Cartagena: 5 Islands & Snorkel Tour with Lunch

Five islands in one day: snorkel a sunken plane, taste fresh seafood on the water

You start at the clock tower in Cartagena and spend the day island-hopping through the Rosario Islands with a guide. Snorkel at Isla Grande where a sunken plane sits on the seafloor, taste fresh seafood on Cholón, swim and sample tropical fruit at Agua Azul, then have lunch at Playa Tranquila before returning to your hotel by 4pm. Hotel pickup and all meals are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full-day tour of Rosario Islands

• Meet at Plaza de Cervantes clock tower
• Panoramic tour of Rosario Islands
• Snorkel at Isla Grande
• Stop at Cholón for seafood tasting and music
• Sea bath and fruit tasting at Isla Agua Azul
• Lunch at Playa Tranquila

The experience

Picture this: you're anchored off Isla Grande, mask on, looking down at a plane resting on the seafloor surrounded by coral and fish. That's the moment most people remember from this Cartagena day trip. The boat picks you up at the clock tower in Plaza de Cervantes in the morning, and from there you're heading straight into the Rosario Islands: 27 islands total, though you'll stop at five. The guide walks you through what you're seeing as you cruise past the archipelago, pointing out the geography and the history, especially the Fort of San Fernando on Bocachica. It's the kind of narration that makes the landscape click into place instead of just being blue water and green trees.

The snorkeling happens at Isla Grande, and it's the centerpiece of the day. You get in the water with a guide, and the visibility is usually good enough that you can actually see what's down there: the coral formations, the schools of fish moving in sync, and yes, that plane. It's not a massive wreck, but it's there, and there's something about seeing it that makes the whole thing feel less like a tourist checkbox and more like an actual discovery. After you dry off, the boat takes you to Cholón, the party island, where there's music and a seafood tasting right there on the water. It's casual: fresh fish, shrimp, whatever came in that morning.

Then Agua Azul for a fruit tasting and a swim in one of the clearest parts of the archipelago. Your last stop is Playa Tranquila, where lunch is a proper sit-down meal with several options, not a rushed plate. The boat gets you back to your hotel around 4pm, which means you still have the late afternoon to yourself. The whole day moves at a pace that doesn't feel rushed, and the qualified personnel running it know the water and the islands well enough that you're not just being herded from point to point.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off, a guided panoramic tour of the Rosario Islands, snorkeling equipment and instruction at Isla Grande, seafood tasting at Cholón, fruit tasting and swimming at Agua Azul, and a full lunch with multiple options at Playa Tranquila before returning to your hotel around 4pm.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (10 to 70 years) · Child (5 to 9 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Cartagena travel agency

Is this one for you?Book this if you want the main Rosario Islands experience in a single day without arranging your own boat, snorkeling gear, or island-hopping logistics: the fixed schedule and included meals mean you show up at the clock tower and everything else is handled.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 9 years); Infant (under 5): free.

What time does the tour start and end?

You meet at the clock tower in Plaza de Cervantes in the morning. The boat returns to your hotel around 4pm.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes, snorkeling is included. The activity takes place at Isla Grande, where you'll see coral reefs, fish, and a sunken plane.

How many islands do you visit?

You stop at five islands: Bocachica, Isla Grande, Cholón, Agua Azul, and Playa Tranquila. The archipelago has 27 islands total, which you'll see during the panoramic tour.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes, round-trip hotel pickup is included in the tour.

What meals are provided?

Lunch is included at Playa Tranquila with several options. You also get a seafood tasting at Cholón and a fruit tasting at Agua Azul.

How long is the full day tour?

The tour runs from morning until approximately 4pm, making it a full-day excursion.

What's included in the price?

The tour includes a guide, lunch, round-trip transportation from your hotel, snorkeling equipment, and all tastings and activities at each island.