Playa El Morro

Location:
Tumaco, Colombia

Beach

By Lorraine Caputo

The Isla Tumaco-Isla El Morro road ends in a loop at a glistening, black-sand beach and warm-watered sea. Just offshore is the haystack-shaped El Morro rock formation. At the far end of the road is the famed Arco del Morro; as the tide lowers, its tranquil pool drains in a rushing creek to the sea. Beyond the arch a several-kilometer-long beach is being exposed. The swimming here is not great, due to mangrove sediment, but the beachcombing and bird watching are rewarding. This is also the time you can visit the cuevas, where legend says pirate Henry Morgan hid his treasure (Entry: $1.10).

Getting There
Frequent busetas run between Isla Tumaco and Playa El Morro (5 a.m.-7:45 p.m. from Tumaco, until 8 p.m. from El Morro, $0.75, 30 minutes).

Travel Tips: Do not go swimming at low tide, when poisonous rays are exposed.

Take in the sunset, then head for a fresh seafood dinner. Afterwards, hit one of the beach-disco-bar kiosks right on the beach, and chill beneath the palm trees to the tune of jazz-foreign oldies-salsa-vallenato.

Spending the night at Playa El Morro is much more peaceful than in Tumaco town, and more convenient for those doing the sea crossing to/from Ecuador. The entire loop of the beach road is lined with hotels for every pocketbook.

Do not wild camp on the beaches, due to the high wash of the incoming tide and possible robbery. (The town itself is patrolled.)

Price Description: Enbtry to the cuevas cost $1.10.

Relative price: Budget

Travel Skills: None

To See and Do: The maritime port, with weekly boat service to Esmeraldas, Ecuador, is about one kilometer from the beach.