Old Providence McBean Lagoon

Providencia is the quieter of Colombia's Caribbean islands, and this park protects a strip of its northeast coast: a red mangrove lagoon, the Iron Wood Hill dry forest trail, the small round rock of Crab Cay, and a slice of the barrier reef that runs offshore. Crab Cay is the picture everyone takes, a green knob rising out of shallow water with a short scramble to the top and good snorkelling straight off the rocks. The mangrove lagoon is worked by kayak and acts as the nursery for much of what you then see out on the reef. The whole park is compact, and half a day covers it.

What you actually see

• Crab Cay - a rock islet with a short climb and snorkelling off the shallows.
• The mangrove lagoon - red mangrove channels paddled by kayak.
• Iron Wood Hill - a dry forest trail with views across the island and reef.
• The barrier reef - coral heads and fish in the shallow water offshore.

When to go

January to April is driest and the sea is calmest for boat transfers and snorkelling. The hurricane season runs roughly June to November and can disrupt flights and boats. Go early for Crab Cay, since tour boats converge there in the late morning and the rock gets crowded, and the snorkelling is better before the water is churned up.

Honest expectations

Providencia is expensive and awkward to reach: a small plane or a rough catamaran crossing from San Andres, both cancelled often enough to strand people. The island was badly damaged by a hurricane in 2020 and rebuilding is still visible. The park itself is small, so do not expect a day of wilderness, and Crab Cay feels busy with three boats moored at it.

Nearby

Providencia's beaches at Manzanillo and Bahia Suroeste, and Santa Catalina across the wooden bridge.