Isla Gorgona
A jungle island in the Pacific that was a maximum security prison until 1984, now a national park with reef and whales.
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Gorgona is about nine kilometres long, mountainous and covered in rainforest, sitting some fifty kilometres off the Pacific coast. From 1959 to 1984 it held a maximum security prison, chosen because the surrounding water is shark-inhabited and the island is full of venomous snakes - escape was considered impossible - and the ruins of the prison stand in the forest, being taken back by it. Pizarro named it for the Gorgons after his men were bitten by snakes here in 1527. It became a national park in 1984. The reef around it is among the best-developed on the Colombian Pacific, humpbacks calve offshore from July, and the island holds endemic lizards and a large snake population. Access requires a permit and booking.
What you actually see
- A prison closed in 1984 - its ruins being taken back by forest.
- Rainforest and endemic species - including a serious snake population.
- Reef diving - among the best on the Colombian Pacific.
- Humpbacks offshore - calving from July.
When to go
July to October for whales; diving is year round. Several days.
Honest expectations
Permits and accommodation must be booked in advance through the park - you cannot arrive independently. Boat crossings are long and rough. Venomous snakes are genuinely present and rules about footwear and paths are enforced. Rain is heavy.
Nearby
Guapi is on the mainland; Bahia Malaga is north.
What to pack for Isla Gorgona
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.