By Alexandra Maier
Providencia Island photo by Alexander Maier
Nearly every tourist that visits Colombia makes at least one stop on the Caribbean Coast. Places like Cartagena and Tayrona National Park are some of the most beautiful destinations in Colombia, and for that reason they attract many visitors. Yet the Colombian Caribbean Coast has many more gems waiting to be discovered, where you will find virgin beaches and true tranquility. Many of these places are only known by Colombians who go there to relax during their vacations.
The touristic infrastructure in these spots is not as developed as in San Andres or Cartagena, but for those who just want a beautiful beach, basic accommodation and the simple life, it´s perfect.
- Coveñas and Tolu: Southwest of Cartagena in the area better known as Golfo Morrosquillo you can find many long and lonely beaches, on some of which can stroll 50 meters out to sea without wetting your knees.
- Capurganá: A beautiful small town surrounded on three sides by one of the most biodiverse jungles on the planet, Capurganá is the last stop on Colombia´s Caribbean coast before crossing the border into Panama. There are no roads or cars in the town so most people arrive by boat and get around on foot, horse or bicycle. A great place for snorkeling.
- Cabo de La Vela: The Guajira desert northeast of Santa Marta is another world. At Cabo de la Vela giant sand dunes plummet straight down into the choppy ocean. From Cabo de La Vela you can travel up to Punta Gallinas the northernmost point of South America! This region is famous among other things for having a large indigenous population.
- Cabo San Juan: Located at the far end of Tayrona National Park, Cabo San Juan is equally picturesque and far less crowded than other nearby beaches. Don’t miss the sunrise in the morning, sitting on one of the big grey boulders and watching the crabs come out of the tide.
Providencia: A short boat ride from the famous San Andres will bring you to Providencia, a volcano island that towers out of the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean. During low season you virtually have the whole place to yourself, so a good book is necessary and maybe a friend to share the island experience with. Other that laying on the beach, snorkeling, scuba diving and eating delicious seafood, you can do a great hike to the top of the volcano which affords stunning views of the neighboring Santa Catalina Island.
What are your favorite spots in the Colombian Caribbean? These are my favorite, but I´m sure that there are hundreds more to discover…
Alex
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Muchas gracias!
