The Ideal City Escape

The Rosario Islands Day Trip gives you the perfect excuse for a day away from the city to enjoy the Caribbean sun. This tour is operated by one of our trusted partners, ensuring a high-quality experience. Whether you’re looking for a day full of activities or just want to relax, we’ve got you covered. Choose between a beach resort with a pool and private beach, explore the Corales del Rosario National Park, go kayaking, snorkeling, or visit the oceanarium with its famous dolphin show. The day is yours to enjoy as you wish.

Important Tour Information

Everything you need to know before your trip.

Key Details

  • Meeting point: Hotel pickup.
  • Start time: 8:30 a.m.
  • Duration: 8 hours (approximately).
  • Return: Transfer from the dock to your hotel is not included.

Notes & Recommendations

  • Optional: The entrance fee to the oceanarium is not included in the price.
  • Private Transport: Ask about our private transportation option to the Barú islands.
  • What to bring: Swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, hat, and extra money for optional activities.

Your Caribbean Adventure Itinerary

A perfectly organized day so you only have to worry about enjoying yourself.

Meeting at the Dock (8:30 a.m.)

The tour begins at the pier. We will provide you with all the necessary information to get there. Please note that this tour is operated by a trusted third-party partner, and we do not handle client pickup directly.

Panoramic Boat Trip

Enjoy an exciting speedboat ride with a panoramic tour of the archipelago, appreciating the beauty of the National Park.

Beach, Pool & Lunch Day

Upon arrival, we will welcome you with fresh fruits. Enjoy the facilities, including a pool, private beach, and hammocks. At noon, delight in a typical Caribbean lunch.

Return to Cartagena

After an incredible day, we will begin the journey back to the Cartagena dock. Transfer from the dock to your hotel is not included.

What Your Day Trip Includes

Everything you need for a perfect day in paradise.

Speedboat Transportation

Typical Lunch

Harbor Taxes

Use of Facilities

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Rosario Islands?

The Rosario Islands (Islas del Rosario) are an archipelago located about 45 minutes by speedboat from Cartagena. They are a national natural park famous for coral reefs and clear waters.

How do we get to the Rosario Islands from Cartagena?

You reach the islands via a scenic speedboat ride departing from the main docks in Cartagena. We arrange all transportation, including pick-up from your hotel to the pier.

Is the boat ride to the islands rough?

The ride is generally smooth in the morning, but the sea can get a bit choppy in the afternoon when returning. Our captains are highly experienced to ensure a safe trip.

What is included in a Rosario Islands day trip?

Our tours typically include hotel transport to the dock, the speedboat ride, access to an exclusive island beach club, a typical Caribbean lunch, and use of the facilities.

Is snorkeling possible at the Rosario Islands?

Yes, the islands offer fantastic snorkeling opportunities over the coral reefs. Snorkeling tours can be arranged once you arrive at the island.

What is the Oceanarium (Acuario) in the Rosario Islands?

The Oceanarium is a marine conservation center located on one of the islands where you can see dolphins, sharks, turtles, and other local marine life.

Should I choose a large beach club or rent a private boat?

A beach club is great for individuals and couples seeking relaxation with amenities. Renting a private boat is the best option for groups, offering total privacy and the ability to visit multiple islands.

Is the water warm in the Rosario Islands?

Yes, the Caribbean Sea in this region is wonderfully warm year-round, making it perfect for swimming and water sports.

What food is served on the island excursions?

The quintessential island lunch consists of freshly caught fried fish (usually snapper), coconut rice, fried plantains (patacones), and a small salad.

What should I pack for the Rosario Islands?

Bring swimwear, a towel, high-SPF sunscreen (reef-safe preferred), a hat, sunglasses, and dry clothes to change into for the ride back.

TripAdvisor 4.8★ (270 reviews)

What Travelers Say About Us

Real reviews from real travelers — updated every 15 days from TripAdvisor.

★★★★★ February 2026

"Sightseeing tour of Cartagena by car"

I am grateful to Martin and our guide Margarita for organizing a wonderful private sightseeing tour of Cartagena by car. Martin was the only organizer who provided a very clear description of the service, a transparent p…

Kateryna G.

TripAdvisor
★★★★★ January 2026

"Time of Our Life"

My husband and I took a cruise to Cartagena and contacted Martin to be our tour guide. Neither one of us can walk far — we use scooters. Martin and his staff got the scooters into his car and off we went for four wonderf…

Rosemarie G.

West Islip, New York

TripAdvisor
★★★★☆ December 2025

"Good tour"

We were pretty happy about our tour guide.

Xiu Y.

Little Rock, Arkansas

TripAdvisor
★★★★★ December 2025

"The perfect Cartagena Tour"

Our family of four had a very interesting private tour of most of Cartagena's touristic sites, very well organized by Mildred. A comfortable car, a great driver and Jaime — the perfect guide for such a tour. We had a lot…

Hansruedi S.

Riedholz, Switzerland

TripAdvisor
★★★★★ December 2025

"Comprehensive tour by an expert guide"

Initial contact was with Mildred who was very helpful. Her husband Martin was the guide — very knowledgeable, and the driver was very good. We were able to visit the aviary and even got in a few minutes before it opened,…

Joyce P.

TripAdvisor
★★★★★ November 2025

"Excellent Cartagena Tour – Highly Recommend!"

Perfect Cruise Excursion in Cartagena. Wonderful, Informative Tour from Start to Finish. Great Way to See Cartagena in One Day. Outstanding Service and Knowledgeable Guide. Stress-Free and Well Organized Experience. A Mu…

Caren C.

TripAdvisor
★★★★★ September 2025

"Amazing Cartagena Colombia"

Martin was so easy to contact and gave us a wonderful experience. Saw some amazing sights and we were looked after very well. Our group were travelling on a world cruise and were very happy to get such a reasonable rate.…

★★★★★ August 2025

"Amazing!"

Martin was a very knowledgeable and friendly tour guide! We really enjoyed the walking tour — and it was 45 degrees outside! I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone visiting Cartagena.

Ankita S.

TripAdvisor
★★★★★ March 2025

"Excellent tour; highly recommended!"

This was the second time in 3 months that we took this tour with Señor Martin — first in Dec. 2024 with my wife, and now in March 2025 with my son. Señor Martin is very knowledgeable, very kind, his English is very good.…

Dan R.

Florida

TripAdvisor
★★★★★ January 2025

"The perfect Cartagena half day tour"

Martin was fantastic! He customized a tour for our 2 families. We only had 4 hours to see the city and he picked us up from the airport, gave us a 3-hour tour of the city and transported us an hour to our hotel in Baru. …

abuscaglia

TripAdvisor
★★★★☆ December 2023

"Highly recommend"

Highly recommend Martin and Cartagena Tour Guides. Martin was easy to communicate with via email. For the day of the tour, we were set up with JJ (Jacinto) and he was terrific! He knew so much about Cartagena and was ver…

Karen C.

TripAdvisor
★★★★★ Julio 2021

"Un gran conocedor de Cartagena para todos"

Don Martín tiene un gran conocimiento de la ciudad y de su historia. Nos dio un tour sumamente completo, lleno de explicaciones sobre la historia de Cartagena y sobre su vida actual. Sin duda es una forma muy completa de…

Alberto Tomás A.

Ciudad de México, México

TripAdvisor
★★★★★ November 2019

"Fantastic, incredibly accommodating and great atmosphere"

Martin is amazing. We booked a private tour of Cartagena with only ten hours' notice, after midnight, via WhatsApp. He picked up our party of 7 (3 generations of family) in a luxurious, air-conditioned van, holding up a …

Swiss-American All Over

TripAdvisor
★★★★★ November 2019

"Cruise port Cartagena — went above and beyond"

I cannot recommend Martin highly enough! I am in a wheelchair due to a spinal cord injury. Martin secured a vehicle I could get in and out of with assistance. The elevator at the monastery had been knocked out by lightni…

Larissa B.

TripAdvisor
★★★★★ Julio 2019

"Los guías de turismo son excelentes"

En los 10 días de estadía en Cartagena hemos compartido muchas excursiones las cuales fueron acompañadas por distintos guías de los cuales sólo puedo decir que son personas con mucho carisma, muy amables y serviciales. T…

MONI1607

Villa Ballester, Argentina

TripAdvisor
★★★★★ April 2019

"Excellent Walking Tour"

Martin was a great guide. The entire family enjoyed our two-hour walking tour of the old city. Highly recommend it if you are planning a visit to Cartagena.

★★★★★ March 2019

"Cartagena Bliss"

We had an outstanding tour with Martin. He showed us the best of Cartagena as well as some unique areas. We highly recommend Martin — we had a nice time. Driving in an air-conditioned vehicle was also a comfort. Thank yo…

Jim D.

Florida

TripAdvisor
★★★★★ June 2019

"Great trip!!!"

Eduardo did an amazing job during our touring around Cartagena. We have 2 kids and he really took them into consideration during the tour regarding content, stamina and the heat! Highly recommend.

afurie

Malvern, Pennsylvania

TripAdvisor
★★★★★ February 2019

"Walking tour of the city centre"

We had a great guide called David — really interesting facts and took us to a tasty ice cream shop! Great city, would recommend a visit. We were on a cruise and ended with a walk through a wonderful bird sanctuary with l…

Dawn 23

Sutton Coldfield, United Kingdom

TripAdvisor
★★★★★ February 2019

"Captain Kirk — great tour of the Old City"

Great Tour around and through the beautiful Old City of Cartagena, with one of the greatest guides — Captain Kirk! Very good explanations about the city and visit of some special places away from the typical tourist spot…

PatKay72

TripAdvisor
★★★★★ February 2019

"Excellent"

Excellent tour with much consideration for elderly guests, such as not walking to the top of the fort. He kept a great pace to see as much as we could in the time the cruise ship allowed, yet provided needed breaks at so…

Ole D.

Kansas City, Missouri

TripAdvisor
★★★★★ Febrero 2019

"Excelente Tour"

El día de hoy tuvimos el placer de tomar un tour en la ciudad de Cartagena de Indias con Cartagena Tour Guides y fue de lo mejor. Martin Rosales nos recibió en el puerto de cruceros e iniciamos nuestro tour en un auto pr…

★★★★★ January 2019

"Beautiful Cartagena"

I booked this tour through Martin Rosales and received prompt replies to all correspondence. We were 17 people from a cruise ship wanting a private tour. David was our guide and William our driver. We had a lovely tour o…

marija10

TripAdvisor
★★★★★ November 2018

"Again our tour with Martin was excellent"

We returned this past November and did a tour again with Martin. It was a very nice day spent with Martin and his driver. We were not rushed in any way — we avoided the crowds and had a very nice day. As we will be retur…

uitvlugt1

Zürich, Switzerland

TripAdvisor
★★★★★ October 2018

"Awesome Tour"

My husband and I opted for the private Taste & Eat Cartagena food tour and it was well worth it. I definitely recommend going on an empty stomach as you are eating throughout the tour. The first thing we ate were arepas …

Zoraya V.

Chicago, Illinois

TripAdvisor
★★★★★ October 2018

"Book this tour first thing!"

My only regret about our tour with Martin is that we didn't book it for the first day of our trip! Martin is a local and he knows so much about Cartagena. He responded to my request within an hour, and we scheduled a tou…

katiwithani

Denver, Colorado

TripAdvisor
★★★★★ December 2018

"A glimpse into historic Cartagena"

I must praise Martin Rosales on how quickly he responded to my frantic email trying to arrange a private tour with a walker only 4 days before we needed it. Martin came through with a wonderful guide JZ and driver Oscar.…

tmt57

Lecanto, Florida

TripAdvisor
★★★★★ December 2018

"Take This Tour When You First Arrive"

Martin Rosales is a 'Cartagenero' — he has lived here all his life as has his family. He is extremely knowledgeable and speaks very good English. My wife and I booked a private tour and he and his driver picked us up at …

kschw9883

Atlanta, Georgia

TripAdvisor

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