How to Visit Colombia’s Rosario Islands from Cartagena

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The Rosario Islands of Colombia, called the Islas del Rosario in Spanish, are small, idyllic islands off the country’s Caribbean coast.

I lived in Cartagena for over a decade, and escaping out to the Rosario Islands from Cartagena was always a treat. I pretty much consider them a must do during any trip to Cartagena and Colombia’s Caribbean.

We’ve done the islands all sorts of ways on both day trips and overnight stays.

In this post, I’ll compare 4 ways to do the islands with recommendations for tours and places to go based on those personal experiences. That way you can decide the best way to do a trip from Cartagena to the Rosario Islands in Colombia yourself.

Are the Rosario Islands Worth It?

The Rosario Islands are absolutely worth it!

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 closer to Cartagena.

These coral islands not only feature white sand beaches and crystal clear waters that are good for snorkeling, but they get less crowded and have fewer vendors compared to the beaches in the city or places like Playa Blanca.

That makes them the best beach experience in Cartagena, and I would characterize them as a virtual must do on a trip to Cartagena.

How to Plan a Visit to the Rosario Islands in Colombia

Planning a visit to the Rosario Islands can be a bit challenging because there are a lot of options, ranging from lively party boats to relaxed beach clubs, including some not so good options like tours that pack in too many people and feature lots of upsells along the way.

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

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 you cannot fly to the islands, so taking a boat is the only option for how to get from Cartagena to the Rosario Islands.

Getting to the Rosario Islands from Cartagena takes approximately an hour.

Boats to the Rosario Islands generally depart Cartagena early in the morning. Most depart from the Muelle de la Bodeguita main docks, right outside the Walled City.

Keep in mind when booking your trip to the islands that you usually have to pay a dock tax and national park entry fee sperately when you arrive to the docks.

Boats return in the mid-afternoon, departing the islands 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

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
• Spending the Night at a Hotel

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

It really comes down to your budget, the amount of time you have in Cartagena, and personal preference when deciding how to do the islands.

Rosario Islands Day Trips Quick Tips

I’ll go into more details about these and other options based on our many experiences day tripping to the islands, but here are some quick tips for day trips to the Rosario Islands:

• Coolest Way to Do the Islands: Private Boat Rental
  • Click here to reserve a boat for up to 15 people on Viator
  • Click here to reserve a boat for up to 15 people on GetYourGuide
• Best Relaxed Shared Boat Tour: Catamaran Day Trip
  • Click here to reserve the Catamaran Tour on GetYourGuide
  • Click here to reserve the Catamaran Tour on Viator
• Best Relaxed Beach Hotel Day Pass: IslaBela Day Pass
  • Click here to reserve with our partner agency (use code ExploreColombia20 for 20% off)
• Best Party Oriented Shared Boat Tour: 5 Islands Tour
  • Click here to reserve a 5 islands tour on GetYourGuide
  • Click here to reserve a 5 islands tour on Viator
• Best Party Oriented Beach Club Day Pass: Bora Bora Beach Club
  • Click here to book a day pass at Bora Bora on Viator

Where to Stay in the Rosario Islands Quick Tips

I’ll also go into more detail, share some of our experiences spending the night, and give some more options for places to stay in the islands below, but here are some quick tips for where to stay in the Rosario Islands:

• Most Unique Luxury Stay: Hotel Las Islas
  • Click here to check prices and availability at Las Islas
• Best Modern Style Resort: Sofitel Calablanca
  • Click here to check prices and availability at the Sofitel
• Best Overall Value: IslaBela
  • Click here to check prices and availability at IslaBela
• Best Budget Friendly Option: Secreto Hostel
  • Click here to check prices and availability at Secreto

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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 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 islands and back, you’ll need to devote two entire days to spending the night.

If you have 5 or more days, you should consider all the things to do in Cartagena and if you want to do any other day trips from Cartagena and balance that when deciding to spend the night or not in the Rosarios.

Regardless, because they are so isolated and there isn’t much else to do besides enjoy the sun and sand, spending the night in the islands should only be done as a complement to a stay in town.

If you still need to get your accommodations in the city, you can click here to see my tips for 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. Remember, 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 dry bag or at least a good water resistant travel backpack which come in handy for keeping valuables dry and also safe when getting off the boat on shared tours.
  • Sunscreen.
  • Bug spray (only necessary if you’re spending the night).
  • A mini first aid kit.
  • Water shoes. These are coral islands and some of the beaches are rocky.
  • Snorkeling gear.

The 4 Ways to Do the Islands Detailed Comparison

In these sections, I’ll go into more details on each of the ways to do the islands, share our experiences doing them, and give you some more good options and tips for each.

Option 1: Island Hop 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 fun day.

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

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

• Stop to swim and snorkel 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 at least a few stops and allow some degree of customization.

Of course, while a private boat for island hopping is by far the best way to do the islands, the downside is that it is also by far the most costly way to do the islands.

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

It is surprisingly affordable though, especially if you are traveling as a group. In fact, for larger groups, this may even be cheaper than doing a shared tour or day at a beach club or resort.

Private Boat Rental Options

Here are a few private boat options you can easily book online:

• Click here to book a Private Boat up to 15 People on GetYourGuide
• Click here to book a Private Boat up to 15 People on Viator
• Click here to book a Private Boat up to 10 People on Viator
• Click here to book a 40 ft Luxury Yacht on Viator

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.

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 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.

It’s worth pointing out that most people associate boats to the Rosario Islands as party boats. That’s definitely the case for many of the shared boat tours, but not all of them.

I’d also like to say that I highly discourage booking the cheapest Rosario Islands shared tours, especially those sold by vendors on the street or at the docks. Almost every comment I see about bad experiences in the Rosario Islands are from these types of tours.

I’m sure there diamonds in the rough, but these tours generally have a bad reputation for packing people in like sardines on little boats, including numerous upsells like chairs, umbrellas, and snorkeling equipment along the way, and providing an overall less than ideal experience.

In other words, you get what you pay for, and I’d recommend spending a bit extra for a better tour and skimping somewhere else if you’re on a tighter budget.

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/Aquarium, where you’ll normally have to pay an additional entry fee. If you want do see it, great. But if you don’t, choose a different tour.

I vetted 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, and 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 too bouncy 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 friends too, by the way.

The only downside of this tour is it does not stop on 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 day passes discussed below.

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

• Click here to book the Catarmaran Rosario Islands Tour on GetYourGuide
• Click here to book the Catamaran Rosario Islands Tour on Viator

Multi-Stop Shared Island Boat Tours

There are a ton of shared boat tour options. 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 somewhere.

Generally, they include at least one stop for swimming and snorkeling, at least one stop at a beach, many include a stop at party island Cholón, and most go to 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 some drinks.

I really like the two ticket options this 5 island tour offers.

After you choose your dates, it gives you the choice of a “Party Ticket” or “Leisure Ticket.” They are the same price and both include lunch and access to chairs and amenities at the beaches where they stop. The party option goes to Cholón to conclude and the leisure option goes to a more relaxed beach club as the final stop.

• Click here to book a 5 islands tour with the choice of a party ticket or leisure ticket

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:

• Premium 5 Islands Tour on Viator
• Full Day at Party Island Cholón on Viator
• Full Day at Party Island Cholón on GetYourGuide

Option 3: Day Pass at a Beach Club or Hotel

The advantage of doing a day pass somewhere 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 times to leave or where your boat is parked.

You can just arrive somewhere, stick your feet in the sand, maybe order a cold drink, and chill.

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

Best Party Beach Club: Bora Bora

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

They have a nice and pretty large beach area, cool beach beds, and a lively atmosphere with a DJ. They are probably the most popular beach club in the islands and even have the occasional celebrity show up.

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 Instagram. If you book via the link below, you’ll have the option to choose between the standard ticket or the VIP upgrade.

• Click here to book a day pass to Bora Bora on Viator

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 Bora Bora’s sister property Pao Pao Beach Club.

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 in the islands is IslaBela.

It has one of the better beach areas in the islands and is located in a neat little 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 IslaBela scattered throughout this article!

They also tend not to get too crowded. They have some background tunes but have a more subdued, relaxed, and family friendly atmosphere. At the same time, they have great margaritas!

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

• Get 20% Off When You Book With Our Parters and Use Code ExploreColombia20
  • This option includes English language support from the agency.
• Click here to book a Day Pass at IslaBela on GetYourGuide
• Click here to book a Day Pass at IslaBela on Viator

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 overall hotel day pass option 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 though. 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. They also offer optional snorkeling excursions as well as tours to the Oceanarium for additional charges.

• Click Here to Book a Day Pass at Isla del Encanto on Viator

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), and a most places to stay in the Rosario Islands become significantly less crowded in the late afternoon and evening once day trippers go home.

There’s a good many 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 extravagant, but they offer nice amenities like TVs and A/C and are less rustic than the eco-lodge style hotels in the Rosario Islands proper.

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

The bungalows here 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 probably the best 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.

• Click here to check availability and rates at Las Islas
• Click here to check availability and rates at Isla del Encanto
• Click here to check availability and rates at the Sofitel Calablanca

Midrange Ecolodges

As I mentioned above, IslaBela is our favorite place out in the 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.

• Click here to check availability and rates at IslaBela
• Click here to check availability and rates at San Pedro de Majagua
• Click here to check availability and rates at Bora Bora

Budget Friendly Accommodations

There aren’t any really 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.

• Click here to check availability and rates at Centro Ubuntu
• Click here to check availability and rates at Secreto Hostel
• Click here to check availability and rates at El Hamaquero Hostal

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!