Anchorage· Barú· Other Caribbean

Cholón Lagoon Anchorage (Ciénaga de Cholón, Barú)

10° 9.8′ N · 75° 39.9′ W

A mangrove-ringed lagoon on Barú's southwest shore, entered between Isla Mirador and La Isleta - glassy, protected water by day and a famous weekend floating party when a hundred or more Cartagena day boats raft in with sound systems.

Belize Barrier Reef

Practical

Anchor waypoint from the national cruising guide (Isla de Barú, Cholón: 10°09'48.152"N 75°39'52.124"W). Entry by the RCHO route past Isla Periquito between Isla Mirador and La Isleta, marked with green and red buoys (see the Cholón Entrance passage); outboard boats also use Punta Lápiz and Moja Culo. Distance: 18.5 nm from Cartagena via the Bocagrande escollera or 20.3 nm via Bocachica. DIMAR Resolution 0303 of 2020 zones the lagoon: a swimmers' zone with no navigation, separate access lanes for motor and non-motor boats, a temporary boat-stay zone where swimming and diving off boats are banned, 5-knot maximum on entering, engines off at anchor, no rafting up, no transferring people between boats, keep 5 m from the mangrove roots, music under 50 dB. Coast Guard units police it in high season. Weekends are crowded and noisy (El Universal reported over 100 boats each weekend in 2019, a fatal propeller accident and price-gouging on drinks and food) - come midweek and watch for swimmers. Snorkeling spots nearby (national guide). Agua Azul beach is just south.

Best for

Midweek calm lagoon stop; weekend party scene

Season

Best midweek; dry season Dec–Apr is busiest

Nearby