6.2226° N, 77.4012° W
THIS COMPREHENSIVE TRAVEL GUIDE OUTLINES EVERYTHING AN ADVENTURE TRAVELER NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT VISITING THE STUNNING COLOMBIAN PACIFIC COAST; INCLUDING, HOW TO GET THERE, WHAT TO EXPECT AND WHAT TO DO.
While you might be aware that Colombia does indeed have a Pacific coastline - the only country in South America to have a coastline on both the Atlantic (via the Caribbean) and Pacific Oceans - it is quite likely that you don't know much about the Pacific Coastal region. Totally understandable, for this part of the country has somehow been able to stay very much under the radar. Unless you are really into whale watching and possibly scuba diving, it is quite likely that you haven't given much thought to visiting this off the beaten path region of Colombia.
Well let us tell you, if you are a traveler looking to explore a lesser-known region of the country and also mix equal parts adventure and relaxation, then we cannot recommend heading to the Pacific Coastal area enough. Home to dense jungles, thundering waterfalls, wide open sandy beaches and a ton of wildlife, the Pacific Coast is a hidden gem just waiting to be explored.
Below is a comprehensive travel guide full of everything a traveler needs to know about visiting and adventuring in the stunning area; including, how to actually get there (spoiler: there are almost no roads), how to get around, what it costs and what to do.
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT EXPLORING COLOMBIA’S HIDDEN GEM: THE PACIFIC COAST
\\ Basic Things to Know About Colombia’s Pacific Coast
Here are a few important things all adventure travelers need to know before they hop on a plane (or a boat) and head for the beautiful Pacific Coast of Colombia.
DEPARTMENTS
The Colombian Pacific Coast is split into two different parts: the north and the south. The northern part of the coast is totally encompassed in the Chocó Department, while the southern coast is made up of the Valle de Cauca, Cauca and Nariño departments.
We will mainly be focusing on the northern part of the Pacific Coast (Chocó), and more specifically on the actual coastline itself.
CITIES
The major cities in the Chocó department are Quibdo, the capital city (population: 100,000), Istmina and Condoto (both located in the interior) and Bahia Solano, Nuqui, and Acandi, which are located along the coast.
POPULATION
In total, 534,826 people live in the entire Chocó Department.
ETHNICITIES
82% of the population are Afro-Colombian, while almost 13% are Amerindians or Indigenous. In fact, the second largest ethnic group in Chocó is the Emberá people - a Native American tribe that mostly lives near rivers. More than half of the total population of Emberá people in Colombia actually live in Chocó.
TOTAL AREA
The department measures 46,530 square kilometers or 17,965 square miles.
GEOGRAPHY
Most of the Chocó department is made up of the El Choco ecoregion (not to be confusing), a biodiversity hot-spot that extends all along both the Caribbean and Pacific Coasts of Colombia and down into Ecuador, and which is made up of mostly dense rainforest.
The department is also home to three major rivers: the Atrato, the San Juan, and the Baudó and many smaller tributaries. The capital of Chocó, Quibdo, sits right on the bank of the Atrato River. Somewhat unsurprising, the department is the main source of wood for all of Colombia, and it also has the highest producing platinum and gold mines in the country.
❔ GOOD TO KNOW: the very small town of Lloro, which also sits on the bank of the Atrato River, is said to be one of the rainiest places on Earth. The town holds the record for highest average annual precipitation at 523.6 inches or 13,300 mm. The small river town is just a bit south of the capital city of Quibdo.
