Introduction: Bocagrande, the Neighborhood That Won't Give Up
If there's one thing that defines Bocagrande, it's not just its glass and concrete towers facing the Caribbean Sea, nor the eternal noise of street vendors on Avenida San Martín. What truly marks this neighborhood is its ability to rise after every blow. And the last hurricane —or rather, the severe storm that hit Cartagena in November 2025— left a scar still visible on the peeling walls and the debris that took weeks to collect. But it also left something else: a network of neighbors who went from being strangers in the elevator to coordinating via WhatsApp to clean beaches, shore up windows, and demand an emergency plan from the Mayor's Office that didn't exist.
This article is not a damage report or a lament. It's a guide to understanding how Bocagrande is rewriting its story of neighborhood resilience, with lessons any coastal town in Colombia should copy. If you live here, work in one of those towers, or are simply interested in how a community organizes when the sea becomes an enemy, stay. This is what happened, what is happening, and what's coming.
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Historical Context: The Hurricane That Wasn't a Hurricane (But Hurt Like One)
To be precise, the phenomenon that hit Bocagrande between November 15 and 17, 2025, was not an officially categorized hurricane. The Ideam classified it as a severe tropical storm with sustained winds of 110 km/h and waves up to 4 meters. But for the neighborhood's residents, the technical name doesn't matter: the saltwater came in along Avenida Primera, knocked down century-old palm trees in Parque del Bombero, left half the area without power for 72 hours, and tore off sheet metal roofs from the oldest houses on Calle del Arsenal.
The damage was not uniform. While newer buildings like the Edificio Marina del Rey held up with just broken windows, constructions from the 70s and 80s —especially in the Laguito area— suffered massive leaks. Seawater flooded basements, garages, and the first floors of commercial premises. The Plaza Bocagrande shopping center, which seems like the neighborhood's hub, was closed for three days due to electrical system damage. And the beach, once the pride of locals and tourists, woke up covered in debris, plastics, and even a refrigerator someone lost to the tide.
But the most striking thing wasn't the material damage. It was the feeling of abandonment. During the first 24 hours, there was no presence from the Civil Defense or the Fire Department. Neighbors, trapped in their apartments without elevators or cell signal, began to organize as best they could. And that's where what they now call "the neighborhood resilience of Bocagrande" was born.
What to Do: Community Recovery as an Action Plan
If you arrived in Bocagrande after the storm —or if you're reading this in May 2026 and want to understand how the neighborhood recovered— the first lesson is that recovery wasn't done by the government. It was done by the neighbors. And even today, there are things you can do to join in or simply understand the process.
Beach Clean-Up Days: The First Cry of Organization
On Saturday, November 23, 2025, just six days after the storm, a group of 40 neighbors gathered at the entrance of Playa de Bocagrande (in front of the Hotel Caribe) with black bags, rawhide gloves, and pent-up anger. They didn't wait for the Mayor's Office. In three hours, they collected over two tons of waste: plastics, wood, remains of small boats, and even a tractor tire. That clean-up was repeated every Saturday for two months, and today it's a monthly activity coordinated by the Asociación de Vecinos de Bocagrande (ASOVEBO).
If you want to join, the next clean-ups are scheduled for the second Saturday of each month, from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Meeting point: the beach kiosk in front of Calle 5. Bring water, sunscreen, and clothes that can get wet. No registration needed; just show up.
Infrastructure Reinforcement: Lessons from a Neighborhood That Learned the Hard Way
After the storm, many buildings in Bocagrande began installing metal flood gates in basements and sealing first-floor windows with marine silicone. But the most notable change was in Parque del Bombero: neighbors pushed for the oldest trees to be cut down and replaced with deeper-rooted species, like the button mangrove, which better withstands hurricane-force winds. Today, that park is an example of how nature and prevention can coexist.
Additionally, the Junta de Acción Comunal (JAC) de Bocagrande managed to get the Mayor's Office to install four drainage pumps in the neighborhood's lowest points: Calle 3 with Carrera 2, Calle 7 with Avenida San Martín, the entrance to Laguito, and the Punta del Este sector. These pumps run on solar energy and activate automatically when the water level exceeds 30 centimeters.
Where to Eat or Drink: The Places That Resisted and Those That Were Reborn
The storm didn't just damage infrastructure; it also hit merchants' pockets. But several places became meeting points for community reconstruction. Here are a few worth knowing, not just for their food, but for their story of resilience.
La Cevichería de Don Tito
At Calle 5 #3-45, right behind the Edificio Bahía, Don Tito lost his entire fish inventory when seawater flooded his refrigerator. But by the third day, he was already selling conch ceviche with lemon and onion, using ice borrowed from a neighbor. Today, his place is a must-stop for anyone wanting to try a well-made mixed ceviche (from $22,000 COP) and hear first-hand what the night of November 15 was like. Open Monday to Saturday, 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. They don't accept cards, only cash or Nequi.
El Café de la Esquina (formerly "Café del Parque")
At Carrera 2 with Calle 8, this café became the volunteer headquarters during the first weeks. Its owner, Doña Martha, prepared free black coffee and panela water for those helping with the cleanup. Now, the place is a tribute to solidarity: the walls are covered with photos from the clean-ups and thank-you messages. Try the coconut milk coffee ($6,000 COP) and the egg arepas ($4,500 COP). Open from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., every day.
La Hamburguesería de la 6
At Calle 6 with Carrera 3, this semi-permanent stall survived because the owner, Jairo, moved all the chairs and tables to the second floor of his house before the flood arrived. During the emergency, he handed out hamburgers to neighbors who couldn't leave. Today, it's a benchmark for fast food in the neighborhood, with hamburgers from $12,000 COP. Recommendation: the "Hamburguesa Tormenta", with double meat, costeño cheese, and bacon. Open from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., Tuesday to Sunday.
How to Get There and Transportation: Getting Around a Neighborhood That Rebuilt Itself
After the storm, public transportation in Bocagrande was chaotic for almost two weeks. The bus routes passing through Avenida San Martín had to be diverted because fallen trees blocked the road. Today, in May 2026, mobility is restored, but there are changes worth knowing.
The T-100 bus route (connecting Bocagrande with the Historic Center) remains the most used. It runs every 10 minutes during peak hours and every 20 minutes during off-peak hours. The fare is $2,800 COP. If coming from the airport, the A-100 route drops you at Plaza Bocagrande for $3,200 COP.
For those who prefer to walk, the neighborhood is quite flat and walkable, but keep in mind that some side streets (like Calle 2 and Calle 4) still have potholes worsened by the storm. The Mayor's Office promised to repair them before June 2026, but as of this article's date, the work is still in progress.
If you use a taxi or Uber, the price from the Historic Center to Bocagrande is around $15,000 COP during normal hours, and up to $25,000 COP during peak hours. A local tip: get off at Calle 7 with Carrera 2 and walk towards the beach, because traffic on Avenida San Martín becomes hellish between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Local Tips: What We Learned After the Hurricane
If there's one thing the neighbors of Bocagrande want you to know, it's this: don't wait for the government to save you. Here are some practical tips based on the real experience of the November 2025 storm.
- Have an emergency kit ready: flashlight with extra batteries, battery-powered radio, bottles of drinking water (at least 4 liters per person), canned food, a basic first-aid kit, and copies of important documents in a waterproof bag. In Bocagrande, several buildings already have these kits in their basements.
- Join the Bocagrande disaster prevention WhatsApp group. It's not a gossip group. It's where clean-up days are coordinated, infrastructure damage is reported, and early warnings from the Ideam are shared. To join, search for "ASOVEBO Bocagrande" on Facebook and ask for the link. Or ask your building manager.
- Identify temporary shelters. During the storm, the Plaza Bocagrande Shopping Center and the Hotel Caribe opened their doors as shelters. Check with your manager if your building has a designated meeting point. If not, the parking lot of the Edificio Torre del Mar (Calle 8 #2-15) served as one during the emergency.
- Don't underestimate the power of a neighbor. The most effective support network isn't in institutions, but in the people living next to you. During the storm, a 70-year-old man named Don Carlos (lives in the Edificio Bahía) used his shortwave radio to communicate with other buildings when cell phones were down. Today, several buildings have similar radios.
- If you're a tourist, ask before renting. Some apartments in Laguito and on the first beachfront line suffered structural damage that hasn't been fully repaired. Ask the landlord if the place has flood barriers and if the roof was reinforced after the storm.
Lessons Learned and Improvement Proposals
The storm left hard lessons, but also an action plan that the neighbors are pushing with all their might. These are the main proposals the Bocagrande community has put on the table, and any coastal neighborhood should consider them:
Neighborhood Early Warning System
Currently, the Ideam issues general alerts for Cartagena, but not specific ones for Bocagrande. ASOVEBO's proposal is to install three sirens at strategic points: one in Parque del Bombero, another in Plaza Bocagrande, and one more in Laguito. These sirens would activate when the sea level exceeds 2 meters on the coast. The estimated cost is $50 million COP, and neighbors are already collecting signatures for the Mayor's Office to include it in the 2027 budget.
Coastal Strip Reinforcement
Engineers who assessed the damage after the storm recommended building a rock groyne in the Punta del Este area, where the waves hit hardest. The community proposes combining this groyne with planting mangroves along the shore as a natural barrier. A pilot project is already underway, led by the Fundación Tierra Viva, with support from the University of Cartagena.
First Aid and Basic Rescue Training
After the storm, many neighbors realized they didn't know how to act in an emergency. Therefore, the JAC of Bocagrande organized free first aid and water rescue workshops, held on the last Saturday of each month in the community hall of the Edificio Torre del Mar. The next workshop is on May 31, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Free entry, but limited to 30 people. Sign up in the prevention WhatsApp group.
Upcoming Neighborhood Meeting Agenda
The organization doesn't stop. Here are the meetings scheduled for the coming months, open to any resident or merchant of Bocagrande:
- ASOVEBO monthly meeting: first Wednesday of each month, 6:30 p.m., in the community hall of the Edificio Bahía (Calle 5 #3-50). Progress on infrastructure, upcoming clean-up days, and budget are discussed.
- Disaster prevention workshop: last Saturday of each month, 9:00 a.m., at the Edificio Torre del Mar. Includes an evacuation drill.
- Beach clean-up day: second Saturday of each month, 7:00 a.m., in front of the beach kiosk on Calle 5.
- Open forum with the Mayor's Office: June 15, 2026, 4:00 p.m., at Plaza Bocagrande (second-floor auditorium). Progress on the groyne project and warning system will be presented.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was it really a hurricane that hit Bocagrande in 2025?
Not officially. The Ideam classified it as a severe tropical storm, with winds of 110 km/h and waves up to 4 meters. However, the damage was comparable to a Category 1 hurricane, especially in the lower areas of the neighborhood. For practical purposes, the community experienced it as a hurricane, even if the technical term is different.
How can I help if I don't live in Bocagrande?
You can donate to the Fundación Tierra Viva (look for their Nequi account on social media) or participate in the beach clean-up days on the second Saturday of each month. You can also spread the word about the disaster prevention WhatsApp group so more people can join. You don't need to be a resident to be part of the support network.
Is it safe to rent an apartment in Bocagrande after the storm?
It depends on the building. Those built after 2010 usually have better standards for wind and wave resistance. Older ones, especially in Laguito and on the first beachfront line, may have non-visible structural damage. Before renting, ask if the building has flood barriers, if the roof was reinforced, and if there were any leaks during the storm. If the landlord can't answer, it's better to look for another option.
Is the prevention WhatsApp group only for emergencies?
No, although the main focus is disaster prevention and response, information about clean-up days, workshops, and Ideam alerts is also shared. It's not a gossip or sales group. If you want to join, search for "ASOVEBO Bocagrande" on Facebook and request the link. Entry is free and open to anyone interested in the neighborhood's safety.