Tierra Bomba Island Island

Address: Isla Tierra Bomba, Bolívar Department, off the coast of Cartagena, Colombia

Admission: No national park admission; boat transfers and day cruise fees vary

Tierra Bomba Island (Isla Tierra Bomba) is a small island in the Bay of Cartagena, Bolívar Department, Colombia, located just across the Bocachica channel from the city of Cartagena. It functions as a local beach and fishing island and contains colonial-era fortifications that controlled access to the bay.

The island is used for short day trips from Cartagena; many visitors take a 20 to 30 minute boat ride for beaches, seafood, and views of the Cartagena skyline. Facilities are mostly small-scale: local beaches, informal eateries, and a few guesthouses and beach clubs.

Spanish colonial military works were built on and around the island to guard the Bocachica channel during the colonial period; those fortifications remain as ruins and points of interest. Over time the island has remained a mix of fishing settlements and tourist-oriented beach areas.

Geographically it sits at the mouth of Cartagena Bay, immediately across from the southeastern edge of Cartagena’s urban area. The island is a short boat ride from Cartagena’s harbor and is part of Bolívar Department.

• Ferry access: Regular motorboats and ferries connect the island with central Cartagena; crossings typically take around 20 to 30 minutes depending on the departure point and sea conditions.
• Best viewpoints: The southern fort and the island’s western shore provide the clearest views back across the bay to Cartagena’s historic walled city and skyline.

What to See#

• Castillo San Fernando de Bocachica: An 18th century Spanish fortification that guarded the Bocachica channel; the structure sits at the southern tip of the island and provides clear views toward Cartagena’s harbor entrances.
• Bocachica village and channel: A small coastal settlement beside the navigable Bocachica channel that functions as the island’s transportation and fishing hub, with boat landings for ferries to Cartagena.
• West coast beaches: Several public and locally run sandy beaches on the island’s western shore that are used for day trips and informal seaside recreation; facilities are basic compared with Cartagena.

Boats to Tierra Bomba depart from several points in Cartagena, commonly Bocagrande and La Boquilla. The crossing is short (about 10-20 minutes). Licensed boats and tour operators run scheduled and private transfers-agree on a return time and price before leaving Cartagena.

• Take the public water taxi or a licensed boat from Cartagena's Bocagrande or La Boquilla-prices are negotiable but agree before boarding.
• Visit early morning to avoid the day-trip crowds from Cartagena and to see fishermen bringing in their catch.
• Bring sunscreen and a towel-some beaches are still developing and lack facilities; use established restaurants near main beach strips for reliable food.