Day in the Rosario Islands with Lunch from Cartagena

Eight hours in the water and on the sand, transport and meals already arranged

A day tour from Cartagena to the Rosario Islands with round-trip boat transport from the bodeguita dock, welcome cocktail, lunch with five menu options, and access to natural and artificial pools, hammock areas, volleyball, ping pong and sunbeds. A Spanish-speaking guide leads the group. The tour runs eight hours and includes free transport to Cocoliso Island and the oceanarium if you choose to visit.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day tour in the Rosario Islands

• Return transportation from Cartagena
• Welcome cocktail
• Enjoy natural and artificial pools
• Relax in hammocks and sunbeds
• Play volleyball and ping pong
• Lunch with fish, chicken, or seafood rice

The Experience

The boat leaves Cartagena's bodeguita dock and carries you out to the Rosario Islands, where the day splits between water and sand. You can swim in the natural pool or the artificial one, depending on what you want — the natural pool sits in the sea itself, while the artificial one is calmer. Hammocks string between palms, and if you want to move around there's volleyball, ping pong tables, beds and sunbeds scattered across the island.

Lunch arrives with five choices: a typical fish dish, grilled chicken, seafood rice, a vegetarian menu or a vegan menu. A welcome cocktail comes when you arrive. The eight-hour window gives you time to eat, swim, rest in a hammock and try the games without feeling rushed through any of it. If the oceanarium interests you, free transport runs between the main island and Cocoliso Island, so you can add that stop without extra cost.

Round-trip transport from Cartagena is included, which means no negotiating a boat ride or figuring out the dock — you board at bodeguita and return there at the end of the day. A guide in Spanish leads the group through the itinerary and the island layout.

What’s included

• Round-trip boat transport from Cartagena's bodeguita dock.
• welcome cocktail on arrival.
• lunch with five menu options (fish, chicken, seafood rice, vegetarian or vegan).
• access to natural and artificial pools, hammock areas, volleyball court, ping pong tables, beds and sunbeds.
• free transport to Cocoliso Island and the oceanarium show if you choose to visit.
• Spanish-speaking guide.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by COCOLISO ISLAND RESORT

Is this one for you?Eight hours is long enough to swim, eat and rest without the day feeling thin, but short enough that you can book other activities before or after — the morning is yours to explore Cartagena, or the evening if you want dinner in the old town.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

14 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What's the water like in the Rosario Islands pools?

The natural pool sits in the sea itself with shallow, clear water where you can stand and float; the artificial pool is a separate basin on the island, calmer and contained, so you choose based on what you prefer that day.

Can I visit the oceanarium on this tour?

Yes, free transport runs between the main Rosario Islands and Cocoliso Island where the oceanarium is located, so you can add that stop without paying extra if you want to see the show.

What food options are available for lunch?

Five menu choices come with lunch: a typical fish dish, grilled chicken, seafood rice, a vegetarian menu and a vegan menu — you pick one when you book or on arrival.

Does the tour include pickup from my hotel in Cartagena?

Transport is included from the bodeguita dock in Cartagena, and you return there at the end of the day; the operator can confirm hotel pickup availability when you book.

How much time do I actually spend on the island?

The full tour runs eight hours from Cartagena, which includes boat travel both ways and the time on the island for swimming, lunch, hammocks and games.