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Voykit pocket guide · Colombia
Ladrilleros
Two nights: one for the beach and surf, a second for whale watching (Jul–Sep) or the waterfalls. A day trip from Buenaventura is tight but possible.
Ladrilleros and its neighbour Juanchaco are fishing villages on the Pacific coast, 40 km north of Buenaventura. They draw surfers for consistent waves and visitors for whale watching from July to September. The area is safe, with a navy base and an airstrip nearby. Most travellers come for two nights, though a day trip from Buenaventura works if you skip the longer tours.
- Country
- Colombia
- Best months
- Jul–Sep (whale watching), Dec–Apr (dry season)
- Avoid
- Oct–Nov (rainy season, boats may not run)
- Stay
- 2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- COP
- Money
- Currency is the Colombian peso (COP, $). Cards work in hotels, malls and many restaurants; cash is needed for small shops, markets and rural areas.
- Daily spend
- Budget COP 60,000–90,000 excl. bed · Mid COP 90,000–150,000 excl. bed · High COP 150,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Claro (best coverage), Movistar and Tigo SIMs in malls and at airports; passport required and IMEI registration may apply for longer stays — check.
- Emergency
- Police, ambulance, fire 123
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 110–120 V · 60 Hz · US-style plugs.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: 10% propina voluntaria offered on the bill.; Guides: COP 20,000–50,000 per person per day.; Taxis: Round up.
- Water
- Tap water is safe in Bogotá and Medellín; drink bottled on the coast and in rural areas.
- Toilets
- Put paper in the bin in most places; bring tissues for bus stations.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Moto-taxi Juanchaco ↔ Ladrilleros | COP 5,000 |
| Boat return Buenaventura | COP 90,000 |
| Whale-watching tour | COP 25,000 |
| Cascada La Sierpe tour | COP 25,000 |
| Coco loco (viche in coconut) | COP 10,000–15,000 |
| Beer (bottle) | COP 4,000–6,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- BUN · Buenaventura Airport
- Small airport with limited flights; most travellers fly into Cali (CLO) and take a bus to Buenaventura.
Typical fares
- Boat Buenaventura → Ladrilleros/Juanchaco
- COP 90,000 return, about 1 hour (check)
- Moto-taxi Juanchaco → Ladrilleros
- COP 5,000
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Moto-taxis connect Juanchaco and Ladrilleros (COP 5,000). Walking is fine within each village. Boats are the only way to reach the waterfalls and mangroves.
See and do
Known for
- Surfing and bodyboarding
- Whale watching (Jul–Sep)
- Cascada La Sierpe waterfalls
- Mangrove tours
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Buenaventura | Fast boat from Muelle Turistico, about 1 hour | 1 hour |
| San Cipriano | Boat to Buenaventura, then bus and 'brujita' (makeshift rail taxi) | 2–3 hours |
Sleep
- Ladrilleros beachfront
- Closest to surf breaks and restaurants; basic hostels and guesthouses.
- Juanchaco
- Quieter, near the boat dock and whale-watching tours; cheaper options.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| How much? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?KWAN-to KWES-ta |
| Where is the boat? | ¿Dónde está el barco?DON-de es-TA el BAR-ko |
| I need a moto-taxi | Necesito un mototaxine-se-SEE-to un mo-to-TAK-see |
| The bill, please | La cuenta, por favorla KWEN-ta por fa-VOR |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake, cheek kiss between women and mixed pairs; avoid: Launching into requests without a greeting
- Politeness: 'Con gusto', 'a la orden'; avoid: Blunt commands
- Topics: Coffee, football, food; avoid: Escobar jokes, drug talk
- Showing valuables: Keep phones away; avoid: 'Dar papaya'
Scams and watch-outs
- Boats stop running in bad weather: you may be stuck an extra day.
- No ATM in Ladrilleros or Juanchaco: bring enough cash from Buenaventura or Cali.
- Whale-watching tours are capped at 30 minutes to protect the animals.
Ladrilleros and Juanchaco are safe, with a navy base and airstrip nearby. The main risk is getting stranded by weather: always have a buffer day if you need to catch a flight.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Ladrilleros yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Surfing and bodyboarding
- Whale watching (Jul–Sep)
- Cascada La Sierpe waterfalls
- Mangrove tours
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Ladrilleros, revision 5007550 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5007550
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Ladrilleros
Para Ladrilleros, por favor
To Ladrilleros, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, ambulance, fire123
No ATM in Ladrilleros or Juanchaco; bring cash from Buenaventura or Cali.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/ladrilleros). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.