Cholon
Crescent of white sand and coral reef where boat crowds dance to speakers on the shore all weekend.
Location
About this audio guide
This guide to Cholon near Cartagena opens with a question: how does a sliver of sand meant to hold barely a hundred people become known as the Caribbean's party capital. It describes the crescent of white sand and mangrove at the tip of the Baru peninsula, inside the protected waters of the Corales del Rosario National Natural Park, where rangers cap visitors to protect the coral reef and turtle nesting grounds. Locals compare the scene to Lake Havasu, the Arizona lake famous for its wall-to-wall spring break crowds, as boats anchor offshore and grilled lobster moves down the beach on trays over driftwood coals.
This audio guide was created using AI.
Similar places
Baru Playa Blanca
Powder-white coral sand beach on an island severed from the mainland by a colonial-era canal.
Isla Punta Arena
Afro-descendant fishing village turned beach-club strip, still awaiting title to its shoreline.
Isla Baru
Beach peninsula severed from the mainland by a colonial-era canal, now reached by bridge and boat.
Rosario and San Bernardo Corals National Natural Park
Underwater national park protecting coral reefs, mangroves and remote fishing island communities.
Rosario Islands
Coral-ringed archipelago of low cays whose shoreline scientists have tracked shrinking for over half a century.
Playa De Bocagrande
Wide urban beach where sunbathers eat shrimp cocktail, mango slices and coconut cocktails straight from passing carts.