Imagine a smaller version of Cartagena, tucked away in a corner that nearly nobody visits. Streets without tourist crowds, but with locals going about their way without interruption. Just a sleepy colonial town where you can admire the architecture and absorb the local vibe without noisy street vendors distracting you. This is Santa Cruz de Mompox—an undiscovered treasure in Colombia. Wondering what to do here? Let me tell you.
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Table of Contents - What to Do in Mompox: The Complete Travel Guide to Colombia’s Forgotten Treasure
Where is Mompox?
Mompox is a sleepy town on an island in the swamps of Colombia’s Bolivar province. It’s like a smaller, more down to earth and laid back version of Cartagena. The town was actually founded by the brother of the founder of Cartagena and served as a port for merchandise entering Colombia from Cartagena. However, as the flow of the Magdalena River changed, Mompox didn’t serve as a port anymore and seems to have been forgotten. Until now that is, as tourists are discovering this charming little town and it’s rapidly gaining popularity.
How to get to Mompox?
Mompox is a little out of the way, but that’s also the reason this town kept its charm. Getting to Mompox isn’t difficult, it’s just a bit of a long trip. You can get here via a direct night bus from Medellin with Expreso Brasilia. It’s also possible to travel between Mompox and San Gil or Cartagena. Note that there is not a whole lot of transport to and from Mompox, so make sure to plan ahead and check the timetable ahead of time.
If you can’t find (suitable) direct transport, you can also opt for changing at Sincelejo. Copetran and Flechabus travel between Sincelejo and Mompox. Be prepared for chaos though, Sincelejo is a messy city and lots of taxi drivers and scammers will either tell you there is no transport or overcharge you. Luckily our bus driver from Mompox already warned us and told us to just ignore everyone until we got to the terminal of the bigger buses and either buy a ticket at the cashier or pay the driver there directly.
When to visit Mompox
Mompox can be visited year round. If you’re interested in visiting the swamp area as well, you might want to check what the current water levels are. This will affect the route of the boats. Higher water means more freedom to move around.
The rainy season is from April to November, with the wettest months being April, May, September and October. June, July and August are relatively dry months within the rainy season. While it’s hot all year round, due to the humidity it will feel (even) hotter in the rainy season.
Where to stay in Mompox
The most beautiful part of the town is the historical center, more or less the triangle between the churches of Santa Barbara, San Francisco and Santo Domingo. This is also the most expensive part of town though, so if prices don’t fit your budget, look a bit out of the center. We stayed at La Casa del Viajero for example, which was quite good value for money. Especially considering we arrived at the start of a long weekend in Colombia.
Where to eat in Mompox
There are many bars and restaurants in the center of town. Most of them are located at the pedestrian street along the river, which is the nicest part to go for dinner or drinks. Here you’ll find all kinds of prices, but not everything is expensive. You can find daily menus for 17.000 close to La Plaza de Conception and there is a floating restaurant offering menus for 18.000 (drinks apart) as well. Just a note for the more conscious travelers: At the floating restaurant everything is single-use plastic so you might want to look for another place. You can find slightly cheaper menus outside of the center, but I’d spend a little extra and stay along the river.
What to do in Mompox
There are many ways to enjoy a few days in Santa Cruz de Mompox. From wandering the colonial streets to bird watching and from enjoying a morning coffee or sunset drinks on a terrace to learning about the history of the town.
Wander the colonial streets
Mompox’s main attraction is its colonial architecture. So the main thing to do here is stroll the streets and soak in the views and the relaxed vibe. Don’t forget to pay attention to the river banks and the trees along it either. You’ll see many birds and lizards here.
If you want to learn more about the town’s history, you can join a walking tour. I skipped this time and just wandered around myself very early in the morning since it was very hot and humid during the day.
Explore the swamps and their wildlife
The tour of the swamps is quite nice. And if you’re interested in wildlife I would definitely recommend it. These swamps are home to many animals, including the common basilisk, also nicknamed the Jesus Lizard, which can walk on water!
We didn’t see as much wildlife as on other boat tours in South America. It doesn’t compare to places like The Pantanal in Brazil, Los Esteros del Iberá in Argentina, or La Macarena in Colombia, but it was still a nice afternoon.
During our tour, we saw a lot of herons, kingfishers, lizards, and a big family of howler monkeys. We saw a few basilisk as well, and I even spotted one running on the water for a few steps! But I wasn’t able to capture it on camera, unfortunately.
We cruised to a lake where we could go for a swim and then returned around sunset. A lovely afternoon.
Several agencies offer a 3-hour tour for 50.000 (at the time of writing). We went with Mompox Retro, xx also offers the same tour for the same price.
Buy local products
Mompox is also famous for its handmade silver jewelry, with a technique called filigree. The jewelry is generally very reasonably priced and makes for a great souvenir. If you’re lucky, you might be able to see how they are making the jewelry in one of the ateliers.
Another typical product made in Mompox is Corozo wine. Corozo is a fruit that grows on a palm tree. It looks and tastes similar to a cherry, but a bit more sour. They also make juice from it for those who prefer a non-alcoholic option. Both the wine and juice is widely available at restaurants in town if you want to give it a try.
This was: What to Do in Mompox: The Complete Travel Guide to Colombia’s Forgotten Treasure
For more tips for traveling in Colombia and all the must-visit places. check out my Colombia Ultimate Travel Guide.
Have you been to Mompox? Share your favorite experience in the comments below!
Mompox FAQ
Mompox is renowned for its well-preserved colonial architecture. It’s also famed for delicate silver filigree jewelry handcrafted by local artisans and for corozo, a tart native fruit enjoyed as wine or juice.
A 2–3 day stay lets you fully enjoy the colonial streets, take the 3-hour swamp tour, browse filigree shops, and relax by the river without feeling rushed.
Yes—local agencies run ~3-hour boat trips through the marshlands. Expect to spot herons, kingfishers, howler monkeys, and the famous basilisk “Jesus” lizard.
Absolutely—Mompox is laid-back and generally very safe. Just use common sense: keep an eye on belongings in crowded spots and only buy tickets for buses and tours from authorized vendors.
Absolutely—Mompox rewards the effort it takes to get there with an authentic colonial experience I haven’t found anywhere else in Colombia. Its well-preserved architecture, tranquil riverside setting, unique filigree craftsmanship, and corozo specialties make it a memorable stop.