The nearly 30 islands and the 1,200 square kilometers (approximately 120,000 hectares of seabed) that make up the protected area of the Rosario and San Bernardo Corals National Natural Park are home to more than 40 coral species out of the 369 recorded in Colombia, making it the most extensive coral platform in the Colombian Caribbean, covering about 420 square kilometers. A system that begins at the southern tip of the Baru Peninsula and extends to the San Bernardo Archipelago in the Gulf of Morrosquillo, bordering the departments of Bolivar and Sucre.
In addition to coral reefs, the islands' ecosystem is composed of mangroves and seagrass meadows. This habitat is home to tropical fish such as angelfish, parrotfish, and butterflyfish, as well as invertebrates like starfish, sea urchins, and octopuses, and it also shelters several protected species of sea turtles, among many other forms of marine life. Another major nighttime attraction of the islands is bioluminescence—a phenomenon caused by phytoplankton, which emits bluish flashes as a defense mechanism when disturbed by the movement of the water.
- Approximate distance Cartagena: from 30 to 150 kilometers.
- Humid tropical climate (27°C to 30°C all year round, average humidity 85%
- Dry season: December - April
- Rainy season: May - November
- Predominance of trade winds
