A day in the Rosario Islands, Beach, breeze and crystalline sea

It’s nearly Impossible to visit Cartagena without being tempted to visit the beautiful islands just off-shore. Everybody talks about “going to the islands” and for good reason. It’s relaxing, beautiful, exotic, far from the the noise and the anxieties of the big city, and it feels somehow exclusive. An island tour will be an unforgettable day.

“The Islands” generally refer to Islas del Rosario Natural Park which are located 35 kilometers (21 miles) southwest of Cartagena which takes and 50 minutes by speedboat (can be a lot more in a sailboat). It harbors more than 50 species of corals and hundreds of different types of. The white sand of its 27 islands, the majestic landscapes, reefs of many colors, and blue-green waters, make it a splendid place.



There are a number of ways to go depending on what you’re looking for and your budget, but the wind off the north coast of Colombia is generally a strong steady breeze (thus all the kite surfing), so renting a sailboat for a day is an amazing adventure. You can bareback a boat, but unless you have a captain’s license, most boats come with a staff which allows you to participate as much or as little in the actual activity of sailing as you like. My first sailing trip in Cartagena, my wife and I went for 3 days and we didn’t love sleeping on the boat, so next time we chose a shorter trip to a cute bed and breakfast on an island in the Rosarios. In any case, we love sailing, so we enjoyed raising the sails, learning to navigate the buoys in the Cartagena bay, and getting some instruction on reading the wind.

If a sailboat isn’t so much your speed, you can relax in a speedboat or yacht where you can lay out in the sun, travel at much higher speed, participate in more activities, and still be back in the city for dinner. The boating options vary dramatically in pricing from a taxi to Gente del Mar (donde.co/s/gente) for less than $40 USD to a fancy cruiser like a 70 ft Azimut for over $4,000 and everything in between. Anyway you go, you’ll have the wind in your hair, the sun on your face, and you’ll be exploring a magnificent archipelago in style.



On day one we had an exquisite crab dish for lunch on the boat. In other trips I’ve stopped at the restaurant on Cholon where you can sit in the water up to your waste and your food will come on a floating table. A bit kitschy, but definitely a fun experience to try. The fruit can be good, but don’t bother with any fruit that is just imported from the mainland… if it is mango season, there should be fresh island mangos and coconuts, otherwise focus on the seafood.

Later we were invited to visit the oceanarium on Isla San Martin de Pajarales. There were a variety of species - dolphins, sharks and small fish with all the shapes and colors you would imagine. The show dolphin show was nice, but especially because of the intimate nature of the location. If you’re lucky, the dolphins will follow you around in your sailboat playing in your wake. That’s happened remarkably frequently to me and it’s always a delight, they can be so playful and photogenic.



On day three we spent a lot of time snorkeling which was great. Calm waters, lots of fish and healthy coral. Certainly not the best I’ve seen in the world, but a fun, relaxing, worthwhile activity.

On other trips, I have dived the wrecks in the islands. There are two colombian military ships in particular that are fun to swim through. They are not ancient, but you can swim through them, surface in some air pockets, and they make for challenging diving for beginners and intermediates. It’s pretty easy to do a trip even if you don’t have a PADI certification. All too soon, it was time to leave, and sail back to the old city. In my half a dozen trips to the rosarios, I have yet to explore half of what I want to, so I promised myself to return to this beautiful place someday soon.

For lots of different trips, boats, and adventures, check our tours.