Isla Fuerte, Colombia

On Christmas day, we woke up early, packed the car and drove 9 hours to the coast of Colombia. Colombia is the only country in South America that has a coast line on both the Pacific ocean and the Caribbean sea. Next time, we’ll try to make it to the Pacific coast for some diving.

When we got there, we had to park our car in a poor little town with muddy dirt roads and garbage all over the place. It wasn’t my car, so I wasn’t worried, but we also parked in a fenced off area where other divers had parked theirs, so we weren’t too worried.

We then took a 30 minute boat ride to get to the island in a tiny little boat that would later become our dive boat. No one spoke English so I pretty much was on my own to figure out what was going on, which is a really good way to learn a language, but not a good way when it comes to important things like how not to die on the ride over.

When we got to the island, our cabin had no hot water and no electricity; the water they did have was undrinkable, but they put a 2 gallon bottle of drinking water in our room. Electricity ran from a generator from 6PM to 6AM so that you could use the lights, charge any devices, but most importantly to have the fans on in the room.

Every meal was something that was locally grown or caught, so we ate a ton of fruit (new fruit I’ve never even seen before but terrifically delicious), fish and vegetables. It was an amazing experience and a real eye opener to how you can have really delicious food, electricity and water and still be sustainable on a tiny island like that.

Luckily for us, it only rained a little bit and was well after our scuba dives. Otherwise the temperature was perfect, as it is year round. Enjoy the photos below!

Isla Fuerte

About 30 minutes outside Medellin
About 30 minutes outside Medellin
 
At the SAME exact time, my friend took this picture of my car.
At the SAME exact time, my friend took this picture of my car.
The cabin we stayed at on the mainland.
The cabin we stayed at on the mainland.
We stayed in a cabin on the coast of Colombia before heading to the island.
We stayed in a cabin on the coast of Colombia before heading to the island.
 
View from our cabin
View from our cabin
The cabin where we stayed; complete with hammocks.
The cabin where we stayed; complete with hammocks.
 
We took a walking tour of the island and saw this massive tree, estimated to be over 500 years old.
We took a walking tour of the island and saw this massive tree, estimated to be over 500 years old.
Some houses on the island
Some houses on the island
 
Isla Fuerte is 11 miles off the coast of Colombia, but there are sloths on this island.
Isla Fuerte is 11 miles off the coast of Colombia, but there are sloths on this island.
 
 
 
 
More sloths.
More sloths.
Yet another sloth.
Yet another sloth.
He noticed us and started to climb a bit higher
He noticed us and started to climb a bit higher
 
 
 
A little gift from our tour guide/divemaster
A little gift from our tour guide/divemaster
 
 
 
Water was very limited. This is how it was gathered.
Water was very limited. This is how it was gathered.
 
 
 
 
 
 
The bathroom was awesome.
The bathroom was awesome.
When it rained, the rain water drained into the shower.
When it rained, the rain water drained into the shower.
 
These guys were all over the place eating the sugar and any crumbs we left.
These guys were all over the place eating the sugar and any crumbs we left.
 
Juanca and Elena
Juanca and Elena
 
 
On our way back to the States, we flew over Isla Fuerte
On our way back to the States, we flew over Isla Fuerte
Colombian coast next to Isla Fuerte
Colombian coast next to Isla Fuerte
Isla Fuerte was 11 miles from the mainland
Isla Fuerte was 11 miles from the mainland
 

Related posts:

  1. Isla Fuerte – Bushnell Scuba Dive
  2. Isla Fuerte – El Planchon
  3. Isla Fuerte – Bushnell Laberinto Scuba Dive
  4. Our First Cozumel Dive
  5. Medellín Colombia
  6. TransAmerican Bike Training
  7. Colombia – Ana’s House
  8. Pleasure Reef, Key Largo Florida

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