You absolutely cannot come to Cartagena and not enjoy at least a day trip to the Rosario Islands!

This small chain of tiny coral islands is out of the movies pretty, with crystal clear water and the best beaches near Cartagena. Doing one of the Rosario Islands tours or day trips to the Rosario Islands from Cartagena is all but an obligatory inclusion on any trip to Colombia’s Caribbean.

Being so close to this natural paradise is one of the things I will miss most about not living in Cartagena.

After a decade there, we have had the great fortune to get to know the islands well, on everything from private boat rentals, to shared tours, to doing day passes and overnight stays at a number of the resorts and eco-lodge.

I’ll be sharing all that knowledge with you here so you can pick the best of the Cartagena island tours for you!

Why Plan a Day Trip to the Rosario Islands from Cartagena

Let’s see.

Year-round beach weather?

Check.

Crystal clear water?

Check.

Smaller crowds and fewer vendors than the other beaches?

Check and check.

So, really, the question is why wouldn’t you plan a day trip to the Rosario Islands during your time in Cartagena?

There are other beaches close to Cartagena (see my complete guide to the Cartagena beaches here). Some are better than others and make for good beach days.

However, none are nearly as pretty as the Rosario Islands. Playa Blanca gives them a run for their money but just has become way to overrun, although it can still be an ok option if you are on a tighter budget (read all about it here).

Really and truthfully though, you’re better off skimping somewhere else on your trip and putting some extra pesos towards the islands.

It is totally worth it!

Rosario Islands Tour or Spend the Night?

So, first let me get this out of the way, if you are planning a trip to Cartagena and have the time, I can’t recommend spending a night or two out in the Rosario Islands enough.

However, if you’re on a bit of a tighter budget or only have a few nights in Cartagena, doing a day trip to the Rosario Islands from Cartagena is a great way to enjoy them.

I would generally say that if you don’t have at least 5 nights total between Cartagena and the islands (so 4 nights minimum in the city), you’re better off staying your whole time in the city and doing one of the Cartagena island tours or a Rosario Islands day trip.

If you do have the time for an overnight stay, you can check out my picks for the 11 best Rosario Islands hotels or see my full guide to the Rosario Islands for more on deciding if that’s your best option.

Got your Cartagena hotel reservations yet? If not, be sure to check out our guide to the best areas to stay or see the best luxury hotels, best beach hotels, best boutique hotels, or best hostels.

->Click here to get a free planning checklist for your trip to Cartagena!<-

11 Best Rosario Island Tours

Ok, with all that out of the way, let’s get to this list of the best Rosario Island tours!

This is a top 11 because, well, everyone does top 10s, 11 has a special significance for Cartagena since it declared its independence on November 11, 1811 (11/11/11), and I think you deserve just a bit more.

I’ve put this in roughly the order I would choose to do each of these Islas del Rosario day trips, but really and truthfully, you can’t go wrong with any of these Cartagena island tours!

1. Do it with Class on a Private Boat

This is hands down the best way to do a day trip to the Rosario Islands from Cartagena!

How relatively affordable it is to rent a private boat for the day to take you on a Cartagena islands tour is one of the things I’ll miss the most about living in Cartagena and it’s something we have done many a times.

It’s always a fun day, and we’ve made lots of memories doing day trips to the Rosario Islands on private boat rentals.

Renting a private boat will give you the most freedom to enjoy your Rosario Island tour from Cartagena however you like.

You could have dance parties all day at party spot Cholón, spend lots of time snorkeling out by the reefs or the submerged airplane, or check out the lesser known islands and beaches between dance parties or chilling on your boat.

We usually do some combination of the above.

Usually, private boat rentals will include several stops and you can customize it how ever you like.

Private Rosario Islands boat tours usually include a cooler of ice to byob and some rentals throw in some courtesy beers or waters for your private Rosario Islands boat tour.

It is a ton of fun to do a Cartagena island tours this way!

However, if you are solo, only a couple, or a small group it can be pretty pricey to do the private Rosario Islands boat tour.

I do have some shared boat options below in that case.

However if you can swing it by putting a group together or have the budget to do it on your own, you will not be disappointed!

2. Take a Rosario Islands Day Trip Sailing on a Catamaran

This is my top choice for doing a shared Rosario Islands tour from Cartagena, and is the best Rosario Island day trip for those not traveling in a group.

While we have not actually done this Rosario Islands boat tour ourselves, we have done the sunset cruise on the Bona Vida Catamaran (read about it here)

The boat is awesome!

There’s a lot of space, so you won’t feel cramped or like you’ve been packed in like sardines, which is the case on some boat trips to the Rosario Islands from Cartagena.

There are also these neat nets you can sit on over the water. They are perfect for tanning or doing some posing for photos.

This Rosario Islands day tour includes a stop for snorkeling and swimming as well as lunch. It’s also one of the most consistently highly rated Rosario Islands tours from Cartagena.

Plus, well, you are on a sweet sail boat all day. It’s plenty big for calm sailing unlike the smaller speed boats that other Rosario Islands tours or day passes to most of the resorts use.

The slower speed also lets you fully enjoy all the gorgeous scenery of the islands!

That makes it an easy second choice for on this list of Cartagena island tours, although for those looking for a more relaxed day in a chair with some sand between your toes, the next choice might be an even better option.

3. Rosario Islands Day Pass at Islabela

Islabela is our favorite overall beach resort and lodge in the islands.

In fact, you can read our review of our stay there to learn about the terrific beach bungalows they have. I think it’s a terrific value for an overnight stay.

However, it’s also a great spot for a Rosario Islands day trip!

The beach area here is one of the largest in the islands. There are kayaks, and the location in a lovely little bay is just perfect.

Oh, they also have terrific margaritas.

So, if spending all day on a Cartagena boat trip to the Rosario Islands is less your fancy, and you’d rather have a shorter boat ride in and out with a gorgeous beach on the dry land to enjoy all day, this might just be your choice for the best Rosario Island day trip.

The place has the perfect balance of relaxed beach vibes with some good tunes playing, perfect for a relaxed Rosario Islands day trip. (Don’t worry party animals, I have a few spots with groovy, party vibes below!).

For a relaxing day trip to the Rosario Islands where you can beach and chill, this is the best spot for it!

4. Luxury Rosario Islands Day Tour at Isla del Encanto

This is also a terrific resort in the Rosario Islands and another fine choice for a Cartagena islands day trip.

In fact, this is probably one of the nicest hotels we have every stayed in, period! (read about our stay here). It is nicer, but also a good bit pricier than Islabela.

It’s also a great spot for a day trip to the Rosario Islands from Cartagena (and their day passes are actually priced fairly reasonably considering the cost of spending the night).

Technically, Isla del Encanto is located on Barú but it’s just a short boat ride from the islands. They do offer additional tours of the islands themselves that can take you snorkeling or to the Aquarium where you can see dolphins (these do have an additional cost but are not outrageous).

The beach here is really spectacular!

It’s sandy with calm, shallow water to wade out and swim. There are kayaks and paddle boards too. The beach are is also huge with plenty of chairs and umbrellas. They also have great service, and there is even a spa on site, and day pass visitors can use one of the two pools.

If you’re looking for a day trip to the Rosario Islands from Cartagena that offers a bit more of a luxury experience than the more rustic feel at Islabela, this is a great choice.

5. Do a Day Trip to Rosario Islands Aboard a Pirate Ship

Ahoy, matey!

This is one of the newest Rosario Islands tours. It offers a very similar experience to the Bona Vida Catamaran mentioned above, but instead of a Catamaran, you’ll go sailing on a pirate ship!

Well, at least a boat that looks like a pirate ship.

La Fantastica does a fun Rosario Islands day tour. We haven’t had a chance to do this one, but it has really great reviews and I have heard lots of good things about it and hope to get the chance to check it out on our next visit to Cartagena.

If imaging you’re a pirate captures your imagination, you might want to check out the book No Limits to their Sway, about Cartagena’s independence era privateers and my personal favorite book on Cartagena’s history.

That tangent aside, this seems like another really fun day trip to the Rosario Islands and a fun way to do it with a bit of a unique feel. They also do a sunset cruise that has great reviews.

6. Multi-stop Cartagena Island Tours to the Rosario Islands

If you want to do a Rosario Islands boat tour, and see several spots like you can on a Rosario Islands private boat tour without shelling out the full cost of a private boat, one of the shared tours that stop at multiple spots is another great way to do a Cartagena island tour.

There are a handful of variations of these Rosario Islands boat tours, often called 4 islands tour or 5 islands tour.

Usually, all of them go to a couple beaches in the islands, to Cholón, and to Playa Blanca. It’s a great way to get a lot into one day and is one of the more affordable ways to do a Rosario Islands day tour.

The one caveat I’d give is to be careful if you book this from a vendor on the street.

In fact, I’d just avoid it all together. Many of these Rosario Islands boat tours have a bad reputation for being unorganized and including lots of upsells along the way like renting snorkeling gear or beach chairs.

Unfortunately, some stuff you’ll find online discourages doing Cartagena island tours for precisely this reason. It’s a lot of time spent cramped on a small boat, bouncing around, and then when you do get off you have to pay more to properly enjoy the beach.

That’s why, I strongly recommend vetting and asking for all the details before booking a standard island tour in Cartagena. Whether that’s from a vendor on the street, a tour agency, at the docks, or having your hotel or hostel help you out booking, be clear what is and what is not included. And depending on how you feel about boats, asking for a photo of the type of boat you’ll be on.

My honest recommendation is to avoid the tours that go to the aquarium (unless of course you want to do the aquarium, where you can see dolphins).

If they stop there, that means you will either be paying more to enter or stuck on a tiny beach during the stop, where you can pay to rent chairs or snorkeling equipment or just be bored.

Now, if you do want to do the aquarium, this is actually the best and probably most cost effective way to do it (other options are a private boat rental or going to a place like Isla del Encanto that offers it as an add on).

The link I’ve included below has lots of good reviews, so you should feel good about them being well organized and a good value.

->Click here to get a free planning checklist for your trip to Cartagena!<-

7. Bora Bora Beach Club

As I mentioned above, I’d include a few more party spots on this list of best Cartagena islands day trips.

Bora Bora is known for having a fun atmosphere with a DJ and a hip vibe.

Colombian celebrities like models and actors are known to make this their Rosario Islands day tour of choice, and you’ve likely seen photos of people enjoying Bora Bora on Instagram.

In short, it’s one of the most popular places for a day trip to the Rosario Islands.

There’s a nice beach area here and a cool set up with beach beds. It can get crowded, so book in advance to make sure you get a prime beach bed.

I’d also recommend paying close attention to the details of your reservation, as the front row beach beds and the “VIP” area that is often in photos have additional costs.

So, just be aware of that, as I have heard people disappointed that they didn’t get what they expected. If you want those things, know you might need to pay a bit more and make sure you get that hammered out when you reserve.

If you can’t put together a group for a private rental and do your own boat party and booze cruise, or maybe you prefer having a beach all day rather than an all day Rosario Islands boat tour, then this makes for a more than acceptable compromise, and you have the beach right in front of you to enjoy as well!

8. Do a Shared Party Boat to Cholón

If dancing on the dry land between dips in the Caribbean isn’t enough for you, and you want that dance party on a boat, you could opt to do a shared party boat to Cholón.

This also makes a great and more affordable alternative to the private rental if you’re looking for a fun booze cruise kind of experience.

A great thing about doing a Rosario Islands boat trip from Cartagena like this if you don’t have a large group for a private is you get a chance to meet and party with other travelers.

These tours almost always include lunch and an open bar, so all you have to do is come ready for the sun, sand, and party!

9. Pao Pao Beach Club

This is the newest beach club for a Rosario Islands tour from Cartagena for a day trip.

Pao Pao Beach Club is operated by the same management as Bora Bora and offers a similar fun, hip, party atmosphere.

However, it’s a bit smaller, giving it a more intimate experience. It also has a great little beach area nestled among the mangroves and even a sweet little pool.

It makes for an excellent Rosario Islands day trip for those looking for a nice balance between a hip atmosphere without being too crowded.

10. Day Pass at Isla del Sol

This beach resort on Isla Grande also has a good day pass. You can read about our experience doing a Rosario Islands tour for the day at Isla del Sol here.

I didn’t think the beach area here is quite as nice as Islabela or Isla del Encanto. It is pretty rocky, and some sand and leaves get turned up in the waves.

However, there is a nice little pool, and we liked the food and drinks.

We did really enjoy the additional tour of the little town on the island and the mangroves, provided by a local guide (if you do opt for this tour to the Rosario Islands, you absolutely should do that additional tour, it was completely worth it).

In sum, this makes for another good option for a day trip to the Rosario Islands from Cartagena without a doubt.

11. Day Pass at San Pedro de Majagua

To close out this list of best Rosario Islands tours day trips, we have San Pedro de Majagua.

We actually haven’t been here either, but we have passed by it many a time on Rosario Islands private boat tours.

There’s a really large and nice looking beach area here, much larger than at most of the other resorts in the islands.

It also never looks crowded, so it might be a good choice for a Rosario Islands day trip for those looking to relax and get some nice R&R at the beach while avoiding the more party style atmosphere of a place like Bora Bora.

What to Pack for a Rosario Islands Tour or Day Trip

Here are some suggested items to pack on your day tour to the Rosario Islands from Cartagena.

General Items

• You have to take a boat out to the islands for any Rosario Islands day trip, and sometimes boats splash. Having a good dry bag will protect your phone, camera, and anything else you don’t want to get wet.
• There’s great snorkeling in the islands. Bringing along your own snorkeling gear means you won’t have to worry about paying to rent one or end up with a lousy, beat up one on your Rosario Islands day tour.
• The Rosario Islands are coral islands, which means the beaches can be a bit rocky. Taking along a good pair of water shoes can be useful. Those don’t look quite as goofy as the traditional ones either.
• And of course, you’ll want some shades too. I love these bamboo shades! They are perfect for the Caribbean vibes and I always got lots of compliments on them.
• Don’t forget the sunscreen! Trust me!
• Finally, taking along this palm sized first aid kit will let you patch up any cuts or scrapes.

And of Course, Take Your Beach Gear

• This sporty leaf print bikini is perfect for those island vibes on a Rosario Islands day trip!
• Susana has this dress cover up and loves it and it’s just nice enough to be acceptable walking around town after your day tour to the Rosario Islands is over!
• For the guys, these palm tree board shorts are perfect for a day trip to the Rosario Islands.
• These microfiber beach towels are perfect for travel.
• Finally, a good foldable/rollable sun hat can be packed in a bag and not be ruined.

->Click here to get a free planning checklist for your trip to Cartagena!<-

Ready to plan your Rosario Islands Tour from Cartagena?

So, now you have 11 great options to choose the best day trip to the Rosario Islands tour for you based on what you want and budget.

I really can’t recommend doing the private rental enough if it’s at all feasible price wise, but once again, you really can’t go wrong here. Just make sure you come ready for the pretty sunshine!

I hope this guide was useful to you planning a day trip to the Rosario Islands, and more importantly, that you enjoy them!

Cheers and Happy Beachin’ It!

Did you like this post?

Check out these others you might like:
Travel Guide to the San Bernardo Islands
Travel Guide to Hip Beach Town Palomino
Travel Guide to Tayrona National Park
Travel Guide to San Andrés Island
Travel Guide to Costeño Beach