The Rosario Islands are the reason most people put a boat day into a Cartagena trip. An archipelago inside a national marine park, roughly forty-five minutes to an hour southwest of the city by boat, with clear water, coral and a row of beach clubs that each work very differently from the next.
This page is the practical version: how you get there, what a day actually costs, which island suits which group, and where to book it without a WhatsApp thread. Every option below is bookable online with a card, with the confirmation sent by email.
How you get there
Boats leave from La Bodeguita pier in Cartagena, a few minutes from the walled city. Departures run between 7:15 and 8:30 in the morning and returns land back between 3:00 and 4:00 in the afternoon. The crossing is around forty-five minutes to an hour depending on which island you are heading for and how the sea is running.
Two things catch people out. First, the boat is not always included in the price you see elsewhere — on this page it says clearly on each option whether it is. Second, some piers charge a port tax paid in cash on the day, separate from what you pay online. Where that applies, the amount is stated on the option’s own page.
Which island day suits which group
They are not interchangeable. The short version:
- Travelling with children? Only one of these takes children from four years old and keeps a quiet beach. The party beach clubs are adults only.
- Want the party? There is a club with a DJ every day, adults 18 and over, and two tiers of seating.
- Want nobody else on your sand? One option books a private island area for your group alone, minimum eight people.
- Short on time? Tierra Bomba sits directly opposite Cartagena — the shortest crossing of all of them.
- Want to see more than one island? One option moves through three of them in a day with a bilingual guide.
Every Rosario Islands day trip we sell
Prices are per person in Colombian pesos and come straight from the live booking system, so what you see here is what you pay.
Your group alone on the sand, from 8 people
From COP 594,000 per personRosario IslandsBora Bora Beach ClubA DJ every day. Adults only
From COP 450,000 per personRosario IslandsPao PaoSpeedboat, guided snorkelling and lunch included
From COP 440,000 per personRosario IslandsPaue, Isla GrandeThe quiet one. Children from 4 years
From COP 300,000 per personRosario IslandsThree islands in one daySpeedboat and a bilingual guide
From COP 510,000 per personBaruAura, Cholon inletA pool by the sea. Children from 4 years
From COP 300,000 per personCartagena bayEtekaFacing the skyline. Three departures a day
From COP 290,000 per personTierra BombaMakaniThe closest island. Boat transfer included
From COP 184,000 per personNot sure an island day is what you want? The Cartagena tours and excursions guide lays out every option side by side — beach clubs, Cholón, charters and the city itself — with what each one costs.
What a day costs
A Rosario Islands day trip from Cartagena runs from COP 184,000 to COP 594,000 per person depending on the island, the menu and whether the boat is included. The middle of that range — around COP 440,000 to COP 470,000 — buys you the return boat, a bed on the sand and lunch, which is what most people actually want.
Below that range you are usually looking at an island without lunch, or a shorter crossing. Above it you are paying for exclusivity rather than extra hours.
Best time to go
The sea is calmest and the sky clearest from December through April, which is also when the boats fill first. September and October bring more rain, though it tends to arrive in short afternoon bursts rather than all day. Whatever the month, the morning departure is the good one: the water is flatter early and you get the full day on the island.
What to bring
- Cash in pesos for the port tax where it applies, and for tips
- Reef-safe sun cream — you are inside a marine park
- A towel is included on most of these, but check the option you pick
- An ID document; the pier asks for it at boarding
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get to the Rosario Islands from Cartagena?
Around forty-five minutes to an hour by boat from La Bodeguita pier, depending on the island and the sea conditions. Tierra Bomba, which sits directly opposite the city, is considerably shorter.
Is the boat included in the price?
On most of the options here, yes, both ways. The private island day is the exception: the crossing is quoted separately because it depends on your group size. Each option states it on its own page.
Can I do a Rosario Islands day trip with children?
Yes, but only on some of them. One beach club takes children from four years old and has a child rate; the livelier clubs are for adults aged 18 and over. The option built for families is marked above.
Are there extra costs on the day?
Sometimes a port tax paid in cash at the pier, which is not included in the online price. Where it applies, the exact amount appears on that option’s page before you pay.
Can I book a Rosario Islands day trip online?
Yes. Pick your date on the option you want, pay by card, and the confirmation arrives by email. You do not need to message anyone first.
