Visiting Fort San Fernando de Bocachica from Cartagena
Are you looking for a pleasant half-day trip from Cartagena, Colombia? Visiting Fort San Fernando de Bocachica on Isla de Tierra Bomba is a pleasant trip that will take you off the beaten path. How to get to San Fernando fort from Cartagena, where to stay, or how much things cost? Keep on reading.
Cartagena is Colombia's most prominent destination and one of the places every traveler has high on the bucket list.
But what if you want to escape crowds?
What if you already walked the streets of Cartagena and have no intention to join hundreds of others on a day trip to the Rosario Islands?
Then, we have a great travel tip for you. A half-day trip from Cartagena that will take you off the well-trodden path.
Fort (Castillo) San Fernando de Bocachica on Tierra Bomba island is located only a short boat ride from the shores of Cartagena, and in our opinion, it is worth your attention.
By no means, this fort is as big and popular as one of Cartagena's top attractions Castillo San Felipe de Barajas.
Still, we found it interesting to visit one of the forts that played an important role in protecting the city from the attacks.
Except for visiting the fort itself and learning more about the architecture, we also liked the idea of exploring the community living on the island, very close to Cartagena.
Last but not least, we had only a half-day before heading to the terminal as we had booked an overnight bus to Medellin, that's why the trip to San Fernando fort seemed like a great fit for our plans.
Visiting Fort San Fernando de Bocachica independently is very easy.
Read our travel guide on how to get there and what to expect. Hopefully, this post will inspire you to make this trip in the near future.
ISLA DE TIERRA BOMBA
The fort is located on the south tip of Tierra Bomba island, that together with the tip of the mainland, creates a small channel known as Bocachica, which literally means Little Mouth.
And it was the fort's task to guard this channel and make sure no enemy will pass through.
Nowadays, you do not have to worry that the access would be denied.
You should only worry about your clothes and valuables, because the sea is often choppy, especially in the afternoon.
But back to the point.
HOW TO GET THERE BY BOAT
How do you get to Fort San Fernando de Bocachica? The only way how to get there is by boat.
Therefore you need to head to the docks.
The good news is that the terminal is within walking distance from Cartagena's center, so you can easily get there on foot.
The dock is called Muelle de la Bodeguita, and you'll find it on the opposite side of Avenida Blass de Lezo street.
Now you might be confused by many travelers waiting in a queue - they are waiting for a tour to Rosario Islands.
As Fort San Fernando is not that popular, you have to go to entrance number 3, where you will find a small boat, usually full of locals, waiting for the departure.
Pay 5000 COP (you may be asked for 7 000 COP, but it is the maximum we would pay) per person/way.
The boat will depart once full.
The service usually starts at 6 AM, and we would not leave the Tierra Bomba island later than 4 PM to make sure there will be boat to Cartagena available.
Tell the driver where you want to get off, but normally Bocachica is the last stop on the schedule. Just ask the boat driver when the next boat returns to Cartagena and plan your time on the island accordingly.
The boat drive takes approximately 45 minutes.
BEFORE YOU GET TO FORT SAN FERNANDO DE BOCACHICA
Before you get to the fort, it is necessary to walk through a small community of Bocachica.
Bocachica is a fishing village, but many people travel for work to Cartagena, and the rest of them believe that tourism will soon play a more important role on the island.
It is good to know that a few people will approach you and offer their services.
We did not find it necessary to have a guide, who spoke only Spanish, and it took us a while to explain we are really not interested.
We know that a few travelers found the behavior of locals pushy and uncomfortable, but be firm and let be clear that you do not want to pay for this kind of service.
In case you are interested in a guided tour (we are very sceptical about the quality, though), agree on the price beforehand.
OUR EXPERIENCE
Well, we told the guy who introduced himself as a guide that we are not interested in his services. Unfortunately, that did not stop him from following us all the way to the fort.
We were the only tourists there that morning, so we were easy prey.
As we traveled on a low budget, we really had no intention to pay anything extra (for nothing), so we simply walked through the village at our own pace, and tried to ignore him.
Once we reached the fort, he asked us for money, even though he did not say a word all the time, and we found our way alone.
He started telling us how many kids he has to feed. Then another guy appeared, they argued, and then he left disappointed.
Situations like this are uncomfortable, which is probably why many travelers end up paying a few dollars just to get rid of a person like this.
To be honest, we were quite surprised by the look and vibe in Bocachica, as it was extremely neglected, and the community for sure seen better days.
The streets were muddy, and we could see litter everywhere - it was too much even for Colombian standards.
To improve the situation, or at least not to worsen it, bring your reusable water bottle, or pack all your waste with you. Also, the number of strayed dogs on the streets was quite shocking, but they are used to people's presence.
Even though Bocachica is not pretty, it was an eye-opener, as we could see the reality of a former fishing village that is struggling with the transformation and adaptation.
SAFETY
On the other hand, we walked the village to the fort without any problems and felt quite safe all the time.
The rule of thumb is not to flash around your valuables; stay close to the main path that leads to the fort (use Maps.me), and make it back to the dock before it gets dark.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
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ENTRANCE FEE
There's no entrance fee. We only had to write down our initials in the guest book.
VISITING FORT SAN FERNANDO DE BOCACHICA
If you are the type of traveler interested in military architecture and strategically built fortifications, you should know that San Fernando is not the only fortress on the island.
You can also visit Fort Angel San Rafael, a remote Castillo about twenty minutes walk inland from the dock, and then there's Fort San Jose across the channel and San Fernando fort.
To get there, you need to hire a boat. As our time was limited, we opted just for San Fernando fort.
A small park with palm trees surrounds the fort; the place is quite photogenic, so take your time, and then cross a narrow bridge that will take you to the fort itself.
What can you expect to see inside? On a relatively small size, there's a courtyard with several flights of stairs that lead to ramparts.
You can climb up and appreciate the architectural style and the views of the channel and Fort San Jose on the opposite side.
I usually like to imagine how life must have looked like in places like this, how the lives of the soldiers guarding Cartagena's gates must have been like.
We spent in the fort around thirty minutes, and even though the open courtyard and views are for sure the main highlights here, do not forget to make it to the vaults and a few rooms that are adjacent to the courtyard.
It is easy to navigate around the fort, and we liked the freedom of exploring it on our own and looking for small details and photo opportunities.
Once we were done sightseeing, we headed back to the dock, where we waited a while for our boat.
If you want to support the community, you can eat in a restaurant or buy a drink or snack to go.
In case you have more time to kill, there's a small beach, where you can relax and sunbathe. Therefore, pack a swimsuit.
Other than that, you need just a daypack, and a rain poncho, just in case. Flip flops or sneakers are completely fine for this kind of trip.
WHERE TO STAY
You have two alternatives on where to stay when visiting Isla de Tierra Bomba and San Fernando fort.
You can either stay on the island, which gives you a different perspective, or you can return to Cartagena, which obviously offers more in terms of accommodation and nightlife.
We had to go back, but it would be interesting to spend the night on the island, even though it is a bit rough around the edges to understand this community's life better.
We've handpicked the best accommodation for every type of traveler both in Cartagena and on Tierra Bomba island, to make your trip as smooth as possible.
HOTELS IN CARTAGENA
Budget | Hotel La Magdalena - Set in a colonial house, this hotel is a great choice for all budget travelers who seek privacy, clean and well-equipped rooms in the city center.
Mid-range | Hyatt Regency Cartagena - One of the best rated hotels in the city is reasonably priced, and the service is great. Most of the rooms offer amazing views, and you have to visit the hotel's pool.
Luxury | Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena - Are you looking for the top service and a hotel which will make your stay in Cartagena special? You've just found it. The hotel is located in a former monastery, has a spa, swimming pool, gym, and sauna. Rooms are, of course, excellent.
HOTELS ON ISLA DE LA TIERRA BOMBA
The village of Bocachica offers a limited number of hotels.
In case you want to stay on the island but prefer to choose from a wider selection, you need to get to the other side of the island to a part called Punta Arenas.
To get there, use boat transport.
Mid-range | Hotel Tropical Inn - This hotel is situated on the beach strip and except for the excellent location features wonderfully furnished rooms and relaxed atmosphere.
Mid-range | Hotel Fenix Beach Cartagena - We would say this hotel on the island in Punta Arenas is the best option when comparing the quality/price ratio. It is right on the beach, it offers Cartagena's skyline views, and the service is amazing.
Mid-range | Hotel Isla Real - Even though the selection in Bocachica is not that great, this is one of the best options on the island. This hotel has an outdoor pool, ocean view, and rooms are clean and nicely furnished.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
