Juanchaco y Ladrilleros, Colombia
Juanchaco and Ladrilleros are two fishing villages on the Bay of Malaga, just 40 km north of Buenaventura, Colombia in the Pacific Ocean. They have become a popular weekend getaway for many Colombians. To get there, you need to travel to Buenaventura, from there you have to ride in a boat called a launch for 45 minutes until the launch docks at Juanchaco.
The journey from the dock to the hotel or room where you are staying is just beginning. You first get off the launch and carry your luggage, or have one of the island boys do so, through a small village until you reach some tractors hauling large wagons full of people. The next stop is the local police station where you receive a welcome and some good advice. You then continue for a while until you reach a small town where most of the resorts are. This town has no cars and the roads are unpaved avery rough. The town has a multitude of small bars and restaurants.
From there to the beach is a very small walk. Along the way you will pass a few shops and vendors. When you arrive at the beach you are on a cliff and you have to scale down some crude rock steps. This gets pretty tricky during high tide.
Once you have arrived at the beach you feel very secluded. You are in a cove surrounded by a lot of impressive rock structures. It is very entertaining to walk the beach and explore some of the shallow caves. The sand is a volcanic grey color and the water is warm and comfortable for swimming. Some of the beach areas are cluttered with branches and debris that washes up.
There are always a few locals that sell ice cold beer on the beach. They will also rent you a table and chairs. The beer is cheap and a table and chairs rent for about $2.50 for the low tide. You almost have to leave during high tide because the beach disappears for a while. These locals set up a couple times a day. They have to carry all their gear up the cliff each time.
The sunsets are marvelous and there is a disco at the top of the cliff with an excellent view. Normally from the disco you can view everyone still on the beach with numerous bonfires.
I did this trip and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. It was very relaxing and inexpensive.
Colombia Living Good
- Colombia Travel, Tourism, and Living Information Website.
Colombia is a very bio-diverse country with coasts on two oceans, the Amazon Rain Forest and the Andes Mountains running through it. See our pictures.
