The 15 Mangrove Tours in Colombia People Come Back For

1.Mangrove Eco Tour & Fishing with Transportation

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 185 reviews · 2 hours · from $55Our pick

Travel from Cartagena to La Boquilla for a two-hour boat tour led by local bilingual guides such as Yeimy, Jamie, or Andres. Expect a peaceful mangrove ride, a stop at Fisherman Island, traditional net and crab fishing, ecological insight, a natural drink, and a taste of Afro-Colombian music and dance.

“Great tour, professional and personable. Was Greta for family and kids (12, 10). Loved the stories and seeing the mangroves and a unique ecosystem. Lots to see and understand the changing environment. Kids loved it. Ask to end by seeing the sunset on the beach. Loved it”

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2.Full Day Barú island: Mangrove +Snorkel + Sunset + Plankton

★★★★★★★★★★3.7 · 139 reviews · 11 hours · from $69

Spend 11 hours from Cartagena at Freedom Beach Club in Barú, with a cocktail, lunch, mangrove boat ride, raccoon visit, snorkeling, sunset, and nighttime plankton swim. Spanish-speaking guides lead the day. Staff members Angie and Dequer have received particular praise, though transport and activity timing can vary.

“snorkel di 10 minuti senza boccaglio in una zona dove c'erano davvero pochi pesci, situazione molto confusa, barca per trasferimento al beach club scomoda. chiedono il 15% per pagamenti con carta, cibo non male ma nemmeno ottimo. un po' diverso dalla descrizione del tour. non consigliato”

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3.Snorkel, Mangroves and Playa Blanca Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 132 reviews

Spend eight hours traveling from Cartagena to Barú for a boat trip through mangroves, a snorkeling stop, and time at Playa Blanca. Spanish-speaking guides such as Ruben, Wilber, Diana, and Daker have earned strong praise for clear help and friendly service. Expect lunch, beach time, boat transfers, and a relaxed but sometimes loosely organized day.

“I highly recommend this tour . Ruben is my tour guy . He pick me up on time . We had a great time at the beach . After that we went snorkeling and mangrove tour. The food also delicious. Well worth the money . My tour guy Ruben offer above and beyond service”

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4.Adventure full day Isla Barú + Mangroves + Snorkel + bioluminescent plankton

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 95 reviews · 15 hours (approx.) · from $65

Spend a long day from Cartagena at Barú’s Mambo Beach, with lunch, a short mangrove boat ride, fish viewing with a mask, and a nighttime trip to see bioluminescent plankton. Expect shared transport, changing schedules, local boats, persistent beach vendors, and a return that may come late.

“Great overall except they were late and didn’t make it up. I informed that I had my car. I could have been there at least 2 hours more and it was closer from where I was as well. So I had to pay for parking (a crazy amount with a very rude guy)”

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5.Magical Full-Day Tour Through The Mangroves And The Beach In Isla de Barú

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 90 reviews · 7 to 9 hours (approx.) · from $45

Spend 7 to 9 hours on Barú with a bilingual guide, beach time at Mambo Beach, a 30,000-peso lunch voucher, a mangrove boat trip, and snorkeling when conditions allow. Guides such as Gabriel and Jose have earned praise for their friendly help, but pickup, language, boat safety, and timing can vary.

“Playa Blanca/Magical tour is a must! The tour guides Gabriel and Jose were super friendly. The drive gives you a glimpse into the non tourist areas which I can appreciate. The beach club was nice and the staff attentive without being overbearing. The short ride through the mangrove is worth the somewhat chaotic ride to the snorkeling area. The guides were great, however I was thrown into the front part of boat that was beyond capacity (no actual seats left) and offered no life jacket. Even with the minor inconveniences, I would recommend this tour if you are looking to explore the area and be one with nature.”

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6.Typical lunch on beach, mangrove tour & fishing with natives

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 79 reviews · 4 hours · from $84

Leave Cartagena for La Boquilla, where a bilingual local guide leads you through mangroves, Fisherman Island, and an artisanal fishing lesson. You can try casting a net and setting crab pots before eating fried fish, coconut rice, patacones, salad, and fish soup by the sea. Guides such as Yeimy, Jamie, and Yamil are praised for their warmth and English skills.

“This tour was fantastic! The guide was very friendly and knowledgeable and we had a great time with her! Highly recommend for a wonderful cultural experience.”

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7.Rosario Island and Mangroves Private Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 73 reviews · 9 hours · from $244Top rated

Travel privately from Cartagena to Barú and the Rosario Islands with an English- or Spanish-speaking guide such as Luis, Sofia, Valentina, or Jonathan. Enjoy breakfast and lunch in a local home, cruise through mangroves, snorkel above coral, visit a beach, and adjust the day to suit your group.

“The trip is a delightful way to experience both the country outside of Cartagena and the Rosario islands. Be warned you have some lovely time on the beach and in the water snorkeling but it is not nearly enough! Our guide was extremely knowledgeable about the local wildlife (including fish), history of the area, and flexible to what we want. We ate local meals in a local home and had a place to wash off afterwards. Conditions at the home that serves as a base are primitive but authentic and sanitary. Great communication to make sure our questions were answered before the trip.”

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8.Private Sail in the mangrove GUIDE in ENGLISH

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 32 reviews · 90 minutes - 2 hours · from $25

Take a 90-minute to two-hour private canoe trip from La Boquilla through three mangrove tunnels in the Pantano de la Virgen. An English-speaking guide explains the area, while you watch for herons, pelicans, flamingos, crabs, fish, reptiles, and mangrove plants. Hotel pickup is optional, but the meeting point and return transport need careful confirmation.

“The attraction itself was worth seeing, there were lots of different birds and crabs, the mangrove park looks like a wild jungle and is beautiful. The organization on the other hand was below expectations - the day before I was called very late at night and I was told that we have to choose a different hour or date because the english guide has to do sth else at that time. Then I was called even later, actually after I had gone to bed, that the tour is going to take place at the original hour. There was no information what kind of car is going to get us so…”

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9.Guided Cays and Mangroves Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 30 reviews · 7 hours · from $30

Travel by speedboat from Casa de la Cultura to Johnny Cay, Rose Cay, Old Point mangroves, Charquitos Beach, and Mirador de la Loma. A Spanish-speaking guide leads the 7-hour outing. The price is $30, but lunch, dock taxes, entrance fees, hotel transport, and English assistance cost extra.

“Really enjoyed this trip to the Acuario and Johnny Cay, I felt very well looked after and would recommend this tour. The guide was informative as well as a lot of fun. Both places are absolutely stunning, well worth a visit!”

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10.Explore La Boquilla’s Mangrove Tunnels with Local Fishermen

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 30 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $159

Travel from Cartagena to La Boquilla for a three-hour canoe trip through the Ciénaga de la Virgen and Ciénaga de Juan Polo. A bilingual guide and local fishermen explain the mangroves, fishing traditions, birdlife, and community conservation work. Pickup, drop-off, a drink, and a group of no more than eight are included.

“Big Thanks To Javier, our guide for Canoe Trip in the Mangroves. On our recent trip to Cartagena we decided to take 3 hour Canoe trip in the Mangroves. We were picked up by Javier from our hotel just on time. Our guide created such a friendly and flexible atmosphere. The tour was very interesting and informative. We learnt a lot about mangroves and wild life surrounding them, 3 hours just flew by. Highly recommend for everybody.”

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11.Mangroves, cultural fishing, black heritage town and lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 29 reviews · 3 hours · from $49

From Cartagena’s Crespo district, guide Alex or Luis takes you to La Boquilla for a private three-hour outing through mangrove channels, traditional net fishing, a village walk, and an Afro-Caribbean seafood lunch. Expect a local, hands-on trip rather than a polished sightseeing show, with English or Spanish guiding available.

“Everything was just as described, our guide was knowledgeable and easy to talk to about anything. 10/10”

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12.Sail in the mangroves of Cartagena

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 22 reviews · 90 - 150 minutes · from $23Best value

Paddle through three mangrove tunnels near La Boquilla with a private English or Spanish guide. Look for herons, pelicans, flamingos, crabs, fish, reptiles and native plants, while learning about local fishing life. The 90 to 150 minute tour costs $23, with optional hotel transport. Guide Domingo is especially attentive.

“El paseo realmente muy bonito, el guía muy amable y nos hizo toda la experiencia. Nos mostró los tipos de manglares, sus semillas y como crecen, observamos distintas aves, vimos y atrapamos cangrejos y caracoles (para luego dejarlos ir), y pudimos ver el trabajo de los pescadores locales. En general una muy buena experiencia. Conviene agendar el transporte al lugar con la agencia porque es difícil llegar y el barrio no es muy bueno.”

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13.Raccoon Island Snorkel, Mangrove, Photos & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★3.1 · 17 reviews · 7 hours · from $85

Spend seven hours between Cartagena, Barú, and Playa Blanca, with a mangrove boat ride, raccoon encounter, short snorkeling stop, underwater photos, beach time, and a fish, pork, or vegetarian lunch. Spanish-speaking guides lead the trip, with hotel pickup in several tourist districts and a Juan Valdez meeting point for central Cartagena.

“The snorkeling part was very short and reduced to a speed under water photo shooting. It would have been nice to have more time to see the fishes. Also the whole thing was rather chaotic. We did not get the pictures they made but a bunch of random pictures of other people. So all in all...I would not book ot again”

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14.FISHERMEN’S ISLAND IN THE MANGROVES by canoe

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 12 reviews · 2 hours · from $28

Paddle a traditional canoe through three mangrove tunnels with a native bilingual guide such as Domingo or Sandra. Look for birds, crabs, flamingos, pelicans, reptiles, and local plants before visiting Fishermen’s Island for a cold coconut, music, dancing, and Caribbean culture. Pickup is available from much of Cartagena.

“Excelente! Domingo nuestro guía muy atento y hospitalario, nos acompaña desde el comienzo incluso post actividad!”

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15.La Boquilla: 3-Hour Canoe Tour through the Mangroves

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 6 reviews · 3 hours · from $159

Travel from Cartagena to La Boquilla for a small-group canoe trip through quiet mangrove channels. A local fisherman guides the boat while an English- or Spanish-speaking guide explains the ecosystem and Afro-Caribbean traditions. Expect coconut water, wildlife, and a meaningful look at community-led conservation. Past departures included guides named Emanuel and Pablo.

“Besser geht es nicht. Super Guide, viele Infos, hilfsbereit, freundlich, interessiert. Eine tolle Erfahrung, sollte jeder Besucher mal machen.”

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