Nueva Venecia
A village built entirely on stilts in the middle of a lagoon, with no streets, no cars and no land - everything moves by canoe.
Updated 19 October 2026
The village stands on wooden piles in the Cienaga Grande de Santa Marta with open water underneath and around every house - there is no land at all, so children go to a floating school by canoe, the church stands on piles, and fishing is effectively the only livelihood. Families settled here generations ago to be close to the fishing grounds. The lagoon itself has been damaged by road construction that cut water exchange with the sea, killing mangrove and reducing fish stocks, with restoration works since.
What you'll find
- A village entirely on stilts - no land, no streets, no cars.
- Canoes as the only transport - including to the school.
- A floating school and church - both standing on piles in the water.
- A damaged lagoon - mangrove loss from blocked water exchange.
When to go
December to April. Half a day.
Things to know
Access is only by boat and should be arranged with local operators. This is a poor community that has been through a great deal - visit with a guide from the area and pay properly. Facilities are nonexistent. Heat on the water is severe.
Nearby
Cienaga is east; Barranquilla is west.
What to pack for Nueva Venecia
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Travel rod + reel - A packable multi-piece rod fits in a case and covers most holiday fishing. Find on Amazon
- Reef-safe sunscreen - High SPF that will not bleach the coral you are swimming over. Find on Amazon
- Quick-dry clothing - Board shorts or synthetics that shrug off spray and dry fast. Find on Amazon
- Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.