Rosario Islands Colombia: An Epic Cartagena Day Trip

A detailed travel guide to visiting the Rosario Islands from Cartagena, Colombia. Includes up-to-date information on the best day trip with photos to inspire your travels.

If you’re visiting Cartagena de Indias and looking for the absolute best day trip to the small coral islands of the Colombian Caribbean Coast, then look no further.

The Rosario Islands in Colombia are one of the top destinations for those seeking a true Caribbean paradise. Located within the biodiverse Corales del Rosario y San Bernardo National Natural Park, you’ll find crystal clear waters, white-sand beaches, and coral reef-lined coastlines.

Best of all, taking a day trip to the Corles Isla del Rosario from Cartagena city is very easy and actually quite affordable!

After exploring the islands myself, I’ve written (and updated) this guide aimed to give you a rundown of everything you need to know to visit the Resorio Islands yourself.

Where Are the Colombian Rosario Islands?

The Colombian Rosario Islands are located approximately 22 miles (36 kilometers) southwest of Cartagena de Indias in the Caribbean Sea. There are a total of 28 islands in this group all located within the Corales del Rosario National Park (Rosario Islands National Park), one of the most important coral reefs on the Colombian Caribbean coast

Slower boats take roughly 2-3 hours to get to the Rosario Islands. Fortunately, if you pick the boat trip aboard the luxury catamaran above, you'll get to Isla Grande (the largest island in the chain) in under 1.5 hours!

This was great for us as we got to visit a few different swimming and snorkeling spots and spend more time in the water than on deck.

Notable Islands of Islas Del Rosario, Colombia

As mentioned there are a total of 28 islands within the Rosario Islands group. The largest is Isla Grande but below I've listed some more of the main islands that tourists tend to visit.

• Isla Marina: Ideal for snorkeling and swimming in clear water. Dive to see vibrant coral reefs and marine life. This one is best visited in the morning for calmer waters.
• Isla Gigi: Houses a luxurious resort that's perfect for upscale relaxation with privacy. You won't visit this one on the day trip but you can stay here and book activities like paddleboarding or spa treatments in advance.
• Isleta (Carolina Island): Great for cycling to explore hidden beaches, checking out local markets for artisan crafts.
• Isla Rosa: This one is unique for its pink sand beach and ideal for photography. Definitely visit early or late for the best light and fewer crowds.
• Isleta del Pirata (Pirate Island): Explore historic ruins and snorkel over sunken artifacts. Great for history buffs and adventurers who want to get off-the-beaten-path.
• Bendita Beach: Offers family-friendly waters and beachside service. Rent kayaks or join a volleyball game. Arrive early to secure the best spot.

It's important to know that the very popular Playa Blanca and Isla Barú are protected within the Rosario Islands National Park. But, they are not part of the main island chain since Isla Baru was technically a peninsula before the man-made canal was first dug in 1582.

More Options For Getting to the Rosario Islands

Below are a few more options for how to get to the Rosario Islands from Cartagena.

Hire a Private Boat

For travelers arriving in Cartagena in a large group, it's possible to book a private boat tour or even a private yacht to head out to the Rosario Islands.

The private speed boats available will actually work out cheaper if you split the cost between a group of 10. Furthermore, you'll get your own driver who can help you plan an island-hopping itinerary from the Coast of Cartagena.

This is a popular option for people who want to take a "booze cruise" and check out popular party spots like Cholón. If you want to splurge, you could also check out GetMyBoat to find options to book a larger private yacht.

Bonus: Rosario Island Resort Day Passes

Don't have the budget or the time to spend

a night in the luxury Rosario Island resorts? Luckily, it's also possible to book a "day pass" at many of the best ones. This includes your speed boat transfer to the resort and provides access to facilities like the bar, pool, hot tub, and more.

These are the Rosario Island day passes you can book online (with Viator).

• Isla del Sol Day Pass
• Bora Bora Beach Club
• Bendita Beach

Why Visit Islas Del Rosario?

The main reason why we chose to visit Islas del Rosario was that these islands have the clearest water and the best white-sand beaches near the popular tourist city of Cartagena.

We figured, we're on the Caribbean Coast and wanted to spend our time visiting some beautiful beaches. While I've noticed over the years that more and more travelers are choosing a day trip to Playa Blanca instead, the Rosario Islands are much prettier and less crowded!

Also, not only will you find pristine beaches in this natural park, but it's also a fun place to travel to for water sports and scuba diving! You can also rent a jet ski for an hour or so if you book one of the Rosario Island day trips from Cartagena.

Tip: you might see the dolphin show advertised on some of the tour signs around Cartagena. However, I highly recommend you avoid this for animal welfare reasons.

My Experience on the Rosario Islands Day Trip From Cartagena

Okay, with all of the basic logistics out of the way, here is my Rosario Islands blog where I recap my experience on a day trip from Cartagena, Colombia.

Again, I booked this boat trip with Bona Vida, and I honestly couldn't recommend it enough! Note I've also updated this blog post so that it offers the most up-to-date information on your trip.

Boarding the Catamaran in Cartagena Harbor

Most boat trips will depart from somewhere in Cartagena harbor. This particular tour leaves from a convenient location at the waterfront pier near Muelle de los Pegasos.

Upon boarding, we were offered a welcome drink and then set sail for the Rosario Islands! First impressions: wow! This boat is luxururious! The deck is really wide with plenty of nice places to sit down in the sun and in the shade.

Bahia de Cartagenas (Cartagena Bay)

Before heading out to the open Caribbean, the catamaran sails through Cartagena Bay.

This offers excellent views of the upper-class skylines of Bocagrande and Castillo Grande. Furthermore, we passed the cruise terminals where a huge ship was docking just as we sailed through!

Leaving the bay, we headed out to the open sea and enjoyed some relaxing music and drinks on the deck.

Arriving at The Rosario Islands from Cartagena

After approximately 1.5 hours of steady motor sailing at top speed, we arrived at the Rosario Islands. Our captain tied up to a buoy in a shallow section in a protected area between Isla Grande and Isla Marina.

The water color here was a beautiful shade of translucent blue and we didn't hesitate to jump straight in! We spent just over 2 hours here snorkeling, swimming, and jumping off the yacht into the clear turquoise water.

Below are some photos from my trip so you'll know what to expect.

Sailing to Playa Blanca

To break up the trip, our captain set sail for the popular beach of Playa Blanca. Of course, since this particular beach is very busy, we anchored just a few hundred meters away, which was the perfect place to enjoy lunch.

Lunch on board the Bona Vida consisted of fresh fish, rice, salads, and tropical fruits. Alternatively, there was a vegetable rice option for vegans and vegetarians.

After a hearty lunch, we spent more time lazing on the deck and enjoying the Caribbean sun. The stop near Playa Blanca also gave us lots of time to swim over to the nearby beach which was lined with tropical palm trees.

This was also another great place to do some more snorkeling, although the visibility was considerably better at the Rosario Islands in my opinion. Still, as you can see from my photos, the water is very blue and much nicer than the beaches near Cartagena.

Sailing Back to Cartagena

After an awesome day exploring the Rosario Islands of Colombia, we set sail back to Cartagena! The journey back was a little bumpy, but the 50-foot motor sailing catamaran cut through the waves with ease.

We were particularly glad that we chose this tour during this leg of the trip as we watched smaller speed boats smash up and down against the waves.

FAQ About Rosario Islands Day Trip