Rosario Islands Private Boat Tour: Caribbean beaches, no crowds

A private boat means you choose which islands to linger on.

A private boat tour of Rosario Islands departs from port in the early morning and cruises less than an hour to a protected Caribbean archipelago where you spend the day swimming, reading and resting on white sand beaches under palm shade. The tour includes a guide in English or Spanish and all-risk insurance; the boat and islands are yours alone, so the pace and the stops are yours to set. Weather or sea conditions may cancel the tour the same day with full refund.

Step-by-step itinerary

Rosario Islands private boat tour

• Meet at port early morning
• Board boat to Rosario Islands
• Travel less than one hour
• Visit Rosario National Natural Park
• Relax on beach chairs under palm trees
• Swim in pristine waters
• Enjoy leisure activities or reading

The Experience

The day starts at the port where you meet your guide and board the boat. The cruise to Rosario Islands National Natural Park takes less than an hour, crossing water so blue it looks unreal. The park itself is a protected archipelago of Caribbean islands with white sand, coral reefs and an intact ecosystem that keeps the water and the beaches from feeling picked over. Your guide speaks English or Spanish and travels with you the whole way.

Once you arrive, you have the full day to spend on the islands—Playa Grande, Cholón, Playa Blanca and Barú are all stops on the route, and because the boat is private, you decide where to anchor and how long to stay. Bring a book, a snorkel or just a beach chair; the islands have palm shade and calm water for swimming. You can move between islands or stay put on one. The guide is there if you want to know about the reef or the park's history, and absent if you don't.

The tour runs eight hours total. All-risk insurance is included, which covers you on the water and on the islands. Bring sunscreen, a towel and water; lunch is not part of the package, so plan to bring food or ask your guide about options. The tour may be canceled the same day if weather or sea conditions turn rough, and you'll get a full refund if that happens.

What’s included

• All-risk insurance covering you on the water and the islands.
• a live guide in English or Spanish.
• the private boat and access to Rosario Islands National Natural Park beaches.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Gran Colombia Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want the islands without other groups on the boat—the private boat means you control the pace, which islands you visit and how long you stay on each one, so a rushed itinerary stops being a problem.

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Top questions

How long is the boat ride from the port to Rosario Islands?

The cruise to Rosario Islands National Natural Park takes less than an hour, so you spend most of the eight-hour tour on the islands themselves rather than traveling.

Which beaches do we visit on this private boat tour?

The route includes Playa Grande, Cholón, Playa Blanca and Barú, all part of the protected Rosario Islands archipelago; because the boat is private, you can choose which ones to stop at and how long to stay on each.

What can I do on the islands during the tour?

You can swim in the pristine water, snorkel around the coral reefs, read or relax under the palm trees on the white sand beaches; the day is unscheduled, so you set the rhythm.

Is lunch included in the Rosario Islands private boat tour?

Lunch is not included, so bring your own food or ask your guide about options available on the islands or nearby.

What languages does the guide speak?

The guide speaks English or Spanish, and you choose which one when you book.

What happens if the weather is bad on the day of the tour?

The tour may be canceled the same day if sea conditions or weather make it unsafe; you'll receive a full refund if that occurs.