Boat rental for the Rosario Islands up to 15 people.

The best part of this private Rosario Islands boat is control. You can spend more time at Isla Grande, pause for snorkeling, or move on when your group has had enough. The crew, including Luis and Moisés on one reported outing, has helped guests choose stops, place local food orders, and find good moments for photos.

I like the generous group size, since $815 covers up to 15 people, and I like the practical setup: a cooler, 13 kilos of ice, Bluetooth sound, a restroom, life vests, snorkeling gear, and bottled water. The main caution is timing and route order: you cannot return to a stop once the boat has passed it, and one serious booking problem was reported when a captain did not arrive.

Key points at a glance

• Private boat for up to 15 people: The flat group price can make sense for families and larger groups.
• Five named island stops: The route can include Isla Grande, Caño Ratón, La Piscina, Cholón, and Aguazul.
• You control the pace: Decide how long to stay at each stop, but choose carefully because the boat cannot go backward.
• Useful onboard equipment: You get a restroom, cooler, ice, snorkeling equipment, life vests, Bluetooth audio, and water.
• Bring your own provisions: Snacks, drinks, and food are allowed, while lunch and alcohol can be arranged for an extra cost.
• A full 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. day: You return to the same marina in Cartagena after about eight hours at sea.

A private day on the water from Cartagena

This is not a fixed-seat island shuttle where everyone follows the same clock. You rent the boat as a group, meet at Todomar CHL Marina Bocagrande in Bocagrande, and spend the day moving through the Rosario Islands area with a captain and skipper.

The schedule runs from 9 A.M. until 5 P.M., giving you about eight hours. That matters because the islands are best enjoyed at an unhurried pace. You can stop for a swim, use the snorkeling equipment, listen to your own music, eat aboard or on an island, and continue when your group is ready.

The private format is the main reason to consider this outing. With 15 people, you are not paying $815 per person. The cost works out to about $54 per person if the boat is full, before any extra food or drinks. For a smaller group, the per-person cost rises, so this is strongest for families, birthday groups, and friends traveling together.

The current rating is 4.9 from 68 ratings, with 99 percent recommending the experience. That is a strong sign, but I would still pay attention to the practical details, especially the departure time and confirmation of the captain before the day begins.

What each island stop adds to the day

The listed route includes Isla Grande, Caño Ratón, La Piscina, Cholón, and Aguazul. You may visit all five, but the timing depends on your group and the order selected by the crew. Since the boat cannot return to a place already passed, tell the captain early which stops matter most to you.

Isla Grande

Isla Grande is one of the main anchors of a Rosario Islands outing. It gives you a chance to settle into the day, enjoy the sea, and spend time away from Cartagena’s city streets.

If your group wants swimming, photos, and a longer break, this may be a good place to protect extra time. Do not assume you can simply come back later. Once the boat leaves and continues along the route, the return option is off the table.

Caño Ratón

Caño Ratón is one of the smaller named stops on the route. Its value is flexibility. You can use it as one part of a day with several short visits rather than trying to make every stop a long beach stay.

The precise activity here is not specified, so I would ask the crew what conditions are like that day. The private boat gives you room to adjust, but the route still has a fixed eight-hour window.

La Piscina

The name suggests a stop suited to water time, and the tour includes snorkeling equipment, life vests, and a restroom aboard. Those basics make the day easier for a mixed group, especially if some people want to swim while others prefer to stay on deck.

You get only two 330cc bottles of water per person, so do not treat the included water as your full supply for eight hours. Bring additional nonalcoholic drinks if your group tends to drink heavily in the heat.

Cholón

Cholón is included in the route and can also be a useful place to arrange local food. On one outing, Luis and Moisés helped the group decide where and when to buy from local sellers and assisted with orders.

That kind of help can save time, but lunch is not included in the price. You can bring your own meal, buy typical island food, or arrange lunch for an extra charge. Ask about the current cost before placing an order.

Aguazul

Aguazul rounds out the listed island route. It gives the crew another point to include when planning the day, especially if your group wants to see several different areas rather than stay at one main stop.

Because the route is not described as a fixed sequence, confirm the order at the start. If Aguazul is a priority, say so before leaving the marina.

How the boat setup affects your day

The boat comes with a cooler and 13 kilos of ice. That is helpful if you bring your own food and drinks, and it removes one nuisance from a hot day on the water. You can also connect to the professional sound system through Bluetooth, so your group can choose its own music.

The practical inclusions are better than a bare boat rental. You get life vests, snorkeling equipment, a restroom on board, and bottled water. Those features matter when you are spending most of the day at sea rather than making a quick transfer between Cartagena and the islands.

There are two crew roles listed: a captain and a skipper. A captain handles the boat, while the skipper can help with the day’s flow and local arrangements. The experience also offers private transportation, though the important point for you is that the boat begins and ends at the same marina.

You can bring snacks, drinks, and food. Alcohol is not included, but you may bring your own drinks or pay an additional charge to include alcohol through the service. Lunch follows the same pattern. This makes the outing flexible, but it also means your final cost depends on what you add.

The real value of $815 for a group

At first glance, $815 is a large price tag. For a full group of 15, it is reasonable for a private eight-hour boat day, especially with fuel, crew, ice, equipment, and a cooler included. At 10 people, it is about $81.50 per person. At six people, it is about $136 per person before food and drinks.

The value is less clear for a couple or a very small group. You are paying for the whole boat, not individual seats, so a shared boat could be cheaper if keeping costs low is your main goal. The private option earns its price through control, space, and the ability to match the pace to your own group.

For a birthday or family gathering, that control is useful. One birthday group used a private boat to combine island visits, relaxed downtime, and photo stops without having to follow a public-tour schedule. You can also avoid splitting up your group or waiting for strangers to finish meals and swims.

The price does not include lunch or alcohol. You should decide before departure whether you will pack supplies, buy food on an island, or pay extra for arrangements. If you bring drinks, ask how they will be stored and keep in mind that the included ice is limited to 13 kilos.

Departure timing and route planning

The meeting point is Todomar CHL Marina Bocagrande, 2nda, in Cartagena de Indias. The scheduled day begins at 9 A.M. and ends back at the same meeting point at 5 P.M.

Arrive with enough time to find the marina and board without rushing. The experience is highly dependent on the boat leaving on schedule. A late start cuts into island time, and the route rule means you cannot easily repair a poor plan by returning to an earlier stop.

I would make three choices before boarding:

• Decide which two stops matter most to your group.
• Agree on a rough food and drink plan.
• Choose whether your priority is snorkeling, photos, swimming, or visiting several islands.

Then tell the captain early. The crew can help shape the route, but they cannot take you backward after a stop has been passed.

One booking report describes a major failure in which the captain did not appear, with the group saying the issue arose around 12:30 P.M. after a 12 P.M. start. That account conflicts with the normal 9 A.M. schedule, but it is still a reason to confirm the meeting time, boat, and crew before departure. Confirmation is issued at booking, and free cancellation is available until 24 hours before the start time.

Food, drinks, and island purchases

You are welcome to bring your own snacks, drinks, and food. That is often the simplest way to control costs for a group of 15. Pack items that are easy to share and keep cold, since the boat provides a cooler and ice.

You can also buy a typical lunch on the islands. Lunch is an extra, and the same applies to alcohol. If you prefer to have the crew arrange these items, confirm the additional cost rather than assuming they are part of the $815 rate.

The crew can be useful when you want to buy from local sellers. Luis and Moisés were specifically praised for offering advice about when and where to purchase food and for helping with orders at Cholón. That assistance is practical, but you should still ask the price before ordering.

The included water is modest: two 330cc bottles per person. For a full day in the sun, I would bring more water if allowed and use the included bottles as a supplement, not the entire supply.

Who should book this boat

I would choose this for a group that values privacy and flexibility more than the lowest possible price. It fits a birthday, a family outing, or a group of friends who want one boat, one music playlist, and one shared plan.

It also suits groups with mixed interests. Swimmers can use the snorkeling equipment, people focused on photos can choose scenic stops, and anyone who wants a slower pace can spend more time at one island instead of racing through several.

I would think twice if you are traveling alone, as a couple, or with only a few people and are mainly looking for a low-cost ride. The fixed group rate becomes harder to justify when divided among fewer people.

The boat may also be less suitable if you want a guaranteed detailed itinerary with fixed arrival and departure times at every island. You get control, but you also need to make decisions. That is part of the appeal and part of the responsibility.

Should you book the Rosario Islands boat?

Book it if you can fill much of the boat and want an eight-hour private day with flexible stops. The combination of five possible island locations, onboard snorkeling equipment, a restroom, ice, Bluetooth music, and crew support gives you more control than a standard shared outing.

Before paying, confirm the 9 A.M. departure, the marina meeting point, the available boat and crew, and any extra charges for lunch or alcohol. If your group can use most of the 15 seats, the $815 price is solid. If not, compare the per-person cost with a shared trip before deciding.

FAQ

How much does the private boat rental cost?

The price is $815 per group, for up to 15 people.

How long does the experience last?

The scheduled experience lasts about eight hours, from 9 A.M. until 5 P.M.

Where does the boat leave from?

The meeting point is Todomar CHL Marina Bocagrande 2nda in Cartagena de Indias.

Where does the activity end?

The boat returns to the same meeting point at Todomar CHL Marina Bocagrande.

Which islands can the boat visit?

The listed stops are Isla Grande, Caño Ratón, La Piscina, Cholón, and Aguazul.

Can my group choose how long to stay at each island?

Yes. Your group can determine how long to stay at each island, but the boat cannot return to a stop after it has already passed it.

Is food included?

No. You can bring your own food, buy a typical lunch on the islands, or arrange lunch for an additional cost.

Are alcoholic drinks included?

No. You may bring your own drinks or pay an additional cost to include alcohol through the service.

What equipment and supplies are included?

The service includes a captain, skipper, fuel, cooler, 13 kilos of ice, life vests, a restroom, snorkeling equipment, professional Bluetooth sound, and two 330cc bottles of water per person.