Cartagena Party Boat: Rosario Islands, Barú & Cholón with Lunch

Summary

Rosario islands swimming barú beaches cholón party boat tour from cartagena

You’ll hop between five lively stops by speedboat from Cartagena—swimming in the Rosario Islands’ clear waters, relaxing on Barú’s white sands, hearing stories from your local guide as you pass Escobar’s mansion, then joining the floating party at Cholón with drinks and music. Expect laughter, fresh Caribbean lunch, and a real taste of Colombia’s energy.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Sail and party at five stops

• View Bocachica forts
• Enjoy beach and party at Barú
• Swim and lunch at Rosario Islands
• See Pablo Escobar mansion
• Party at Cholón island

Top questions

How many stops are included on the Cartagena party boat tour?

The tour includes five stops: panoramic views of Bocachica forts, Barú Island beach time, Rosario Islands swim and lunch stop, a view of Pablo Escobar’s mansion, and Cholón party island.

Is lunch included on the Cartagena party boat day trip?

Yes, a Caribbean lunch is included with options for fish, chicken or vegetarian dishes.

Does this Cartagena boat tour include drinks?

Yes, drinks are included throughout the day plus a welcome tequila shot at Cholón.

What kind of music is played on board?

The soundtrack features hip-hop, rap, reggaeton and electronic beats during the cruise.

Are guides or hosts provided during this Cartagena islands tour?

An English-speaking party host and certified captain lead the experience.

Is roundtrip transportation included from Cartagena?

Yes, roundtrip speedboat transportation is included starting from Cartagena’s marina area.

Can vegetarians get a suitable meal on this tour?

Yes, there is a vegetarian option available for lunch during the trip.

Is this tour suitable for travelers with health issues?

This tour is not recommended for pregnant travelers or those with spinal or cardiovascular conditions.

What’s included

Your day includes roundtrip speedboat transfers from Cartagena with a certified captain and English-speaking host guiding you through five stops. You’ll get welcome tequila shots at Cholón along with VIP beach service there (the team brings your orders right to you), use of sunbeds and loungers when ashore, plus a full Caribbean lunch—fish, chicken or vegetarian—all while soaking up music and local stories before heading back in style.

What’s the experience like?

I’ll admit it—I thought the whole “party boat” thing might be a bit much for me. But stepping onto that speedboat in Cartagena, music already pulsing and people laughing (some still fumbling with sunscreen), I felt this weird mix of nerves and excitement. Our guide—his name was Andrés—handed out life jackets and grinned like he’d seen every type of traveler come through. He pointed out the Bocachica forts as we zipped past, telling us about pirates and old battles while the wind whipped my hair all over the place. I kept squinting at the blue water, trying to imagine cannon smoke where now there’s just sun and salt spray.

The Rosario Islands were next—honestly, I didn’t expect to care about swimming after all that dancing on deck, but something about those clear shallows just pulls you in. The lunch was way better than I expected (I picked fish; someone else went vegetarian and said it was solid). There was this faint smell of coconut rice in the air, mixed with sunscreen and rum from someone’s cocktail. Andrés told us stories about Pablo Escobar’s old mansion as we passed by it—he made a joke about Netflix that got everyone laughing. It’s weird seeing something so infamous just sitting there on the coast.

We ended up at Cholón, which is basically boats tied together and everyone half-dancing in waist-deep water. The VIP beach team kept bringing drinks (tequila shots if you wanted them), and reggaeton mixed with hip-hop thumped from somewhere nearby. At one point I tried to order in Spanish—badly—and one of the crew just laughed and helped me out anyway. It felt like nobody cared how you looked or danced or spoke; everyone was here for a good time, even if you’re not usually a “party person.” I still think about how bright everything felt—the sun on water, people singing along to songs they barely knew—and how easy it was to just let go for a few hours.