# El Retén Municipality, Magdalena Department – Villages & Map

> Source: https://wherepedia.org/colombia/magdalena/el-reten/

Municipality · Magdalena Department 

# El Retén

El Retén is a municipality of Colombia in Magdalena Department. It had an estimated **22,125 people** in 2025 on 262 km² (about 84 per km²). Its main town is El Retén. 45 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 16 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 22,125people (2025)
- 262km²
- 16mapped services
- 20 mtypical elevation

## How many people live in El Retén?

El Retén had an estimated **22,125 people** in 2025 — 1.5% of Magdalena Department, 383rd of 1121 municipalities. There are 962 women for every 1,000 men (below the Magdalena Department figure of 1,002). Spread over 262 km², that is about **84 people per km²**, 328th of 1121 municipalities.

29.9% of people are children under 15 and 6.8% are 65 or older; the median age is about 25 years (it is 29 across Magdalena Department). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 58 children and older people.

0–4 ****2,044**

5–9 ****2,231**

10–14 ****2,341**

15–19 ****2,293**

20–24 ****2,057**

25–29 ****1,778**

30–34 ****1,535**

35–39 ****1,358**

40–44 ****1,268**

45–49 ****1,136**

50–54 ****963**

55–59 ****858**

60–64 ****748**

65–69 ****570**

70–74 ****402**

75–79 ****264**

80–84 ****145**

85–89 ****68**

90–94 ****34**

95+ ****22**

Source: [Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) via OCHA HDX, population 2025 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ps-col).

## Where is El Retén?

El Retén lies in [Magdalena Department](https://wherepedia.org/colombia/magdalena/), [Colombia](https://wherepedia.org/colombia/). It borders 6 other municipalities: [Aracataca](https://wherepedia.org/colombia/magdalena/aracataca/), [Fundación](https://wherepedia.org/colombia/magdalena/fundacion/), [Pivijay](https://wherepedia.org/colombia/magdalena/pivijay/), [Puebloviejo](https://wherepedia.org/colombia/magdalena/puebloviejo/), [Remolino](https://wherepedia.org/colombia/magdalena/remolino/) and [Sitionuevo](https://wherepedia.org/colombia/magdalena/sitionuevo/). By area it is the 589th largest of 1,122 municipalities in Colombia. It covers 1.1% of [Magdalena Department](https://wherepedia.org/colombia/magdalena/). The centre of El Retén is about 672 km in a straight line from Bogotá, the capital. It is about 67 km from Santa Marta, the main town of Magdalena Department. The centre point is at 10.6519° N, 74.3324° W.

Source: [Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-col).

## Things to see in and around El Retén

### Nearby, outside El Retén

- Punta De Pancu · beach, Puebloviejo13 km
- Punta Blanca · beach, Puebloviejo15 km
- Casa del Telegrafista · museum, Aracataca17 km
- Casa Museo Gabriel García Márquez · museum, Aracataca17 km
- Estación de Ferrocarril · museum, Aracataca17 km
- Letrero Yo Amo Aracataca · viewpoint, Aracataca17 km
- Santuario de Fauna y Flora Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta · national park, Remolino19 km

Source: [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright).

Named attractions, museums, viewpoints, historic sites and natural features mapped in OpenStreetMap. Places of worship are not listed.

## Know before you go: El Retén

- Time zoneUTC−5, no daylight saving · America/Bogota
- CurrencyPeso (COP)
- Country calling code+57
- LanguagesSpanish
- Plug typesType A, B · 110 V
- Driving sideRight
- Postcode format6 digits (######)

### Nearest airports

- Simón Bolívar International Airport (SMR) · Santa Marta53 km
- Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport (BAQ) · Barranquilla56 km

### Nearest railway station

Fundación (Fundación), about 23 km from the centre.

### Daylight

Days are longest in Jun (about 12.7 hours, sunrise around 05:35) and shortest in Dec (about 11.5 hours, sunrise around 06:07, sunset around 17:37).

Source: [GeoNames country and time-zone files (CC BY 4.0)](https://www.geonames.org/); [Wikidata (CC0) — plug types, mains voltage, driving side; retrieved 2026-11-02](https://www.wikidata.org/); [OurAirports (public domain)](https://ourairports.com/data/).

Airports with scheduled passenger flights; straight-line distances. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of each month in local standard time. Check entry and visa rules with official government sources before travelling.

## Villages and localities in El Retén

Open gazetteers list **45 villages, towns and localities** in El Retén. The largest with a recorded population: El Retén (19,345). Settlements here lie between about 5 m and 41 m above sea level (median 20 m).

- Andalucía
- Bayano
- Cacao
- Calabacito
- Camilo
- Camito
- Carretal
- Casablanca
- Chirripo
- El Bongo
- El Cairo
- El Eden
- El Edén
- El Indio
- El Retén
- Gavilán
- Granja
- Hacienda Gallego
- Hacienda La Bertha
- Hacienda San Rafael
- Jerusalén
- La Bogotana
- La Cedys
- La Colombia
- La Florida
- La Granja
- La Ledys
- La Victoria
- Las Mercedes
- Lourdes Maria
- Lourdes María
- Miami
- Nicoya
- Nápoles
- Palenque
- Patía
- Polvorita
- Roma
- San José de Honduras
- San Juan
- San Sebastian
- San Sebastián del Bongo
- Santa Ana
- Santo Tomás
- Zacapa

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/); [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright).

## Landscape and landmarks of El Retén

Named natural and historic features inside El Retén, from the GeoNames gazetteer.

### Water

5 rivers and streams.

- Quebrada Chirina
- Río Ají
- Río Aracataca
- Río Fundación
- Río Tucurinca

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/).

Places of worship are not listed. Elevations are from the GeoNames terrain model and are approximate.

## Weather in El Retén and the best time to visit

In El Retén, the warmest month is Mar (average 30 °C) and the coolest is Nov (27 °C). About 724 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Oct (142 mm) and the driest Jan (2 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **September and November to December**.

- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec

Month Average °C Rain mm 

Jan 28 2 

Feb 29 2 

Mar 30 8 

Apr 30 30 

May 28 100 

Jun 29 67 

Jul 29 74 

Aug 28 81 

Sep 28 103 

Oct 27 142 

Nov 27 93 

Dec 28 22 

Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/).

## Nearest hospital, bank and fuel from El Retén

Need Nearest mapped Distance 

Hospital Hospital Local · El Retén 8.4 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=10.61138&mlon=-74.26794#map=17/10.61138/-74.26794) 

Bank Banco Agrario · Aracataca 17 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=10.59212&mlon=-74.19087#map=17/10.59212/-74.19087) 

Petrol pump Estacion de Servicio La Feria · Fundación 21 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=10.52254&mlon=-74.19822#map=17/10.52254/-74.19822) 

Hotel Hostal gosen · Aracataca 17 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=10.59244&mlon=-74.19381#map=17/10.59244/-74.19381) 

School Escuela Rural Mixta Salitre · El Retén 6.1 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=10.70049&mlon=-74.35866#map=17/10.70049/-74.35866) 

Police station Estación de Policia de Aracataca · Aracataca 17 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=10.59452&mlon=-74.19248#map=17/10.59452/-74.19248) 

Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/).

Straight-line distance from the centre of the division, within 40 km.

## Hospitals, banks and other services in El Retén

Places mapped inside El Retén in open map data, by type — each number opens the full list with locations.

- Hospitals2
- Schools13
- Pharmacies1

Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/).

Coverage depends on what has been mapped; contact details are not shown.

## Other municipalities in Magdalena Department

- Algarrobo
- Aracataca
- Ariguaní
- Cerro de San Antonio
- Chivolo
- Ciénaga
- Concordia
- El Banco
- El Piñón
- Fundación
- Guamal
- Nueva Granada
- Pedraza
- Pijiño del Carmen
- Pivijay
- Plato
- Puebloviejo
- Remolino
- Sabanas de San Ángel
- Salamina
- San Sebastián de Buenavista
- San Zenón
- Santa Ana
- Santa Bárbara de Pinto
- Santa Marta
- Sitionuevo
- Tenerife
- Zapayán
- Zona Bananera

## Quick answers

- Where is El Retén?In Magdalena Department, Colombia
- What is the population of El Retén?22,125 (2025 estimate)
- What is the median age in El Retén?About 25 years (2025 estimate)
- What is the population density of El Retén?About 84 people per km²
- What borders El Retén?Aracataca, Fundación, Pivijay, Puebloviejo, Remolino and Sitionuevo
- What is there to see in El Retén?Punta De Pancu, Punta Blanca, Casa del Telegrafista, Casa Museo Gabriel García Márquez
- What time zone is El Retén in?UTC−5
- What currency is used in El Retén?Peso (COP)
- What language is spoken in El Retén?Spanish (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in El Retén?45 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of El Retén?Settlements lie between 5 m and 41 m
- What is the best time to visit El Retén?September and November to December
- Where is the nearest hospital to El Retén?Hospital Local, about 8.4 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest bank to El Retén?Banco Agrario, about 17 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest petrol pump to El Retén?Estacion de Servicio La Feria, about 21 km from the centre
- How many hospitals are in El Retén?2 mapped
- What is the P-code of El Retén?CO47268 (OCHA common operational dataset)