Rincon del Mar – the Colombian’s Best Kept Secret
There are places in the World that are still pure, wild and authentic. Secret locations untouched by modern world. A few weeks ago, I discovered Rincon del Mar – a place which perfectly suits this introduction.
I have been thinking until now, if I should introduce it to the public. And not because I don’t want anybody to go there but simply I wish this place would stay the same, as I remember it.
Rincon del Mar is a small, fishing village, located on the Caribbean Coast in Colombia. Known hardly by Colombians and definitely not by many tourists. A perfect spot for curious travelers, who are seeking for an authentic village well off the beaten track.
At the day time, I used to walk along the coast and explore surroundings. There are deckchairs on the beach, so you can relax and read books. Rincon del Mar is a place to reset your mind and recharge your batteries.
You would think that there is not much to do, but this place can surprise! There are plenty of attractions and tours organize by friendly fishermen, who live next to the Chill Octopus hostel. They arrange authentic local-style trips to experience something truly unforgettable!
SWIMMING WITH GLOWING PLANKTON
It is hard to describe in words this magnificent natural wonder. The specific planktons are developed to glow in order to scare or disturb fishes and other, dangerous for them predators. Bioluminescence can be find in very few environments around the World, so imagine my happiness when I arrived to Rincon del Mar!
A tour with fishermen goes during a new moon, because the darkness helps to increase the light in the water. A large full moon during a cloudless night may worsen the visibility of phosphorescence. So, all tours are available only for 15 days/month.
The trip starts at 5.30 pm on the beach. You get on the boat and the adventure starts. First, you reach the Bird Island to watch an amazing sunset with fishermen. You will have an unique opportunity to observe hundreds of different bird species, flying back to their nests. When the sun goes down, you will reach mangroves and wait until the sky is totally dark. After that all the magic happens! You jump to the water and swim with small tiny blue neon lights!
You can take with you a snorkeling mask to see the glowing planktons under the water! It is a totally mind-blowing experience! The trip costs 50 000 COP per person.
SPEARFISHING AND FREEDIVING TIME
The trip starts at 6 a.m. and takes you for an amazing adventure into the underwater world. You get in a boat and float away from the coast (30min) to find the best spot for fishing. When you are at the right place, the adventure starts! You jump into the water with snorkeling mask, fins on and follow the fisherman.
A well-trained fisherman can go as deep as 20 meters below the surface! And, seriously they are super-fast like fishes! I felt like a fat manatee between them That day, we catch some lobsters, crabs, conchs and fishes. It is amazing experience that will stay with you forever. The trip costs 50 000 COP per person.
DISCOVER THE ISLANDS OF ARCHIPELAGO OF SAN BERNARDO
The perfect boat trip to experience the untouched nature of the unique Archipelago of San Bernardo! The tour starts at 8 a.m. and takes around 6 hours. During the trip, you will discover some of the most beautiful islands in this area. On the boat, locals will tell you all what’s typical about each island, making the trip more memorable.
First, you explore the Isla Mangle or rather the underwater world of Isla Mangle because this spot is a perfect for snorkeling.
The second stop is made on the island called Tintipan. This is truly a heaven on earth. It has a very little population density and all bungalows are spread along the coast. The inhabitants live off fishing and some of them take care of private properties on the island. There is only one Eco hotel Puntanorte set on the north coast of the island.
Another interesting island to know is Santa Cruz del Islote. The most densely populated island on Earth! It is a home to over 1,200 inhabitants and the population density has been estimated at 103,917 per km2.
The latest stop is Isla Mucura full of little palm trees, warm sand surrounded by azure crystal Caribbean water. The trip costs 50 000 COP per person.
WHERE TO STAY IN RINCON DEL MAR
I can truly recommend the Chill Octopus hostel in Rincon del Mar. It provides dorm and private rooms and a well – equipped kitchen. You will find there everything what you need! The friendly atmosphere and good vibes, you can feel from far away. The hostel is set just right on the beach, so you can enjoy the everyday beach view, chilling on one of the hammocks. There are available paddle boards and snorkeling masks to use for free.
SCUBA DIVING
If you would like to discover the underwater world full of magnificent corals and different species of fishes, the Chill Octopus hostel has a great dive center. The visibility is around 20 meters and water is warm. You can also start you PADI course and get your scuba diving certification.
HOW TO GET THERE
Rincon del Mar is situated about 2 hours drive from Cartagena. You need to take a bus from the main terminal in Cartagena to San Onofre. The ride takes around 2 hours and costs 25.000 – 30.000 COP. Then from San Onofre, you have to take a motor taxi (if you are traveling solo) which should cost around 10.000 – 15.000 COP or taxi – around 10.000 COP. The trip takes about 30 min through the beautiful area of Sucre.
If you are in the Medellin, you can take a bus from the Northern Bus Terminal to San Onofre. The ride takes around 10 hours and costs 110.000 – 120.000 COP. From San Onofre, you know already what to do 😉