Cartagena: Rosario Islands Snorkeling & 5-Island Day Trip

Five Islands, One Boat, and a Sunken Plane You'll Actually See

You board a boat at the clock tower in Cartagena and spend the day island-hopping through the Rosario Islands with five stops: Fort San Fernando, snorkeling at Isla Grande (mask included, fins extra), seafood tasting at Cholón, swimming at Agua Azul, and lunch at Playa Tranquila. You return by 3pm or 8pm if you add the night plankton activity. Hotel pickup is not included, but the meeting point is central and easy to find.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Isla Grande45m
2. Baru Island1h 30m

Full day tour of Rosary Islands

• Meet next to the clock tower
• Boat departure with group
• Panoramic view of Fort San Fernando
• Panoramic view of Rosary Islands
• Snorkel at Isla Grande
• Enjoy music at Isla Cholón
• Swim at Isla Agua Azul beach
• Enjoy sunset and plankton activity

The experience

The clock tower meeting point fills up fast, and the guide is already checking names off a list when you arrive. You're grouped with maybe twenty others, waiting for the boat to load, and then someone asks if the snorkeling gear is included, and there's a pause while the guide clarifies: just the mask. You'll need your own fins and snorkel, or rent them on the boat for a few dollars. It's the kind of detail that catches people off guard, but once you're on the water heading toward the Rosario Islands, it stops mattering. The archipelago spreads out in front of you: 27 islands scattered across the Caribbean, and you're hitting five of them in one day.

Bocachica comes first, a quick stop where the boat slows and the guide points out the Fort of San Fernando rising from the water, explaining its colonial history in a way that actually sticks because you're looking at it. Then you're moving again, and the panoramic view of the whole archipelago hits different when you're surrounded by it: the water shifts from deep blue to turquoise as you approach Isla Grande, where the snorkeling happens. The coral reefs are thick with fish, and yeah, there's a sunken plane down there too, which sounds like a gimmick until you actually see it. Mask on, you're down there for maybe thirty minutes, and it's quiet except for the sound of your own breathing and the occasional boat motor in the distance.

Cholón, the party island, is louder. Music's playing from a beach bar, and people are dancing in the shallow water even though it's midday. You stop for seafood tasting here, which means fresh ceviche or grilled fish depending on what the kitchen's got. Then Agua Azul, where the beach is genuinely one of the best in the Colombian Caribbean, white sand and clear water, and you get time to actually swim and dry off before heading to Playa Tranquila for lunch. The meal comes in three options (chicken, fish, or vegetarian), and it's substantial enough that you're not hungry again until evening. If you're done at 3pm, the boat heads back to the Pegasus Pier and you're back in Cartagena by late afternoon. If you've booked the night plankton activity, you stay on until 8pm, watching the water glow when it gets dark: bioluminescent organisms lighting up with every movement. The heated bus ride back is a nice touch if the Caribbean breeze has cooled you down.

The whole day moves at a pace that doesn't feel rushed, even though you're hitting five stops. The boat ride between islands gives you time to sit, talk, or just watch the water. Bring sunscreen (the reflection off the water is brutal), and a rash guard if you burn easily. The tour operates year-round, so timing is more about your schedule than the season.

What’s included

Boat transport between five islands in the Rosario Islands archipelago, snorkel mask, guided stops at Fort San Fernando, Isla Grande, Cholón, Agua Azul, and Playa Tranquila, seafood tasting, fruit tasting, and lunch with a choice of chicken, fish, or vegetarian. Night plankton activity and return by heated bus are available as an add-on option.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (30 to 70 years) · Youth (7 to 29 years) · Child (4 to 6 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 100

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go 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.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomeNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Adventure CTG SAS

Is this one for you?Book this if you want the main islands and snorkeling without arranging a private boat or figuring out which stops matter most: the fixed itinerary and included meals mean you show up at the clock tower and the rest is handled.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (7 to 29 years); Child (4 to 6 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Is snorkeling gear included?

Snorkel masks are included. Fins and snorkels are not. You can bring your own or rent them on the boat for a small fee.

What time does the tour start and end?

You meet at the clock tower in Cartagena for check-in, then depart by boat. Standard return is 3pm. If you book the night plankton activity, you return at 8pm.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. The meeting point is next to the clock tower in central Cartagena, which is walkable from most hotels in the old city.

What meals are included?

Seafood tasting at Cholón, fruit tasting at Agua Azul, and a full lunch at Playa Tranquila with your choice of chicken, fish, or vegetarian.

Is this tour safe for people with health conditions?

The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnant travelers, or those with poor cardiovascular health. It's suitable for all other fitness levels.

Can I bring a baby?

Yes. Infants must sit on an adult's lap during the boat ride.

What's the night plankton activity?

If you stay until 8pm, you'll see bioluminescent plankton light up in the water at night. You return to Cartagena by heated bus.

How many people are on the tour?

Groups are typically around 20 people per boat.