Rosario Islands Day Trip: Snorkel & Sunbathe at Isla del Sol
Cartagena, Colombia
- 8 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Escape to the picturesque paradise of the Rosario Islands on a delightful day-trip from Cartagena. Experience the idyllic splendor of the iridescent water and silken sands as you cruise to the alluring archipelago. Plunge into the crystal clear Caribbean waters; recline in the shade of a palm tree on a blissful beach. Treat your taste buds to a traditional lunch and enjoy convenient hotel pickup on this heavenly excursion.
- Relax on pristine beaches on a remote island
- Kayak, snorkel, or just go out for a swim in the crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean
- Enjoy a delicious typical Caribbean lunch
- Private hotel pick-up transportation included
What's Included
- Private transport from hotel to port (only covers hotels located at Boca Grande, Laguito, Casco Antiguo and Getsemani)
- Speedboat transportation to the islands.
- Typical Colombian lunch featuring fresh, local ingredients.
- Transport from the port to the Hotel (drop-off)
- Extra activities
- Towels
- Admission Fee - Harbor tax approx. USD $7$7.00 per person
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
Pick up service from Cartagena hotels or accommodations. Please enter your pick up details. *Note: Hotels in Manzanillo area have an additional cost. Please contact us to arrange it.
Itinerary
After hotel pickup in Cartagena, venture to the marina and board your stylish sea vessel. Set sail over the shimmering sea to the idyllic Rosario Islands, an attractive archipelago favored by Colombian locals and tourists alike; declared a protected national park in 1977, the protected waters teem with troves of tropical fish.
Continue to cruise over the water and stop at a specific island which is completely private. Jump from the boat into the crystal clear Caribbean waters below, swimming and splashing in some of the clearest and cleanest water in the world. Sink your toes into the silken sands as you enjoy the refreshing shade of a palm tree, listening to the gentle lapping of the waves.
Enjoy a delicious lunch that will complete this trip. The food will always be fresh and the fish will be caught on same day. Before returning to your boat for the sail back to Cartagena feel free to use the kayaks, hammocks, and even take a dive to do some snorkeling (optional at own expense).
Watch the sun sink into the shimmering sea before finishing your tour with magical memories.
Continue to cruise over the water and stop at a specific island which is completely private. Jump from the boat into the crystal clear Caribbean waters below, swimming and splashing in some of the clearest and cleanest water in the world. Sink your toes into the silken sands as you enjoy the refreshing shade of a palm tree, listening to the gentle lapping of the waves.
Enjoy a delicious lunch that will complete this trip. The food will always be fresh and the fish will be caught on same day. Before returning to your boat for the sail back to Cartagena feel free to use the kayaks, hammocks, and even take a dive to do some snorkeling (optional at own expense).
Watch the sun sink into the shimmering sea before finishing your tour with magical memories.
1
Islas de Rosario
7 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Cartagena (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- A port fee of $18,500 COP must be paid in cash and in Colombian pesos before boarding the boat.
- We recommend to bring your own towels
- Changes on the tour may occur due to external factors. These changes will be notified to you with anticipation.
- Please Note: English support is limited/basic. This product doesn't offer a guided tour, it offers only basic support by your driver/guide
- Please note: the boat departure time from the port is set to a range between 09:00 AM and 09:30 AM depending on boat traffic.
- Bear in mind that the beach line is small and that there are limited amount of sun beds.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
3.6
based on 98 reviews
purandathlall, Oct 2019
You only spend time on a tiny beach!! The food and boat ride was good.
Not much to do on the tiny beach!
Response from Host, Oct 2019
Good morning,
Thanks for taking your time to share your comments regarding your experience in the Rosario Islands. It's very important for us to understand the opinions of our travelers so that we can improve our services.
I'm sorry that the experience in Isla del Sol didn't meet your expectations regarding the size of the beach. The of islands in Archipielago de San Bernardo and Islas del Rosario are regonized for their biodiversity and turquoise water, but do not have extended coastlines.
I hope the rest of your time in Colombia was fantastic.
Kind regards,
Valeria
Timothy B, Jul 2018
Basically a day at a pool/beach. Could have gotten the same experience at the hotel pool.
Jennifer Q, May 2018
My expectation was that we were going to be on a decent sized beach. In actuality we were taken to a small resort where they beach area was roped off and extremely small. Some of the people on our tour did not have even get chairs to sit on. I feel sorry for the guests that were staying in this small resort as we took up their entire beach area. I was very disappointed when we arrived at the destination. The only plus was the boat ride.
Kristen_C, Apr 2018
What a beautiful place. I would have liked to have more options to see the entire island by boat or maybe kayack. We spent the day at a beautiful hotel. Great location for kids and/or couples. beautiful scenery.
Jody S, Apr 2018
You must visit the Rosario Islands while in Cartagena because they are beautiful.
However, on this tour we did not get picked up at our hotel as promised. The driver came to get us 15 minutes ahead of schedule, but we were eating breakfast. He promised to wait, but left. We could not get a straight answer about where he had gone. If the amazing staff at our hotel, the Sofitel Santa Clara highly recommend did not arrange for a taxi to take us to the correct port, we would have missed the boat! literally!! Given that we paid for four tickets over 400 US we were not happy about the situation. Also, we were not given a complimentary drink upon arrival at Isla del Sol and they didn't have enough floating noodles for visitors.
francisca a, Apr 2018
This tour was amazing, our guide was very experienced. Overall the trip was awesome. Tips for those who read this: if you want to order lobster make sure you tell the guide because we forgot and missed the chance of eating lobster. Snorkeling is totally recomended Instead of the dolphin show.
Wendy M, Mar 2018
We were picked up at our hotel and dropped off at the port. There is a fee there that has to be paid in cash. To get to the islands you travel on a speed boat that holds 20-40 people and cruise through the harbour and out into the Caribbean. If you get seasick, this is NOT the trip for you as the boat leaps the waves and smacks down on the other side. If you love boats, the trip is exhilarating and lasts about an hour. You do get to go by some massive ships as Cartegena is a busy port. The island itself is beautiful and the water a gorgeous turquoise. The group is dropped off on the wharf encompassing a small beach and the property behind it. The guide goes over the schedule for the day then you are free to grab a lounger, go into the water off the beach area or go down a ladder into the water off the wharf on the outside of the enclosed area. Water shoes are recommended as the beach is stoney with vegetation in the water. The water itself is beautiful warm and clear.
While there a few trips are offered to the local aquarium, to go snorkeling or to go scuba diving, we didn't go on any of them. All trips are cash only. You could also have a more professional massage there.
There is also a nice clean salt-water pool to swim in. Because this is an island, fresh water is only rain water so there are no showers to rinse the salty water off. Lunch was a delicious grilled fish, salad, two types of rice, yucca fries and tasty home made coconut candy. They offer an assortment of alcoholic beverages, the only thing you can purchase with a credit card if you exceed 30,000 COP which isn't hard as the drinks are expensive.
The trip back to port took a different route, going along a man-made river past small houses in the middle of nowhere and brought you into the harbour from a different angle. The tour people were fantastic as usual: friendly, enthusiastic and could answer any questions. They also ensured we got back on the right vehicle to be driven back to our hotel. We enjoyed the tour though we thought the beach limited and added extras expensive.
elizabeth u, Mar 2018
The trip itself was very nice and lived up to our expectations. That said, there was much confusion when we were dropped off at the pier as we had no idea what the name of the trip we were on was. Clearer directions would improve this much!
Angela S, Mar 2018
The day was nice. But, the photo for the experience is extremely misleading. You'll see no beach like that. And that's all I was looking for.
We were actually booked with a company called Dia Del Sol which would have been nice to know in our confirmation also that we needed cash for most of the activities and to bring your own towels. We did bring a towel from our hotel to be safe, but not fun hauling around wet towels.
Transport - Good.
We were picked up at 8am in a nice car with AC, but then waited on the dock for over an hour. I also wish we were just told the port number, because it was actually walking distance to our hotel. There's a dock and national park tax that you pay in cash 16,500 peso i think about 6USD per person, and you'll need your passport number before you board the boat.
Boat: Fantasia Caliente
The speed boat was nice. We left a little after 9am. You'll share the trip with about 50 other people a little cramped but not too bad. It has some sun coverage. The trip to the island and back are about an hour each way. Water and beer are extra. Overall, pretty relaxing. The water is choppier in the afternoon on the way back - but it made it more fun. The crew was 3 people captain up top steering the boat, engineering in the back with the motor and the guide who was bilingual.
The resort area: Meh, kinda run down.
You'll dock at a little eco resort area with a mini beach, salt-water pool, bar drinks are extra, hammocks plenty of lounge chairs, bathrooms, and a few vendors selling jewelry, etc. We did not receive a complementary welcome cocktail as stated in our confirmation, just fruit. The fruit pineapple, watermelon and guava was all very good though.
The beach was really the biggest disappointment. It's basically dug into the dock area with no tide- probably ok for children though. The sand is not the best, a bit stoney in the shallow areas. I really wanted to swim in the surf...but there was none. We swam outside the docking area for a bit, which was nice. Plenty of pool noodles to float with.
For more money, you can purchase scuba diving if you have a license, snorkeling, a walking tour of that particular island, a massage, or a 45 min trip to the open air aquarium on a nearby island in the archipelago.
We did the aquarium about 10USD per adult... which was pretty sad. The main area is netted off sections of dolphins, turtles, some smaller sharks and fish. It didn't seem roomy enough for the larger marine life and they were still doing dolphin tricks.
Lunch was great.
It was at 1pm in the main resort area. You could also buy lobster for an additional 30USD cash only - wasn't as tasty as I hoped, just ok. The fried fish and coconut brown rice were super good. They also had soda, water, fried plantains, salad, fired yuca, etc.
We left at 3pm with a 15 minute warning to get ready, collect our things and close tabs. The tour guide was a little grumpy at a few stragglers ..who were actually ready to go, and just waiting to be told to get on the boat.
The day went by fast. It was nice, but not great.
Linda B, Jan 2018
The photo displayed is very deceiving ... our destination did not look like this in any way. In fact, it was a big disappointment that the beach we did have was extremely small, so small that it felt like we were on top of each other, and there was NO beach to walk on at all, it was so short. Looking forward to those two features were exactly why we booked this Day Trip, that now seemed excessively priced for what we got. The drinks were quite expensive at the bar, measured in only one ounce of liquor. On the plus side, the staff were great, the huts and trees, bougainvillea and shade area were appreciated. The lunch was plentiful and delicious!! But please advertise honestly!!!
DAVID_R, Jan 2018
It was a wonderful day and the speed boat ride to the Island was fun. The resort area that you have access to is very small but, lovely and enjoyable. It includes a small beach area and pool area that is very well managed and ideal for relaxation. We chose not to do the snorkeling or go to the aquarium as it was so peaceful, sitting by the pool and enjoying our cocktails. I would be curious to know what others thought of these activities.
Patricia G, Dec 2017
over price for what you get.
Did not meet our expectations, the beach did Mach the picture on the brochure, food was mediocre.
It took over an hour to organized the group in to the speed boat, we left the port at 9:15 am . We got there about 10:20 am
The place is very nice a little hotel with a small beach, for about 100 people to be there.
They offer lobster for a extra price about Us40 a piece.
By 3pm we were in the boats back to Cartagena by 5:30.pm
People was very friendly and helpful,
GOPALAKRISHNAN V, Dec 2017
Brilliant day out in the seas and beautiful islands, with snorkelling.
bosoxmug, Dec 2017
Enjoyed the trip greatly. Food was GREAT! Beach is not really a beach as portrayed but loads of fun and really enjoyed the marine show
Laura B, Dec 2017
A little expensive, considering once we got to Cartagena there were similar tours with lower prices. But the actual trip out there was beautiful and efficient. And the actual resort we hung out at was nice with a place to hang out in the water as well as a pool and the lunch included was pretty good too.
aryanaheit, Dec 2017
Terrible tour, was not as described. The picture with the white cabanas on a white sandy beach does not exist here. Transportation by boat was very poorly managed, and we ended up sitting at the port in heat for over an hour. The resort that they take you to is mediocre, but the food was excellent. The snorkeling was horrible as all of the corals in the area are dead and the equipment is unsanitary. The beach was disappointing as it's enclosed and extremely small. Seating at the beach is limited. Save your time and money and do not take this tour.
Maria S, Nov 2017
This was a fantastic tour overall and a great first look at the Rosario Islands. The staff was professional and knowledgable. Each boat had a bilingual speaker to accommodate foreign passengers. This particular trip destination was a private beachfront property called Isla del Sol on the island of Isla Grande. It was quite nice to have a private area so there are no vendors trying to sell items all the time. The pool and relaxing areas are quite nice and the food was excellent. I highly recommend taking a stroll off the property to see how Isla del Sol impacts the economy of the island. The snorkeling option was really fun and the guide was very attentive to everyone, both experienced snorkelers and the novices. There was quite a variety of beautiful fish in the area, but unfortunately the coral is in bad shape. I want to investigate Colombia's environmental protections and in particular how this company is working to protect the area. There were people standing on the coral with no repercussions.
The property is pretty small overall and this particular island is surrounded by coral so there are no large beaches to stroll on, but the pool area and ocean views make up for it. Overall a great first experience with the Rosario Islands!
Catherine O, Nov 2017
Amazing tour! Very organized as well. My son, spouse and I were picked up on time from our hotel in Bocagrande at 8am and dropped off at el muelle where we were directed to sit with those boarding the speedboat for the tour as well. Our speedboat was named Sensacion Ardiente and our tour guide was Tiberio. The speedboat ride lasted about an hour and beers and water were for sale on the speedboat as well. Upon arriving to the Corrales area, which was a private, secluded island in the Islas del Rosario I became mesmerized by its peacefulness and beauty. We were away from the vendors in a secluded, private beach/island. At 12noon we were taken to the Oceanario to see the dolphin and shark show and returned promptly at 1pm to eat lunch. Going to the Oceanario/Aquarium is not mandatory, however, my 5 year old loved it. For lunch we had the option of fish or chicken, which was served with patacones, arroz de coco, salad amongst other delicacies. Lobster was also an option, however, the lobster does have an additional cost. My spouse had the fresh lobster and stated it was well worth it! You can either lounge by the pool, which had a great bar with amazing cocktails or dive into the beautiful, clear ocean. Tiberio was very attentive and made sure to ask if there was anything additional they could prepare for my son such as soup or something to his liking. At 3pm we departed and headed back to el muelle in Cartagena, which is the port where we were dropped off and is located right by la torre del reloj in the walled city. Great experience and we all loved it. Would definitely recommend to others.
Jonnathan O, Oct 2017
The tour is good. Basically the promised everything what was offered. Bring some cash to do extra activities. Lobster is a must and really cheap. Try it.
Cynthia F, Oct 2017
We booked this tour and were informed that night that the tour was overbooked for the next day.I was offered a credit on my credit card but never received it.
Garleny D, Oct 2017
The beach at the islands is beautiful! Very quiet and remote. The only caveat is that only food is included in the package and I never got my complimentary cocktail So this is basically just transportation to the island which I'm sure can be found cheaper elsewhere. Snorkeling is 50,000 COP, scuba diving is 150,000 COP. There is a bar also so if you go with this package definitely bring CASH!
Judith G, Aug 2017
The tour started as very disorganized, with many people waiting for different tours but no good way to know which tour was ours. When we booked the tour we had asked an English guide, but the person handling the boat didn't speak English and wasn't really a guide - just pointed out certain places of interest as we traveled to the small island where we were let off. The stay on the island was ok - beds and seats with shade coverings on the beach - and the island was so small that we could walk the perimeter in a few minutes the only thing to do was relax, which in fact wasn't all that bad. Lunch fried fish and veggies was ok. Staff Spanish speaking on the island was fine - helpful and attentive. Before the trip we had asked about getting snorkeling flippers and were told that we could rent them on the island, but in fact only masks which we didn't need were available. The snorkeling itself was poor. All in all, not a wonderful experience.
gtyler, Jul 2017
The tour pick up and boat ride was great...just don't expect too much when you get to the island. The area reserved for the group was somewhat small. We did the snorkeling tour which was for 1 hour at an extra cost of 50,000 pesos per person. The variety of fish are great but the coral is dead.....so not the best snorkeling in the Caribbean. Lunch was good.
James F, Jul 2017
The initial departure was disorganized. The guide spoke little English (the folks from Spain didn't understand either). The island is small and in desperate need of a clean up (ruins abound). The facilities are tired. It was overpriced. I had better experiences on cheaper tours in Europe.
Carlos P, Jul 2017
This was an awesome adventure. Very well organized at the dock and my family 3 ended up with 3 other people. Went to Bendita Beach, a small island in the middle of nowhere. Very cool. Nothing fancy but fancy is not necessary. Had fried fish, coconut rice and patacones and a beer. it was amazing. Later went snorkeling with Juan and Antonio extra and they were very helpful. Highly recommended.
Did not go the island with the aquarium which would have been nice.
gaetana c, Jun 2017
This tour was excellent!!! Well organized and safe. Was picked up on time at hotel. Tour leaves at 9 am in a fast speed boat, life jackets are provided. Rodrigo and his crew took very good care of everyone on the boat and the Island. Thank you!! Once at the island they serve fruit snack, there is a bar to purchase drinks, a pool besides the beautiful beach and palapas to keep cool, lounge chairs and hammocks for your siesta. You have the option to scuba, snorkel and visit the Oceanario small type of aquarium. I did the snorkel and it was great lots of colorful fish to see and also went to the Oceanario. All has to be done by boat. Opted for the fresh lobster for lunch at an extra cost from the included buffet of fish or chicken, rice, salad, fried plantains, soda, water, and coffee and it was delicious. After lunch you have a couple of hours to relax and we left the Island around 3:30 pm. It was a great relaxing day and next time will opt to spend at least a night. Yes, they have rooms for rent. This excursion is done in Spanish and English.
Robert M, Mar 2017
This was a total rip off of cost...we paid 112 per person and for that price I expected a much more personalized experience than the trips being sold at the dock directly which cost 30-50 per person. We got the exact same trip. A big boat full of people who paid less than half of what we paid. I felt duped. We were taken to a lousy little beach at a small resort. The trip would have been worth 30-50 for the boat ride, lunch, and access to bathrooms. The english speaking guide spoke endlessly in Spanish and then spoke for 2 minutes in English.
Jenna A, Feb 2017
This was one of my favorite things ever. Relaxing, fresh lobster, a fantastic massage. Definitely bring some cash with you, but seriously, I wish I could have stayed here for dayyyyys!
Mark_F, Jan 2017
We were disappointed that we were not picked up at our hotel as it was not the included in the package. However, were just outside of it near the San Felipe fort. We had to therefore pay for a taxi to the port. Once we arrived there was much confusion on which gate we were to go and were sent to one area only to be called back to the gate we were at with a quote oh I forgot that is my partner which was Carlos Dias- why did she not know that when we showed her the ticket voucher? We finally got on the boat taking us to the Rosario Islands. Getting on and off these boats is tricky and can be dangerous if you are not wearing the right shoes as you enter/exit via one of the seats. Ride over went well, and we arrived at Rosario Islands when stated. The beach and swimming area are small. We wanted to just relax on the beach but there was not much room to do so. There were 2 tour boats there which meant more people. Lunch was provided and was very good. There were 2 bars and bathrooms on site. A few vendors were there but they were not very pushy. We departed Rosario at 3:00pm, and had to take a different route back to Cartagena due to the high winds on the sea. This proved to be advantageous as we went along a river that was sheltered from the winds and saw some wildlife, birds and some of the residents who live along the river. Suffice to say, this turned out to be a better part of the tour. Overall, it was nice but not what was expected. If you are looking for beach time, Bocagrande beach in Cartagena was better with more room, cleaner open beaches and easy access to the water.
Jennifer_P, Oct 2016
The beach was beautiful. You get there around 10:30 and leave around 3pm. Lots of lounge chairs both in the shade and sun, , good water for swimming, pool, activities. Rodrigo was a great guide--super friendly and answered all of our questions. Drinks at the bar and lunch were great. Wish we could have spent more of the day there!
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