The Cartagena Private Islands are the kind of tropical paradise most visitors envision when they book their tickets to Colombia. Palm trees, sparkling blue water, white sand beaches and refreshing fruit juices. That’s what you can expect on one of the many Rosario Island day trips from Cartagena, but you can also enjoy some of the same gorgeous scenery by renting a private island in the Caribbean just an hour or two away.
Unlike the resorts and ecolodges found on some of the other islands in the archipelago, most of the Cartagena Private Islands are small, home-grown beachside oases with only a few simple rooms and hammocks scattered around the property. While they may be a little more expensive than some hostels or hotels in Cartagena proper, they save you a ton over Caribbean resorts and even standard hotels in other beachfront Caribbean destinations.
A typical day trip from Cartagena will start with a pick-up from your hotel at 8am and a short ride to the waterfront to board your speedboat. From there, you’ll take off across the waters and pass Tierra Bomba to head out to a series of islands for swimming and snorkeling. Your guide will be on hand to share his expert knowledge of the area and its marine life as you explore the islands.
Bocagrande is a fine choice if you want to swim and snorkel in the near vicinity of Cartagena, but it doesn’t have the same crystal clear water quality as you’ll find out on the Cartagena Private Islands. The beaches are also a lot noisier and busier than you’ll experience on the more remote options.
On a typical Cartagena Private Islands tour, your guide will pick you up from your hotel at 8am and transport you by boat to the dock where you’ll board a larger boat to head out to the islands. The journey will take an hour or so and your guide will give you plenty of time to relax, swim in the warm waters and snorkel along the way. Once you reach the islands, your guide will point out the best spots for undersea exploration and you’ll be free to spend the rest of the day soaking up the sun and relaxing on the soft sands.
It’s important to bring some cash with you to the Cartagena Private Islands, especially if you’re planning on buying lunch and souvenirs. Most of the places out on the islands can’t take cards, and you’ll need to pay for everything with cash. However, if you plan ahead and book your trip with a reliable operator such as Aymeric, they’ll include a full day on the Rosario Islands as part of your package. If you’re interested in a more bespoke itinerary, just contact Aymeric through their website and they’ll be happy to help you with your plans. Cartagena Private Islands