Gorgona Island

• Location: Pacific Ocean, Colombia, Cauca region
• Tel .: +57 1 3532400
• Area: 26 square meters. km
• Highest point: 338 m
• Visit time: 8: 00-17: 00

At 26 km from the coast of Colombia there is a small island with a bad name, despite which tourists from all over the world want to visit it. The Gorgon Island in Colombia is home to a large number of snakes.

At 26 km from the coast of Colombia there is a small island with a bad name, despite which tourists from all over the world want to visit it. The Gorgon Island in Colombia is home to a large number of snakes. Going there for an excursion , you will need to observe increased security measures.

Geography of the island

There is a mysterious island in the waters of the Pacific Ocean, near the mainland of Colombia. A small area - only 26 square meters. km is a few kilometers of sandy beaches in the south, a tropical forest in the east and rocky ledges in the north-west. The island has a volcanic origin. Has the Gorgon and its mountain - the peak Cerro-La-Trinidad with a height of 338 m.

The length of the island of Gorgona (Colombia) is 8.5 km and a width of 2.3 km. From the south-west side of the island at a distance of less than a kilometer is the Gorgon satellite - Gorgonilla islet 0.5 km. Before the earthquake in 1983, it was possible to wade from one island to another on the Thuska Strait, but after that it became impossible due to a change in the relief of the bottom. Near the Gorgonilly, rocks rise from the ocean, the most famous of which is named "Widower".

Weather on the island

On Gorgon there is always high humidity, reaching up to 90%. There are frequent torrential rains, which are replaced in an instant by the scorching sun. The air temperature is +27 ° C. Such a climate can have a detrimental effect on the health of an unprepared person, not to mention the danger posed by poisonous reptiles and reptiles, in huge numbers inhabiting here.

History of the mysterious island

The date when the island was found by man belongs to the XIII in BC, as evidenced by the petroglyphs found here. Diego de Almagro is officially considered the discoverer of the island. This Spanish conquistador named the island of San Felipe. After it, many more European conquerors, pirates and soldiers at different times made the island their residence, calling it already Gorgon because of the myriad of snakes.

The most sensational guests of the Gorgon Island were convicts. It was here that in 1959 a colony of especially strict regime was established for the most hardened criminals. The conditions in it were horrific, especially the lack of minimal amenities - beds, showers, toilets. People came here to the final settlement before traveling to the afterlife. However, despite the increased protection and remoteness from the mainland, for the entire existence of the prison, two prisoners managed to escape from here, having built a raft. After these events in 1984 the colony was disbanded, after which for many years the foot of a man did not go to the island.

Animal and Vegetable World Gorgons

The island is inhabited by a large number of endemics, because for a long time it was closed to tourism , and the influence of man here was minimal. The gorgon has its name for good, after all snakes of various sizes and colorings lived here, mostly poisonous. Only on the beach you can not be afraid of an enemy invasion, otherwise you have to exercise utmost vigilance in order not to face a potential danger. Among the inhabitants of the island are:

1. Animals:
   • sloth;
   • capuchin monkey;
   • bristly rat;
   • agouti;
   • the bats.
2. Snakes:
   • boa;
   • mussuran;
   • strap-like serpent;
   • Mexican sharpheaded;
   • an animal;
   • ringed already.
3. Feathered:
   • banana singing;
   • blue and white gannets;
   • brown pelican;
   • tanagra-honey plant;
   • frigate;
   • antbird.
4. Other inhabitants:
   • elegant harlequin (toad);
   • humpback whales;
   • anolis-gorgon (lizard).

Before the trip to the island of Gorgona in Colombia

To travel to a dangerous island passed without problems, you need to comply with certain rules that guarantee the safety of the tourist:

1. Vaccination against yellow fever. Two weeks before the trip, you will need to get vaccinated.
2. Customs and environmental control. Before entering the island, each visitor passes customs for the detection of illegally carried things - aerosols, alcohol, electrical appliances. If any are found, then all things are confiscated and will be returned upon arrival from the island.
3. At itself it is necessary to have:
   • high rubber boots (they are not removed anywhere except the beach);
   • Pants and shirts with long sleeves;
   • broad-brimmed hat;
   • a flashlight with a set of batteries;
   • first-aid kit;
   • hygiene products.

How to get to the island and where to stay?

Accommodation, as well as modest conditions of hygiene, await tourists in the former gloomy buildings of the prison buildings. Such an exotic is much to the liking of, as evidenced by the inexhaustible flow of those wishing to go here. You can get on the Gorgon by plane, flying from Kali to Guapi (35 minutes in the air). After this, a transfer to a speedboat will take place, which for 1.5 hours will drive to the desired island.