Colombia · ROSARIO ISLANDS TOURS

Rosario Islands Tours from Cartagena: 15 Boats Compared

31 tours  ·  from $36

Every boat sells the same islands, so the difference is the hull, the crowd and how long you stop. These 15 compare catamarans, speedboats and shared launches on price, lunch, snorkel time and what the day really ends at.

Cartagena: Rosario Islands Catamaran with Lunch and Snorkel - The ride toward Rosario and San Bernardo
Boat Tours in Cartagena, Cartagena Tours, Cruises & Boat Tours, Rosario Islands Tours, Sailing, Snorkeling, Tour Reviews

Cartagena: Rosario Islands Catamaran with Lunch and Snorkel

1.Rosario Islands Catamaran with Lunch and Snorkel

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,479 reviews · 7h 30m · from $107Our pick

You’ll leave Cartagena’s Bodeguita Dock on a spacious catamaran bound for the Rosario Islands. Expect a welcome fruit drink, a snack, free soft drinks, two open-water swim stops, snorkeling gear, and a filling lunch with seafood, chicken, or vegetables. The boat does not normally land on the islands, so this suits you best if you want swimming, sun, music, and sea views rather than a beach resort visit.

“Great tour and really good lunch. The only disappointing thing is that we didn’t see very much whilst snorkelling. No fault with the company though - if you’re looking for a nice day out on the boat, this tour is for you!”

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Full-Day Rosario Islands Including Barú, Bocachica & Playa Blanca - Isla Grande offers the reef stop and a beach club
Barú & Playa Blanca Tours, Cartagena Tours, Full-Day Tours, Full-Day Tours in Cartagena, Rosario Islands Tours, Tour Reviews

Full-Day Rosario Islands Including Barú, Bocachica & Playa Blanca

2.Full-Day Rosario Islands Including Barú, Bocachica & Playa Blanca

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,729 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $88

Spend about eight hours boating from Cartagena to Bocachica, Isla Grande, Cholón, Playa Blanca, and Tierra Bomba. You’ll see San Fernando Fort, snorkel from a boat, eat lunch by the beach, and finish at Anaho Beach Club. Guides such as Franklin, Angel, Milton, and Cesar have earned praise, but rough seas, vendors, and crowded boats are part of the deal.

“I do not recommend this tour, especially for families. Despite being advertised as a VIP five island tour, there was nothing VIP about the experience. One of the main stops was a party island with excessive and very obvious drug and alcohol use. People openly approached us offering drugs, which made the environment feel unsafe and completely inappropriate for families. None of the beach clubs felt clean or well maintained, and the lunch provided was not good. On top of that, there were many hidden fees on the islands that were not clearly communicated in advance. Overall, the experience was disappointing and stressful. I would strongly advise families to avoid…”

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Excursion to the Rosario Islands with Lunch and Snorkeling - Isla Grande and the Luis Guerra reef stop
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Excursion to the Rosario Islands with Lunch and Snorkeling

3.Excursion to the Rosario Islands with Lunch and Snorkeling

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 569 reviews · 7 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $106

Sail from Cartagena to the Rosario Islands aboard Bona Vida’s spacious catamaran. You’ll stop near Isla Grande and Barú for swimming and snorkeling, enjoy lunch with chicken, seafood, or vegetable rice, and receive soft drinks. This is a relaxed boat day, not a beach-hopping or heavy party tour.

“Cartagena is very warm. So a day out on the water is a perfect way to take a break from the heat. Very large boat, plenty of room for everyone.”

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Cartagena: Rosario Islands Day Tour with Snorkel & Lunch - Isla Grande: Snorkeling, White Sand, and Clear Water
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Cartagena: Rosario Islands Day Tour with Snorkel & Lunch

4.Rosario Islands Day Tour with Snorkel & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 402 reviews · 8 hours · from $95

Spend eight hours island-hopping from Cartagena with English or Spanish guide support. Snorkel near Isla Grande, eat fish, chicken, or vegetarian lunch at Baru, then relax at Tierra Bomba’s private beach and pool. Guides such as Franklin, Jesús, David, and John Wayne have been praised for attentive service, but the pace is brisk and the sea can be rough.

“My family and I had an amazing experience, this tour definitely felt different for the others. Our guide David Santiago was excellent, he was very informative, charismatic and friendly all the qualities a guide needs, he even warned us about prices and help us with our jetski rental at the beach. Worth every penny.”

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5-Island Speedboat Tour in Cartagena and the Rosario Islands - Bocachica and the forts guarding Cartagena
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5-Island Speedboat Tour in Cartagena and the Rosario Islands

5.5-Island Speedboat Tour in Cartagena and the Rosario Islands

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 258 reviews · 8 to 12 hours (approx.) · from $85

Set out from Cartagena by speedboat for Bocachica, Isla Grande, a private beach, Playa Blanca, and possibly Tierra Bomba. You will snorkel, use a 30,000 COP lunch credit, and may add a nighttime bioluminescent plankton trip. Guides such as Sergio, Charlie, Caesar, and Franklin have earned praise for friendly, careful service.

“I believe that in general the descriptions of the Viator tours from Cartagena do not correspond to what really happens. In our case, there was no scheduled stop at Cholon, but we had to stay there for half an hour as a bonus. But Cholon is really a bastard as they say in the other reviews. We did not land to see the Fuerte de San Fernando, we only stayed observing from a very large distance... The snorkeling ride was reasonable. We also went to two private beaches, one at first was shallow, but the last one had a beautiful view of the modern part of Cartagena. We had lunch…”

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Full Day 5 Best Rosario Islands Spots Make Friends & do Snorkel - Bocachica and the San Fernando fortress
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Full Day 5 Best Rosario Islands Spots Make Friends & do Snorkel

6.Full Day 5 Best Rosario Islands Spots Make Friends & do Snorkel

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 240 reviews · 9 hours (approx.) · from $79

Spend about nine hours boating from Cartagena to Bocachica, the Rosario Islands, Isla Grande, Cholón, Barú, and possibly Tierra Bomba. You get snorkeling gear, instruction, lunch credit, bottled water, a bilingual coordinator, and live commentary. Guides such as Franklin, Niche, José, and Alex have earned praise for helping guests feel safe and included.

“We enjoyed our tour of the 3 islands from our friendly and knowledgeable tour guide, John Wayne. The snorkel session would have been better if we had not been required to wear lifejackets. Fins were also not provided. Nice fish and coral though! Loved the private island relaxing time at stop #2, but Cholon (the party island), not so much. The boat ride back to Playa Blanca (starting point) into the waves and wind was exhilarating and fun! Sit in the front of the boat for a roller coaster thriller or in the back to tame it down as much as possible. The traditional Colombian lunch back at Playa Blanca…”

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5 Island Tour with Lunch Snorkel in Cartagena Rosario Island - Rosario snorkeling includes clear water and a sunken airplane
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5 Island Tour with Lunch Snorkel in Cartagena Rosario Island

7.5 Island Tour with Lunch Snorkel in Cartagena Rosario Island

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 94 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $110

Spend about seven hours boating from Cartagena through Bocachica, Isla Grande, Rosario’s reefs, Cholón, Agua Azul, and Playa Tranquila Barú. You get lunch, beach chairs, bilingual guiding, and a mask for viewing marine life. Guides may include David, Teke, or Miranda. Bring cash, sun protection, and realistic expectations about a fast, bumpy boat ride.

“Horrible, only lies, no snorkels only mask, the places where we stop, too bad, and the man that drives, was as if he has a racing with other boat. Iven with people in bad conditions x the speed and jumps, they didn’t stop. The worst trip that I did Don’t promote trips that don’t give smithing, only view people sobering and now body take care”

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Private Boat Rental To The Rosario Islands Up To 17 - Isla Grande and La Piscinita
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Private Boat Rental To The Rosario Islands Up To 17

8.Private Boat Rental To The Rosario Islands Up To 17

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 79 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) Top rated

You’ll spend about eight hours on a private boat from Cartagena to Isla Grande and nearby Rosario Islands sights. Expect snorkeling gear, bottled water, ice, fuel, insurance, a captain, and a bilingual host. Stops may include La Piscinita, a beachfront lunch spot, Pablo Escobar’s mansion, and an abandoned plane. Confirm the boat size and English guide before booking.

“Our boat was not a Botogena boat. I believe when the owner realized we were two people instead of 17, he farmed us out to another smaller company. We specifically said we needed an English guide and was promised one by Adam, who apparently is the owner. We received two crew members who spoke no English. We were take to Paue, a private beach club, that was fine. You have to spend a minimum amount, which was fine. Then we were asked to also buy lunch for the crew members. I was happy to do so but very surprised by this. Our last stop was supposed to be Playa Tranquilla…”

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Tour of the Rosario Islands, Cartagena - Leaving Cartagena from Muelle de la Bodeguita
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Tour of the Rosario Islands, Cartagena

9.Tour of the Rosario Islands, Cartagena

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 75 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $110

Spend about eight hours boating from Cartagena to Isla Grande, Rosario de Mar, Cholon, Playa Blanca, and Tierra Bomba. You’ll snorkel with provided gear, relax at beach clubs, eat lunch, and enjoy music on a group speedboat. Guides such as Daniel, Cesar, and Frankie are praised for keeping the day organized and social.

“Amazing trip, great way to see multiple islands, learn some history, and eat good food. Tour guide Daniel was cool too. Party island and the beach club (last stop) is a VIBE!”

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Cartagena: Rosario Island and Mangroves Private Day Trip - The road from Cartagena to Barú
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Cartagena: Rosario Island and Mangroves Private Day Trip

10.Rosario Island and Mangroves Private Day Trip

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

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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Boat rental for the Rosario Islands up to 15 people. - How the boat setup affects your day
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Boat rental for the Rosario Islands up to 15 people.

11.Boat rental for the Rosario Islands up to 15 people.

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 68 reviews · 8 hours (approx.)

Set out from Todomar CHL Marina Bocagrande at 9 A.M. with a captain and skipper for an eight-hour private boat day. Visit Isla Grande, Caño Ratón, La Piscina, Cholón, and Aguazul, choosing how long to stay at each stop. Bring your own food and drinks, or arrange lunch and alcohol for an added cost.

“Great experience! The private tour is certainly the way to go for the Rosario Islands tour. Our last visit in Colombia, we took the public tour route snd it doesn’t come close to this one. Our host were great. Book it!”

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Discover Isla del Rosario Live The Enchanted Beach Experience - Lunch with a COP 30,000 credit
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Discover Isla del Rosario Live The Enchanted Beach Experience

12.Discover Isla del Rosario Live The Enchanted Beach Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 53 reviews · 6 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $65

Sail from Cartagena to Isla Grande for a six-hour beach-club escape at Encanta Beach. You’ll get round-trip boat transport, a welcome drink, lunch credit, insurance, and a chair or Balinese bed when available. Guides connected with the service include Miguel, Luis, and Mr. White. Bring water shoes for the coral.

“Hola buenas noches, La verdad fue una excelente experiencia la cual repetiría nuevamente. La atención de Miguel (el guía), Luis, el Sr. white todos 10/10. Mi esposa y yo estamos muy complacidos con su atención y trato, les deseamos éxitos en sus próximos tours. Saludos,”

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Full day Isla del Encanto - Rosario Islands - Starting at Bodeguita Pier in Cartagena
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Full day Isla del Encanto – Rosario Islands

13.Full day Isla del Encanto – Rosario Islands

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 50 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $158

Spend about eight hours traveling by speedboat from Cartagena to Isla del Encanto in the Rosario Islands. You get beach and pool time, loungers, hammocks, kayaking, and a buffet lunch. The Oceanarium is optional and costs extra. Expect a busy pier departure, a group of up to 40, and added boarding fees.

“It was unorganized, terrible experience trying to get in the pier through the gate. Same with boarding the boat to head out to the island. At the island they charge for everything so take your own towels. Like everywhere in Cartagena there are people on the island trying to hustle you into buying junk. Boat ride back experienced choppy tides which caused boat to hit hard in the front. Food on the island was cheap buffet style. Don’t think it worthy of the high price.”

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Sport Boat : Rosario Island,lunch on private island - Bocachica Fort and the first views from the water
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Sport Boat : Rosario Island,lunch on private island

14.Sport Boat : Rosario Island,lunch on private island

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 41 reviews · 9 hours (approx.) · from $134

Leave Cartagena at 8:30 am for a nine-hour boat trip through the Rosario Islands. You’ll see Bocachica Fort, snorkel near Isla Grande and a sunken plane, then eat a buffet lunch at Isla del Encanto Resort, with pool and private beach time before returning to the marina.

“Place extremely hard to find where to meet. Picture shows and list one name. The name is not even it. Started late due to iron man marathon which we understood. Non impressive places stop for beach. Main event party island we did not go to it due to it being closed. If all this told before hand honestly all 9 of us would have cancelled.”

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Private Full-Day Luxury Boat Rental Rosario Islands - Choosing your own pace around the islands
Boat Tours in Cartagena, Cartagena Tours, Cruises & Boat Tours, Full-Day Tours, Full-Day Tours in Cartagena, Private Tours, Private Tours in Cartagena, Rentals, Rentals in Cartagena, Rosario Islands Tours, Tour Reviews, VIP, VIP Tours in Cartagena

Private Full-Day Luxury Boat Rental Rosario Islands

15.Private Full-Day Luxury Boat Rental Rosario Islands

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 40 reviews · 8 hours (approx.)

Spend eight hours on a private boat from Cartagena to the Rosario Islands with a captain, snorkeling gear, life jackets, water, and an onboard restroom. Swim, visit reefs and a sunken plane, stop for lunch, and possibly continue to Barú. Zenon and Ilan are among the crew members praised for good navigation and friendly service.

“We had a fantastic trip. Zenon and Ilan were a very friendly crew. The boat was in a very good condition and it featured nice things such as a toiletroom and a ladder to get out of the boat. We started the day off by going to the Rosario Islands, were we did some snorkling at different locations. Zenon and Ilan new all the good spots and we saw great fish, reefs and even a sunk plane. Besides the snorkling they told us some nice historic facts about the area. Afterwards they recommended us a good place to have lunch. After Lunch we went for the Island of Baru. Zenon…”

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New in Rosario Islands Tours

★ 4.8Rosario Islands Private Boat TourFrom $4033 reviews
★ 4.0Rosario Islands -Barú : Agua Azul Beach, with lunchFrom $708 reviews
★ 4.2Rosario Islands Day TripFrom $1808 reviews
★ 3.2Rosario islands Playa Blanca Barù by boat & lunchFrom $528 reviews
★ 5.0CARTAGENA, EXCLUSIVE launch for Rosario and Baru Islands3 reviews
★ 3.4Pasadia 5 Islas del rosario and Baru boat trip8 reviews
★ 3.82×1 Boat trip to the Rosario Islands and Baru IslandFrom $445 reviews
★ 3.4Basic Diving for beginners in Rosario IslandsFrom $1373 reviews
★ 4.05 Rosario Islands, Full party with drinks, Snorkeling and lunchFrom $1324 reviews
★ 4.05 Rosario Islands Tour with Snorkeling and LunchFrom $1284 reviews

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