Corales del Rosario and San Bernardo National Natural Park

About the Park

Corales del Rosario and San Bernardo National Natural Park protects coral reefs, seagrass meadows, mangroves, coastal lagoons, and island ecosystems between Cartagena and the Gulf of Morrosquillo. The park is open, but a beach or boat ticket is not enough on its own: every visitor needs accident and assistance insurance, must use an authorized embarkation point and operator, and must complete the park's registration and induction requirements.

Access

From Cartagena, depart with an authorized operator from La Bodeguita; the maritime trip normally takes one to two hours. Land access reaches Baru and Playa Blanca, but Playa Blanca is not an embarkation point for trips to other park sectors. For San Bernardo, use an authorized departure from Tolu; return times depend on sea and port-authority conditions.

Before booking

Confirm the exact island and park sector, daily capacity, reservation, entry fee, guide or interpretation requirement, and every inclusion before paying. Mandatory accident and assistance insurance is separate from park entry, while transport, accommodation, day passes, and guiding are normally paid to approved providers.

On the water

Use an authorized embarkation point, verify the vessel is not over capacity, and wear the supplied life jacket. Confirm that any snorkeling or diving site is authorized, never touch or anchor on coral, avoid single-use plastics, and keep a flexible plan for changing sea or weather conditions.

Wildlife

Species recorded by official park sources include:

Conservation Highlights

• Coral reefs, seagrass meadows, mangroves, coastal lagoons, and island ecosystems
• The largest coral platform in the Colombian continental Caribbean
• Nursery habitat, coastal protection, and community-led stewardship across the archipelagos

How to Get There

From Cartagena, depart with an authorized operator from La Bodeguita; the maritime trip normally takes one to two hours. Land access reaches Baru and Playa Blanca, but Playa Blanca is not an embarkation point for trips to other park sectors. For San Bernardo, use an authorized departure from Tolu; return times depend on sea and port-authority conditions.

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