El Manglar runs above Caño Clarín Viejo as an elevated walkway—a distinctive stretch of the Vía Parque Isla de Salamanca. Places like this offer a tangible way to discover Magdalena through its natural and cultural features: diverse ecosystems shape the landscape in the Vía Parque, while the stilt-house settlements of Ciénaga Grande and the art of Aracataca add other points of interest. The places presented here thus range from habitats and nature observation to settlement history and literary themes.

Mangroves and other habitats

The main ecosystems in the Vía Parque Isla de Salamanca include coastal marine areas, mangrove forests, bodies of water, sedimentary soils, and semi-arid and sub-xerophytic forests. This list brings together different types without reducing them to a single landscape. Those interested in nature can therefore understand the Vía Parque not only through the name of a trail, but also through the diversity of its habitats. The contrast between coastal marine areas, water and forest types gives the area several ecological facets; this diversity is a reason in its own right to explore Magdalena’s natural side.

Land trails, waterways and wildlife observation

Three land trails are named for exploring on foot: El Cangrejo, Olivos y Clemones, and El Cocodrilo. Hiking the trails offers opportunities to observe birds, animals and plants, as well as to learn about the environment. There are also two waterways: La Cuna del Caimán and Ciénaga de Marchena. They are listed as active in the park and are operated by staff. Check before your trip whether both are currently operating.

Biodiversity in the Sierra Nevada

Parque Nacional Natural Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta adds another natural highlight to the destination. It protects 49 threatened species among the 3,057 species recorded there. Endemic species include 19 amphibian, 13 reptile, 5 mammal and 22 bird species. These figures offer two ways to look at biodiversity: one relates threatened species to the total number recorded; the other groups endemic species by animal class. The species diversity of another natural area thus complements the habitat diversity of the Vía Parque.

Stilt-house settlements on the Ciénaga

The waterscape also has a history of settlement. Since the mid-19th century, stilt-house settlements have stood in the wetlands of Ciénaga de Pajaral and along Ciénaga Grande. They include Bocas de Aracataca, also known as Trojas de Cataca, Buenavista, and Nueva Venecia, also known as El Morro. As stilt-house settlements, these places connect a specific type of settlement with the history of the Ciénaga; their names and aliases help distinguish the three settlements mentioned.

Aracataca: art and history

Literature and history take two forms in Aracataca. The mural beside Parque Lineal Macondo, on the old irrigation canal, comprises almost thirty paintings depicting parts of Gabriel García Márquez’s novels. More than fourteen artists from Aracataca and neighboring municipalities contributed to it. The novels are the subject of visual artworks created with the participation of artists from several places.

Another connection to the writer’s family leads to Casa del Telegrafista. The white house with red doors is considered part of Colombia’s historical and cultural heritage; it was where Eligio García, Gabriel García Márquez’s father, worked. The mural draws on parts of the novels, while Casa del Telegrafista is linked to the family through the father’s working life. In Aracataca, an artistic engagement with literature and a historical biographical connection stand side by side.

Discover more destinations

Santa Marta, Pozo Colorado, Ciénaga, Aracataca, Papare, Buritaca, Nenguange, Guachaca, San Fernando, Minca, Bonda, Fundacion, Llanogrande, Calabazo, Santa Marta, Guamal, Playa Blanca, La Ceiba, Carretal, Tasajeras

For the broader travel overview: Colombia.