Anchorage· Isla Grande (Rosario)· Other Caribbean

Bahía de las Mantas Anchorage (Isla Grande)

10° 10.9′ N · 75° 44.7′ W

A reef-guarded bay on Isla Grande's north side, entered through a narrow gap between parallel reefs marked by crooked concrete posts - the classic yacht anchorage of the Rosarios, with Isla Grande's village and mangrove lagoons within dinghy range.

Belize Barrier Reef

Practical

Waypoint A11 (10°10'52.378"N 75°44'41.436"W) from Colombia's official cruising guide (DIMAR/FONTUR Guía Náutica Turística). Entry (Noonsite 2017): a crooked concrete post at 10°11.052'N 75°44.5'W marks the gap between two reefs running parallel to shore; leave it to starboard and head WSW to 10°11.11'N 75°44.6'W, between another crooked post and a nearly straight one; once through you can nose in and anchor - it shoals very quickly to the west. The national guide's matching RMAN route from the northeast of Isla Grande runs 10°11'24.630"N 75°44'31.722"W → 10°11'14.223"N 75°44'33.734"W → 10°11'05.292"N 75°44'27.994"W → 10°11'00.962"N 75°44'35.138"W → 10°11'01.220"N 75°44'40.947"W, then to A11. A 2010 cruiser report describes narrow passages between posts and dubious holding until the anchor found sand clear of coral heads. Lobster and fish are sold from local boats. Rosario approach rules: enter only in good light with someone on the bow reading the water (national guide; Noonsite). Many buoys shown on charts do not exist (Noonsite 2017), and the buoys for the Rosario and Cholón routes were removed in October 2023 and may not have been replaced (Noonsite Cartagena page, 2025) - rely on the official waypoints, eyeball navigation and satellite overlays. Seasonal choice (national guide): in the rainy season (April–November) anchor on the northern side of the archipelago; when the trades blow from the north (December–April) anchor on the south side. Park rules: anchoring on coral, collecting shells or coral, buying mero guasa, turtle or queen conch, loud music and single-use plastics are prohibited (Parques Nacionales); Noonsite adds no jet-skiing or fishing and limited anchoring areas. Day-tripper boats crowd the anchorages and their music stops around 5 pm (Noonsite). Security: Noonsite records a fatal attack on a cruising boat in the Rosarios in September 2015, a violent attack after an attempted dinghy theft in July 2016 and an outboard stolen from a lifted, unlocked dinghy in December 2014 - lift, lock and chain dinghy, outboard and tank every night.

Best for

The Rosarios' best-known protected yacht anchorage

Season

Rainy season (Apr–Nov): north side; Dec–Apr trades: south side

Nearby