As Providencia is one of those pristine places, tranquil, and not overrun with tourism, Santa Catalina, the small island connected to her sister by Lover’s Bridge, is virgin territory. Here, in no way, whatsoever, has man left a footprint, destroying its precious ecosystems as has happened in many other places in the Caribbean because of mass tourism. This is due, mostly, to its remote location and virtually non-existant hotel infrastructure that makes Santa Catalina the ideal place for those who desire privacy and silence.
Here, we’d like to introduce you to the little-known beach, Fort Bay. A sanctuary of absolute tranquility.
Arriving to Fort Bay, from Providencia, is child’s play. Leaving from Santa Isabel, all you need to do is take a few steps across a wooden bridge to reach paradise: a beach with brushstrokes of natural colors and the peaceful waves of a pristine sea of uncomparable beauty lapping the shore. A phenomenal way to spend the day.
Fort Bay, due to its hidden location, looks like one of those made-up places in geography or a fantastic story. We say this without wanting to cause confusion, as it is so easy to arrive there by marked paths. It’s just the lush tropical vegetation that hide it like a treasured jewel. Once you reach these mysterious sands, anyone will want to jump in the appetizing sea. Snorkeling is a phenomenal activity here.
Fort Bay is closeby and easy to get to so it’s not necessary to contract a guide. Bring bottled water to save money! Be responsible and respectful of the beauty of this pristine beach. And enjoy a pocket of paradise mixed with colonial history, hiking, snorkeling, and amazing stories.
Let’s dust off some of the pages of our history book to give you some phenomenal stories about Fort Bay, as it is a place of surprises. It holds a history of buccaneers, seemingly taken out of the imagination of a children’s book author. The reality, though, overrides the wildest imaginations, as here some epic battles took place. The old cannons, that now seem so rusty and obsolete, were once menacing and exploded in defense of the celebrated corsair. To advance the script of this epic time, there’s a legend in this paradise that claims there’s an undersea cave that is filled with the treasures of Morgan. Folklorists believe this cave is found just below the enigmatic rock that, due to its uncanny profile, looks like a human head. We don’t know for certain, but we can prove it. It’s worth your time to cross Morgan Pirate’s path to the back of this rock (the panorama is post-card worthy) or immerse yourself in a snorkeling or diving expedition to discover the incredible undersea world. It’s likely we won’t find caves filled with Spanish galleons, but undoubtedly the treasure we find is much more valuable … the priceless beauty of marine life. But you never know …
