Many of you have asked about this small village in the department of Sucre, located 2h30 from Cartagena on the shores of the Caribbean Sea.
So here’s a chance to talk about this idyllic, tranquil, unplugged destination(as is often the case in Colombia), where life flows gently under the heat of the tropics.
Rincon del Mar is beginning to make a name for itself, but there are still not enough tourists to keep this piece of the Caribbean away from mass tourism.
All in all, the coastline of the departments of Sucre and Cordoba is a place that should definitely be given a chance if you’re looking for alternatives to the beaches of Cartagena or Santa Marta to relax and spend some quality time in the sun, fanning your feet by the sea!
Disclaimer: we apologize in advance for any grammatical or syntactic errors, as our native language is not English (we're a Colombian-French couple), so we hope you'll forgive us and still enjoy the information we share with you! Please note that all the information on our blog is based on our own experience, and is checked and updated regularly.
Contents
Related posts
General info Rincon del mar
- Population: 4.000
- People: Rincomarenses
- When to go: year-round
- Rainy season: light (May to November)
- Average temperature: 28°C
- Climate: hot semi-arid
- Region: Caribbean
- County: Sucre
Exclusive 5% Off Discount For you
Best Travel insurance for Colombia
Our partner offers the best rates and a 5% discount for our blog readers! (regardless of travel dates)
Rincon del mar, a real favorite
IDLENESS, HIKING, ENCOUNTERS
We set off from Cartagena one morning in March, heading for San Onofre for what was to be one of the most peaceful and relaxing weeks in a long time! We needed it after 3 months of wandering around Colombia, and it did us a world of good.
We decided to treat ourselves to the best hotel in Rincon del mar: Dos Aguas Lodge. We couldn’t have chosen a better place to settle down and… do nothing.
In the end, of course, we did do a few things (we can’t help it!), but we enjoyed ourselves all the same. A week of barefoot living, with a fairly basic alternation of room, beach and restaurant… over and over again, without ever getting tired of it.
Waking up to the sun rising above the mangroves and peeking through the blinds… on and on.
Breakfast with your eyes in the blue sea, lunch with your feet in the sand, dinner after the sunset show… on and on.
Bathing, stretching out on deckchairs, bathing, having a drink, bathing, reading in the shade of the straw huts, bathing, drinking coconut water, bathing… on and on.
And then discuss, meet and discover the local initiatives supported by the fine teams at Dos Aguas, a rare example of a hotel in close contact with the community
As you can see, the first thing to do in Rincon del Mar is to do nothing, simply do nothing and wait for time to pass, because many of the things you can do here are free: rest, sleep, read, sunbathe, swim, stroll on the beach, watch the sunset..
Once you’ve understood that, you might be able to find some time to take advantage of the initiatives offered by the community of Rincon del mar, some of which are really worth getting out of your folding chair!
Discover the mangrove
Rincon del mar and its local initiatives
Here’s one of Rincon del mar’s most striking initiatives. The “Mundo Verde” association is working to save the mangrove surrounding the village, which for many years was regarded as the municipal rubbish dump. We set off with Anderson, one of the founders of the project.
We could never have imagined what the mangrove looked like before Mundo verde’s work if Anderson hadn’t shown us pictures… There’s still a lot of work to be done, as only part of the mangrove has been cleaned up, but the result is already immense and awareness of the local population is growing.
Now that the mangrove has been reclaimed, it’s possible to take a walk through it, and that’s what Mundo verde offers: a pirogue ride through the mangrove and a walk through the dry forest. It’s best to take the tour at the end of the day to enjoy the sublime light and sunset as you emerge onto the beach.
You’ll discover the typical mangrove ecosystem and its importance for the life of the oceans and numerous species of birds and waders (remember that Colombia is the country with the greatest variety of bird species in the world). Halfway along the route, a stroll through the forest reveals many families of sloth monkeys. We’ve never seen so many! Here again, the association has helped save the sloths from poaching, and is now helping the monkey population to grow in the area.
We loved the experience, and we’re sure you will too! What’s more, you’re supporting a great local project that has a huge impact not only on the community but also on the ecosystem.
The profits from the tour not only fund the running of the association, but also the maintenance of the pump that oxygenates the mangrove and part of the waste collection service, which currently doesn’t exist as a public service in Rincon del Mar.
Learn cumbia and Caribbean rhythms
Best things to do in Rincon del Mar
A wonderful encounter with Manuela, Rincon del Mar’s volunteer musician and music teacher . Manuela’s story is a beautiful one. She learned music all by herself, banging on pots and pans at home and learning the traditional rhythms of the Caribbean coast: Cumbia, Bullerengue and so on. Little by little, in a totally oral way, she built up a real background as a percussionist and singer, to become today an artist who performs with her band at various local events.
But today, Manuela wants to make music accessible to the children of Rincon del mar who don’t have access to it. She wants to break the paradigm she faced as a child when she couldn’t afford music lessons and real instruments.
So, once a week, Manuela organizes a free open-air percussion class for the children of the village. In her wildest dreams, Manuela wants to build a free art school where children can express themselves through the arts and have the tools to develop their creativity.
In the meantime, she offers percussion lessons to tourists like us. We had a great time sharing with Manuela. It’s a great way to learn the basics of Cumbia, and other Caribbean rhythms, in good spirits and with an eye to the horizon and the Caribbean Sea…
Afro turban workshop
Rincon del mar and its local initiatives
Kate is an activist involved in a number of cultural reappropriation and empowerment projects for Afro-Colombian women.
Black women in Colombia and elsewhere are particularly victimized by social pressure linked to physical appearance. Women have to resemble an image imposed by society, and given that the historical majority society is white, for example, having good hair means having straight hair..
5 years ago, Kate began a process of reconciliation with her origins, and decided to leave her frizzy hair natural. You have to understand that this is a real commitment, because even within the Afro-Colombian community the stereotypes of straight hair are prevalent. Leaving the house and walking the streets with your hair left natural is the talk of the town..
But Kate takes it on board, and since then has been trying to get a message across to other women:“We’re beautiful in our natural state, so let’s accept ourselves as we are”.
In her period of transition, turbans were her best allies, and she has taken up and revived this tradition, which is much more than a beauty accessory.
Kate has been a role model for many Rincon women and girls, and today we see more and more women with their beautiful afro hair! The turban has become a tool of empowerment for women in the community.
But Kate has decided to share her story and her knowledge of this piece through a turban workshop where she not only teaches you how to tie it in different ways to feel beautiful, but goes beyond by telling the story of the turban tradition, its meaning and its importance for Afro-descendant communities.
A very interesting workshop and, above all, an inspiring encounter!
I can tell you that after the workshop, I left happy with my turban, feeling beautiful, and now I wear it often and I love it!
See the luminescent plankton
Best things to do in Rincon del mar, Colombian beach
Having introduced you to the great local initiatives we’ve been involved in, it’s time to tell you about the more traditional things to do in Rincon delmar!
You’ve probably heard of phosphorescent plankton? It’s a magical phenomenon that can be seen in many parts of Colombia, on both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts, including Rincon del mar.
So if you fancy a swim in the middle of the night, surrounded by stars that light up in the water with every movement, this is the activity for you! Having witnessed it first-hand on the Pacific coast, it’s truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
The outing takes place at dusk off Rincon del Mar, near a small island with mangroves, where you can admire the phenomenon and swim amid the phosphorescent plankton.
Isla Mucura and Tintipan
Colombian beach around Rincon del mar
The islands of the San Bernardo archipelago are beginning to make quite a name for themselves. Isla Mucura and Isla Tintipan are two islands where the epinal image of a paradise beach can be found: coconut palms, white sand, translucent turquoise waters..
We tried out a day tour of the islands from Rincon del mar, although to be perfectly honest, this kind of tour isn’t really our cup of tea.
So our opinion of this experience is inevitably subjective (as is all the content of our travel blog, by the way!)
But hey, if you’ve never seen beaches like this and don’t have the time or budget to stay at least one night, you’ll still enjoy it, because no one will deny that the water is magnificent and you’ll have a beautiful setting.
Here’s how the island tour works:
- Departure by lancha around 9 a.m
- Stop at Santa Cruz del Islote
- Passage to Isla Mucura for a swim
- Passage to Isla Tintipan for a swim and lunch (supplementary)
- Return to Rincon del mar early afternoon (3pm)
You can add an hour’s snorkeling on the reefs closest to the beach (uninteresting reefs in very poor condition). You can also rent kayaks.
In short, you just have to be aware that this can be frustrating for those who would have expected to set off for a lazy day on a paradisiacal Colombian beach. That’s why we didn’t do the tour as such, but asked to be dropped off directly in Tintipan to get the most out of the place.
Good to know
Our advice to visit San Bernard islands
We advise you to visit the islands outside the high season and avoid weekends and public holidays. The beaches are very small and can quickly become crowded.
Other activities
What to do in Rincon del mar, Colombian beach
If you have the time, here are some other ideas for things to do in Rincon del mar that are well worth a visit
Scuba diving
Rincon del mar is also a scuba diving destination, with many sites easily accessible to beginners. Be advise that the reef on Isla Mucura and Tintinpan are totally dead.
Cooking classes
Learn to cook a dish typical of the Caribbean coast to immerse yourself in the local culture.
Horseback riding
Whether on the beach or to discover the “ganadera” culture with its cowboys and pastures.
That’s it! After that, you won’t be able to ask us “What to do in Rincon del mar”! As always, we realized on the spot that there was still plenty to see and do, and that we would have loved to have stayed even longer… But one week was already a good time to relax and discover. We’ll be leaving with many memories and a little pang in our hearts to leave this little piece of paradise, where we’ll be coming back for sure!
Best place to stay in Rincon del mar
Rincon del mar
Eco Lodge
Dos Aguas Lodge
Double room : $300.000 to $350.000 COP
We had a superb stay at Dos Aguas Lodge.A well-thought-out construction, resolutely turned towards the outdoors and nature, with our feet in the sand. Breakfast included in the price for a sublime service. A truly eco-responsible approach, working in alliance with the local community.
Other places to stay in Rincon del mar
Rincon del mar
Hotel
Mama llena hotel
A recent hotel in a good location, facing the sea, with every comfort. Good comments about the service, and the kitchen equipped for cooking. Some rooms have sea views.
Rincon del mar
Hotel
Casa Sattva
A well-located hotel facing the sea. People appreciate the service, the food and the tranquility of the place.Highly rated
Rincon del mar
Hostal
Hostel Blue sea
Recommended by one of our readers, the Blue Sea Hostel also offers a range of services, from inexpensive dormitories to double rooms with balcony. Restaurant on site too.
Where to eat in Rincon del mar
During our week there, we alternated between eating at our accommodation and discovering the sazón of Rincon del mar’s restaurants, where, like everywhere else on the Caribbean coast, you’ll eat a lot of fish, of course, but that’s not all!
Samba Caramba
We ate the best fish of the week there! What do you expect from a fish restaurant? Freshness. Here it is! Located just over the bridge, you can eat on the beach with your feet in the sand.
El Refugio De Petra
Another fish restaurant, again on the beach in barrio La Punta, again with your feet in the sand. We had a good meal and can highly recommend it
Dubai
This is one of Rincon del mar’s most famous restaurants, especially for lobster. We didn’t try it, but we’ve heard a lot of good things about it.
Verde Caribe
We wanted to go here but every time it was closed, an Italian cuisine restaurant run by an Italian… a sure bet!
Canto de Caracola
In a pretty little courtyard with a good atmosphere and vegetarian options.
How to get to XXX
Titre 3
The nearest major airport is Cartagena
The nearest bus station is in San Onofre
Cabs and mototaxis are available from San Onofre
Getting to Rincon del Mar from Cartagena
- Duration: 2h30 – 3h
- Private transport: $500.000 COP negociable
- By bus from Cartagena termina to San Onofre – $30.000 COP
Getting to Rincon del Mar from San Onofre
Cabs are waiting for you at the bus exit.
- Duration: approx. 20 min
- Mototaxi price: approx. $15.000 COP
- Cab fare: approx. $40.000 COP
Getting to San Onofre
Bus Tolu – San Onofre
- Duration: 1 hour
- Fare: from $10.000 COP
- Company: Rapido Ochoa
Bus Lorica – San Onofre
- Duration: 2 hours
- Fare : from $30.000 COP
- Company : Rapido Ochoa
Bus Monteria – San Onofre
- Duration : 3h30
- Fare : from $40.000 COP
- Company : Rapido Ochoa
Bus Baranquilla – San Onofre
From Baranquilla Bus Terminal→ Duration: 4h
- Fare: from $32.000 COP
- Company: Expreso Brasilia and Unitransco
Bus Santa Marta – San Onofre
- Duration: 6h15
- Fare: from $55.000 COP
- Company: Expreso Brasilia and Unitransco
