If you are planning a trip to Isla Fuerte, the name you need to know is Paso Nuevo. This small fishing village on the coast of Córdoba is the mainland launch point for the boat crossing to the island, which sits about 11 km offshore. Paso Nuevo is quiet, warm and unpretentious, a place where the paved road gives way to the sea and the last stretch of your journey happens on the water. Understanding how Paso Nuevo works makes the whole trip to Isla Fuerte smooth and simple.
Where Paso Nuevo is
Paso Nuevo belongs to the municipality of San Bernardo del Viento, in the department of Córdoba, on Colombia's Caribbean coast. It sits near the mouth of the Sinú River, in a region of mangroves, beaches and small fishing communities south of the Gulf of Morrosquillo.
From the city of Montería, the departmental capital, Paso Nuevo is roughly a two hour drive. Many travelers also reach it from Coveñas or Tolú to the north, or from Cartagena further along the coast, making it a natural jumping-off point for the wider region.
How to get to Paso Nuevo
The most common route is to fly into Montería, which has daily flights from Bogotá, Medellín and other Colombian cities. From Montería you continue by road toward San Bernardo del Viento and on to Paso Nuevo, either by private transfer, taxi or the regional buses and shared vans that serve the coast.
If you are coming from the Gulf of Morrosquillo, Coveñas and Tolú are within a comfortable drive. Whichever way you arrive, aim to reach Paso Nuevo with daylight to spare, since the boat crossing to the island is best done in good weather and good light.
The boat crossing to Isla Fuerte
From Paso Nuevo, the trip to Isla Fuerte is a short boat ride across open Caribbean water. The 11 km crossing usually takes a bit under half an hour depending on the boat and the sea, and it is part of the adventure: you leave the mainland behind and watch the low green profile of the island grow on the horizon.
Boats leave from the beach at Paso Nuevo. Seas are generally calmest in the morning, so an early departure is smart. If you have arranged your stay in advance, your transfer to the island is coordinated for you, and you simply step aboard.
What Paso Nuevo itself offers
Paso Nuevo is a working fishing village more than a resort town, and that is its charm. You will find simple restaurants serving fresh fish and coconut rice, wide quiet beaches, and the everyday rhythm of a coastal community. It makes a pleasant place to eat, stretch your legs and organize the final leg of your trip.
It is worth remembering that the star attraction is offshore. Paso Nuevo is the gateway, but the reefs, the diving and the island magic are all waiting across the water on Isla Fuerte.
Your gateway leads to Nautilus
Once you cross from Paso Nuevo, Isla Fuerte reveals itself: an island born from the clash of tectonic plates, with Zenú heritage and one of the best preserved reefs of the continental Colombian Caribbean. Nautilus is the PADI dive center there, with 29 dive sites, warm water between 27 and 29 degrees and small groups led by certified instructors.
The village of Paso Nuevo is simply the first step. Explore our interactive dive map and our courses and dives so that when you step off the boat, the best part of the trip is ready and waiting.
