The island of Gorgona is one of the most peculiar places that you can find in Colombia, and although its past is quite dark and even a little macabre, the truth is that it is a beautiful destination to travel there on your vacations. On this island you will also find spectacular beaches and cities where there are many places of interest to visit.
Gorgona is 35 kilometers from the Pacific coast of Colombia , and getting there is very easy as there are many boats and motorboats that make the journey several times a day. There are several cities where you can stay, and it is best to do it in Buenaventura or GuapĂ, which is where there is a greater variety of hotels and at different prices.
Varied landscape
The mountainous landscape of the island is very characteristic, with several spectacular hills such as La Trinidad , La Esperanza, Los Micos and El Mirador. The sea on the island is also very interesting since you can find it both very rough and rough and very calm. In the eastern part of the island there are white beaches and coral reefs, while in the western part there are many cliffs, rugged, steep and very rough waters.
Her CARACTERISTICS
The weather in Gorgona is usually warm, and it only rains in the months of September and October, although not too much. Its vegetation is mainly tropical, with a very varied flora and fauna, especially jungle, with more than 40 species. The most characteristic tree of Gorgona is the Colombian pine , and in terms of fauna there are very important species such as whales, sloth, capuchin or agouti , which is a very curious native rodent. The island is a World Heritage Site and a National Park.
His dark past
Although today it is a spectacular natural paradise, it was not always like that. From 1959 to 1985, this island was home to the largest penitentiary in the entire country. In fact, the island was known as "The Colombian Alcatraz" since the most dangerous criminals in Colombia were imprisoned there. It was a very violent prison in which both prisoners and guards had disputes on a daily basis. It was closed in 1985 and today it is preserved as a museum.