Anchorage· Isla Grande (Rosario)· Other Caribbean

Ensenada de Alcatraz Anchorage (Isla Grande)

10° 11.0′ N · 75° 44.1′ W

A cove on Isla Grande's north side between Majagua and La Cocotera, listed among the official Rosario anchoring points.

Belize Barrier Reef

Practical

Waypoint A09 (10°10'58.260"N 75°44'07.440"W) from Colombia's official cruising guide (DIMAR/FONTUR Guía Náutica Turística). The guide gives only the waypoint - no depths or holding. Approach slowly in good light and anchor in sand. 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

Protected cove anchorage on the north shore

Season

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

Nearby