Islas del Rosario
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Islas del Rosario

Islas del Rosario

Coral island archipelago southwest of Cartagena, protected within a Colombian Caribbean national park.

The Islas del Rosario are an archipelago of about 30 small coral islands lying roughly 45 km southwest of Cartagena, protected within the Parque Nacional Natural Corales del Rosario y San Bernardo. The waters are clear and the reefs are among the best accessible from the Colombian Caribbean coast.

Isla Grande is the largest island and can be reached as a day trip from Cartagena, with a few small guesthouses for those who want to stay overnight. The rest of the islands range from private resort islets to uninhabited specks of sand. Most visitors come to snorkel or dive the coral gardens, or simply to find a quieter beach than those near Cartagena. The aquarium and oceanarium on Isla Rosario are a good stop for families.

Boat tours depart from Cartagena's Muelle Turístico most mornings — shared lanchas are the cheapest option, private boat hire gives you more flexibility. If there are five or more in your group, hiring your own boat for the day makes good sense.

Guide

Getting There

Boat tours depart from Cartagena's Muelle Turístico (the main tourist pier near the old city) most mornings, typically between 8 and 9 am. Shared lanchas are the cheapest option — expect to pay around $30–50 USD per person for a standard day trip including snorkelling and lunch. Private boat hire gives you more flexibility over timing and which sites you visit; if there are five or more in your group, a private boat often makes better financial sense.

The crossing takes about 45 minutes to an hour depending on conditions. Seas can be choppy between November and January; check conditions before departing.

For overnight stays, small guesthouses on Isla Grande can be booked directly. Some operators in Cartagena offer package deals covering transport and accommodation.

Guide

Things to Do

The main draw at Islas del Rosario is underwater. Snorkelling and scuba diving on the coral reefs are the primary activities, with visibility often exceeding 20 metres on clear days. The park has 28 known diving sites at various depths. Boat tours typically stop at several reef sites and include lunch on one of the islands. On the surface, the beaches on the smaller islands are quiet and beautiful — the kind that feel genuinely remote despite the short boat ride from Cartagena.

The aquarium and oceanarium on Isla Rosario are worth visiting if you're travelling with children. Isla Grande is the largest island and the best base for those who want to spend the night.