What to do in Cartagena: Visit Pao Pao, a bird paradise island in the Rosario Islands archipelago.

Birds, the true residents of Pao Pao

Not all islands in the archipelago have wings. Pao Pao does.

From the moment the island is sighted on the horizon, the first to greet visitors are not people, but the frigates. They appear first: they soar high, effortlessly, welcoming all visitors. Pao Pao is a place where the landscape is not just seen: it is heard, respected, and shared.

Here, birdwatching in Cartagena ceases to be a one-time activity and becomes a distinct way of being. This island doesn't offer a spectacle: it offers presence. And those who visit rarely leave the same.

Pao Pao is a sanctuary of sea, nature, and flight. A day trip here is like no other. Staying on the island isn't just a rest: it's a way to see the world with more calm, more connection, more intention.

A shared island with wings

At Pao Pao, there are no cages or tourist circuits designed to search for birds. What there is is freedom. Silence. Natural rhythm.

Pao Pao is a place where you only need to look at the sky—or the mangroves—to understand why this island is one of the best birdwatching spots in Colombia.

Pao Pao isn't just home to birds. It has a diverse and active winged community that changes with the hours of the day and the seasons. Some species are faithful residents; others are seasonal visitors that transform the landscape for a few days and then move on. All of them, without exception, are part of an island where nature is uninterrupted.

Among the most visible is the magnificent frigatebird, which dominates the skies with its suspended, majestic flight. Nearby, the common frigatebird provides the sound with its high-pitched call and curious gait. The brown pelican soars over the coast and dives with precision, while the great egret, the tricolored heron, and the night heron walk stealthily along the shore or through the mangroves.

Marine species such as the red-footed and brown boobies, the buff-tailed tern, and the black noddy can also be seen. Each of these birds contributes something distinct: color, movement, sound, pause. And together they make up the aerial soul of the island.

Sustainability as a way of living (and flying)

Pao Pao is a space honored by conviction.

The island has ACERT S.A. certification, which recognizes its leadership in sustainability. It also actively collaborates with National Natural Parks, complying with standards that guarantee the integrity of the environment: from music decibel control to responsible practices in every detail of the operation.

Here, tourism adapts to the environment, not the other way around.

And those who work on the island aren't just part of the team: they're part of the ecosystem. They know the birds, they know when they arrive, which areas they prefer, how they behave. They care for them because they love them, because they feel close and essential to them.

Rooms designed to look at the sky

At Pao Pao, birds don't just fly over the island: they give their names to its most special spaces. Some of our rooms proudly bear the names of emblematic species such as the Frigate Bird, the Flamingo, the Chau... and now, the new Grey Heron room. This is no coincidence: it's a way of honoring the beauty that surrounds us.

Each of these rooms was designed to allow an intimate connection with the environment. From the bed, from the terrace, from the silence: the sky is always present. The best views of the hotel don't look inward, but upward.

Sleeping at Pao Pao is waking up knowing that what happens in the sky also belongs to you, even if you don't realize it until you experience it.

Observe without intervening. Inhabit without altering.

Birdwatching in Pao Pao doesn't require binoculars or lists. It happens while you're having breakfast, while you're walking, while you slow your breathing. The island doesn't demand that you search. It only demands reconnection and full presence.

You can enjoy Pao Pao in three ways: on an all-inclusive day trip from Cartagena, staying in our oceanfront rooms, or arriving on your own by pre-booked private boat. Three ways to experience an island unlike any other.

Here, the visitor is not a spectator. They are part of a larger choreography. One that happens with or without witnesses, but that—if you know how to look at it—transforms.