Explore: Cartagena
General Info
COVID19: OPEN PORT
- Sea Borders opened on 1 December.
- See Biosecurity for full details.
- A maritime agent must be contacted and terms agreed before sailing to Cartagena.
- They will require vessel documents and copies of all the crew passports, plus the completion of the standard Health declaration form (annex 8). Besides clarifying this requirement list your agent should also list any additional documents and forms needed onboard (they will become your legal representative).
- They should also clarify their charges. Fees can vary significantly between agencies. See here for a list.
- Finally, your agent will issue an arrival security number which is the key to entering the port.
- On approaching the Sea Buoy at Boca Chica (Or the small vessel entrance at Bocagrande) you must call Cartagena Port Control (Estacion de Control San Jose) VHF 16/14. They will ask for this security number.
- Cartagena Port Control have good English speakers and will give specific arrival instructions.
- The Traffic Controller will instruct arriving vessels to proceed to a designated anchorage zone.
- Be prepared to quarantine for one or two days and be inspected by the Regional Health Authority.
- The San Jose Coast Guard station (Guarda Costa San Jose) is known to be helpful. They can be hailed on VHF 16/14/13l. Humanitarian assistance will always be available.
- The island barrio of Manga, where the marinas are located, will remain under curfew restrictions between 21.00 and 05.00 each day until Dec 16. This same measure also applies to 8 or so distant barrios. Bio security measures are in force in public and in the marinas.
- Full entry guidelines on the Club Nautico website: https://www.clubnauticocartagena.com/entry-guideline
- Yachts can sail to the Rosario Islands nearby but there are restrictions, such as you can’t go ashore at this time.
- The Old City is quiet at this time with far fewer tourists.
- The WhatsApp group called The United Cruisers Group, is very effective at providing advice and assistance.
Information confirmed by John Halley of the Club Nautico.
Description:
Cartagena is a popular place for yachts to stop prior to making their way to the Panama canal.
The government is trying hard to encourage this influx of visitors and there are plans to build two new marinas. In addition, the Club Nautico has been upgraded.
Cruiser Highlights:
Good weather all year; lots of choice for haulout and repair work; excellent cruiser social scene; ideal place to leave the boat and explore inland; easy provisioning and shopping; history and culture;
Entrance Notes or Cautions:
Bahia de Cartagena is a well-protected anchorage. Entrances to the bay are through the large ship channel – the Boca Chica strait, or the northwest entrance – Boca Grande (Escollera). The Boca Chica entrance is easier and is the one used by most recreational sailors.
The Boca Grande entrance tends to be used by yachts coming from the north and east but should be approached with caution. The Colombian Navy has re-installed the red & green light to mark the small vessel channel at the Boca Grande entrance. Guaranteed “official” depth is about 8 feet, greater depth might be possible if there is limited swell and conditions are not otherwise unfavorable. Cruisers report the echo sounder never going below 3.2 meters. Advice is to follow the marked channel and don’t cut corners.
Position:
10° 23’17″N, 75° 34’13″W.
Clearance
Full details on the formalities required for clearing into and out of Colombia can be found at Colombia Formalities.
Remember, an agent is required to clear into and out of Colombia, so no attempt at contacting the Port Captain should be made, except through your nominated clearing agent (Agencia Maritima) on arrival. See Formalities/Clearance for more details on agencies and a list below.
- Quarantine anchorage in Cartagena, Colombia.
Notes:
The Club Nautico website has “A cruiser’s guide” with lots of useful marine contacts for Cartagena, including names and contact numbers of several customs clearance agents.
Last updated: March 13, 2020
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Alasmar Agency
Address: Cartagena, Colombia,
Maritime Agency in Cartagena.... Read More
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Maritime Agent in Cartagena. Maria deals with clearance, immigration issues, ship documentation, boat management and legal procedures for sailboats & yachts in Cartagena. English spoken.... Read More
Cruising Services Marine S.A.S
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David Arroyo
Clearance Agent. One of the best known in Cartagena. Offers a competitive service.... Read More
Juan Carlos Soto
Address: Clearance Agent Bahia Solano,
Clearance Agent for Bahia Solano and Cartagena. Located next to the Port Captain's office. Will deal with all the paperwork for one fee.Alternative email: [email protected] Read More
Ocean Blue Agency
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Romovela ltda
Address: Santa Marta and Cartagena,
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White Light Agency
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Docking
Anchoring
Bahia de Cartagena is a well-protected anchorage and for longer stays in Colombia offers a much more cost-effective solution than Santa Marta. Cruisers who have spent some time here, however, have reported rapid fouling.
It is advisable to anchor in deep water (10m+) with a long scope as the sudden southerly squalls can cause dragging in the shallower water.
Many cruisers choose to anchor off the Club Nautico and use the marina’s facilities including the dinghy dock, rubbish disposal and WiFi. The Club makes a small charge for this. The holding in the shallower water closer to the marina is reported to be poor.
- Club Nautico, Cartagena
Marinas
There are two marina facilities in this harbor, Club Nautico and Club de Pesca de Cartagena.
If berthing in this harbor be aware that wave action and local weather (occasional violent squalls from June to November) can make conditions unpleasant at times. This is a harbor with a lot of speedboats, water taxis and activity. Wakes are constant during daylight hours. In order to guard against the swell, be sure to have very stretchy dock lines and make sure that your spreaders are not matched up to the boats beside you.
The Club Nautico continues evolving with several new projects for completion in 2020 including additional bathrooms, a kiosk, a small cruiser lounge plus installation of new transformer and pedestals to allow electrical access (all 60 hz) on 90 % of all berths. The Club is busy, but spaces do come available for transient yachts.
Club de Pesca de Cartagena has guest slips available and introduced special rates for international transient cruising yachts in 2019.
Barnacles can be a problem for boats left for a period of time.
Security
The Bay of Cartagena has seen a decrease in the number of dinghy thefts over the last 2 years, possibly due to better crime control by the officials and more awareness on the part of cruisers. The Coast Guard patrol the anchorage and Club Nautico also runs a patrol launch at night to keep incidents to a minimum. That said, thefts still continue to be reported so stay alert. If you don’t want your dinghy or outboard to be stolen, don’t leave it in the water overnight. Information about thefts is broadcast immediately by VHF on Channel 68 (Monday to Saturday at 8 am).
When going ashore don’t wear expensive jewelry around town and be careful of unscrupulous persons trying to engage you in dubious activities.
Last updated: December 2019
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Manzanillo Marina Club
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Todomar Marina
Address: Cra 2a #15-364, Bocagrande, Cartagena,
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Yacht Clubs
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Club de Pesca de Cartagena
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