Islas de San Bernardo

The archipelago sits on a coral platform in the Gulf of Morrosquillo and consists of ten islands - Isla Mucura, Tintipan, Palma, Panda, Ceycen, Maravilla, Cabruna, Mangle, Boqueron and Santa Cruz del Islote. Tintipan is the largest and mostly mangrove; Mucura has the beaches and the hotels; Santa Cruz del Islote is the extraordinary one, a hectare of coral holding over a thousand people. The reef around the group supports snorkelling, though it has suffered from bleaching and from anchor and diver damage. The islands are part of the Corales del Rosario y San Bernardo national park, and land ownership on several has been contested between private holders, the state and communities.

Highlights

• Ten coral islands - from mangrove-covered to beach-fringed.
• Isla Mucura - the beaches and most of the accommodation.
• Santa Cruz del Islote - a hectare holding over a thousand people.
• Reef under pressure - bleaching and physical damage.

When to go

December to April. A full day or overnight.

Before you go

Day trips are crowded and rushed; overnight is better if you can. Boat operators overcharge and overload - agree terms first. Reef condition has declined. Fresh water on the islands is limited and shipped in.

Nearby

Tolu is on the mainland; the Rosario islands are north.

Key facts