Anchorage· Isla Grande (Rosario)· Other Caribbean

Caño Ratón Anchorage (Isla Grande)

10° 10.8′ N · 75° 44.9′ W

A channel and anchorage at the western side of Isla Grande's north shore, entered from the north between red and green posts or from the south via the guide's southern approach waypoint.

Belize Barrier Reef

Practical

Waypoint A12 (10°10'48.891"N 75°44'54.082"W) from Colombia's official cruising guide (DIMAR/FONTUR Guía Náutica Turística). Noonsite: the northern entrance to Caño Ratón is marked by red and green posts. The national guide gives a southern approach waypoint A15 at 10°10'04.000"N 75°45'00.000"W. OSM maps the Caño Ratón locality right beside the waypoint. Shallow coral either side: proceed slowly with a bow lookout. 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.

Caño Ratón Anchorage (Isla Grande)

Practical

Best for

Season

Nearby