiny public beach or book your stay in the luxury Punta Faro hotel or in Hotel Mucura. In both cases, you can't enter if you're not a guest.
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Hotel - $$$
Hotel Mucura
Vast resort with private cabins and a dorm. Many facilities. Restaurant, games, tours, beach.Get the best price -
Hotel - $$$
Club Mucura
Resort with a massive wooden structure. Basic Comfy rooms. Restaurant. Friendly staff.Get the best price -
Luxury - $$$$
Punta Faro
Best hotel in San Bernardo. Top-notch services, food, and activities. Lovely private beach.Get the best price
Where to stay in Isla Tintipan
Isla Tintipan is the biggest island, but most of it is made up of mangroves. However, there is the loveliest beach in the area. Avoid the weekend, as many Colombians come for the day from Tolu and Rincon. It's 10 min away from Isla Mucura.
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Hostel - $$$
Isla Roots
Hostel above the water, surrounded by mangroves. Young crew. A bit expensive for the quality.Get the best price -
Hotel - $$$
Punta Norte
The best spot in the San Bernardo island. Delicious food. Very basic rooms. Thoughtful staff.Get the best price -
Upscale hotel - $$$$
Sal Si Puedes
Clean and modern. Beautiful beach and access to the mangrove. Great staff and delicious meals.Get the best price
Where to stay in Isla Palma
Isla Palma is a small private island with a lovely beach. Before the island was a Decameron propriety. Nowadays, the island is split into 2 hotels. It's 20 min away Rincon del Mar.
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Hostel - $$
Mistica
Costly "party" hostel with dorms. A lovely beach and many activities. Cool vibe. Young crowd.Get the best price -
Hotel - $$$$
Isla Palma
The location is fantastic, but the value for money isn't great. Friendly staff. Basic rooms. Stunning beach.Get the best price
Where to stay in hotel-island
2 hotels are built on corals and look like if they were floating above the water. Both are near Isla Tintipan. There is no beach, and you have to use fisher boats to move around. However, there are many constraints when living on a home-island. Therefore, it's not for everyone ;)
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Guesthouse - $$$$
La Gaviota
Vast wooden house.Beautiful spot. comfy rooms. The food is delicious. It's new & a bit chaotic.Get the best price -
Hostel - $$$
Casa en El Agua
Party hostel with cool vibes. A bit expensive (food, activities, rooms). Book it in advance. No Spanish speaker.Get the best price -
Guesthouse - $$$$
Acuarimantima
A simple but cute wooden house near Tintipán. A perfect welcome! A simple life without any hassle.Get the best price
Things to do in the San Bernardo Islands
There is no local agency on the island. The easiest way is to ask your hostel/hotel if they know reliable locals to show you around. Most of them are also fishers and can move you around with their boat.
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All day long
Beach
Pick cautiously your accommodation and lay back on their private beach.Learn more -
Evening
Sunsets
Order a cocktail and observe the sun setting behind the sea. It's sumptuous! -
1 - 3 hours | $
Mangrove
Rent a kayak and explore the mangroves to look for birds. Perfect around 5 pm. -
1 - 3 hours | $
Snorkeling
You can ask your hotel to organize a snorkeling tour or attempt by yourself from the shore. -
2 - 4 hours | $$
Fishing
Follow the local fishers while they're spearfishing. You need good apnea to enjoy it. -
3 - 4 hours | $$
Isla Tintipan
Ask a local to ride you to Tintipan island with his boat and relax on the public beach. You can eat there.Learn more -
1 - 2 hours | $
Plankton
Take a boat at dusk and ride to a lagoon surrounded by mangroves to swim with bioluminescent plankton. -
1 hour | $
Islote cruz
Most of the inhabitants live on this tiny island. You can do a short tour of the village for 15 000 COP.Learn more
Our articles about the San Bernardo islands
We went twice to the San Bernardo islands and wrote about ou travel experiences.
Where to eat & drink?
For us, good restaurants and exciting nightlife are important when traveling. We gathered our favorite picks on an interactive Map. Download the APP "Mapstr" and look for "Colombia Insider"!
More places on the Western Caribbean Coast
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Where to sleep? What to do? Where to eat? How do you get from one place to another?
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