Tranquila Beach & Islas del Rosario Day Tour from Cartagena

Spend a full day swimming and resting on Tranquila Beach, then return to Cartagena by boat before dark.

This eight-hour day tour from Cartagena takes you by shared boat to Tranquila Beach on Isla Grande in the Islas del Rosario, where you swim, rest in hammocks or chairs, and eat a traditional Caribbean lunch of fried fish, coconut rice and green plantain. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, and a live guide in English or Spanish is available. The tour ends before sunset so you have the evening free.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Isla Grande15m
2. Baru Island3h

Beach day and boat trip

• Pick up from hotel
• Boat trip to Isla Grande
• Relax at Playa Tranquila Beach
• Enjoy traditional Caribbean lunch
• Swim and rest on the beach
• Boat trip back to Cartagena
• Drive back to hotel

The experience

The day starts with hotel pickup in Cartagena and a ride to the dock, where you board a shared boat to Isla Grande. The crossing takes you out into the Caribbean, and once you arrive at Tranquila Beach, the schedule is yours: swim in the shallow water, lie in a hammock or beach chair (available on a first-come basis), or wade along the sand. The beach sits on an island, so there's no road noise and no vendors pushing past. Just the sound of water and the people who live there year-round.

Lunch arrives mid-day: fried or stewed fish, coconut rice, fresh salad, and patacones (fried green plantain slices). If you want cocktails made with local fruit, you can order them separately. The meal is included. Everything else you buy on the island stays separate. Before the sun sets, the boat returns you to the dock in Cartagena, and a driver takes you back to your hotel, leaving your evening open.

The tour runs eight hours total and suits anyone who wants a full beach day without arranging transport or food themselves. Infants sit on an adult's lap at no extra cost. Bring sunscreen, comfortable shoes, and extra clothes (the sun and salt water are relentless), and keep water with you all day. A guide will call the day before to confirm pickup and answer any questions.

What’s included

• Shared boat transport to Isla Grande and back to Cartagena.
• aquarium entrance.
• a traditional Caribbean lunch of fried or stewed fish, coconut rice, fresh salad and green plantain.
• hammocks or beach chairs on a first-come basis.
• hotel pickup and drop-off in Cartagena.
• all-risk insurance.
• live guide in English or Spanish.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to8h before

AgesAdult (3 to 80 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Gran Colombia Tours

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want a full beach day on a shared boat. You'll have eight hours to swim, eat, and rest without the logistics of coordinating your own transport.

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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: Infant (under 3).

What's included in the Tranquila Beach tour from Cartagena?

The tour includes shared boat transport to and from Isla Grande, aquarium entrance, a traditional Caribbean lunch of fish with coconut rice and plantain, hotel pickup and drop-off, and all-risk insurance. Drinks beyond water are extra.

Can I swim at Tranquila Beach, or is it just for relaxing?

You can swim in the ocean at Tranquila Beach. The water is shallow and clear, and swimming is part of what the day offers alongside resting in hammocks or chairs and eating lunch on the sand.

What should I bring on this day tour to the islands?

Bring comfortable shoes, sunscreen, and extra clothes because you'll be in the sun and salt water all day. A camera is recommended, and keep water with you constantly to stay hydrated in the Caribbean heat.

Does the tour visit an aquarium?

Yes, aquarium entrance is included in the tour. The itinerary mentions the Islas del Rosario Aquarium as part of the day, though the bulk of time is spent on Tranquila Beach itself.