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Voykit pocket guide · Colombia
Tolú
Spend 1–2 days in Tolú for a beach break and a day trip to the San Bernardo Islands; longer stays add little extra.
Tolú is a small Caribbean fishing town in Colombia's Costa Norte region. It offers a gritty beach, easy access to the San Bernardo archipelago and nearby mud volcano. Most visitors stay 1–2 days, using the town as a gateway for a day island tour.
- Country
- Colombia
- Best months
- Dec–Apr, Jul–Aug
- Avoid
- May–Jun (rainy), Sep–Nov (humid)
- Stay
- 1–2 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 30,000–45,000 excl. bed · Mid COP 45,000–80,000 excl. bed · High COP 80,000+ 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 |
|---|---|
| Coffee at a café | COP 3,000–5,000 |
| Street‑food arepa | COP 2,000–4,000 |
| Beer (bottle) | COP 4,000–6,000 |
| Taxi (5 km (3.1 mi))Taxi (3.1 mi (5 km)) | COP 12,000–15,000 |
| Bus ticket to Cartagena | COP 30,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- EOH · Enrique Olaya Herrera (Medellín)
- Flights from Medellín by Clic or SATENA; book on airline website, not on major search engines
- CTG · Rafael Núñez (Cartagena)
- Bus from Cartagena to Tolú about 3 h, COP$30,000
Typical fares
- Bus Tolú → Cartagena
- about COP 30,000, 3 h (check)
- Boat to San Bernardo Islands
- about COP 80,000, 30 min each way (check)
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
Walk the compact town centre; bicycle‑rickshaws cost COP$2,000 per ride; buses run frequently along the main road.
See and do
Known for
- San Bernardo Islands
- Mud volcano of San Antero
- Party bicycle rickshaws
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Islas de San Bernardo | Boat from Tolú beach; 30‑min ride | About 4 h total (round‑trip) |
| Volcán de Lodo (San Antero) | Taxi or local bus 20 min north | About 1 h |
Sleep
- Villa Babilla
- Hostel, budget option, about COP$40,000 per night.
- Hostal El Velero
- Beach‑front hotel, about COP$90,000 for a double room.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Disculpedisˈkulpe |
| Thank you | Graciasˈɡɾasjas |
| How much is it? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?ˈkwanto ˈkwesta |
| Can I pay by card? | ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta?pweˈðo paˈɣaɾ kon taˈɾxeta |
| Where is the bathroom? | ¿Dónde está el baño?ˈdonde esˈta el ˈβaɲo |
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
- Buses can be crowded; keep valuables close.
- Island tours fill quickly in high season; book early.
Tolú is generally safe for day visitors; keep an eye on belongings on buses and at the beach, especially after dark.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Tolú yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- San Bernardo Islands
- Mud volcano of San Antero
- Party bicycle rickshaws
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: Tolú, revision 5296657 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5296657
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Tolú
A esta dirección, por favor
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, ambulance, fire123
US consulate in Bogotá; Colombian visa info at /colombia/visa-requirements
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/tolu). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.