Gorgona Island National Park

Gorgona Island National Park protects Isla Gorgona and its adjacent marine habitats off Colombia’s Pacific coast in Valle del Cauca Department. The park conserves tropical rainforest on the island together with surrounding coral and rocky reef environments.

The protected area is known for marine wildlife and diving opportunities around reefs and rocky outcrops, and for forested trails on the island that support birdlife and coastal wildlife. Visitor activities are primarily guided day visits, snorkeling and diving in the marine zone, and short hikes on marked trails.

The island was previously used as a penal colony until the late 20th century; after the prison closed the area was set aside for conservation and managed as a national park to protect its terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Management focuses on limiting impacts from tourism and protecting native species.

Geographically the park sits in the eastern Pacific off the coast of Valle del Cauca, accessible only by boat from the Colombian mainland. The island lies several tens of kilometers offshore and is administered as part of the national park network.

• Access: Visits are regulated and usually arranged by licensed tour operators or park authorities; overnight stays and dive trips require permits.
• History: The island was used as a high security penal colony until the early 1980s before being converted to a protected area for conservation.

What to See #

• Isla Gorgona (main island): The main island contains dense rainforest, a small visitor zone with marked trails, beaches and rocky shores that are the focus of most day visits.
• Marine protected area: The surrounding marine zone is part of the protected area and includes reef habitats used for snorkeling and diving, with seasonal pelagic species offshore.