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Getting to Ladrilleros can be a bit of an adventure. The only way to get there is with a one hour boat trip from Buenaventura to Juanchaco.
Boats leave daily at 8am, 10am, 1pm, and 4pm from the Tourist Wharf (Muelle Turístico). Additional boats are available on weekends and holidays when Caleños escape Cali and head to the Pacific coast. The cost is roughly COP$75,000 round-trip per person (as of October 2024) and typically included in any package you book with a hotel. Return tickets are good for 15 days.
The company we used was Bahía Mar (permanently closed). They made two stops on the way to Juanchaco – Hotel Magüipi and Playa Juan de Díos – to let a few passengers disembark.
All boats end in Juanchaco. Once there, passengers must walk down the long pier to get into town. Locals often offer to help with bags for a small tip. They’ll wait with wheelbarrows for the boats to arrive.
From Juanchaco to Ladrilleros
For passengers who need transportation to Ladrilleros, they must turn left after leaving the pier and walk through town. Eventually they’ll come to a mototaxi or private car offering rides into Ladrilleros and all the hotels for a reasonable price.
The ride to Ladrilleros can take about 15 minutes. The road from Juanchaco makes a sharp turn and passes a runway before reaching Ladrilleros.
Back to Buenaventura
Getting back to Buenaventura, you can take a mototaxi from your hotel to Juanchaco. You should be at the boat office 30 minutes before departure. On weekdays, there are less frequent departures because there are less passengers. If you need to leave by 8am, be at the office by 7:30am or else you risk having to wait until 1pm for the next boat.
Important!
A very important note: there are NO ATMs in Juanchaco or Ladrilleros. Bring enough cash before leaving Buenaventura.
