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| SPOTLIGHT | | Tropical
beaches and jungle, Wildlife, natural heritage and sun-kissed islands. |
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About Isla Gorgona:
Once a penal colony,
situated about 50 km off the Pacific coast of southern Colombia, the island is
now a national park, created in 1985, and nature preserve where strict attention
is paid to preserving the richly varied wildlife of the sub-tropical forest and
the coral reefs offshore.
A portion of
the prison buildings have been converted for research, lodgings and a restaurant,
the only one on the island.
Prior to the Spaniards' arrival, the island
was inhabited by Indian tribes who left petroglyphs, artifacts, stone statues
and a ceremonial site called El Templete.
Following discovery by Francisco
Pizarro in the 1527, the island's sweet water supply drew sailors and the island,
and the nearby small island of Gorgonilla, became a pirate's lair.
Getting There:
The only way to the island is by boat:
cargo
boat from Buenaventura the main seaport on the Pacific coast, which leaves at
4pm and arrives 2am or later. You can buy food on the boat and on arrival, the
rest of the night has free lodging.
groups of ten or more can charter a faster
boat from Buenaventura
from Guapi, which is only a four hour trip, however,
you'll have to fly to Guapi.
Compare and select flights from your area
to Bogota, or Buenaventura with connections to Guapi. You can also browse for
hotels and car rentals.
Take and use motion sickness tablets or wristbands.
Life vests on the boat to Isla Gorgona are mandatory.
Reservations
and Permits are Required:
Get them in person, by phone or fax from:
Bogotá: Oficina de Ecoturismo, Carrera 10 N. 20-30 piso 4. Tel: 2431634
2433095, Fax: 2434174.
the Oficina Nacional de Parques Nacionales Naturales
(www.parquesnacionales.gov.co or call 571-2431634 in Bogota).
The office
in Cali can provide useful information: Territorial Suroccidente en Santiago de
Cali, Avenida 3 G No. 37N-70 (Barrio Prados del Norte), Tel: (092) 6656124 / 6543719/
6543720/ 6658084/ 6654261 (mmambiente@emcali.net.co).
Starying There::
The accommodations are limited in El Poblado, the living quarters on the island.
There is an inn for 80 persons, with shared four person room at the old prison
facility. Lodging must be paid in advance. You can make reservations with Aviatur.
Cautions:
Isla Gorgona is a tropical environment known for
its poisonous snakes. Wear boots!
You'll need proof of vaccination against
yellow fever and vaccinations against hepatitis B and tetanus are recommended.
You may not take alcoholic beverages to the island.
Your luggage may
be searched for contraband, particularly coral from the reefs on departure.
Camping and fires are not permitted.
Be on time for meals at the restaurant
or miss one. Take snacks with you.
Each arriving group is assigned a park
guide who will accompany your group everywhere. Protecting the "living laboratory"
of the wildlife on Gorgona is their prime function. Take advantage of all the
nature walks.
The only place you can go without your guide is the beach and
the area directly around the accommodations.
High humidity and rain are a
factor in tropical climates. Be prepared also for blazing sun and heat. Hats and
sunscreen, plus a waterproof jacket are recommended.
Things to Do
and See:
The primary attraction of Isla Gorgona is the wildife, both
on the island and under water.
Beaches - Playa Blanca,
Playa Pizarro, La Azufrada, Playa Palmeras and Playa Yundigua
El Antiguo
Muelle the old dock
Prison buildings, including the sleeping quarters and
the dining hall, and a museum
La Ecotienda - books, handicrafts,
shirts but no food
Salón de Arqueología, Salón de Historia
del penal, Centro de Interpretación Ambiental, Instalación Científica,
Estación Metereológica y Estación de Buceo
Diving
-For the nine recommended diving locations. There is a a diving station that rents
the necessary equipment and teaches diving courses
Snorkeling
Take a boat trip around the island. In whale mating season, this is an excellent
way to view the whales up close
Nature trails - follow the one to fantastic
Bahia Cocal from where you can see Gorgonilla.
Isla Gorgona is off the beaten
track, and takes a bit of effort to get there, but you'll be rewarded with nature,
superb diving and a total absence of city noises and distractions. |
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Top Beaches |  |
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Carmel Beach | | Carmel Beach, for one,
is a tranquil cove of blue water bordered by soft white sand and cypress-covered
cliffs (the tides are deceptively strong and dangerous, so be careful if you chance
a swim). | | |
| Hermosa
Beach | | Have fun with volleyball, paddleball
or beach ball, while creating a golden tan or toning up. Surfboarding, skateboarding
or boogey boarding are all here. | | |
| Long
Beach | | As you drive along the coast
of Long Beach, don't be fooled by the sight of the bright pastel islands just
off shore; far from natural, they're actually oil-drilling platforms in disguise. |
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| Surfrider
Beach | | Surfrider Beach here was the
surfing capital of the world in the 1950s and early 1960s, as seen in the Beach
Blanket Bingo movies of Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon (the surf is at its
best in late summer). | | |
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Malibu | | Malibu, at the top of the bay
twenty miles north of Santa Monica, is a whole other world, its beach-colony houses
owned by those famous enough to need privacy and rich enough to afford it. |
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Zuma Beach | | Five miles along the coast
from Malibu Pier, Zuma Beach is the largest and most crowded of the Los Angeles
County beaches. | | |
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Point Dume State Beach | | Adjacent Point
Dume State Beach, below the imposing promontory of Point Dume, is a lot more relaxed. |
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| Pismo
Beach | | Just outside San Luis Obispo,
on Pismo's 23-mile stretch of prime beachfront, flip-flops are the shoes of choice
and surf wear is the dominant fashion. It's all about beach life here, so bring
your bathing suit, your board, and a good book. | |
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Ocean Beach | | Ocean Beach, six miles
northwest of downtown, rivals Pacific Beach in its surfing and party atmosphere,
although Ocean Beach has a more down-to-earth, bohemian feel, and is replete with
excellent secondhand music shops. | | |
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La Jolla | | A more pretentious air prevails
in La Jolla, an elegant beach community just to the north that mystery writer
Raymond Chandler once described as "a nice place - for old people and their
parents." | | | |
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