Isla Barú, Coastal island near Cartagena, Colombia
Isla Barú is an island off the coast of Cartagena in Colombia featuring several white sand beaches and turquoise water that gradually deepens from the shore. Palms line the waterfront, and coral formations lie a short distance from the beach in shallow areas.
Spanish colonizers dug a canal in 1652 to separate the area from the mainland and shorten the sea route to Cartagena. The severed land became this island, where small fishing settlements developed over the following centuries.
Residents of the coastal villages sell freshly caught fish prepared as grilled or fried dishes at simple beachfront huts. Wooden boats painted in bright colors rest on the sand and take travelers to nearby coral reefs for short excursions.
Travelers reach the area via a bridge from the Cartagena mainland or through boats departing several times daily from the harbor. Wave action remains minimal at most beaches, and the water stays shallow for considerable distances.
A bird park in the northern section houses over 130 native species in spacious enclosures, including animals rescued from illegal trade. Some of the larger birds fly freely between visitor paths and return on their own to feeding stations.
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