The Isla Rosario and San Bernardo National Park is located off Colombia’s coast in the Caribbean Sea. This is one of 46 national parks in Colombia and was created to protect one of the most important coral reefs bordering the Colombian Caribbean coastline. The park covers 120,000 hectares and comprises the underwater shelf and the coral reefs to the west of the island of Barú, the reef that shields the Nuestra Señora del Rosario archipelago as well as the islands of Tesoro, Rosario, Múcura and Maravilla.
The 23 coral islands and islets were formed relatively recently some 5000 years ago due to ancient volcanic activity that pushed up the continental shelf therefore creating the ideal situation for the birth of these coral reefs. Three ecosystems thrive here: coastal lagoons and the mangroves surrounding them and tropical forest.
Barú Island is to one side of the Rosario National Park, 40 minutes by boat from Cartagena by three hours by land. Within its 7000 hectares are the beautiful towns of Ararca, Santa Ana and white sandy beaches such as Playa Blanca, Playita de Cholón, Playa de los Muertos and Playa Bobo. All of these are blessed with clear turquoise waters and surrounded with multi bcoloured mangroves and dreamlike landscapes where the locals serve up and offer you delicious platters of lobster and shellfish while welcoming you to their home.
The native Indians of this area are descendants of the Caribbean people that were the first inhabitants of the Rosario and Barú islands in pre-Columbian times. Later, during the colonial period the islands were peopled by black slaves, brought from Africa, who dedicated their time to fishing and the gathering of molluscs. Today, these islands are a chosen destination for tourism of an exclusive nature.
Be aware that Isla Rosario and its surrounding islands are frequented by day trippers from Cartagena and these tiny islands can therefore be inundated by people during the day
