Bahía Solano: How to Get There, Beaches & Pacific Tourism
Bahía Solano is a destination on the Pacific coast that preserves pristine nature, ideal for a holiday far from the big cities.
Bahía Solano is an ecotourism spot chosen by those looking to escape mass tourism and discover new destinations.
The municipality of Bahía Solano is in the Chocó department, on the northern coast of the Colombian Pacific. The area is jungle, with an average temperature of 26 °C, and holds enormous biodiversity — an ideal destination for nature lovers.
How to get to Bahía Solano
Bahía Solano is cut off by land, with no roads connecting it to the rest of Colombia.
By air:
The easiest way to reach Bahía Solano is by plane.
Flights from Medellín: Satena and ADA (Aerolínea de Antioquia). Flight time: 1 hour. (From the country's main cities, Satena offers flights connecting through Medellín.)
Flights from Quibdó: ADA (Aerolínea de Antioquia). Flight time: 25 minutes.
By sea:
The cheapest way to reach Bahía Solano is by sea (speedboat or boat).
The most-used route for people and goods is by sea from the port of Buenaventura to Bahía Solano. There is almost daily service between the two, though these trips sometimes depend on the weather.
Sailing time between Buenaventura and Bahía Solano: 12 hours by speedboat / 24 hours by boat.
Bahía Solano, Ciudad Mutis
The urban area of Bahía Solano is called Ciudad Mutis. This small town beside the bay spans just a few blocks, with eateries, restaurants, shops and travel agencies that organize excursions nearby. There is also a dock where boats from Buenaventura arrive and from which boats leave on tourist trips.
Hotels
Most of the lodging is in Bahía Solano and the neighboring beaches such as El Valle. Many are built with natural materials like wood and palm leaves. The range is varied, from ecolodge hotels with a wide array of services to budget beachfront cabins. There are also camping areas and the option to sleep in hammocks.
Trips and excursions
Bahía Solano is ideal for nature lovers, combining sea, jungle and rivers. There are many trails for hiking and discovering the region's wildlife.
There are also excellent spots for diving and snorkeling, including some shipwrecks.
Boat trips are a must, reaching remote beaches and offering sightings of sea turtles, dolphins and whales. Humpback whale season runs from August to October.
Top sights around Bahía Solano
Playa de los Deseos, the Cascadas River, the Chadó River, Punta Huina, Cotudo beach and the Ensenada de Utría National Park.
Ensenada de Utría National Natural Park
Ensenada de Utría Park preserves a great range of environments, from tropical rainforest to coral reefs. The park is a strip of 54,300 hectares between the Pacific Ocean and the Baudó mountains.
The park's wildlife is very diverse, including various species of whales and sperm whales, orcas, dolphins and sea turtles. On land there are several kinds of monkeys, ocelots, sloths and deer. The flora is also rich, with species such as caracolí, guayacán, ceiba, palms, caimito and mahogany.
To visit the national park you can book an excursion from Bahía Solano.
Map of Bahía Solano
Frequently asked questions about Bahía Solano
On the northern Pacific coast, in the Chocó department. It is an ecotourism destination with pristine nature; its town is called Ciudad Mutis.
There is no road access. By air from Medellín (1 h, with Satena/ADA) or from Quibdó (25 min). By sea, by speedboat or boat from Buenaventura (12 to 24 h).
Whale watching (in season), fishing, diving, visiting beaches such as El Valle and Huina, waterfalls, and exploring the jungle and local communities.
Humpback whale season on the Pacific runs roughly from July to October; it is also a good time for turtle nesting at Playa El Valle.
It is a remote jungle destination: rainy climate, lots of insects and weather-dependent transport. Bring repellent and cash, and book transfers and lodging in advance.
There are hotels and guesthouses in Ciudad Mutis and ecolodges on nearby beaches such as El Valle and Huina, several with packages that include excursions.