Explore the coastline beyond Cartagena with this full-day private boat tour. Leave the navigating to your private guide and admire views during the journey to the Rosario Islands. Visit the islands of Cholon and Baru for a day spent sunbathing and swimming. Return to Cartagena at the end of the day. Plus, you'll depart from a private marina rather than battling the crowds of the public one.

Climb aboard a boat for a private tour to the Rosario Islands
Skip the hassle of navigating and let your guide drive the boat
See the white sand beaches of Cholon and Baru
Depart from a stress-free docking point, rather than a busy alternative

What's Included

Certified Driver and Assistance
Cooler with ice
Bluetooth sound system
Snorkel gear
We leave from a private marina! NOT from the chaotic public dock.

Food and drinks
Lunch

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Boat Rentals Cartagena, ARRECIFE BOATS CARTAGENA , Alquiler de Botes en Cartagena, islas del Rosario, colombia
Club Nautico, Manga, Cartagena de Indias, Provincia de Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia
Meeting point is at our store, Beach Corner, ask for Abel for check in.

Start time

09:00 AM

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Islas de Rosario

4 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Cholón (Islas del Rosario)

2 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Playa Agua Azul

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Playa Puntilla

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Muelle de los Pegasos

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Wheelchair accessible
Children must be accompanied by an adult
May be operated by a multi-lingual guide
Stroller accessible
Refunds will not be issued if tour/activity is missed due to late or non-arrival of cruise ship
Near public transportation

Infants must sit on laps
Transportation is wheelchair accessible
Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Not recommended for travelers with back problems
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Most travelers can participate
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews

4.5

83 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

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Showing 1-10 of 83 reviews

Super Fun Cruising Day

cara_b, Apr 2024

We had an amazing day cruising and enjoying the islands of Columbia. Our first mate, Kevin and the captain did a great job. Kevin catered the day to our requests and the captain provided a safe and super smooth ride. Highly recommend!

Great Value, Great Experience

Blair_D, Mar 2024

Our group of three booked a boat and had a great experience from start to finish. The instructions for finding the check in spot were easy, the store owner was friendly and accommodating. Both of our crew members were kind and helpful - they took us to areas that we were interested in and shared local history with us. This was a great value and overall a great experience.

Amazing experience!

Alexa_R, Mar 2024

We had an amazing day exploring the Rosario Islands! Our captains were great. They were such skilled drivers and so helpful. Thank you!

Response from Host, Mar 2024

Hi Alexa, we are so glad you enjoyed our private boat tour! Thank you for your positive comments. Cheers, Alex

Very Unorganized

Steven_C, Feb 2024

Very unorganized I did this excursion with my finance and my 2yr old son. When we arrived at the marina which isn’t private and it clearly states it is online. The 2 gentlemen in the front were giving us a hard time because we didn’t know the name of the boat. There should be a list of names of ppl that will be using the boat services that day. It should be easier to locate the boat driver. We were taken to a private beach called Paue Beach Lounge which they charge you to enter. I didn’t mind paying for it but it would’ve been nice to know. Overall I would go with one of those other companies that charge a bit more but include food & drinks that way you aren’t surprised when arriving to a private isla and are being charged to be there.

Response from Host, Feb 2024

Hello Steven, thank you for your comment, I am sorry that we have not met your expectations, this helps us improve every day, for us is very important to keep 5 star quality! Regarding your comments, we sent an email the day before with all the tour information such as meeting point and name of the boat. If you check your email you will see that this information was sent. We also explain that when you arrive you have to say in the main entrance the name of the boat so that it can be located promptly since it is a private marina with a lot of boat traffic. P.S. If it were not private, anyone could enter without asking for the boat information, list of names, etc. About the beach club where you went (Paue), we do not have control of the prices, you are free to stay or go somewhere else, it is out of our control. Once again, I appreciate your comment and I am glad that you enjoyed the rest of the experience. Sincerely, Alex Sepulveda

Great trip

Jeffrey_M, Feb 2024

The captains were very helpful and courteous. Showed us a good time and the boat was nice. Would recommend this company.

Response from Host, Feb 2024

Thank you Jeff for your positive review, We are delighted that you enjoyed your day on our boat!

Great professional crew!

edward_s, Feb 2024

Great attrntive staff, seeking to go elsewhere extra mile and meet your needs. Extremely professional and pleasant.

Response from Host, Feb 2024

Many thanks for your positive review! Our goal is always to deliver the best boat service in Cartagena.

10/10 experience

EllenBrevik_W, Dec 2023

Great adventure to beautiful places! Turquoise water, white beaches and very good food at the restaurant (Paue) we went to. The captain and assistant were really competent and we felt safe even though there were some big waves from time to time.

Great trip to Rosario Islands

Steven_J, Nov 2023

We had a fantastic time on our tour of the Rosario Islands. The boat operators were knowledgeable and knew the great spots to take us to make sure we enjoyed our day out on the water. We would highly recommend this to anyone! Great full day on and in the water.

Amazing and worth every penny. 5 star service

Stephen_W, Sep 2023

This was an amazing time and worth every penny to have your own private experience. Kevin and Manuel were so great and accommodated all of our requests. The islands are all gorgeous. Cholon was known as the party island so the three of us stuck to Rosario and Baru. Beautiful and a great place to swim, relax, and soak up the sun. Request Kevin and Manuel; they were so kind and created a five star experience. They also allowed us to start and hour late because we had gotten a slow start to the morning which helped a ton.

Excellent way to spend the day.

Zack_G, Aug 2023

This is an excellent way to spend a full day visiting the surrounding islands. The crew and Kevin were fantastic very friendly, very professional.They brought us to places we wanted and skip the places we did not. We stopped at a restaurant for lunch, (not included in price of tour) which was a great experience. Bring snacks and beverages for the provided iced cooler. A great little detail, connect your Bluetooth to their kickin sound system.

Best birthday celebration!

Janet_J, Jul 2023

Fabian was our Captain for the day. He showed around the Rosario Islands and took us to the best restaurant with local food, excellent service. It was an outstanding trip, we celebrated my sisters birthday and we coming back for more happy memories.

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Thank you Janet for your positive feedback! we are so glad your sister had a happy birthday!! See you soon! Alex.

Great Service & Time

Ashly_A, Jun 2023

Our group had an amazing time. The captain and assistant were very helpful and kind—served us drinks the whole time and was very accommodating with any requests. A note for travelers—there are locals on kayaks/canoes that will try to sell you items or drinks even in the sea. They were not overly harassing us but it is something to note.

Safe, Fun, more than I expected!

Devin_M, May 2023

This was an incredible trip! Sebastian and Manuel were out guides and were awesome! Things to be aware of: -bring snacks and drinks (cooler available) -be prepared to buy the guides a lunch meal -snorkeling gear is rented (30,000 COLP a piece) -multiple major stops, two with food. First one is much cheaper but you’ll need to pay a cover fee to get in and a minimum food expenditure. -boats are high quality and safe center consoles. Identical to the ones pictured (I was skeptical at first but they delivered) Favorite parts -snorkeling stops, we had two one of which was over one of Pablo Escobar’s drug plans! -the tours of the islands -great communication using what’s app

Response from Host, May 2023

Thank you very much for your review, we love that our clients describe the experience in great detail! Our boats are always in excellent condition, plus we leave from a private pier with all the comforts, unlike other tours that leave from the public pier, which is chaos!!! We are always ready to deliver the best service and to improve it every day! see you soon ! best regards Alex

Fun family adventure in the sun

Julie_S, Mar 2023

Great captains and a fun adventure for the day. Loved snorkeling and the trip to the aquarium. Lunch at a private club was ok but expensive. Overall a great day.

Response from Host, Mar 2023

Hello Julie, thank you for your positive comments! We are so glad you had a wonderful day!

Disorganized and Overpriced Tour

Shawn_B, Mar 2023

The tour was 700 USD. It tuned out to be very overpriced for the service. It was an 8 hr tour with no food, beverages, or towels. I asked for an English guide, but there was no guide and the boat operators did not speak English. The tour listing stated it did not come with food or beverages…but at least for the price , there should have been some intent to stop for food and drink along the way. We directed the boat operator to stop at a hotel for food and drink…but the boat people did not help us. Food took almost one hour to get. On the way back, the waves were high…the water was rough, and we truly felt unsafe and no life jackets were offered. For the money, there should be an organized trip around the islands with a knowledgeable guide with provisions for food, water, and maybe even basic snorkeling gear. We later learned from a local tour guide that he charges $500 USD, rents a boat, and does exactly what I mentioned above. I recommend booking your boat through your hotel with known local guides.

Response from Host, Mar 2023

Dear Shawn, We are very sorry for the inconvenience you experienced. But we are very surprised with your review because in 7 years of activity it is the first time that we get 1 star. As we offer a private service, our clients can choose how they want the tour, because not everyone likes the same things, some people like to party and others like a quiet day, but we always take people where they want to get food and drink. As indicated on the page, we do not offer food or drinks, but on the islands there are many different options to get it, some other people prefer to have a picnic and use the cooler with ice provided. Regarding the price, you are right, you can get a cheap boat for less money, but most are companies with out our experience. There are many tour guides that will sell whatever you ask for, and as soon as you pay they will disappear and give you lousy service, old boats that do not have any insurance or experience to support what they offer. WE ABSOLUTELY DO NOT RECOMMEND BUYING ANY TOUR FROM STREET TOUR GUIDES. Life jackets are always available on the boat for your use. Regarding the delay of the food, unfortunately we do not have any control of the service of the restaurants on the islands. However, we will take into account your concerns since our goal is to always deliver the best service.

Such a fun day!

Julia_C, Feb 2023

I can not say enough good things about our experience on this boat trip. Rueben and our captain were unbelievable. The islands are beautiful and they took us to the most beautiful beach club for lunch. I wish I could remember the name. As a warning, in the winter months the wind is very strong which leads to VERY rough seas. Our captain was an excellent boats man and made it enjoyable, safe and fun. That being said, if you get seasick make sure to take Dramamine and possibly a Zofran.

Response from Host, Feb 2023

Hi Julia, we are very happy that you had an amazing experience. We have the most experienced pilots and the safest boats! Our commitment is to deliver the best private boat service in Cartagena.

Beautiful aquamarine waters

Anne_D, Feb 2023

We had a great time! The Rosario islands were great for snorkeling and were generally calmer - gorgeous water. Bring your own snorkel gear or rent in town ahead of time. Do your research on resort options for lunch on the islands or get recommendations based on the vibe you want (I don’t recommend Pa’ue - it was expensive and felt like a tourist trap). Cholon is a crowded party scene, so I wish we’d skipped that (admittedly, we were given the choice between a calm cove and a “sand bar party” (Cholon), and chose the latter). Overall, great trip but know what vibe you want and craft your day accordingly!

Awesome experience, great guides

Michael_M, Jan 2023

Kevin and Manuel were great guides and a lot of fun! The tour guides were open to our schedule and also gave us some great areas to explore!p.

Great day on the water

ChelseaRPattillo, Jan 2023

Had a wonderful day out on the water in the rosario islands. Had great guides that were professional and kind. Got to spend time swimming in the ocean, taking in the views from the boat, and had lunch at a beach club. My only recommendation is if you want to go to the beach club, maybe mention making a reservation, they were totally full so we did not get a beach bed

Unforgettable experience

Lauren_B, Dec 2022

Abel, Kevin, and Miguel were amazing — so welcoming and friendly. Kevin and Miguel were great tour guides and recommended perfect spots to stop and swim, as well as a great lunch spot. The bathroom on board was also a major plus.