This post may contain affiliate links. I only recommend excursions, products and tours that I have personally used and purchased myself. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a very small commission at no extra cost to you. All proceeds go to running this blog and your support is truly appreciated! All opinions are my own. You’ve salsa’d, ceviche’d, shopped, explored and drank some exceptional coffee. So what next? Don’t head over to Medellín just yet. It seems that many are not familiar with the archipelago of the Rosario Islands. Just an hour away from Cartagena by boat, you’ll discover surprise and delight. Yes, a tropical atmosphere and warm, clear, stunning blue Caribbean waters await. The best part? These islands are a great way to experience the Caribbean sans crowds or exorbitant price tags. In other words, you simply must visit the Rosario Islands from Cartagena. If you’re pressed for time, there is always an option to do a day trip to the Rosario Islands from Cartagena. However, many travelers have shared that they felt a day trip wasn’t long enough to really take in all there is to do at the island or get the full experience. Does sunbathing, ocean swimming and lunch for a few hours sound like a perfect day to you? The boats tend to arrive around 9:30am daily and leave right around 3:00pm. If you want to keep your tropical quest brief, then simply do a quick jaunt to Isla Grande for the day to enjoy some fun in the sun. The Rosario Archipelago is comprised of 27 islands, although, some of the islands are uninhabited. Isla Grande is often regarded as the most beautiful island of the lot. True to its name, it’s the biggest island of the archipelago. If your pockets are of the deeper sort and you’re looking for the ultimate off the grid, away from it all, celebrity-esq holiday, you can in fact rent a private island for your vacation. There are several rental broker sites that showcase different private islands and villas you can reserve when you visit the Rosario Islands from Cartagena. We passed by a couple of these private islands when we were cruising the area by boat for the day. The water surrounding the ones I saw were not very deep. So when you’re living your best life on the island you have all to yourself, you can also just dive right in the ocean for a swim. Sweet. There are several accommodations on Isla Grande to choose from, ranging from low cost hostel to high end resort. One of the best things about Isla Grande and the Rosario Islands is the affordability. Lodging, food and excursions that would normally be priced astronomically higher in the Caribbean are very reasonable. We stayed at Hotel San Pedro de Majagua, which some consider the nicest accommodation on Isla Grande. After perusing the coastline of Isla Grande by boat for a few hours, it seemed that there were several other nice (looking, anyway) hotels on the island. In any case, I was super pleased with my selection of Hotel San Pedro de Majagua and would happily stay there again in the future. You can book Hotel San Pedro de Majagua: here! Read more in depth about my stay at Hotel San Pedro de Majagua, here. For many, the goal when enjoying an island getaway is not to do much. But if you’re like me, and have trouble laying around for too long, don’t fret. Despite being remote and uncrowded, I was pleasantly surprised by how much there is to do on Isla Grande. You can: Go snorkeling Scuba dive or get Dive certified through PADI Book a boat for a private charter Take a canoe tour through the mangroves Take a Group Boat Tour of the Island Go kayaking Do some ocean swimming Go on a walking tour of the Island Swim with bioluminescent Plankton on Laguna Encantada This activity should not be missed! At Hotel San Pedro de Majagua, there is both a PADI and Eco Tours information desk on the property. We just kind of mosey’d over to the Eco Tours information desk and inquired about the various excursions. Apparently, the canoe tour through the mangroves around Isla Grande is very popular. Understandably so. This is an excursion not to miss! Your guide paddles and steers while you and whoever is on the canoe tour with you sits back and enjoys outstanding views. You’ll explore quite a bit of the island by sea, and of course, the mangroves. FYI: Our guide was Spanish speaking. My husband and I both speak and understand transactional and light conversational Spanish, but are not fluent. However, the canoe tour is not one that really requires narration. The beautiful scenery speaks for itself. You’ll also float through Laguna Encantada, or the “Enchanted Lagoon.” Doesn’t a lagoon with a name like that intrigue you? Laguna Encantada has become well known with those familiar with Isla Grande as the place where you can see or swim with bioluminescent Plankton! I think this is a best kept secret that you can see bioluminescent Plankton here. Tip: The canoe tour we took can be booked at Hotel San Pedro de Majagua, through the tour company they partner with. The canoe tour was 100,000 COP (Colombian Pesos) or roughly $25 USD for an hour tour. We also tipped our guide. This was an activity I really wanted to do. Especially because there are only a few places in the world you can swim surrounded by this glittering blue glow. Unfortunately, this is an activity that is contingent on the moon. While I’ve not yet met anyone that plans their travels around the lunar calendar, if you really want to do this excursion, you’ll want to visit during a new moon. The darker the sky, the better you can see the bioluminescent beauty. The moon was shining a bit too bright during our visit, so we had to shelve this for another time. We inquired about going on a boat tour of the Islands, but there didn’t seem to be any available at the time. But! We were presented with an even better option. Book a private charter! Heriberto, our boat captain has been chartering boats for travelers at Isla Grande for over 20 years. We were in good hands. This was another highlight of our Rosario Islands adventure. Similar to the canoe tour, Heriberto is a Spanish speaker, but made an effort to highlight anything noteworthy to us. He really customizes your boat charter to your personal interests. Tip: The private charter was about 260,000 COP or roughly $65 USD for the entire boat, inclusive of Heriberto’s services as boat captain. We extended our charter for an additional hour to go swimming near the coral reefs. For an additional hour it was 100, 000 COP or $25 USD. We also tipped our boat captain. • I’m a firm advocate for packing light – and this is an instance where you will need to. Most all boats that transport Guests from Cartagena to the Rosario Islands allow one suitcase to be stowed and one personal bag or item to be kept at your foot or lap at your seat. • Stay a couple days. If time and budget allow, I highly recommend staying on Isla Grande for two or three nights. We stayed for two nights, and I honestly would’ve liked to stay an additional day and night. The nice part is, there is plenty to do if you’re the sort that might get bored. If you like to zen out, this is one of the most perfect destinations for doing so. • Plan accordingly. Remember, unless you book a private charter, the boats that transport travelers back to Cartagena from Isla Grande and all of the Rosario Islands generally depart around 3:00pm. Make sure you plan any other travels, flights or plans accordingly as the only way off the island is by boat. Our boat transportation was provided by our hotel, for about 140,000 COP or $35 USD per person, each way. • Download WhatsApp. If you don’t already have this app, you’ll need it. There are no phones in any of the Guest rooms and majority of the island. In lieu of trekking across the island every time you need to speak with someone, WhatsApp is the preferred mode of communication. • Bring plenty of cash with you. We were able to use a credit card for our accommodation and all our food and beverages consumed while there, but excursions are all hosted by third party companies and must be paid in COP. • Don’t Forget Insect Repellant. Not going to lie, I left here with a million bug bites. Womp. Womp. Don’t forget the bug spray! The Rosario Islands and Isla Grande are truly hidden gem getaways. They encompass a perfect symphony of nature activity, adventure, being off the grid and tranquillity. In addition, it is much higher on the affordability scale than many of its similar tropical counterparts. Are you interested in visiting the Rosario Islands? Let me know any questions you have, in the comments! Going – I’ve subscribed to Going (formerly, beloved, Scott’s Cheap Flights) for awhile now and it’s an amazing resource for finding… did you guess cheap flights? Yes, you can set your preferences from airports to flight class and get destination deals right to your inbox. It’s fab! I use the Premium paid version, but they have a FREE version too. So what are you waiting for?! Let’s get Going! Booking.com – the majority, if not almost all of my stays are booked on Booking.com. It’s a reliable site to book and manage your reservations. It’s a great way to find boutique stays and unique accommodations at the best rates! You can also easily communicate with your accommodation through the app. Expedia – If I am looking for a flight to a specific destination for specific dates, I find myself booking many flights on Expedia. It’s user friendly and straight forward. I often find the most cost effective rates, while earning points for every flight I book (in tandem with the points I receive from the credit cards I pay with). Viator – most of the activities, tours and excursions I book for my trips are booked through Viator. Whether you’re seeking a guide for the day, a group tour, a cooking class, Viator has you covered! Get Your Guide – this is another great marketplace to find tours, excursions and activities to book for your upcoming trip. From City to Tropical Escape in an Hour
Day Trip or Getaway to the Rosario Islands From Cartagena?
Which Island Should I Visit?
Where to Stay?
What is There to Do?
Canoe Ride through the Mangroves
About the Bioluminescent Plankton
Book a Private Charter
Know Before You Go
Don’t Forget These Things
Rosario Islands from Cartagena, Don’t Miss It!
Travel Tips & Resources to Help You Plan an Epic Trip!
This whole review has me itching to hop on a plane and go visit these islands! First I had no idea there were so many different things you could do! The Bioluminescent Plankton would be really high on my bucket list because you can only do it in limited places! Also love the tip to book a private charter I think thats always a great idea if budget and time allow so you can go at your own pace and see exactly what you want to see!
The private charter is A MUST when visiting Isla Grande and the Rosario Islands! It’s affordable and then you can really do the exact things you’re interested in on your own schedule. The Bioluminescent Plankton is SO beautiful and still remains on my list…
Woww! The water looks so beautiful there! I am amazed every time I found out about a new piece of the earth I didn’t even know existed. I would love to go here one day.
Hi Gia! I feel the exact same way. This is a hidden gem in the world for sure. Pristine warm waters, with budget prices.
Adding yet another island vacation to my travel bucket list thanks to this great article. That hotel you stayed in looks divine!!
Hi Dee! Right? There are so many amazing islands all over the world that we discover new ones all the time. The hotel I stayed in was awesome and didn’t break the bank, which was such a bonus.
Well written and thorough description of the Rosario Islands. I’d love to visit someday! Those blue crystal waters and fun active adventures are calling me!
Thank you so much Jeanette. It’s such a hidden gem… the waters are stunning and there is lots of adventure to go around.The best part is how uncrowded it is and the reasonable cost of this destination.
We sometimes get bioluminescent plankton blooms in my hometown, and it is magical every time. Hope you get to enjoy them soon!
How cool! Whereabouts is your hometown?
This itinerary opened my mind up to a trip I hadn’t even considered before! Also your pictures are simply gorgeous and made me feel like I was there.
This makes me SO happy to hear! Thank you so much Ashley. The Rosario Islands are a true hidden gem!
This seems like a dream destination! I’d love to swim in those warm crystal blue waters right now (I live in Sweden and it’s cold and snowy outside 😛 )
Thank you for all the great tips!
What a great post! Thanks for your recommendations and pictures. I am now more than ready for my vacations in Cartagena. Keep inspiring us Amanda!!
I took a day trip island hoping while I was in Cartagena. Loved it so much. Had such a fun time.
How fun! I’d love to do some island hopping next time. Did you have a favorite island that stood out to you?
That water is soooo blue! I’d love to go kayaking there!
Ahhh, the water is INCREDIBLE! Clear and blue.
Wow, I had no idea these islands even existed! I’m always looking for bioluminescent activities and never knew it was contingent on the moon so love that pro tip!
This looks amazing! For some reason it reminds me a lot of a secluded place in the south of Puerto Rico. This definitely seems like the perfect getaway to recharge.
I’ve never heard of the Rosario Islands. The water is so blue and so clear. After reading your post, I feel like the Rosario Islands are calling my name!