Capurganá facts for kids

Capurganá is a lovely town in Colombia, located on the northwestern coast of the Gulf of Urabá. It's part of the Acandí municipality in the Chocó region. This town is very close to the border with Panama. For a long time, Capurganá was known as a great spot for eco-tourists. More recently, it has become a key stop for many travelers getting ready for a journey into Panama.

A Look Back at Capurganá's Past

Long ago, the land where Capurganá now stands was home to the Cuna Indians. In their language, "Capurganá" means "land of chili." The Cuna people lived here until the early 1900s. Then, new settlers, mostly from Cartagena, moved into the area. The Cuna people later moved to the San Blas islands in nearby Panama. They still have a special region there where they govern themselves.

Capurganá was not well-known until the 1970s. A local leader named Mrs. Narcisa Navas had an idea. She convinced her neighbors to donate land to build a small airstrip. Narcisa Navas and a pilot named Jorge Mario Uribe brought the first tourists to Capurganá. They flew in a small Cessna airplane. Today, the Capurganá Airport is still there, but regular flights don't land there anymore. Most visitors now arrive by boat from Necoclí.

At first, families from the nearby Antioquia Department built small summer homes. Soon, the first hotel opened in 1975. It had small log cabins with roofs made from palm leaves. After this, more hotels started to appear. By 1990, Capurganá had over 20 hotels and guesthouses. This small town, with no paved streets or cars, slowly became a popular place for people who loved nature.

As of 2021, Capurganá has modern services. It has public electricity and water systems. There are also telephones connected to Colombia's phone network. A doctor is always available in the town. You won't find banks or cars here, but you can use motorcycle taxis to get around.

A Stop for Travelers

Since about 2010, a big part of Capurganá's economy comes from helping travelers. Many thousands of people, mostly from Haiti, but also from countries like Cameroon, Nepal, and Bangladesh, pass through here. In Capurganá, these travelers get ready for a challenging journey. They prepare and gather supplies for a long hike through the jungle of the Darién Gap into Panama. In 2021, so many travelers were waiting in Necoclí for boats to Capurganá that the town's services struggled.

Exploring Underwater Wonders

Colombia has a very long coastline along the Caribbean Sea. However, many coastal waters are cloudy because of dirt from large rivers. But there's a special part of the coast, about 30 kilometers long, that starts near the border with Panama. This area has very clear waters. These waters are perfect for scuba diving and snorkeling.

The best time to go diving is during the middle of the winter season, from April to November. During these months, the ocean waves are very calm. In the summer, from January to March, the waves can get strong. This makes boat travel difficult, especially for visitors who are not used to the sea. Dive shops in Capurganá have certified PADI international agencies. This means they follow high standards for diving safety and training.

Amazing Animals and Plants

The Chocó region is home to many different animal species. Some of these animals are even endangered, meaning they are at risk of disappearing. Local boats can take you to "The Playona" beach. Here, you can see large turtles like the Cana (Dermochelys coriacea) and Carey (Eretmochelys imbricata) turtles. They come to this beach to lay their eggs during March and April.

You might also spot the famous Choco poison frogs in the region. The dark green frog, Dendrobates auratus, is also very common here.

Tourism and Travel to Capurganá

The late 1900s were a great time for tourism in Capurganá. Thousands of visitors came from different Colombian cities to enjoy its beautiful natural environment. However, some security challenges in the area affected the number of tourists for a few years. The Colombian government later increased security in the border area. This helped tourism to grow again.

Until the mid-1980s, Capurganá had two sandy beaches with coral. One of these beaches, called the Virgin of Uvita, was later covered by the sea. Now, only the beach of "La Caleta" remains for visitors to enjoy.

Today, many tourists and business people travel between Colombia and Panama using the Turbo-Capurganá route. A boat leaves daily at 8:00 am from Turbo (Antioquia) to Capurganá. This boat can carry 25 passengers. The trip usually takes about 2 to 3 hours, depending on how calm the sea is. The nearest city in Panama is Puerto Obaldía, which is about 45 minutes away by boat.

Getting to Capurganá

Most goods arrive in Capurganá by sea from Turbo and Cartagena (Colombia). Most visitors also arrive by boat. The most common way is from Necoclí, which is the closest town with a paved road. Regular ferries travel from Necoclí to Capurganá. In 2021, there were so many travelers that the ferries couldn't keep up. This caused problems for the water system in Necoclí.

If you prefer to fly, you can charter a small plane, also called an air taxi. These planes can take you directly to Capurganá or to the nearby town of Acandí.

Capurganá's Weather

Capurganá has a "Tropical Savanna Climate." This means it's warm all year round. The average temperature for the year is about 27.2 °C (81.0 °F). May is usually the warmest month, with an average temperature of about 27.8 °C (82.0 °F). January is typically the coolest month, with an average temperature of about 26.7 °C (80.0 °F).

See also

In Spanish: Capurganá para niños