Rosario Islands

Islas del Rosario

A chain of coral islands about 45 kilometers southwest of Cartagena, part of a national natural park, known for clear water, mangroves, and snorkeling. It is the most popular day-trip island hopping option.

The Rosario Islands consist of about 27 small coral islands, located about 45 kilometers southwest of Cartagena at sea. Together with the San Bernardo Islands to the south, they form the Corales del Rosario and San Bernardo National Natural Park, one of the most important coral reef protected areas in the Colombian Caribbean. Most islands are very small, surrounded by mangroves, and the water ranges from emerald green to deep blue. Many islands have only a single private villa or eco-lodge. A common option is a day island-hopping tour. Boats leave from the La Bodeguita tourist pier (Muelle La Bodeguita) in Cartagena at 8 to 9 a.m., taking about 1 to 1.5 hours to arrive. Tours usually include snorkeling over coral reefs, a visit to the aquarium on San Martín de Pajarales Island (with dolphin and shark shows, an extra fee of about 40,000 to 50,000 pesos), and lunch of fried fish with coconut rice at a beach club on one of the islands, with swimming. Boats return around 4 p.m. Prices range from about 200,000 to 400,000 pesos. A port tax and national park fee are payable separately. You can also choose to stay at an eco-hotel on one of the islands and enjoy the stars and bioluminescent plankton at night. Barú Island, now connected to the mainland, is home to Playa Blanca, a long white-sand beach that can be reached by land. It gets very crowded on weekends, with many vendors. We recommend booking through a reputable travel agency, confirming the boat type (large boats are steadier, speedboats are bumpier), and whether lunch and all fees are included. Bring sunscreen, snorkel gear, and cash.

Rosario Islands

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