How to Visit Colombia’s Rosario Islands from Cartagena – cartagenaexplorer.com

Are the Rosario Islands Worth It?

Let me say from personal experience: Yes! The Rosario Islands are absolutely worth it!

In fact, I consider them a virtual must do on a trip to Cartagena and Colombia.

This chain of islands off Colombia’s Caribbean coast is part of the Parque Nacional Natural Corales del Rosario y San Bernardo, which also includes the San Bernardo Islands farther south and parts of Barú Island closer to Cartagena.

These coral islands almost always far less crowded and have fewer pushy and vendors compared to most other Cartagena beaches or places like Playa Blanca.

Oh yeah, did I mention they are also so, so, much prettier than the beaches in town, featuring white sand beaches and crystal clear waters?

If you’re not convinced, you can compare the Rosario Islands with other options in my comparative guide to all the Cartagena islands.

How to Visit the Rosario Islands in Colombia: Detailed Guide

Planning a visit to Colombia’s Rosario Islands from Cartagena can be a bit challenging because there are a slew of options.

Rosario Islands tours range from from lively party boats to day passes at quiet and relaxed beach clubs.

There are also less reputable options like boat tours that pack way too many people on the boat and feature upsell after upsell from beach chairs to snorkeling gear along the way.

With so many options, not to mention different price ranges, it can all be a bit confusing. In fact, how to best do the Rosario Islands is one of the most frequent questions in my Cartagena Travel Tips Facebook group.

So, let’s talk about the options available and how to make sure you make a good choice.

How to Get to the Rosario Islands from Cartagena

First, let’s get this out of the way, you will need to take a boat to get to the Rosario Islands from Cartagena.

There are no organized trips or transportation from other cities in Colombia, and there are not flights to the Rosario Islands, so taking a boat from Cartagena to the Rosario Islands is the only way to get there.

How Long is the Boat Ride from Cartagena to the Rosario Islands?

Getting to the Rosario Islands from Cartagena by boat takes approximately 45 minutes to an hour, depending on conditions.

Where Do You Get Boats to the Rosario Islands from Cartagena?

Most boats to the Rosario Islands depart from the main Muelle de la Bodeguita docks, just outside Cartagena’s Walled City.

Some private boat rentals may leave from the marina docks in Bocagrande or Manga, but organized tours or transportation to hotels must leave from the tourist docks.

Keep in mind that boats to the Rosario Islands generally depart Cartagena early in the morning.

Visitors to the Rosario Islands also have to pay a dock tax and national park entry fee. While some providers may include it, it’s usually paid separately when you arrive to the docks.

Boats generally return from the Rosario Islands to Cartagena between 3 and 4 pm so they arrive back to Cartagena between 4 and 5 pm. Strong currents prevent boats from traveling back from the islands any later.

While seas are usually calm in the morning, those currents do mean they can get rough in the afternoon, so be prepared for the possibility of some bouncing and splashing on the return trip.

Your Options for Going to the Rosario Islands from Cartagena

There are 4 main ways to visit the Rosario Islands:

• A Private Boat Rental
• A Shared Boat Tour
• A Day Pass at a Beach Club or Hotel
• Overnight Stays at a Hotel

Susana and I have done all of these, and honestly, there isn’t a bad choice here.

It really comes down to your budget, the amount of time you have in Cartagena, and your own personal preference when deciding what’s the best way to do the Rosario Islands for you.

Should I Do a Day Trip or Spend the Night in the Rosario Islands?

Ok, now that you have some options for how to get to the islands, you might be asking yourself, “Should I spend the night or just do a day trip to the Rosario Islands?”

My advice is if you have less than 5 days total in Cartagena, stick to a day trip and stay at a hotel in Cartagena for your entire stay.

Because of the logistics of getting to the Rosario Islands from Cartagena and back, you’ll need to devote virtually two entire days to an overnight stay.

If you have 5 or more days, you should balance staying in the islands with all the other things to do in Cartagena and if you want to do any other day trips from Cartagena.

Depending on how much you do or don’t want to do, you might want to stick to a day trip or spend the night, keeping in mind you’ll need basically an entire day for both your arrival and departure date from the islands.

Finally, I strongly recommend not planning your first or last night in the islands since, as I mentioned above, shared boats generally leave early in the morning and come back late in the afternoon and arranging private transportation can be costly.

You could consider some of the best hotels in Barú Island, most of which are reachable over land, as an alternative if you really wanted an island stay for your last night.

By the way, if you still need to get your accommodations in the city, you can click here to see my picks for the best hotels in Cartagena for all budgets compare the best areas to stay in Cartagena.

Practical Tips for the Islas del Rosario of Colombia

Here are some additional things to keep in mind when planning your trip:

• Take cash. There are no ATMs in the Rosario Islands. While you should be able to pay for your tour or accommodations with a card, it’s a good idea to have some spare cash for any additional drinks or snacks.
• Speaking of that, like most everywhere else in Cartagena, if you are buying something from a vendor on the beach or from a passing boat, be sure to negotiate and agree on price before hand. Keep in mind there are no real free samples!
• Be sure to take along any medications or other necessities you might need.
• Here are a few other things that can be a good idea to take along:

A Detailed Comparison of the 4 Ways to Do the Rosario Islands

In these sections, I’ll go into a lot more detail on each of the ways to do the Rosario Islands and give you plenty of good options and tips for each based on our own experiences over the years.

Option 1: Do it in Style on a Private Boat Rental

Doing a private boat rental is by far our favorite way to do the Rosario Islands from Cartagena. We’ve done this a lot of times, and it’s always a really, really fun day!

The reason it’s the best way to do the islands, besides the obvious, you know, being on your own boat all day, is it gives you the most flexibility to craft your day in the islands however you like.

You can island hop to lots of places, snorkel for as long as you want, have an all day dance party on the water, or just make it up as you go.

A typical itinerary for us when we rent a private boat looks something like this:

• Enjoy the views of Cartagena’s bay and the breeze on the open water out to the islands
• Stop to swim and snorkel for a while at the area of calm waters known as La Piscinita
• Cruise through the islands and take in the scenery
• Possibly stop for more swimming and snorkeling by the submerged airplane
• Possibly head to party island Cholón for some boat dance parties
• Stop at a beach for lunch
• Possibly head to another beach, stay where we are, or just hang out on the boat savoring the time in paradise before it’s time to head back to Cartagena

Some boat rentals may have certain routes or plans they offer and some may have a limited number of stops, but all of them should allow some degree of customization and multiple stops.

Of course, while a private boat best way to do the Rosario Islands, it is also the most costly way to do them.

However, it is surprisingly affordable!

In fact, for groups of 5 or more, this often works out to be very similarly priced or even cheaper per person than buying individual tickets for shared tours or day passes at a beach club or hotel.

The multi-stop island tours discussed below offer the closest thing to island hopping on a private rental if you are a smaller group and don’t quite have the budget for a private charter though.

Book a Private Boat with Our Partner

I’m pleased to say I have worked out a special partnership for private Rosario Islands boat rentals for Cartagena Explorer readers.

Our partner Alyssa has a great catalog of boats, from standard speed boats to luxury yachts and catamarans.

Even better, she works directly with each client to customize your experience. She has some suggested plans, but she’ll also tailor your day however you like.

Best of all, she has very fair prices. When you book with her, you’ll pay what locals pay!

Click here to contact Alyssa and get a quote for your Cartagena boat rental.

Other Private Boat Rental Options

I’m confident Alyssa will handily beat any of these prices, but here are a few other private boat options you can compare and book online if you prefer:

Option 2: Shared Boat Tours to the Rosario Islands

I have the private boat listed number 1, and it’s definitely my recommended option if you can make it work budget wise.

I’d go so far as to say it’s totally worth skimping somewhere else to have the best experience in the islands.

However, if you can’t make the private work and don’t have the time to do an overnight stay, then your choice comes down to deciding between a shared boat tour or a day pass at a beach club or hotel.

I’ve got the shared boat tour option listed first, but one option isn’t really better than the other, it just depends on what you prefer: spending more time on a boat and seeing different places or spending the day relaxing on a beach in one spot.

You can’t go wrong!

It’s worth pointing out that most people associate boats to the Rosario Islands as party boats. That’s definitely the case for some of the shared boat tours, and they get lots of attention on Instagram, Tik Tok, and other social media, but it’s not the case for all of them.

In fact, I’d say it isn’t the case for most of them, but again, it’s what what best feeds the algorithms.

That’s to say, if you don’t want a party boat, you don’t need to necessarily shy away from the shared tours.

I will say that I highly discourage booking the cheapest Rosario Islands shared tours, especially those sold by vendors on the street or at the docks.

I’m sure there are diamonds in the rough, but these tours have a bad reputation for packing people in like sardines on little speed boats often with wooden bench style seating. They also almost always include numerous upsells like chairs, umbrellas, snorkeling equipment, and lunch upgrades along the way.

In sum, they often provide a less than ideal experience.

Almost every comment I see about bad experiences in the Rosario Islands are from these types of tours.

So, you really do get what you pay for with cheap Rosario Islands trips. I strongly recommend spending a bit extra for a better tour, preferably one that has lots of reviews and comments online via a reputable site like GetYourGuide or Viator.

The other piece of advice I’d give when booking a shared boat tour is watch out for tours that include a stop at the Oceanarium, where you’ll normally have to pay an additional entry fee.

If you want to do the oceanarium, great. However, if you don’t care about going there, choose a different tour, because otherwise you’ll be stuck waiting around when the boat stops there.

I personally vetted all the tour options I’m sharing here below, which all have enough reviews online for me to feel confident they are good experiences.

Relaxed Shared Boat Tour Recommendation: The Catamaran Tour

If you are looking for a more relaxed day trip on a boat, consider the catamaran tour.

It’s one of the most consistently highly rated day tours to the Rosario Islands. We’ve done the sunset tour on this boat (read about that here), and it’s really nice.

It has lots of space, including shade. There are also these neat nets you can sit on in the front.

The size of the boat and slower speed also means this boat doesn’t get as bouncy as the speed boats most tours use on the return trip in the afternoon.

That along with the more relaxed nature of this tour means it would be the shared boat tour to the Rosario Islands I’d most recommend for families with younger children who may not be comfortable on the smaller, bouncier boats.

I think it’s a good choice for couples, solo travelers, and friend groups too, by the way.

The only downside of this tour is it does not stop at any beaches.

So, if you want some proper feet in the sand beach time in the islands, you’ll need to look at one of the multi-stop boat tours or the hotel and beach club day passes discussed below.

It does cruise around the islands, stops for snorkeling (with snorkeling gear included), and includes lunch.

Multi-Stop Shared Island Boat Tours

There are a ton of shared tour boats to the Rosario Islands.

Most of them have names like 4 Island Tour or 5 Island Tour, and I’d wager there’s someone selling a 6 Island Tour out there somewhere.

Generally, they include at least one stop for swimming and snorkeling and at least one stop at a beach.

Some stop first at Tierra Bomba and may include views or even a visit to the Bocachica forts.

Some include a stop at party island Cholón.

Most go to a beach club in the islands or another beach like Playa Blanca for lunch and to conclude the day.

It’s a good way to take in all the scenery of the islands, swim and snorkel, and enjoy some time on both a boat and the beach. Most of these tours include lunch, and some may include drinks.

I really like the different ticket options this multi-island tour on GetYourGuide offers. You can also book it on Viator.

After you choose your dates, it gives you the choice of different options. You can do a party option that goes to Cholón to conclude, or choose to do the other options that stick to more relaxed and family friendly beach spots.

Other Shared Boat Tours

Here are a few more options for shared boat tours you might want to check out depending on what you’re looking for:

Option 3: Day Pass at a Beach Club or Hotel

The advantage of doing a day pass at a Rosario Islands beach club or hotel over a boat day trip is that you’ll get more time on the beach and won’t have to worry about keeping track of departure times or where your boat is parked.

You can just arrive somewhere, stick your feet in the sand, order an ice cold drink or three, and chill!

Most day passes to the Rosario Islands include round trip boat transportation, beach chairs and shade, and lunch. Some places may offer upgrades like beach beds, upgraded lunch options, or open bars, so be sure to check those details.

Most hotels offering day passes are good for relaxing and are family friendly, but there is at least one good party beach club option too.

Best Party Beach Club: Bora Bora

The best party beach club in the Rosario Islands is Bora Bora Beach Club.

They are probably the most popular beach club in the islands and even have the occasional celebrity show up.

Bora Bora has a nice and pretty large beach area, stylish beach beds, and a lively atmosphere with a DJ, plus lots of cool decorations, perfect for posing for pics to fill out your Insta feed.

The one complaint I’ve sometimes seen about Bora Bora is from people who didn’t get the experience they expected.

It’s important to keep in mind that they have different tiers of reservations, and you have to pay extra to access the VIP section and guarantee a front row beach bed.

So, be sure to read the fine print when reserving and realize that the standard price may not get you access to everything you see in photos or on the gram. If you book via the link below, you’ll have the option to choose between the standard ticket or the VIP upgrade.

If you’re looking for something that has a similar, fun atmosphere but might be a bit more low key, you can also check out the day pass at Pao Pao Beach Club, Bora Bora’s sister property.

More Relaxed Day Passes

There are a lot more options for beach clubs and hotels that offer more relaxed day passes.

I’m going to highlight two options here, both of which we’ve personally visited, and both of which I consider to be among the very best options.

IslaBela: Our Personal Favorite

Our personal favorite place, and the place I think is possibly the best overall value, in the Rosario Islands is IslaBela.

It has one of the better beach areas in the islands and is located in a neat little mini bay that makes for a beautiful backdrop. They also have some cute decorations and photo ops like a little staircase and a bench swing in the water.

In fact, you’ll find several photos from our own visit to IslaBela scattered throughout this article!

They also tend not to get too crowded.

They do play some background tunes but have an overall mostly subdued, relaxed, and family friendly atmosphere.

Oh, and they have great margaritas, so don’t feel like you can’t have some fun here either.

They have a few kayaks that you can use free of charge, and they also offer an optional snorkeling trip for an additional charge.

For something similar to the rustic, relaxed vibes at IslaBela but a bit more upscale, you could also check out the day pass at San Pedro de Majagua, which has a terrific beach area (you can also get 20% off there with the code ExploreColombia20 when you book at that link).

Isla del Encanto: More Amenities

I think Isla del Encanto is probably the best hotel day pass option in the Rosario Islands for families. There are more amenities here than IslaBela and most other places in the islands, including a pool.

While it’s probably the most family friendly day pass in the islands, it would still be good for any kind of traveler looking for a relaxed day too.

We really enjoyed the drinks here, and there is a spa on site too.

The beach area here is really terrific too with a lot of space and super calm waters.

There are kayaks and paddle boards you can use for no additional charge, and they also offer optional snorkeling excursions and tours to the Oceanarium.

If you want to compare more options, read my article on the best Rosario Islands day trips to compare more options for both day passes at hotels and shared boat tours.

Option 4: Spend the Night at a Hotel in the Rosario Islands

If you have the time to spend the night in the islands, it’s absolutely worth it.

You get to enjoy a gorgeous sunset (and stunning sunrise if you get up early enough!).

Most places to stay in the Rosario Islands become significantly less crowded in the late afternoon and evening once day trippers go home, meaning that sunset tends to be extra special.

There’s a lot of options for overnight stays, and you can click here to read my picks for the best hotels in the Rosario Islands, but I’m going to give a few options at different price points below too.

High End Luxury Resorts

There are only really 3 higher end resort style properties in the islands.

They are actually all located on the far end of the island of Barú, inside the national park the Rosarios are apart of and far away from the crowded Playa Blanca.

It’s important to keep in mind, due to the infrastructure, they aren’t necessarily extravagant, but they offer nice amenities like TVs and A/C and are less rustic than the eco-lodge style bungalows of most hotels in the Rosario Islands proper.

The very best and the most unique is Hotel Las Islas.

They do have bungalows here that might look rustic at first glance, but are anything but.

They are nestled into the mangrove forests, and they are absolutely lovely. It’s almost more like luxury beach glamping than a resort, and some of the bungalows even have their own mini pools or beach access.

It’s really the most unique and arguably the finest beach resort near Cartagena.

The aforementioned Hotel Isla del Encanto is also a good option.

It offers something a bit closer to a more traditional hotel stay with nice rooms in two floor beach bungalow style townhouses.

Overnight guests get access to two additional pools, including a children’s pool, compared to day trippers.

We did a staycation here once, and you can read about our experience here.

Finally, the Sofitel Calablanca is the newest resort in the islands.

It has the most modern beach resort set up.

They also have a lot of additional activities like cooking classes, mixology classes, and movies under the stars.

I think that makes it an especially good choice for families or those looking to do several nights in the islands.

Midrange Ecolodges

As I mentioned above, IslaBela is our personal favorite place in the Rosario Islands.

The bungalows here are really nice and set apart from the main beach area so they feel like your very own private slice of paradise.

You can read about our experience and why we liked it so much here. I think they offer the best overall value for the islands too.

San Pedro Majagua offers similar rustic but nice accommodations and has a terrific beach area itself. They do offer a slightly higher end experience compared to IslaBela with larger and nicer rooms.

For those looking for a party atmosphere during the day, Bora Bora started offering overnight stays a couple years ago, and their rooms look really nice. Reviews are also very positive.

Budget Friendly Accommodations

There aren’t any truly cheap places to stay in the islands.

However, if you’re on a tighter budget and have the time, it’s totally worth spending a bit more to stay somewhere out here for a night or two and skimping somewhere else during your trip if you want to do an overnight stay at a beach during your time in Cartagena.

The Centro Ubuntu only opened up a couple years ago, but it looks really nice, has very positive reviews, and offers rustic but comfortable rooms that aren’t all that much of a step down in quality from a place like IslaBela.

There are also two nice options for hostels in the Rosario Islands.

Secreto Hostel has a nice pool and has both private rooms and a small dorm. It is a short walk from the beach though.

Meanwhile, El Hamaquero Hostal also has both privates and dorms. There’s no pool there but it is oceanfront and has a lot of good reviews.

Ready to Plan Your Trip to the Rosario Islands?

There you have it, a complete guide to visiting Colombia’s Rosario Islands from Cartagena. I hope you found it useful and helpful for planning your own visit.

More importantly, I hope you have a wonderful time!

I’d love to know which option you chose and about your experience in the comments below!

Cheers and Happy Exploring!