Quick answer
The San Bernardo Archipelago is a group of 10 white-sand islands in the Colombian Caribbean, north of the Gulf of Morrosquillo, about 50 km southwest of Cartagena. Since 1996 it has been part of Corales del Rosario y San Bernardo National Natural Park, and you reach it by boat from Cartagena (2 h) or Tolú (1 h).
| ISLAND |
WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL |
HOW TO VISIT |
| Isla Múcura |
White-sand beaches, turquoise waters and a peaceful atmosphere with no vendors; home to Hotel Isla Múcura. |
Daily boat from Cartagena and Tolú. |
| Tintipán |
The largest island and the most biodiverse in the archipelago; ideal for snorkeling and diving. |
Water taxi from the hotel ($70,000 COP, 10:00 a.m. or 2:00 p.m.). |
| Santa Cruz del Islote |
The most densely populated islet in the world: a fishing community built on a reef. |
Water taxi from the hotel. |
| Mangle, Boquerón, Ceycén, Cabruna, Maravilla, Panda and Palma |
Smaller islands, mostly private or uninhabited, surrounded by mangroves and coral. |
Seen on tours around the archipelago. |
Where the San Bernardo Islands are
The archipelago lies in northern Colombia, off the coast of the departments of Bolívar and Sucre, well north of the Gulf of Morrosquillo. Isla Múcura is about 50 km southwest of Cartagena de Indias.
The 10 islands are: Santa Cruz del Islote, Mangle, Boquerón, Ceycén, Cabruna, Maravilla, Panda, Palma, Tintipán and Isla Múcura. Since 1996 the group has been part of Corales del Rosario y San Bernardo National Natural Park, one of the most visited nature reserves in the country.
What makes the archipelago special
Its reef is part of the largest and most diverse coral formation on Colombia’s continental shelf, with more than 50 coral species and around 210 species of fish, and underwater visibility that can reach 40 meters.
The reef also acts as a natural barrier against the waves: it turns the beaches into warm, natural pools, ideal for swimming, kayaking or paddleboarding.
How to get there and where to stay
There are two gateways: Cartagena (boat from La Bodeguita pier, 9:00 a.m., about 2 hours) and Tolú (boat at 12:00 p.m., 1 hour). The hotel reserves your seat on both routes.
Isla Múcura offers the best lodging in the archipelago. Hotel Isla Múcura, the top-rated on the island on TripAdvisor, offers 13 types of accommodation, from oceanfront bungalows to pool villas and family cabins.
Author: Hotel Isla Múcura · Last updated: September 3, 2026
Sources: hotelislamucura.com/preguntas-mas-frecuentes/ · hotelislamucura.com/como-llegar-a-isla-mucura/ · hotelislamucura.com/cartagena/ · hotelislamucura.com/tolu/ · hotelislamucura.com/cual-es-mejor-isla-mucura-o-isla-tintipan/ · hotelislamucura.com/donde-dormir-en-isla-mucura/
