Cartagena, Colombia · Island day trips
Ver en españolRosario Islands Cartagena: choose your day trip
At PaCartagena, we recommend 4 Islands by boat from Cartagena for a day combining island stops and beach time. You leave from Marina Rosales, avoiding the bus journey to Barú (about an hour and a half, depending on traffic) and the walk to board there.
Lunch, chairs and shade at the beach club are included. Choose the daytime return or the evening plankton option, which returns by bus. Compare the alternatives, extra costs and return points below.
Day trips from COP 185,000 per person
Compare routes and prices ↓First, choose the kind of day you want
Several stops and snorkeling
Choose an island-hopping route. Check which stops are for swimming or getting off the boat and which are panoramic views. Cholón has a social, music-filled atmosphere.
More time at one beach
Look at a beach-focused plan or a single beach club. A bus-and-boat route still involves boat travel; it is not a road-only visit to the islands.
A daytime or nighttime finish
Choose a daytime return if you want your evening in Cartagena. Plankton requires staying after dark; arrival time depends on the route you book.
Rosario Islands tours: prices, stops and returns
The day trips listed here currently range from COP 185,000 to COP 225,000 per person. Compare the included services and extra costs below. Choose a date and share your group’s ages to confirm the total before booking. Prices are in Colombian pesos (COP). The amount shown for a tour does not include the extras listed for that route.
Option 1 Our pick
4 Islands by boat · daytime return
Several stops, snorkeling and a beach break in one day.
COP 185,000per person · date and ages confirmed before booking
Pickup at a designated city meeting point, transfer to Marina Rosales in El Bosque, then a speedboat. The itinerary combines a panoramic view of Bocachica, snorkeling around Isla Coco Loco and the submerged mansion, Cholón and a beach stop in Barú.
Included: Pickup transfer, boat, dock fee, snorkeling, lunch, a shrimp snack in Cholón, and chairs and shade at the beach club.
Plan for: Drinks, optional Oceanario admission and the trip from the marina back to your hotel. Chairs and shade in Cholón are extra.
Schedule: Pickup 7:30–8:00 a.m.; boat departs around 9:00 a.m. Return to Marina Rosales around 5:00 p.m.
Option 2
4 Islands by boat · with plankton
Island hopping followed by a guided bioluminescence activity after dark.
COP 225,000per person · date and ages confirmed before booking
The boat itinerary continues into the evening, with a snack and an approximately 15-minute plankton activity. The return to Cartagena is by bus.
Included: Daytime boat itinerary, dock fee, snorkeling, lunch, beach-club chairs and shade, snack and the nighttime plankton activity.
Plan for: Drinks, optional Oceanario admission and other personal purchases. Plankton brightness depends on natural conditions.
Schedule: Same 7:30–8:00 a.m. meeting-point pickup. Bus return around 8:00 p.m. to Marina Rosales in El Bosque. Transfer to your hotel is at your own expense.
Option 3
4 Islands by bus + boat · with plankton
A bus transfer to Barú before the island boat trip, with beach time at Playa Tranquila and a nighttime finish.
COP 200,000per person · date and ages confirmed before booking
Air-conditioned bus to Barú, then a speedboat for a Rosario panorama, one beach stop at Isla Grande, Paraíso Real or Agua Azul depending on crowding, Cholón, and Playa Tranquila. You visit one of those three alternative beaches, not all three. The day ends with a snack and an approximately 15-minute guided plankton activity.
Included: Round-trip bus, boat, guide, snorkeling, shrimp cocktail, lunch, snack and the nighttime plankton activity.
Plan for: Mandatory insurance: COP 8,800 per person. Drinks and optional Oceanario admission are extra; Oceanario replaces snorkeling.
Schedule: Pickup 7:00–8:00 a.m. Arrival in Cartagena 9:00–10:00 p.m., at your original pickup point.
Getting to the departure point
For 4 Islands by boat, pickup is at designated points in Centro, Getsemaní, Bocagrande, El Laguito, El Cabrero/Marbella or the Zona Norte meeting point. We confirm the exact place and time; pickup is not door to door. The transfer takes you to Marina Rosales.
For 4 Islands by bus + boat, pickup is in Bocagrande, El Laguito, Castillogrande, Centro Histórico or an agreed meeting point. Send your accommodation location so we can confirm where you should wait.
Check these details before paying
- Your exact route and the activities you want, especially Oceanario versus snorkeling.
- The total for your group, including mandatory extras and any child fares.
- Your departure point, return location and the guide’s language.
- The cancellation and weather-change conditions for your selected tour and date.
Questions about visiting the Rosario Islands
How much does a Rosario Islands day trip cost?
The day trips listed here currently range from COP 185,000 to COP 225,000 per person. Compare the included services and extra costs below. Choose a date and share your group’s ages to confirm the total before booking.
Where are the Rosario Islands, and are they the same as Barú?
The Rosario Islands are an archipelago off Cartagena on Colombia’s Caribbean coast. Barú is a separate destination, often combined with the islands on a day trip. A tour may include both a Rosario boat panorama and a beach stop in Barú, so check where you actually get off the boat.
How do I get to the Rosario Islands from Cartagena?
Our 4 Islands by boat trip includes a transfer from a designated city pickup point to Marina Rosales, in El Bosque. Our bus + boat trip first takes you by road to Barú, where you board the boat. The departure point depends on the tour: do not go to La Bodeguita unless your booking specifically tells you to.
What is the difference between a day tour, a beach club and a ferry?
An island-hopping day tour combines several stops and activities. A beach-club day pass focuses on time at one location. A boat transfer or ferry ticket is transport, so do not assume lunch, activities, beach access or an overnight stay are included. The options on this page are day trips, with inclusions listed separately.
Can I visit the Oceanario and still go snorkeling?
No. On both 4 Islands routes, the optional Oceanario visit replaces snorkeling. The Cholón stop stays in the itinerary. Oceanario admission costs extra; tell the guide your choice at the start of the day.
Is an English-speaking guide included?
An English-speaking guide is not guaranteed for every departure. Send your date and preferred route in the form below and ask us to confirm the guide’s language before you pay.
Are Rosario Islands tours suitable for children?
These are long days with boat travel and several stops. Share the children’s ages, swimming ability and your preference for a quiet beach or a more social route before booking. Child prices and age bands depend on the tour; do not assume the same policy applies to every option.
Will I definitely see glowing plankton?
Bioluminescence is a natural phenomenon and its visibility varies. The activity takes place after dark and lasts about 15 minutes. Choose the nighttime option for the experience, with realistic expectations about brightness and a later return to Cartagena.
Can I take a flight or join another activity that evening?
Return times are approximate and can change with sea conditions and traffic. Avoid a tight connection after an island trip. Tell us about your flight or evening plans before choosing a route, especially if you are considering plankton.
What should I bring?
Bring swimwear, a towel, sun protection, a change of clothes, a water-resistant bag for your belongings and cash for agreed extras. Wear the provided life jacket on the boat, follow the guide’s instructions and avoid touching coral. Confirm any dietary or mobility needs before booking.
Let’s plan your island day
Send your date, group size and preferred route. We’ll confirm the meeting point, price and available options before you book.
By the Pa'Cartagena team. Route recommendation reviewed October 5, 2026. Prices follow the current tour catalog; availability and sea conditions may affect your selected departure.