Rincón del Mar is one of those rare places in Colombia that still feels like a bit of a secret. Tucked away on the country’s northern Caribbean coast, it remained isolated for years. A quiet fishing village where life moved slowly, neighbors exchanged what they had, and the sea provided what they needed.
While Rincón del Mar has changed since the arrival of tourism, and continues to change as the town becomes more popular, it still retains its laid-back charm. It’s the kind of place where you can kick off your shoes, dig your toes into the sand, and spend a few slow days lazing on beautiful, untouched beaches. And that’s exactly what makes it special.
In this guide, I’ll share everything you need to know to plan your own trip to Rincón del Mar Colombia: How to get there, where to stay, and what to expect once you arrive.
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Table of Contents - Rincón del Mar, Colombia: A Practical Guide for Independent Travelers
When to visit Rincón del Mar
Rincón del Mar can be visited year-round. The high season is during the European and American winter and July and August. The dry season is from December to March, but June to September also sees relatively little rainfall. Since Rincón del Mar is still a bit of a hidden gem, it doesn’t get too crowded during the high season, so there is no need to avoid this place during the busiest months.
The two times I visited Colombia were in July and August, and it didn’t rain a lot. Definitely not enough to stop me from doing anything. There was some rain in the morning or afternoon, but I never had rain the whole day. It is a lot more humid though compared to the dry season, so it will feel hotter.
How to get to Rincón del Mar
There is no public transport which will get you directly to Rincón del Mar. To get to here, you’ll need to take a bus to San Onofre and from there a taxi to Rincón del Mar.
Cars are generally 40.000 COP ( EUR 8,50, USD 9,50, at the time of writing) for 2 people, although you might be able to get it down to 30.000 if arranged through your accommodation. Motorbikes are normally 15.000, but if you’re good at negotiating and they don’t have other customers. You might be able to get 2 for 25.000, or even 10.000 per motorbike.
Where to stay
Most accommodations are along the beach, this is also where the restaurants are. The town is only small though, so wherever you choose to stay, you’ll easily be able to get around on foot. If you’re not bothered about staying right at the beachfront, I can recommend Los Versos de Zaira↗. A small pousada at the beginning of the town. Zaira is a very nice and social woman who loves to talk about the town, the people, and her project. She only speaks Spanish, but with the willingness to communicate and Google Translate, you won’t have any problems if you don’t speak (fluent) Spanish.
Where to eat
There are a lot of simple restaurants at the beach offering fresh fish with coconut rice, salad and patacon starting at 25.000 COP (5-6 EUR/USD), depending on the type of fish. If you prefer something fancier, Che↗ is supposed to be very good, but expensive in comparison with the local restaurants. If you don’t want to eat fish, some restaurants offer meat dishes as well. Mar&Ana (normally open only in the evenings) has cheap and tasty fast food and dishes with meat instead of fish.
What to do in Rincón del Mar
Well, kick back and relax at the beach! This sleepy town is the perfect destination for those who are looking for a quiet beach escape. Away from the crowds and the hustle and bustle of places like Cartagena and Tayrona National Park. So the best thing to do in Rincón del Mar is to enjoy its quiet and lovely beaches. I especially loved the beach to the south of the town, Playa Balsillas, since it’s quiet, green and has natural shade.
There is not much else to do here, but if you want to explore a bit of the surroundings, there are two tours you can take.
Isla de los Pájaros & plankton
This tour leaves late afternoon and visits a tiny island, well, more like some trees in the water, where many birds spend the night. Next, it continues to the mangroves where you can swim with bioluminescence. Plankton that lights up when it’s disturbed, for example, by movements in the water. I already had the pleasure of swimming with bioluminescence in Cambodia and Holbox in Mexico, but it’s still a magical experience every time.
Islas de San Bernardo
This is the most popular tour and visits 2 islands and a fisherman’s village. I have to say that I don’t think this tour is worth it. Personally, I enjoyed the beach of Rincón del Mar more than the islands.
Having said that, the sea around the island of Tintipan is very beautiful and calm. Not as wavy as the one in Rincón del Mar. Mucara is pretty as well, but the fishermen’s village is a tourist trap where you’ll need to pay extra to walk through their settlement. It’s optional, but guides and locals can be quite insistent.
Staying safe on tours – If you do choose to do the island tour, make sure to avoid the company J.J. Some of their staff occasionally steal from tourists, and even though the owners know, they don’t care.
They tried to play a trick on us, so we immediately informed the person who recommended them to us, who called the owner. He said they had already stolen from other people. But since firing them meant having one boat less to send to the islands until they have new staff, he doesn’t want to take action.
If you do find yourself in the same situation, don’t accept any bags with money or suspicious content from the staff. They are perfectly capable of guarding it themselves. Use your common sense and stay safe.
This was: Rincón del Mar, Colombia: A Practical Guide for Independent Travelers
For more lesser-visited destinations in Colombia to add to your itinerary, check out my guides to La Macarena, the Tatacoa desert, Mompox and Cabo de la Vela. Or for more information about traveling Colombia in general, read my extensive Colombia Travel Guide.
FAQ about Rincón del Mar Colombia
Yes—Rincón del Mar is generally safe and welcoming, especially compared to more touristic beach towns in Colombia. Like anywhere in South America, use common sense and trust your instincts. Don’t leave your things alone on the beach for example and if something seems fishy, don’t go along with it. The town itself has a friendly, laid-back vibe, and most visitors feel completely at ease.
You can, but knowing some basic Spanish will go a long way. English isn’t widely spoken, especially by locals not working in tourism. Learning a few phrases and traveling with a translation app will help with everything from ordering food to arranging tours or transport.
Yes—the water is warm and usually calm, especially in the mornings. Playa Balsillas is my favorite.
No—there are no ATMs in town, and not all restaurants or hotels accept cards. Bring enough Colombian pesos in small denominations from your previous destination.
Many travelers stay 2–4 days, which is enough time to relax, do a tour, and enjoy the beach vibe.
It depends on your needs. Rincón del Mar has limited infrastructure, and while some hotels and guesthouses offer Wi-Fi, it’s not the fasted or most reliable, especially during high traffic times or power outages. Mobile data (usually via Claro or Tigo) can be a decent backup if you have a local SIM card. If your work is light, you can probably manage for a few days. For video calls or consistent connectivity, it’s maybe not the best spot for working remotely long-term. But still a great stop for a couple of days.