Isla de Salamanca

The park protects a barrier of mangrove and lagoon between the Caribbean and the Cienaga Grande de Santa Marta, and its history is a case study in what infrastructure does to wetlands: the highway built along the barrier in the 1950s cut the exchange of salt and fresh water that mangrove depends on, salinity rose past what the trees could tolerate, and tens of thousands of hectares died - the standing dead forest was visible for decades. Channels have since been cut to restore water exchange and mangrove has regenerated substantially, though not completely. Boardwalks and a canopy walkway run through the recovered forest, and the bird list is long, with migratory species using the lagoons. Howler monkeys and caimans are present.

Highlights

• Mangrove killed by a road - and now substantially regrown.
• Restoration channels - cut to bring the water exchange back.
• Boardwalks and a canopy walkway - through the recovered forest.
• A long bird list - including migratory species on the lagoons.

When to go

December to April; early morning for birds. Half a day.

Good to know

The highway runs through the park and is noisy. Heat, humidity and mosquitoes are heavy. Recovery is incomplete and dead stands are still visible. Facilities are limited.

Nearby

Cienaga is east; Barranquilla is west.

Key facts