You simply can’t come to Cartagena and not enjoy the lovely Rosario Islands. This archipelago, about a 45 minute boat ride away from Cartagena is made up of nearly 30 small islands.
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One is larger than the rest of this chain of coral islands in Colombia: Isla Grande.
Isla Grande, Colombia is home to many of the best beach clubs in the Rosario Islands and all of Cartagena. It has gorgeous scenery of mangrove forests dotted with private homes and beach clubs, surrounded by crystal clear waters, and there’s even a small town.
Isla Grande can be easily enjoyed on private boat rentals, boat tours, or with day passes or overnight stays at hotels and beach clubs.
If you’d like to see Colombia’s Isla Grande for yourself, read on for a complete guide for how to visit Isla Grande from Cartagena.
Where is Isla Grande in Colombia?
Isla Grande is in the Rosario Islands, an archipelago of coral islands, about 12 miles, or 20 km, off the coast of Cartagena.
It is part of the national park known as the Parque Nacional Natural Corales del Rosario y San Bernardo, which includes not only the Rosario Islands but also the San Bernardo Islands, located farther to the south as well as parts of Barú Island and the surrounding waters, which are home to coral reefs and are an important marine ecosystem.
How to Visit Isla Grande from Cartagena
Well, you’ll need a boat from Cartagena to Isla Grande and the Rosario Islands. That’s for sure.
You have a few options for how to get from Cartagena to Isla Grande:
- You can do a day pass at a hotel or beach club, which usually includes transportation.
- For a relaxed atmosphere, I’d recommend San Pedro Majagua
- Book with our partners and get 20% off with the discount code ExploreColombia20
- For party atmosphere, I’d recommend Bora Bora Beach Club
- For a relaxed atmosphere, I’d recommend San Pedro Majagua
- You can spend the night at a hotel. San Pedro and Bora Bora would also be my top recommendations for spending the night on Isla Grande too, depending on the day time atmosphere you prefer.
- Check rooms for a stay at San Pedro Majagua
- Check rooms for a stay at Bora Bora
- For a cheaper overnight stay on Isla Grande, check out Secreto Hostel
- You can do a tour that goes by or stops at Isla Grande.
- I’d recommend this 4 island tour.
- You can do a private boat rental.
- This is highly cost effective for groups, and you can island hop to Isla Grande and other islands, include snorkeling, or spend all day on or around Isla Grande.
- Learn about booking a private boat with our local partner here.
I’ll go into a bit more detail and share some other alternatives in the longer sections below about each of these options to visit Isla Grande from Cartagena.
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Things to Do On Isla Grande
Due to their vicinity to Cartagena, the Rosario Islands are a popular escape from the more crowded beaches of the city proper. In my opinion, doing the islands is all but a must do during any visit to Cartagena.
The main thing to do on Isla Grande is to soak up the sun, crystal clear waters of the islands, and maybe some sand at a beach. Other than that there isn’t a ton to do on Isla Grande, but there are a few other sites of interest.
As the largest island in the Rosarios, Isla Grande is home to a number of hotels and hostels, beach clubs, and a handful of private homes, including an alleged Pablo Escobar mansion and sunken Pablo Escobar plane.
The sunken airplane, technically located off the coast of Isla Grande’s tiny neighbor Isla Naval, is a popular spot to snorkel, but even more popular is La Piscina, located just off the northwestern corner of Isla Grande.
Most shared boat tours and private boat charters make a stop around La Piscina to snorkel due to the calm waters and reef nearby.
There is also a small town on the island.
There has long been a small population of the island, many of them likely the descendants of escaped slaves who have lived as fishermen. Today, they continue to fish but many are also employed in tourism.
Its small size and the lack of infrastructure means here’s not a ton to see and do here. However, if you’re staying on the island for a night or two, you could visit to rub shoulders with the islanders and maybe enjoy a cheap meal or beer, just don’t expect a glamorous nightlife or anything.
There are also mangrove swamps on Isla Grande, and some hotels and beach clubs offer tours on canoes through them.
We did this once on a day trip to Isla del Sol, and it was neat. In fact, it was the highlight of our day. I’d recommend doing it if it interests you but wouldn’t say it’s a must do either.
To be honest, I’d probably recommend touring the mangroves in La Boquilla another day instead and just enjoying the beach, whether that be at a hotel or beach club or on a boat tour that stops at or goes by Isla Grande.
I’m going to share a good many options on Isla Grande as well as alternatives below, but you can compare other options in my complete guide to the Rosario Islands or see my picks for the best Rosario Islands day trips and best Rosario Islands hotels overall as well.
Your Options to Get to from Cartagena to Isla Grande
As noted above, here I’ll go into more detail about your different options for how to get to Isla Grande from Cartagena. You basically have 4 main options for going from Cartagena to Isla Grande:
- Do a day pass at a hotel or beach club
- Spend the night at a hotel
- Book a shared island hopping tour that includes Isla Grande
- Do a private boat rental and island hop on your own to Isla Grande and wherever else you’d like
Depending on what you’re looking for and your budget, any of these could be your best option. I’ll cover each and give some suggestions in the sections below.
I’ll also address whether you can go to Isla Grande on your own as well as share some alternatives to Isla Grande at beach clubs, hotels, and tours that go to other areas of the Rosario Islands.
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Best Hotels and Beach Clubs on Isla Grande
If you’re trying to enjoy Isla Grande for Isla Grande’s sake, doing a day pass or overnight stay at a one of the Isla Grande hotels or beach club is probably your best bet (although, as I’ll cover below, I think for a lot of people an island hopping tour is a great choice too!).
As the largest island in the Rosario Islands, Isla Grande has the most hotels and beach clubs, and there is a bit of variety from more upscale to more rustic and from more relaxed to more party vibes.
So, you’ll want to think about what kind of atmosphere you’re looking for and also consider your budget when planning where to go on Isla Grande.
Probably the most famous beach club on Isla Grande, and the best choice if you want a lively, party style atmosphere is Bora Bora Beach Club.
It’s located on a nice spot with a fairly large, sandy beach, and has some terrific beach beds. There’s also a DJ, nice drinks on hand, and even a celebrity or two is spotted here every now and then.
You can click here to book a day pass at Bora Bora on Viator, or you can book on GetYourGuide here.
Bora Bora also offers overnight stays now too. The rooms look really nice, and reviews are overall very good. Click here to check out rooms at Bora Bora on Booking.
For a more relaxed but still nice atmosphere, I’d suggest Hotel San Pedro de Majagua.
It has a really nice beach area that’s exceptionally large and has a lot of beach chairs. I’ve always thought it looked great when we’ve gone by it on boats.
You can book a day pass at San Pedro Majagua with our partner travel agency here. Use the code ExploreColombia20 to get a 20% discount!
San Pedro also has some lovely beach bungalows. They hit that sweet spot between rustic island life and comfort. Click here to check prices and availability of rooms at Booking.
There are a number of other Isla Grande beach clubs and hotels to choose from.
Pa’ue offers a nice blend of relaxation and luxury, sort of a middle ground between the party atmosphere at Bora Bora and the rustic atmosphere at San Pedro.
Isla del Sol has a nice spot nestled in a little bay on the island. We went here for a day pass once and liked it (read my review here).
The only thing we didn’t like is the beach was very shelly and rocky. It’s a gorgeous spot though. As mentioned above, we also really enjoyed the tour of town and the mangroves they offered, and there is a nice pool on site. So, if you don’t care much about swimming in the sea, it’s a good spot to spend a day or even a couple nights on Isla Grande.
You can book a day pass at Isla del Sol or book a room for an overnight stay.
Secreto Hostel is located on the southern side of Isla Grande, and is well regarded as the best hostel in the Rosario Islands. For a cheaper stay on Isla Grande, it’s tough to beat.
El Hamaquero Hostel is located nearby, not far from Bora Bora, and has mostly positive reviews for an even cheaper spot to spend the night on Isla Grande.
Centro Ubuntu on Isla Grande is a fairly new ecolodge on Isla Grande that has generally very good reviews and offers a nice spot for an overnight stay. Hotel Cocoliso Resort Isla del Rosario and Hotel Rosario de Mar are also well regarded with nicer facilities.
Lizamar has a sweet set up with a slide into the water on the western side of Isla Grande, but reviews I’ve seen there are very mixed. The same goes for Luxury Beach Club on the north side of the island, of which I’ve also seen mixed reviews.
It’s not uncommon for tours to make a stop at Encantada Beach, which also offers a full day pass option, on the southeastern side of Isla Grande too, but reviews there are also pretty mixed.
I’d probably stick to one of the other places I mentioned above instead of those three for a full day at Isla Grande, but I wouldn’t necessarily shy away from tours that stop at one of those places as part of an multi-island tour.
Boat Tours to Isla Grande
Speaking of, it’s really common to do a multi-island tour to the Rosario Islands. They are a good way to see multiple spots in the islands and get the most out of a day.
However, these tours can be fairly hit or miss, and I generally discourage booking the cheapest ones off the street because they have a reputation for packing a lot of people on small of boats and making lots of stops with upsells, which makes it hard to fully enjoy yourself.
Not all of them are like that though.
I really like this well regarded 4 island tour on GetYourGuide, which is also bookable on Viator here, that stops at different beach clubs on Isla Grande, depending on the day. I appreciate it has a “party ticket” that goes to party island Cholon and a “leisure ticket” that stops by a more relaxed beach and omits Cholon. Either is a good option for solo travelers, couples, or small groups.
I also like the idea of this tour that goes to Bora Bora, IslaBela, and Pao Pao Beach, allowing you to get a lot of beach time while also landing on three different islands, including Isla Grande. Unlike most multi-island tours, it also goes to three of the more exclusive beach clubs rather than just one or two and public beaches, which is a nice touch.
You could also do this tour that goes to the Oceanarium and also makes a stop at Isla Grande. If you want to do the Oceanarium, it’s the best way to do it with a shared tour.
The best way to do island hopping to Isla Grande and beyond is via a private boat though! We’ve had lots of great times renting a private boat, and with a group of 5+ it starts to look very cost effective compared to a day pass or shared boat tour.
Private Boats to Isla Grande
Private boat rentals should allow you to land on a beach at Isla Grande, snorkel at La Piscina and/or the submerged airplane, and go by the supposed Escobar mansion and other neat scenery in the straight between Isla Grande and the smaller IslaBela and Isla Naval.
Or you can do none of those things and arrange your own day at or around Isla Grande.
Do note that if you want to stop at some of the more popular beach clubs on Isla Grande, you may need to pay, spend a certain amount of money, and/or reserve a spot to have access to the facilities and beach chairs.
The operator for a private boat rental is usually your best resource for working this out ahead of time, and the crew should also have a good idea of where you can land and if you’ll need to pay the day of as well.
You can read my tips for doing a private boat rental in Cartagena here, and you can also learn about the services offered by our partner for boat rentals here.
Is There a Ferry from Cartagena to Isla Grande?
No, there is not a ferry from Cartagena to Isla Grande.
I see this question get asked a lot in my Cartagena Travel Tips Facebook group and other forums.
It may be possible to go to the docks and book an Isla Grande Cartagena boat, but the vast majority of them go to a specific beach club or hotel or are tours that go to different stops in the islands.
I’ve never just tried to book roundtrip boat transportation to and from Isla Grande. I’ve seen people say you can do it, but since I’ve never done it myself, I can’t provide a ton of guidance.
So, it may be possible to book transportation and hang out at the beaches on your own, but since there’s little infrastructure on the islands and it’s not a common thing, I’d generally discourage it. Plus, you’ll need to pay if you want to use beach chairs anywhere, buy lunch, or just use a bathroom. So, I’d recommend just booking a day pass somewhere where all that is included.
If you really want to do it on your own though, I’d inquire ahead of time at the docks, and be extra sure you know when and where you need to be to catch your return boat from Isla Grande to Cartagena.
Alternatives to Isla Grande
For what it’s worth, IslaBela, located on Isleta beside Isla Grande to the west is actually our favorite place in the Rosario Islands and, in my opinion, the best overall value for day trips or overnight stays.
You can book a day pass at IslaBela with our partners and get 20% off with discount code ExploreColombia20, book a day pass there with GetYourGuide, or check availability for staying the night.
Coralina Island is located on Isleta too and is also a great spot for an overnight stay.
Isla del Pirata, located just off the northeastern tip of Isla Grande is also a nice spot for a day pass or overnight stay.
You will find a bit more infrastructure and nicer amenities at beach clubs and hotels on Baru to the southeast.
Las Islas is generally regarded as the nicest beach resort near Cartagena, and they have wonderful luxury bungalows.
We really enjoyed our stay at Isla del Encanto too (read my review here), and they offer both day passes and overnight stays.
The newer Sofitel Calablanca is also very well regarded and offers something closer to a higher end and modern resort style experience.
Finally, there is a well regarded Catamaran island tour that sails around the Rosario Islands.
Since the boat is large, it does not land at Isla Grande or any other beaches, but does stop for snorkeling off Isla Grande and is a great way to take in all the pretty scenery of the islands on a larger and less bouncy boat than the speed boats typically used in tours to Isla Grande and the rest of the Rosarios.
It’s bookable at GetYourGuide and on Viator.
I also think this private tour to Barú and the Rosario Islands would be a really neat way to do them. It goes to the small town of Barú, not Playa Blanca, and includes a tour of the town before going to see the mangroves in the islands plus snorkeling. It also allows for customization as a private tour. It would be a unique way to do Isla Grande and also get a bit more cultural interaction with a slice of nature but without sacrificing getting a nice slice of beach too.
Ready to plan your visit to Isla Grande?
Now you know just about everything you need to plan a trip from Cartagena to Isla Grande.
Whether you go to a groovy spot like Bora Bora, island hop between Isla Grande and other nearby islands, or whatever else you decide to do, I hope you found this guide useful for planning your day of sun and fun in the islands, and, more importantly, you have a great time! I’d love for you to share your experience in the comments below.
Cheers and Happy Exploring!
Want Some Help Planning Your Dream Colombia Trip?
Let my partner travel agency help you craft a custom trip package,
tailor made to your interests. Readers get a special discount!
Want to connect with me and fellow travelers to Cartagena and Colombia?
Click here to join the Cartagena, Colombia Travel Tips Facebook Group
It’s a great place to ask questions, share tips, and get inspiration!
Planning a trip to Cartagena?
Be sure to check out the rest of the site to help you plan!
In particular, you might want to check out my complete guide to planning a trip to Cartagena, my guide to the best areas to stay, my list of over 75 things to do, my picks for the best Cartagena tours, the best day trips from Cartagena, my suggested packing list, my guide to the Rosario Islands, and my guide to all the beaches of Cartagena.
