Our adventures in Punta Brava, Colombia

After Coqui, Guachalito, Termales, and Arusí, I chose Punta Brava as the final stop on my 13-day trip along Colombia’s Pacific coast in February 2025.

Read my travel journal to follow the rest of my adventure. You’ll get a day-by-day glimpse into my experience in Punta Brava and discover how to make the most of this wild and fascinating destination.

Through my eyes, discover how to enjoy this remote corner of the world, and dive into the story of my adventures, captured daily in my journal.

TOM’S TIP

Check out our selection of ecolodges between Nuquí and Punta Brava, and don’t forget to look at our guides on Colombia’s Pacific coast!

Day 10: Arrival in Punta Brava

Alejandro’s private boat from the ecolodge speeds along the coast. As we leave Arusí, the shapes of the Hanano and Hananito volcanoes rise above the jungle canopy.

We pass Punta Arusí, and the further south we go, the wilder the coastline becomes—cut by cliffs and tangled in green. Ocean waves slam into bare rocky islets, home to nesting pelicans.

Discovering our new paradise

After about 20 minutes on the water, the boat slows near a small cove sheltered behind a large rocky islet. I can make out Alejandro’s ecolodge, barely visible and well hidden above.

We land easily on the beach, where Suzanna, the owner, greets us with her warm, gentle smile.

Backpacks on, we climb the forest path—about a hundred steep, uneven steps leading to the ecolodge. After a 10-minute walk, we reach our cabin named “Aves.” It’s surrounded by lush greenery with a stunning view over the bay.

We drop our bags, take a moment to admire the spacious sea-facing rooms, then settle around a table in the open-air kitchen on the terrace.

That’s where we meet Julie, our cheerful private chef for the stay. She serves up grilled tuna, a first taste of her culinary skills. Lunch ends with a generous piece of cocada, the perfect sweet bite with our coffee.

The rain has returned. We finish unpacking and soak in the quiet of our cabin, reading, watching birds, and the surroundings through binoculars. A brief break in the weather tempts me to explore my little corner of paradise.

7:00 PM – Julie treats us to a hearty dinner. On the menu: a rare pasta dish—hard to find on the Pacific coast—with homemade tomato sauce and a rich queso Paipa topping. Full and happy, we end the evening chatting in the cozy, open kitchen.

ADRIEN’S TIP

Getting to Alejandro’s ecolodge isn’t easy: it’s a steep climb, and the uneven steps are sometimes relatively high. It’s better to be in good shape and carry a backpack than a suitcase!

Day 11: Thick jungle and (big) fish

7:00 am – A hearty breakfast prepared by the discreet and efficient Julie awaits us. On the menu, papaya salad, “Perico” eggs with homemade arepas accompanied by butter, jam, and that famous paste spread whose name I won’t mention 😉

All served with ginger hot chocolate and delicious mango juice.

WE’RE GOING FOR A RIDE WITH PEDRO

8:45 – The sun shows through the overcast sky. We set off with Pedro, our guide, for a short hike in the forest. Boots on, we follow a muddy, root-clogged, sometimes steep path. I use the stick that Pedro gave me to help me along the difficult sections.

After an hour, we reach the pretty Punta Brava waterfall, from which the stream that supplies the ecolodge flows.

We return the same way.

AN INCREDIBLE UNDERWATER ADVENTURE

I barely have time to put on my swimsuit, grab my mask, snorkel, and fins, and head down to the little beach where we arrived the day before for a snorkel session. With Adrien and my mother, we launch ourselves from the beach. Pedro follows in a kayak to ensure our safety.

For almost 2 hours, under a sun that comes and goes, I explore the rocky islets in a lapping of small waves. Loads of fish! Parrots, surgeons, sergeants major, and more. As Adrien and I move away from the coast, I see a shark sleeping on the bottom. Adrien taunts me by telling me he’s seen turtles.

Still escorted by Pedro, we round the big islet and arrive opposite another bigger and even more beautiful beach. I come out of the water, amazed but quite tired!

a well-deserved rest

1:00 pm – Julie serves us lunch on the superb ocean-facing “Pusa” hut terrace. There is a delicious sancocho de pollo and dulce de leche for dessert on the menu.

After a nap on a chaise longue, I head off with Adrien to take some photos and shots with the drone.

7:00 pm – Tonight, Julie treats us to a succulent tuna ceviche accompanied by a mango ceviche. As we congratulate her, she confides that she doesn’t like to cook… hard to believe, given the quality of the meal!

I fall asleep lulled by the sounds of the jungle and the waves.

TOM’S TIP

If you want to avoid sunburn, wear a T-shirt for snorkeling, even if the sun is pale. It’s much better than sunscreen, and much more environmentally friendly.

Day 12: Cabo Corrientes and paradise beach

7:30 – For breakfast, Julie treats us to homemade pancakes. There are so many that Adrien and I manage to stall.

This morning we had planned to go snorkeling off Cabo Corrientes, but the rain starts to fall, accompanied by a thick mist that stagnates on the ocean. We wait at the cabin.

a hectic snorkeling session

Thanks to a shy ray of sunshine, Adrien and I decided to set off, counting on our luck. We set sail from the beach with Pedro towards the cape. After about 30 minutes of sailing, we arrive in an astonishing landscape of rocks and natural tunnels. Still no sun, but the mist is slowly dissipating and the rain has stopped.

Adrien and I get into the water. The currents make it quite choppy, the depths are deep, and visibility isn’t great.

I guess snorkeling conditions depend a lot on the weather. Cabo Corrientes is known for encountering some very big fish. It’s the tip of the Pacific coast, and with its huge rocks jutting out of the water, it creates a real playground for marine life.

Even when the sea is calmer, don’t jump into the water carelessly: the bottom is around ten meters deep, so it’s best to have good apnea skills and be comfortable in the water.

Underwater, I feel like I’m in a washing machine. The currents toss us back and forth, rolling and whirling… and frankly, the fish don’t seem to be coping any better than we are, haha. We swim between these giant rocks more than an hour before returning to the boat.

Eventually, the captain takes us to a dark cave in the cliff, a well-known fishing spot. I must confess that I didn’t feel quite smart swimming towards it. But the captain was right: just below us, dozens of big tuna were swimming around, which was truly impressive.

My belly was starting to get hungry after watching all those fish. It’s time to go back and see what Julie has prepared for us!

On the abandoned beach, shell and…

1:45pm – Kind Julie serves us marinated tuna with mashed potatoes, enough to satisfy my hungry tummy.

The sun is out, and I stroll down to the little beach, taking care not to run over dozens of hermit crabs of all sizes.

Taking advantage of the low tide, I head back up to the steep path leading to the large, beautiful beach on the other side of the big islet. The rock-strewn beach is deserted, the waves dying on the uncovered shore, the light gently descending, illuminating the vegetation spilling over onto the beach. A truly magical moment. I remain hypnotized until sunset.

7:00 pm – Our talented Julie has cooked us a tomato soup accompanied by a gourmet salad and dulce de leche for our last dinner.

Julie brings back the laundry we gave her to wash on our arrival. It’s time to pack our bags, as we’ll leave our little hidden corner early tomorrow.

ADRIEN’S TIP

The skies over the Pacific are capricious and unpredictable, so you’ll need to adapt your activities. Forget rigid timetables and savor every moment, you’re at the end of the world.

Day 13: Adios Punta Brava

The rain is back.

7.15am – We have breakfast and say goodbye to Julie.

We put on our rain jackets, protect our backpacks, and, with Pedro and Suzanna, head down to the small beach where the boat awaits us back to Nuquí. We board without a hitch, the rain intensifying, and Suzanna is on board. Pedro waves to us from the beach.

Still in the rain, the boat winds up the coast we’ve explored over the last 12 days – a touch of nostalgia.

After 1 h 15 of sailing, the boat enters the channel. The tide is low, the boat struggles to make headway in the shallow water, and sometimes even drifts! The captain has to get into the water to raise the engines.

We finally arrive at the Muelle Turístico de Nuquí. The rain has stopped.

On the way to the airport, I stop to buy some earrings and a bracelet made of colorful pearls. In the departure lounge, we meet up again with Rob and Carol, the friendly American couple we had met at our ecolodge in Arusi.

Our return flight to Medellín is scheduled for 10.56am. It’s finally 1 hour later that we take off, regretfully ending my adventure on Colombia’s Pacific coast.

TOM’S TIP

Protect your bag when traveling by boat. And don’t forget to take some change for dry clothes when you arrive at the airport.