Cartagena Tours
Full-Day Rosario Islands Including Barú, Cholon and Playa Blanca
4.5

Full-Day Rosario Islands Including Barú, Cholon and Playa Blanca

By BackPackers
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About
Escape the busy streets of Cartagena with a full day on the Rosario Islands. Travel off the coast of Colombia and admire the picturesque Corales del Rosario National Park. There, sunbathe on unspoiled beaches, swim and snorkel in the azure Caribbean, and relax. There are no cost surprises as the tour includes lunch, park fees, and use of snorkel equipment.
from
$95.00
per adult
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 1-70, max of 200 per group
Duration: 8h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English, Spanish
More

Highlights
  • A full-day excursion by bus and speedboat to the Rosario Islands
  • Experience Isla Grande, Cholon, and Playa Blanca in one trip
  • Swim, snorkel, eat a beachside lunch and relax on the sand
  • Upgrade to the 5-island trip to visit Isla Tierra Bomba & Mambo Beach

  • Local guide
  • Use of Snorkelling equipment
  • You have a 30.000 COP to use in the menu we have extra charge for special dishes
  • Fruit salad to star in the trip and refreshing lemonade. (VIP only)
  • Bottled water
  • Strong entrance of san fernando
  • Entry/Admission - Fuerte de San Fernando de Bocachica
  • Entry/Admission - Isla Grande
What's not included
  • Port tax(COP $20.000)

Start your day early arriving at the meeting point ready for your tour. Get on the speed or standard boat (depending on the option selected) which will quickly transport you to Isla Grande, a coastal town about an hour from Cartagena. Here you will be able to enjoy 1-hour approx. snorkeling. Get back on the boat you to the Rosario Islands for more coral reef swimming, snorkeling and underwater sightseeing. After recharging with local fruits and water, continue to the beautiful island of Cholón. Party in the water alongside other boats, and then head to a resort where beachside drinks and massages are available (own expense). The boat tour continues to Playa Blanca, where lunch is served beside the picturesque beach. Lunch is followed by an afternoon of free time to relax in a hammock, sunbathe on the pristine sand or indulge in tropical cocktails (own expense). The boat will be ready to return to the original meeting point in Cartagena at the end of the tour.

Start:
  • Todomar CHL Marina Bocagrande, 2nda, Cartagena de Indias, Provincia de Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia
    We will be at the private dock all sea, a team member will be there waiting for you, please be there at 8:00 am we are leaving at 8:30 am.
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Not wheelchair accessible
    • Service animals allowed
    • Infants must sit on laps
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 34334P3

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
    • Children must be accompanied by an adult
    • Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
    • A short distance of walking is involved
    • Each traveler is allowed a maximum of 1 suitcase and 1 carry-on bag. Oversized or excessive luggage (e.g. surfboards, golf clubs or bikes) may have certain restrictions, please inquire with the operator prior to travel to confirm if your excess luggage is acceptable
    • Not recommended for travelers with back problems
    • Most travelers can participate
    • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
    • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 200 travelers

    • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

    If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 34334P3

    Reserve your spot

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    Itinerary
    • 2nda, Cartagena de Indias, Provincia de Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia
      We will be at the private dock all sea, a team member will be there waiting for you, please be there at 8:00 am we are leaving at 8:30 am.
    • 1
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    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • BackPackers
      4,210
      Cartagena, Colombia
      Joined in February 2015
    • 865garrettt
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great Your
      This was an amazing tour. My girlfriend and I enjoyed ourselves from start toto finish. Franklin was an outstanding tour guide.
      Written September 7, 2024
    • tiawill
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      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great all Day Excursion!
      Great all day excursion! Love how it included snorkeling, one of my favorite parts. Great tour guide Franklin as well as friendly staff
      Written September 7, 2024
    • Ben B
      0 contributions
      3.0 of 5 bubbles
      Good one time experience.
      It was an overall good experience. A few of the stops were too long. If you enjoy a party, you’ll love this. Beware of the water at the party island! Caesar our guide was awesome.
      Written September 7, 2024
    • raisiam
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      You should totally do it!
      Jose was great tour guide today! We had a blast and we saw all of the things! The history lesson was great and the food and vibes were awesome! 10/10 recommend!
      Written September 7, 2024
    • Global58982082347
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      5 island tour
      I pleasantly enjoyed the trip !! I would do it again. Grey atmosphere and nice weather. All the staff was really nice and available
      Written September 7, 2024
    • Road24720833069
      0 contributions
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      A fun easy activity in Cartagena
      Daniel and Ellie were excellent guides. This tour was safe and efficient. Daniel guided us through the activity and ensured that we were timely. He also provided a little bit of history about the village.
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    • byrac2024
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      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Mud Love
      Daniel, the guide and the driver Eli were great. Daniel collected money at the end to distribute the money to the villagers that helped. That made the process easier. All tours should consider keeping a cooler with water on the bus!
      Written September 7, 2024
    • 597savvyb
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      Fun experience!
      Very fun day, got to see a lot in our time on the boat. A fort, beach clubs, and a party island, lots of activities! Our guide Cesar was awesome.
      Written September 7, 2024
    • F9610XLpaolaz
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      It was Fun time! Daniel was a great tour guide! He was personable and explained the whole process. Would definitely recommend for the experience.
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      Best boat tour in Cartagena.
      Cesar was awesome, he made the whole trip an outstanding experience, by far highly recommended. If you’re on the fence don’t dwell on it too much. Backpackers and Cesar will give you an experience you will remember. 5 stars
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    • fatimag443
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      Thanks Cesar!
      It was super fun! Cesar is very helpful and friendly, the tour was amazing and he helped us with the best food and drinks options!
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      Snorkeling was awesome! Loved the whole day adventure. Cesar and the boat crew were very attentive and knowledgeable. Thank you!
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    • marisabB734NI
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    • bridgetbP4341ON
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      Fun day out!
      Excursion locations were great! Also support full and really beautiful! Daniel was great. Fun and helpful. The playlist was great too and he allowed us to recommend some songs. Good vibes.
      Written September 5, 2024
    See all 4,210 reviews
    These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

    Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

    Popular mentions

    4.5
    4.5 of 5 bubbles1,137 reviews
    Excellent
    801
    Very good
    140
    Average
    79
    Poor
    41
    Terrible
    76

    Nat Z
    17 contributions
    1.0 of 5 bubbles
    Don't bother booking tours through here. You pay for something and then don't get what you want. We paid for the VIP after reading reviews that their tours are overcrowded. After confirming our pick up time, they call an hour before they close to advise the tour VIP tour isnt happening allegedly because the boat is broken. Actually, we were the only two who booked it (we booked a simple tour earlier in the day and were the only ones). So even if we wanted to try an alternate route we can't because its such short notice (we also leave the day after the tour so really not much we can do). So we were stuck going with them and we are awaiting the refund of the difference. Also the boat was a horrible falling apart speedboat. They had to fix the motor a few times. It is also extremely difficult getting on and off. First time on a step ladder is used, second time on a tiny ladder that goes about an inch into the the water (difficult for everyone), and then last time on is a gigantic step (probably easier to just sit and spin). Then we go to aqua azula to pick up more people on an overcrowded boat because their boat died. And the coast guard stopped us because the boat was overfilled. In other words run away! The white chairs is the "private area." However, there are people all around us and its extremely ober crowded. Playa Blanca shouldn't even be offered. Take another tour. The staff on the boat was nice and helpful, but the management is horrible.
    Written January 12, 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Gia
    9 contributions
    1.0 of 5 bubbles
    Dec 2019
    This was the worst organized tour I have ever been on. The perk of being picked up from the hotel sounds good until you realize it means waking up at 5am for a 30 hour pickup window which turns into an hour long. The tour guide was average at the best. There was no communication on what was going on. When we got to the island for snorkeling, the tour guide asked everyone who won't be snorkeling to raise their hands. Then he went on shore and asked them all to leave the boat while the rest of us went snorkeling with no warnings or guidance on when the boat will be back for their pickup. They didn't even give them a choice to stay on the boat and watch other/their SO snorkel if they wanted to still be part of the experience.

    Returning home became a nightmare. The tour is advertised to end at 3pm; which made me think we'll be done and back by 3. However, that was NOT the case. We left the site at 3:15/30 pm. After which there was travel time back to the bus changing location. They kept us all in the same bus and had everyone watch others be dropped off. Then they told us another bus will be coming to drop the rest of us off. Until that bus got there, they were just driving us around downtown to kill time until the other bus finally came. It was almost 5:45 pm by this time. Everyone was extremely annoyed at this and still had no idea when they'd be home. We tried asking what number our drop-off is on their list to which they absolutely refused to give us a straight answer. Debating between taking an Uber to the hotel or the bus, we thought, it can't be that bad, and reluctantly got on the bus as it took off. Another 30 mins later we were still on the bus, three stops later, it was 6:30 pm and still no sight of being dropped off anytime soon. We asked the guide again how long until our turn to which he again didn't give an answer. Extremely frustrated, we ended up taking an uber home from another customer's hotel drop-off station and finally got home at 7 PM! We could've been home an hour ago had we just taken the uber from downtown. Uber is super cheap too btw, it would've only cost about $3 for a 20 min drive!

    Pay an extra $, and book a tour that can actually take care of you and respect your time. This company wasted our whole day and was below average on island hopping experience.
    Written January 6, 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    AJ I
    New York City, New York, USA70 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Oct 2022
    I liked that Paula contacted us early to give us all of the information that we needed and stayed in contact while we were being picked up to keep us informed on timing. Sergio and the boat crew (Marlon + one more) were great guides and really helped with embarking / disembarking the boat as well as translating orders and letting us know prices.

    My one note is that it is not the easiest of trips, in that you disembark / go snorkeling from the boat rather than a dock, but the team made it as smooth as possible. If you have any issues, let them know up front and I'm sure that they'll work with you (for example, you can ask for them to tone down the wave riding if you are seasick). Really fun trip -- bring your sunscreen!
    Written October 18, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Ronald Weddington
    7 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Backpackers are the best. I recommend booking with them for your mud volcano, sunset cruise and most important, Rosario Islands tour. Santiago is one of the best tour guides I’ve ever had, and I travel a lot. They picked us up from the hotel on time, took us to the liquor store to grab snacks, took us to the ATM to grab money for souvenirs and we were off to the pier. The ride to the islands on the speedboat is beautiful. They show you all the islands in between before you dock to the first island which is beautiful. They served us a delicious appetizer and took pics for us. The second stop is a party in the water with a lot of boats and tourist. The final stop is playa Blanca where they serve a delicious lunch and you can get massages on the beach which were very cheap for the both of us. Highly recommend and Santiago is the truth!! Follow me on Instagram @mightybandz and our YouTube travel channel Ron & Courtney’s travel adventures.
    Written March 13, 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you for being part of our Backpackers family, we love that you have been able to enjoy our experience. We are waiting for you again in Cartagena, to have the pleasure of serving you.
    Written June 29, 2021
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Abby
    Pittsburgh, PA5 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Mar 2023 • Friends
    This tour is really fun, but be prepared for a couple of inconveniences along the way. They expect you to pay extra for the tour of the fort at Barrio Chico, and throughout the entire trip, you will be bombarded by people trying to sell different things. However, we know this was not the tour's fault, just an unfortunate part of visiting Cartagena. We also recommend ordering something different off the menu for lunch before the trip starts. Our chicken sandwiches were raw, and when we tried to order something different, we had to wait an hour for our food. Finally, the boat trip is VERY choppy! So if you have problems with motion sickness, just be prepared!
    Written March 24, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thanks for your comment we are happy to know that you enjoy the activity, it is very important for us to receive comments to be better every day.
    Written March 26, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    alfredodv74
    Toronto, Canada15 contributions
    1.0 of 5 bubbles
    Dec 2023 • Couples
    I was really excited to see the Rosario and Barú Islands, thinking it would be a fun day with beautiful beaches and clear blue water. But, it turned out to be a letdown, especially since I paid extra for the VIP package.

    The day started off rough. We met at the Muelle de los Pegasos monument and had to wait in the hot sun for more than an hour. The guides were slow to check our names and order our lunch, which was just the cheapest thing at a not-so-great restaurant. They did give us a fruit salad, which was okay.

    The first stop at the Fuerte de San Fernando de Bocachica fort was alright. We got a quick tour and just had to tip the guides. But after that, things went downhill. The next stop at Islas Rosario had a beach full of rocks and we had to wait until 3pm for lunch, so we ended up buying snacks there.

    The snorkeling part was a letdown. They were supposed to give us fins and masks, but there were no fins and not enough masks for everyone. Plus, the masks were in bad shape. Next, we went to Isla Cholon, and it was a mess. The place was dirty, and the food and drinks were too expensive. You had to either get into the dirty water or stay on the dirty land.

    The last stop at Barú wasn't great either. We ate at a restaurant full of flies, and the only free lunch option was the cheapest one on the menu. This meant we had to pay more for anything else we wanted to eat or drink.

    Overall, this tour seemed more focused on making money from tourists than showing us a good time. They took us to places where they could get more money out of us. I wouldn't recommend this tour to anyone who wants to really enjoy the islands.
    Written January 4, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    We are sorry to hear that you did not like our tour, because everyone has their own perspective and tastes and it is respectable, we have had many very good comments of this day, if you want you can contact our email admin@backpackersctg.com for any concerns, thanks for your recommendations we are to improve.
    Written January 10, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Susanna
    Stockholm, Sweden11 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2020 • Solo
    Wow what a trip. Me and my mom wanted to see the islands and to get out on the ocean. We got to see three beautiful islands and to snorkel outside one of them. Our tour guide David Santiago (or Santiago David sorry for my bad memory) really know what service is. He really made sure that each and everyone was was ok and he gave us information and history along the way, about the islands and other parts that we were passing by. The lunch that we had on the last island was so delicious. The captain and the co captain toke us around in a safe way. This time of year apparently the ocean is harder but even if it was a little scary at times I never felt unsafe. I would recommend this to everyone I know and if I come back to Cartagena I will definitely go in this trip again.
    Written January 12, 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thanks for your comments Susannaebba, was a really nice to have you with us. David Santiago an excellent guide. We hope to see you again. Cheers!
    Written January 14, 2020
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Kendra D
    Stamford, CT41 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    May 2023
    The tour was average. The only refreshment offered on board was one bottle of water and a small fruit salad at the beginning of the tour. They took our orders for lunch and drink order. The drink order wasn't offered on board, it was only after our second stop was the drink offered and it wasn't even cold. Lunch wasn't offered until the very end of the tour and the food was average for 30,000 COP, so other guests like myself opted to purchase snacks/food and pay extra charge for other dishes. I would have like to see the tour guides assist with the constant barrage of locals trying to sell you stuff as you relax on the beach or during the tours. They were literally pushing things into our hands and when we refused got attitudes. I would also like to see more time spent at the beaches, we moved from area to area pretty quickly, every 20 minutes or so. Also at the very last stop there wasn't a dock to get off the boat, so it made getting off and on the boat a bit tricky, accompanied by a long walk to the end of the beach where the restaurant was located. I would say book if your looking for basis excursion without the frills.
    Written May 20, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    thank you very much for your comment, we regret the situation, we will take the necessary corrective measures.
    Written May 22, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Peter R
    1 contribution
    2.0 of 5 bubbles
    May 2023 • Couples
    Well, we picked the VIP package but it was the total opposite. They told us make sure we’re 5-10 early at the meet up point to check in because if not it would be a no show which was a complete lie, it was so chaotic and people was arriving 15 mins or so late and still was able to check in. You would think that paying the extra for VIP there would be more accommodations but we was stuffed like sardines into a so called speed boat which was not comfortable at all. The places they took us to was ok but dirty with trash in the water and they treat you like little kids and always wanted you to stay close and not be free! We are adults not little kids so with that being said the lunch was also not good and you would think Lunch will be at a decent time not 3 something. We waited a hour for the food to come out meanwhile the other boats that arrived at the same time got there food in less than 10 mins and worse of all the people that was serving them was the people from our boat and the place we ate at overcharge from what the menu said it’s like they work together to scam . The ride home was boring with no music. Please save your money and look for other tours if you have the time.. it’s a rip off and we did not enjoy our trip and I will not recommend this serve to anyone I know
    Written May 30, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you very much for your comment, it pleases us to know that our work team was efficient with you our clients.
    Written June 1, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Corrie P
    4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    We had a fun time. The boat ride was actually rather nice and the islands were enjoyable. The snorkeling was great and provided a nice change of pace. The party island was a bit crowded and had too many people trying to sell but that was expected.

    We paid for the VIP experience for the slightly larger and faster sports boat, as well a drink and meal. The food was good and the drink was as well.
    Written September 9, 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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    Full-Day Rosario Islands Including Barú, Cholon and Playa Blanca provided by BackPackers

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