Malpelo Fauna and Flora Sanctuary

Introduction

Malpelo Island and the surrounding marine environment are located 500 kilometres west of mainland Colombia in the Pacific Ocean. This is a no fishing zone and a perfectly undisturbed environment where snorkelling and diving is perfect with clear waters and many species of fish and other sea creatures including whales, sharks and turtles. Because of this the area is placed on the Unesco World Heritage List.

Cost

US$90/day park fee for divers on boat under Colombian flag.

Sights and Activities

Part of a solitary volcanic submarine ridge, Malpelo island looks like just another barren rock. Bird guano deposits, however, allow algae, lichens, mosses, shrubs and ferns grow on and around it.

The waters around the island are fantastic for shark diving. You may see swarms of hundreds of hammerhead and silky sharks and even the threatened smalltooth sand tiger.

Getting There

Anyone hoping to visit Malpelo must get permission from the National Natural Park offices in Bogotá. Since the island is a Marine Park, the only way to visit it is via Liveaboard; the Malpelo Foundation allows one Liveaboard dive ship to be present at the island at a time, with a maximum of 25 divers. Anchoring is not allowed anywhere within the marine protected area.

The main port to travel to Malpelo is Buenaventura, and the trip by boat from Buenaventura takes between 30 and 40 hours (via Gorgona Island, also supposed to be a diver's paradise).

In 2018 it is not possible anymore for Panamanian boats to go directly to Maleplo. Colombia Dive Adventures offers liveaboard dive trips from Buenaventura.

The easiest way to get to Malpelo might be with Coiba Dive Expeditions in Panama City. Through them, a 11-day trip with 6 days of diving (2 days to Malpelo and 2 days back) starts at about US$4500 per person. That does not include the $90/day park fee for diving, nor equipment rental (they prefer you bring your own gear). Of course they will deal with the bureaucracy for you.

Sleep

You'll sleep on your boat.

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