4 Islands by Land with Bioluminescent Plankton
Bus to Barú, island visits by boat and plankton after dark
From $ 200.000 COP per person
+ Mandatory insurance: $ 8.800 COP per person
Total from $ 208.800 COP per person
Mandatory fees shown separately. Optional extras excluded.
Why you'll love it
- Pickup between 7 and 8 a.m. and round-trip air-conditioned bus transport to Barú
- Boat tour of the Rosario Islands with a beach stop selected according to crowds
- Included snorkelling or an optional Oceanario visit with admission paid separately
- Shrimp cocktail in Cholón and a traditional lunch at Playa Tranquila
- A snack and a guided plankton outing after dark, lasting about 15 minutes
Your experience
Cartagena → Barú by bus
Pickup between 7 and 8 a.m. in Bocagrande, El Laguito, Castillogrande, the Historic Centre or an agreed meeting point. Travel by air-conditioned bus to Barú, then board the speedboat.
Scenic boat ride through the Rosario Islands
ScenicSee the islands from the boat as you travel through the archipelago. This part of the route does not include landing on every island.
Island beach and activity stop
Visit one beach: Isla Grande, Paraíso Real or Agua Azul, depending on crowds.
Choose one · same time slot
Snorkelling
Included
Included in the plan.
Oceanario
Paid separately
Replaces snorkelling; the Cholón stop remains. Admission costs extra.
Cholón
Swimming, photos and music. This stop is also included if you choose the Oceanario.
- Shrimp cocktail included
Playa Tranquila
A traditional lunch and beach time in Barú. Island stops last about 40 minutes; you stay at Playa Tranquila until nightfall.
Bioluminescent plankton
Extended beach time at Playa Tranquila, a snack and a guided outing to see bioluminescence for about 15 minutes after dark.
Bus back to Cartagena
Return by bus after plankton, with arrival in Cartagena between 9:00 and 10:00 p.m. We leave you at the same point where we pick you up, in the hotel area or at the agreed meeting point.
What's included
- Round-trip air-conditioned bus transport between Cartagena and Barú
- Pickup between 7 and 8 a.m. in the hotel area or at an agreed meeting point
- Fast boat transport from Barú for the island tour
- Views of the Rosario Islands and one beach stop selected according to crowds
- Snorkelling included; choose the Oceanario instead if you prefer
- Stop in Cholón with shrimp cocktail
- Traditional lunch and beach time at Playa Tranquila
- Accompanying guide
- Snack before plankton
- Guided bioluminescent plankton activity after dark, lasting about 15 minutes
Not included
- Compulsory insurance: COP 8,800 per person, paid separately on tour day
- Optional Oceanario de San Martín admission: COP 40,000 per person; replaces snorkelling
- Drinks, purchases and other items not listed as included
- Breakfast
Meeting point
Hotel-area pickup or agreed meeting point
Bocagrande, El Laguito, Castillogrande, Centro Histórico or point agreed in Cartagena
Pickup between 7 and 8 a.m. by air-conditioned bus to Barú, then continue by boat. Share your accommodation location to arrange pickup. Return to Cartagena by bus after the plankton activity, arriving around 9–10 p.m. Drop-off is at your original pickup point in the hotel area or the agreed meeting point.
Honest take
What's great
- Round-trip bus, boat, guide, snorkel, lunch and shrimp cocktail included.
- Return by bus at night to the original pickup point, after the plankton activity.
What to know
- It combines a road trip and boat tours; it is not a whole day on a single beach.
- The intermediate beach is selected according to crowds. Only one of the three alternatives is visited on each departure.
- Mandatory insurance costs extra. An Oceanario visit replaces snorkelling.
Before you arrive
Restrictions
- Bring swimwear, a towel, light clothing and biodegradable sunscreen.
- Bring cash for mandatory insurance, extra purchases and optional activities.
- Do not carry glass containers and protect your personal objects from water.
- Island stops last about 40 minutes. The beach is chosen from Isla Grande, Paraíso Real and Agua Azul depending on crowds.
- Choose snorkelling or the Oceanario; there is not enough time to do both on this tour.
- The arrival in Cartagena is approximately between 9:00 and 10:00 p.m. We leave you at the same point where we pick you up, in the hotel area or at the agreed meeting point.
- Bioluminescence is a natural phenomenon: its intensity may vary and no concrete brightness is guaranteed.
The 4 Islands by Land tour starts with pickup between 7 and 8 a.m. in Cartagena’s hotel area or at an agreed meeting point. Travel in an air-conditioned bus to Barú, then board a speedboat. The route combines a panoramic trip through the Rosario Islands, a stop at Isla Grande, Paraíso Real or Agua Azul depending on visitor numbers, Cholón with a shrimp cocktail, and Playa Tranquila for lunch and beach time. Snorkelling is included; if you prefer the Oceanario, pay its admission separately and visit it instead of snorkelling. Island stops last about 40 minutes. Stay at Playa Tranquila until nightfall, with a snack before a guided bioluminescent plankton activity lasting about 15 minutes. Return to Cartagena by bus, arriving between 9 and 10 p.m. Drop-off is at the same hotel-area location or meeting point where you were picked up. Mandatory insurance costs COP 8,800 per person and is paid separately.
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Need a place to stay?
Pair this experience with available apartments in Cartagena, especially in El Laguito.
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$ 200.000
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