Photo: Joe Ross, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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Islands
Boats for hire
Cartagena boat rental: the bill of a private day
A boat of your own sounds simple: one price, your group, your route. In practice the price on the listing covers the boat and the crew, and a day on the water has a dozen more lines. Here they are, one by one.
Some links on this page are affiliate links: the guide earns a commission when you book through them. The partner sets the price; the guide adds no fee.
1The short answer
Shared seat or the whole boat?
Cartagena boat rental, in Cartagena, Colombia, means a boat with its own captain for your group only, often from 9:00 until the afternoon. Take a seat on a shared boat if you are one or two, or a small group happy with a fixed route and lunch included. Hire the whole boat if you are a group, travel with children or older people, or want your own stops and hours. Before you pay, get in writing who pays the per-person fees, the park’s insurance, fuel and lunch: they are often not in the boat’s price.
A seat on a shared boat
- A fixed route and a fixed timetable, set by the operator.
- Lunch is usually part of the ticket; on the shared catamaran, so are snorkel gear and the dock and park fees.
- Your company is whoever else booked: one Cholón day is shared, for up to 100 travelers.
- Book: the shared boats are listed below and compared on the Rosario Islands page.
The whole boat
- Your group sets the stops, the pace and the hour you come back.
- Boats on the listings take groups of up to 6 people, up to 10, or more.
- Lunch is extra on most private boats; the fees per person are often extra too.
- Read the bill line by line in the next section before you pay.
Fees per person, to the islands31,500 COPDock and park fee together at Muelle de la Bodeguita in 2026, about USD 10 (at the dock).
Which islandThe five island groups side by side: Cartagena islands.
2The bill
A private boat day, line by line
A private boat day, itemised
Twelve lines of a private boat day from Cartagena, Colombia: what the private boats sold on GetYourGuide and Viator in include, the official figure, and what to ask before you pay
| Line | On the offers | Official figure or rule | Ask before you pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1The boat, with captain and crew | The boat for your group, with its captain; some offers add a mate, a host or a guide. | Every boat carries its registration, its insurance policy and the captain’s navigation licence (DIMAR). Boats to the Rosario Islands need two engines.Your quote: not entered | Is the price for the whole boat and the whole day, until what hour? Who is aboard besides the captain? |
| 2Fuel | Named as included on some offers, not on others. | No official figure. | Is fuel in the price for the route you want, not only for a standard one? |
| 3Dock fee, per person | Depends on where the boat leaves. Some offers include “all fees and taxes”; many private boats leave from a marina in Manga or from Muelle de los Pegasos rather than La Bodeguita. A tuk-tuk and bay tour lists a marina tax of 18,000 COP as extra. | 18,000 COP per person at Muelle de la Bodeguita in 2026 (about USD 5).For your group: 108,000 COP | Which dock or marina does the boat leave from, and is its per-person fee in the price? |
| 4National park fee, per personRoutes 2 and 3 | Included on some offers, under “all fees and taxes”; two offers from one operator list it as extra, at 13,000 COP per person. | 13,500 COP per person in 2026, one price for every visitor who pays (Resolución 551 de 2025). It may be paid only at authorised points or online.For your group: 81,000 COP | Is the park ticket bought for each of us, and do we get it before we sail? |
| 5The park’s accident insurance, per personRoutes 2 and 3 | Rarely named; one offer names “insurance” without saying which. | Required since March 2026 for everyone entering the park, also for those who pay no fee (Resolución 273 de 2024). Approved insurers: Positiva with Magenta Seguros, and Zurich.For your group: one policy per person, priced by the insurer | Is the park’s accident insurance bought for each name aboard, and from which insurer? |
| 6Life jackets | Named on some offers. | A life jacket for everyone aboard, in the bay and in the archipelago (DIMAR). | One for each person aboard, in children’s sizes if you need them? |
| 7Lunch | Extra on most private boats; one VIP day includes it. | No official figure. | Where do we stop to eat, and who pays for it? |
| 8Drinks | Often extra, alcohol above all; some offers include water or soft drinks. | DIMAR warns passengers that heavy drinking affects judgment and puts their safety at risk. | Which drinks are aboard, and may we bring our own? |
| 9Cooler and ice | Named on many offers. | No official figure. | Is there a cooler with ice for our own food and drinks? |
| 10Snorkel gear | Named on many offers; one lists only four sets. | No official figure. | A mask for each of us? |
| 11A beach club or private island stop | Entry is in the price on a few offers; on others, lunch at the beach club is yours to pay. | Not an official charge. | Is entry to the stop in the price, and what is extra once we are there? |
| 12Tips for the crew | Yours to decide. | No official figure. | Is a tip added to the total? It is yours to decide. |
Set per person, not by the boat
Rosario Islands from La Bodeguita, 6 people: dock fee and park fee, 189,000 COP, about USD 57.
Colombian consumer law (Ley 1480 de 2011, art. 26) says the displayed price must include all taxes and extra costs. Ask for the total in writing, with every line above.
The per-person fees for 2 to 12 people
| People | Bay, from La Bodeguita (dock fee) | Islands, from La Bodeguita (dock and park fee) | Islands, from a marina (park fee; ask what the marina charges) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 36,000 COP | 63,000 COP | 27,000 COP |
| 4 | 72,000 COP | 126,000 COP | 54,000 COP |
| 6 | 108,000 COP | 189,000 COP | 81,000 COP |
| 8 | 144,000 COP | 252,000 COP | 108,000 COP |
| 10 | 180,000 COP | 315,000 COP | 135,000 COP |
| 12 | 216,000 COP | 378,000 COP | 162,000 COP |
- The bay and Tierra Bomba
Punta Arena on Tierra Bomba: 6 km from the Clock Tower, in a straight line.
In the bay The route stays in the bay of Cartagena.
- Barú, Playa Blanca and Cholón
Cholón: 32 km from the Clock Tower, in a straight line.
Enters the national park The water off Playa Blanca is inside the park, the sand outside.
- The Rosario Islands
the Rosario Islands: 35 km from the Clock Tower, in a straight line.
Enters the national park The islands and the sea around them are the park.
How to read it. Each line is one thing you pay for, or should find on board: what the private boats on sale include, the official figure or rule, and the question to ask. Pick a route and your group size and the per-person fees are multiplied out; add the boat’s price from your quote to see their share of the day.
Where offers differ most. The per-person fees grow with your group; the boat’s price does not. The park’s insurance is rarely named on an offer, so ask for it by name.
3Routes
Three routes, and where the park begins
1. The bay and Tierra Bomba
Two to three hours inside the bay, past the old-town waterfront, Manga and Castillogrande, sometimes across to Tierra Bomba. Two of the private offers are this short bay trip, and a tuk-tuk city tour adds two hours on a catamaran in the bay; one full-day boat lets the group choose its route along the coast of Cartagena. The route stays inside the bay, away from the open sea. For the bay at sunset on a shared boat, see sunset boats from the old town.
2. Barú, Playa Blanca and Cholón
Out through the Bocachica channel between the forts, then south along Barú to Playa Blanca and the Cholón lagoon. One private speedboat gives the crossing of the bay as about 25 minutes. Cholón is a stop on several private days and the whole point of the party boats. From the water, Playa Blanca is a beach the boats anchor off (Playa Blanca on the clock).
3. The Rosario Islands
The longest day: past Barú to Isla Grande and the small islands, with a snorkeling stop and lunch. One route as listed: past the Bocachica fort, Bird Island, snorkeling near Isla Grande, lunch at a beach club on Isla Grande. Each island and its boat minutes: the Rosario chart.
Where the park begins. The Rosario and San Bernardo islands and the sea around them form a national park, PNN Corales del Rosario y San Bernardo. At Playa Blanca on Barú, Parques Nacionales draws the park’s limit along the line of the highest tides (Resolución 0255 de 2017): the dry sand is outside the park, the water in front of it inside. Since 1 March 2026, everyone entering the park must carry its accident and assistance insurance; in June 2026 Parques Nacionales called Playa Blanca the park’s main point of entry, where its staff checked that insurance with Cartagena’s tourism office and the police (Parques Nacionales). The park’s 2026 fee resolution lists no charge for arriving by road. At the Cholón lagoon the shore falls under two authorities: CARDIQUE, the regional environmental agency, and the national park (Parques Nacionales, 2022). Jet skis and other motor water sports are prohibited in the Rosario Islands archipelago, including Playa Blanca and Cholón (DIMAR, February 2023).
For your bill: routes 2 and 3 sail in park water, and Parques Nacionales charges its fee to everyone entering the park by boat, so plan on the park fee and the park’s insurance for everyone aboard, and have the operator confirm it. Boats to the Rosario Islands need two engines; a boat with one engine may run only to Tierra Bomba (DIMAR, 2018).
What the park authority, CDC and Migración Colombia each say about the vaccine for an island day: yellow fever and the islands.
HoursOne private speedboat states its day as 8:00 to 17:00, back no later than 17:00. Several others leave at 9:00.
On a phone mapClub Náutico, Manga, Muelle de los Pegasos, Muelle de la Bodeguita, Cholón, Isla Grande.
Farther outThe San Bernardo islands are a longer day: San Bernardo.
4Private boats
The private boats on sale, one by one
The private boats sold for Cartagena on GetYourGuide and Viator, with what each listing states. Read the last line of each first: what is not included.
Full days to the islands
Private Speedboat to the Rosario Islands and Barú
Motorboat for up to 6 people · from the Cartagena Yacht Club in Manga
Included: fuel, a container with ice, snorkel gear, a captain and an assistant. Not included: beverages, meals and entrance fees for attractions. No towels on board.
Private Boat Rental To The Rosario Islands
For up to 10 people · departure suggested at 9:00
Included: snorkel gear, water, ice, insurance, fuel, a bilingual host and the captain. Not included: food and drinks, unless ordered; lunch at the beach club is paid. It names insurance; ask whether that is the park’s accident insurance.
Private Boat Tour Full day trip to Rosario Islands, Cholon, Baru
Arrecife Boat Rentals · Club Náutico, Manga, at 9:00
Included: a certified driver and assistant, a cooler with ice, a Bluetooth speaker, snorkel gear, life jackets and departure from a private marina. Not included: food, drinks and lunch, and the park fee, given as 13,000 COP per person.
Luxury Private Boat Island Hopping to the Rosario Islands, Baru
Same operator and marina, 9:00
Included: a certified driver and assistant, a cooler with ice, a Bluetooth speaker, life jackets and snorkel gear. Not included: food, drinks and lunch, and the park fee, given as 13,000 COP per person.
Private Full-Day Luxury Boat Rental Rosario Islands
Sea La Vie · Club Náutico, Manga; ends at the Sibarita del Mar pier
Included: bottled water, a restroom on board, all fees and taxes, snorkel gear, a sound system and life jackets. Not included: lunch and alcoholic drinks. Its own note: not available on Red Flag days.
Cartagena: Private boat + Private island + Cholon + Snorkeling
Cartagena For Travelers · the operator arranges the pickup
Included: all fees and taxes, a booking at the Rosario de Mar beach club, snorkel gear, a bag of ice and a bilingual guide. Not included: lunch, drinks and tips.
VIP Experience on the Rosario Islands
Private group · six to eight hours
Included: all taxes, the sea transfer both ways, a pilot and co-pilot, a guide, beach club and private island admission, a Caribbean lunch and life jackets. Not suitable, as listed, for pregnant travelers or people with back, mobility or heart problems.
Cartagena Col. Boat Rental to Rosario Islands and Cholon Baru
Jet Speed Marine · Muelle de los Pegasos, 9:00
Included: snorkel gear (four sets, as listed), bottled water, ice, a Bluetooth speaker, a captain and a mate. Not included: alcohol and lunch.
Private 70ft Azimut Yacht Day Tour and Sunset Cruise in Cartagena
Sailing Land · 70 ft Azimut yacht with crew · Club Náutico, Manga
Included: the crew, ice and basic amenities. Sold as add-ons: food, drinks, a jet ski, a chef, catering and a kayak. A jet ski cannot go everywhere: DIMAR prohibits motor water sports in the Rosario Islands archipelago, Playa Blanca and Cholón included. Ask where it may be used.
A day along the coast, route chosen by you
Boat Rental in Cartagena de Indias
Private Tours SAS · sports boat · Muelle de los Pegasos, 9:00
Included: floats, gasoline, a captain and helper, a guide, ice and bottled water. Not included: lunch; the optional restaurant stop is not arranged by the operator.
Two or three hours in the bay
Exotic Yacht, a tour through the bay of Cartagena
Tu Parche · private group, three hours
Included: two hours on the Bay of Las Ánimas, music, table service, an air-conditioned cabin and a rooftop, soft drinks and two drinks with alcohol. Not included: food.
Bay Boating Experience with Host and Onboard Service
Party Tours Ctg · two hours · Muelle de los Pegasos
Included: a host to the boat, a sports yacht around the bay, a guide, a bartender with an open bar, music and a club admission ticket. Not suitable, as listed, for people over 70.
Private City Tour by Tuk-Tuk + Catamaran in Cartagena Bay
Tuk Cars Colombia · a city tour with a bay cruise · hotel or La Bodeguita pickup
A tuk-tuk ride through Getsemaní and the old town, a fort visit, then a two-hour bay tour on a catamaran with a welcome cocktail. Not included: food and drinks, tips, the fort’s entry and the marina tax of 18,000 COP.
Where they meetPrivate boats often meet at a marina or the yacht club in Manga, or at Muelle de los Pegasos by the Clock Tower; the shared boats leave from La Bodeguita.
The group sizeA listing’s capacity is the most people the boat takes, not a comfortable number. Ask how many seats have shade.
A night out thereBoats that drop you at an island hotel: a night or two on the islands.
5Shared boats
A seat instead: shared boats and the catamaran
None of the private boats on GetYourGuide and Viator in November 2026 is a catamaran to the islands. The catamaran island day on sale is shared: the Rosario Islands Catamaran with Lunch and Snorkeling, 7.5 hours from Muelle de la Bodeguita. The ticket includes catamaran cruise, welcome drink, soft drinks, juices and water, a mid-morning snack, lunch, snorkel gear, the national park fee and the boarding fee. Alcoholic drinks and hotel pickup are extra, and extras on board are paid by card only. A private catamaran also appears in the tuk-tuk city tour above, for two hours in the bay.
The shared speedboats sail the same routes on a fixed plan. One of them is the 5-Stop Rosario Islands Day Tour with Lunch and Beach Club Passes; its party ticket stops at Barú, at Isla Grande for lunch and at Cholón. All four ways to the islands compared, with the dock routine: the four ways compared.
At La BodeguitaThe dock’s gates, tickets and morning routine: at the dock.
Beach clubsA day pass with the boat included: Cartagena beach clubs.
6Cholón
Cholón, the party stop: who goes, who skips it
Cholón is a shallow lagoon on Barú, 32 km in a straight line from the Clock Tower. The party boats sell it as a day of music and drinks in the water, and it is often called the party island, though it is a lagoon. Parques Nacionales places the lagoon’s shore under two authorities, CARDIQUE and the national park (Resolución 070 de 2022, file 036-2019).
How it is sold. On a shared boat as a party day, or as one stop of a private day. The Cholon island party boat from Cartagena starts at 8:00 and includes bottled water, the dock tax, an animator, music, lunch and two national beers. The Full Day Guided Tour to Cholon Island is shared, for up to 100 travelers, with lunch and two national beers. The Urban Party Boat to Cholón: 5 Stops with Lunch and Drinks gives about 2 hours at the lagoon and 45 minutes back to the dock. On a private boat, Cholón is a stop you add or leave out.
It suits groups of adults who want the day the party boats sell: music and drinks in the water.
Skip it if you want a snorkeling day, or travel with children: the guided day is not recommended for children under 18 and pregnant travelers, and the party boat is not for people with back or heart problems and pregnant travelers; not wheelchair accessible. The operator of the 5-stop tour calls Cholón and Barú places for partiers, crowded with vendors.
Alcohol and boats. DIMAR reminds passengers that heavy drinking affects judgment and puts their safety at risk, and asks them not to swim around boats under way or at anchor (DIMAR, June 2024). It prohibits jet skis and towed rings in the archipelago, Playa Blanca and Cholón included (DIMAR, February 2023). Canada’s advice on choosing a boat: before you pay.
The seaThe party boat’s own note warns that the sea may get choppy on the transfers, and does not recommend the trip for older people, people with injuries or pregnant women.
Help at seaFor emergencies at sea, DIMAR gives line 146 and VHF marine channel 16.
More on CholónAmong the five island groups: Cholón on the islands page.
7The operator
Before you pay: the operator, the dock and the papers
Colombia’s maritime authority, DIMAR, and two governments’ travel advice give visitors these points. Each is a check you can make at the boat.
- The departure point. DIMAR names Muelle de la Bodeguita as the authorized point for passenger boats to the Rosario and San Bernardo islands (Capitanía circular, 2021); private outings may leave from marinas authorized by DIMAR. It advises booking boats only with legally established companies that leave from authorized docks, and wearing the life jacket aboard (DIMAR, June 2024). Ask which marina your boat sails from. Once a boat has left its authorized point, it may not take people aboard anywhere else.
- The papers. Every boat must carry its current registration (matrícula) and insurance policy (póliza), and the captain’s or pilot’s navigation licence (DIMAR, 2018). You may ask to see them before you board.
- The boat itself. Look for the boat’s name and number on the hull, and do not board a boat that is overloaded. On board there must be life rings, a radio and a first-aid kit, and a life jacket for everyone. Boats to the Rosario Islands need two engines.
- The licence, in two governments’ advice. Canada (November 2026) notes accidents with unlicensed tour boats in Cartagena, San Andrés and Santa Marta, and advises choosing a reputable company that follows current safety rules and not boarding a vessel that looks overloaded or unseaworthy (Government of Canada). Australia (October 2026) advises caution with tourist boats on the northern Caribbean coast, particularly Cartagena, and travel only in licensed boats with life jackets and safety equipment (Smartraveller).
- The price. Colombian consumer law says the displayed price must include all taxes and extra costs, and the consumer pays only that price (Ley 1480 de 2011, art. 26). Ask for the total in writing. Complaints go to the consumer authority: SIC complaint form.
These checks do not make a boat safe; they are the questions to ask before you board.
At the tourist dockDIMAR says it inspects the boats leaving Muelle La Bodeguita every day (2018).
How many boatsFor the mid-2024 season DIMAR counted more than 600 registered boats available.
Safety in the cityAdvisories, taxis and the hours after dark: is Cartagena safe.
8The month
The sea on the way home, month by month
The ride home, on the open water along Barú and back through Bocachica, is where the month shows. The sea off Cartagena is typically roughest from December to March and calmest from May to November, with April and July in between. A private boat can leave earlier and turn back sooner: plan the return with the captain, not only the stops.
| Month | The sea, typically | Days with rain |
|---|---|---|
| January | rougher | fewer than 1 day |
| February | rougher | fewer than 1 day |
| March | rougher | fewer than 1 day |
| April | moderate | about 2 days |
| May | calmer | about 7 days |
| June | calmer | about 9 days |
| July | moderate | about 9 days |
| August | calmer | about 10 days |
| September | calmer | about 10 days |
| October | calmer | about 12 days |
| November | calmer | about 9 days |
| December | rougher | about 3 days |
When the port closes the sea. On days with adverse sea conditions the port captain can close navigation to small boats altogether (DIMAR). It can also bring the return forward: on a yellow-flag day in February 2023 boats had to be back at the dock by 15:30 (DIMAR, February 2023). One private listing states that it is not available on Red Flag days. Ask before you pay what happens to your money if the port captain closes the sea on your day.
Why the dry monthsThe sea and the season, explained: Rosario Islands. Heat and rain hour by hour: Cartagena weather.
High seasonThe park’s high seasons: 1 Nov to 31 Jan, 15 Jun to 15 Aug, Holy Week. The fee is the same all year. Sunset by month: Cartagena sunset.
When to goThe year in five bands: best time to visit.
9Questions
Boat rental questions
What is the party island in Cartagena?
Cholón, a shallow lagoon on Barú south of Cartagena, which the party boats sell as a day of music and drinks in the water. It is not an island. Shared party boats go there for the day, and many private boats add it as a stop on the way to or from the Rosario Islands. The party days are sold to adults; families and snorkelers do better elsewhere.
What is included when you rent a boat in Cartagena?
The boat, a captain and usually a mate. After that, listings differ: fuel, ice, snorkel gear and life jackets are named on some and not others. Lunch is extra on most private boats and drinks often are, and the per-person dock fee, park fee and park insurance are often extra too. Ask for the total in writing with each of these lines named before you pay.
Is there a private catamaran to the Rosario Islands?
Not among the private boats on GetYourGuide and Viator in November 2026. The catamaran day to the Rosario Islands on sale is shared, with lunch, snorkel gear and the dock and park fees in the ticket. A catamaran is sold privately only for a short trip in the bay, as part of a tuk-tuk tour. Groups that want a whole boat to the islands hire a motorboat or a yacht.
What fees do you pay on a boat day from Cartagena?
At Muelle de la Bodeguita, a dock fee of 18,000 COP per person in 2026. On a route into the national park, a park fee of 13,500 COP per person, and the park’s accident insurance for everyone entering, sold by approved insurers. From a private marina, ask what it charges per person.
Is a private boat in Cartagena safe?
Check the boat, not only the listing. DIMAR requires the boat’s papers and the captain’s navigation licence on board, life jackets for everyone, and two engines for boats to the Rosario Islands, and it advises booking only legally established companies that leave from authorized docks. Canada and Australia warn about unlicensed tour boats in Cartagena.
Sources
- PNN Corales del Rosario y de San Bernardo (Islas del Rosario), near Cartagena, Colombia: entry fee (all areas except the San Bernardo sector), single price for nationals and foreigners: 13,500 COP. Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia: Resolución 551 de 19 de diciembre de 2025, 2025-12-19.
- PNN Corales del Rosario y de San Bernardo (Islas del Rosario), near Cartagena, Colombia: high season (does not change the 2026 fee): 1 Nov to 31 Jan, 15 Jun to 15 Aug, Holy Week. Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia: Resolución 551 de 19 de diciembre de 2025, 2025-12-19.
- PNN Corales del Rosario y de San Bernardo (Islas del Rosario), near Cartagena, Colombia: where the entry fee can be paid: Only at authorised points or online. Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia: Resolución 551 de 19 de diciembre de 2025, 2025-12-19.
- Muelle La Bodeguita, Cartagena, Colombia: park fee bundle (13,500 park + 18,000 dock) for the Islas del Rosario: 31,500 COP. Corpoturismo Cartagena de Indias: ticket store (catalogue in page source).
- Muelle La Bodeguita, Cartagena, Colombia: dock fee 'Uso de Muelle 2026' per person: 18,000 COP. Corpoturismo Cartagena de Indias: ticket store (catalogue in page source).
- PNN Corales del Rosario y de San Bernardo (Islas del Rosario), near Cartagena, Colombia: mandatory accident and assistance insurance for everyone entering, under Resolución 273 de 2024: Mandatory since 1 March 2026. Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia: news 14 Jun 2026 (seguro obligatorio, Corales del Rosario), 2026-06-14.
- Boats to the Islas del Rosario from Cartagena, Colombia: engines required: At least two engines; one-engine boats only to Tierrabomba. DIMAR: Capitanía de Puerto de Cartagena notice 1 Mar 2018, 2018-03-01.
- Boats in Cartagena bay and the Rosario archipelago, Colombia: life jackets: Required for everyone aboard. DIMAR: Capitanía de Puerto de Cartagena notice 1 Mar 2018, 2018-03-01.
- Example of DIMAR yellow-flag day at Cartagena, Colombia (22-24 Feb 2023): required return to dock: 15:30. DIMAR: notice 24 Feb 2023, 2023-02-24.
- PNN Corales del Rosario y de San Bernardo, Resolución 0255 of 29 June 2017 (Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia): park limit in the Playa Blanca sector: the line of the highest tides, leaving the emerged beach outside the jurisdiction of Parques Nacionales Naturales. Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia: Resolución 0255 de 29 de junio de 2017 (signed PDF), 2017-06-29.
- Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia, news of 14 June 2026: Playa Blanca, Isla Barú described as: principal punto de ingreso al área protegida (main entry point to the protected area), where park staff checked the mandatory insurance with Cartagena's tourism office and the police. Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia: news 14 Jun 2026 (seguro obligatorio, Corales del Rosario), 2026-06-14.
- Resolución 551 de 19 de diciembre de 2025 (Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia): land-transport (vehicle) entry charge set for PNN Corales del Rosario y San Bernardo: none listed. Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia: Resolución 551 de 19 de diciembre de 2025 (text PDF uploaded Feb 2026), 2025-12-19.
- Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia, Resolución 070 of 25 May 2022 (file 036-2019): a mangrove clearing on the shore of the Cholón lagoon, sector Barú, lay in two environmental jurisdictions: CARDIQUE and PNN Corales del Rosario y San Bernardo. Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia: Resolución 070 del 25/05/2022 (archivo indagación preliminar 036-2019), 2022-05-25.
- PNN Corales del Rosario y de San Bernardo (Islas del Rosario), near Cartagena, Colombia: insurers approved for the mandatory accident insurance: Positiva Compañía de Seguros, with Magenta Seguros, and Aseguradora Zurich. Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia: news 14 Jun 2026 (seguro obligatorio, Corales del Rosario), 2026-06-14.
- DIMAR, Capitanía de Puerto de Cartagena, Colombia, on days with adverse sea conditions: total closure to navigation for small boats. DIMAR: Capitanía de Puerto de Cartagena notice 1 Mar 2018, 2018-03-01.
- DIMAR notice of February 2023 on motor water sports (jet ski, towed tubes and rings) near Cartagena, Colombia: prohibited in the Rosario Islands archipelago, including Playa Blanca and Cholón. DIMAR: notice 24 Feb 2023, 2023-02-24.
- GetYourGuide listing 'Cartagena: Rosario Islands Catamaran with Lunch and Snorkeling' (t190080), Cartagena, Colombia: duration: 7.5. GetYourGuide product page t190080, 2026-11-11.
- GetYourGuide listing 'Cartagena: Private Speedboat to the Rosario Islands and Barú' (t792126), Cartagena, Colombia: crossing of the bay past the forts at the start, as stated: 25. GetYourGuide product page t792126, 2026-11-11.
- GetYourGuide listing 'Private City Tour by Tuk-Tuk + Brand-New Catamaran in Cartagena Bay' (t1254325), Cartagena, Colombia: not included: marina municipal tax: 18,000 COP. GetYourGuide product page t1254325, 2026-11-11.
- Viator listing 'Private Boat Tour Full day trip to Rosario Islands, Cholon, Baru' (d4498-47307P2), Cartagena, Colombia: not included: government entrance fee for the Rosario Islands, per person: 13,000 COP. Viator product page d4498-47307P2, 2026-11-11.
- Viator listing 'Cholon island party boat from cartagena' (d4498-334413P4), Cartagena, Colombia: start time: 8:00. Viator product page d4498-334413P4, 2026-11-11.
- Viator listing 'Cartagena Col. Boat Rental to Rosario Islands and Cholon Baru' (d4498-434557P1), Cartagena, Colombia: snorkel gear on board: only 4 sets. Viator product page d4498-434557P1, 2026-11-11.
- Viator listing 'Cartagena Col. Boat Rental to Rosario Islands and Cholon Baru' (d4498-434557P1), Cartagena, Colombia: boat, per the product address: a 38 ft charter boat for 19 passengers. Viator product page d4498-434557P1, 2026-11-11.
- Viator listing 'Luxury Private Boat Island Hopping to the Rosario Islands, Baru' (d4498-47307P4), Cartagena, Colombia: not included: government entrance fee, per person: 13,000 COP. Viator product page d4498-47307P4, 2026-11-11.
- Private boat products for Cartagena, Colombia on GetYourGuide and Viator captured 11 Nov 2026 (16 products): products sold as a private boat for one group: 12. GetYourGuide and Viator listing pages, read 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
- Private boat products for Cartagena, Colombia on GetYourGuide and Viator captured 11 Nov 2026: of the 12 private boats, those naming lunch or food as not included or as an add-on: 10. GetYourGuide and Viator listing pages, read 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
- GetYourGuide listing 'Cartagena Urban Party Boat to Cholón: 5 Stops with Lunch and Drinks' (KevinTour02), Cartagena, Colombia: speedboat from Cholón back to Muelle de la Bodeguita: 45 min. GetYourGuide product page t1263278 (provider KevinTour02), itinerary block.
- GetYourGuide listing 'Cartagena Urban Party Boat to Cholón: 5 Stops with Lunch and Drinks', Cartagena, Colombia: time at the Cholón stop: 2 h. GetYourGuide product page t1263278 (provider KevinTour02), itinerary block.
- GetYourGuide listing 'Cartagena Urban Party Boat to Cholón: 5 Stops with Lunch and Drinks', Cartagena, Colombia: note on the sea: The sea may become choppy during boat transfers; not recommended for older people, those with injuries, or pregnant women. GetYourGuide product page t1263278, 'Know before you go'.
- GetYourGuide listing 'Cartagena: 5-Stop Rosario Islands Day Tour with Lunch & Beach Club Passes', Cartagena, Colombia: island stops of the Party ticket: Barú, Isla Grande for lunch and Cholón, about 1.5 hours each. GetYourGuide product page t497946, full description, option 3 'Party Ticket'.
- GetYourGuide listing 'Cartagena: 5-Stop Rosario Islands Day Tour with Lunch & Beach Club Passes', Cartagena, Colombia: the operator's note on Cholón and Barú: for partiers and crowded with vendors. GetYourGuide product page t497946 (provider Coco Cartagena Tours).
- Colombian peso exchange rate (TRM) valid 2026-11-11: 3297.07 COP per USD. Superintendencia Financiera de Colombia: TRM, open dataset on datos.gov.co, 2026-11-11.
- Government of Canada on boating accidents in Colombia: Accidents with unlicensed tour boats noted in Cartagena, San Andrés and Santa Marta. Government of Canada: Travel advice Colombia, 2026-11-02.
- Price display in Colombia (Ley 1480 de 2011 art. 26): The seller must state the retail price in Colombian pesos, including all taxes and extra costs, visibly; the consumer pays only the displayed price; if two or more prices appear, the lowest applies. Ley 1480 de 2011, Función Pública gestor normativo.
- Government of Canada advice for boat trips in Colombia: Choose a reputable boat company that follows current safety rules; do not board a vessel that looks overloaded or unseaworthy. Government of Canada: Travel advice Colombia, 2026-11-02.
- Smartraveller on tourist boats in Colombia: Be cautious with tourist boats from the northern Caribbean coast, particularly Cartagena; travel only in licensed boats and check for life jackets and safety equipment. Australian Government, Smartraveller: Colombia, 2026-10-06.
- Maritime emergencies at Cartagena, Colombia (DIMAR, Capitanía de Puerto de Cartagena): how to call for help at sea: Line 146 or VHF marine channel 16. DIMAR: 'Cartagena refuerza seguridad marítima para la temporada de mitad de año', 2024-06-21.
- DIMAR advice to visitors taking boats in Cartagena, Colombia: Book tours and sea transport only with legally established companies that leave from authorised docks; wear the life jacket aboard; do not jump in or swim around boats under way or at anchor. DIMAR: 'Cartagena refuerza seguridad marítima para la temporada de mitad de año', 2024-06-21.
- DIMAR, Cartagena, Colombia: papers every boat must carry: the boat's current documents (registration, matrícula, and insurance policy, póliza) and the captain's or pilot's navigation licence. DIMAR, Capitanía de Puerto de Cartagena: "Capitanía de Puerto de Cartagena continúa campaña de seguridad integral marítima", 1 March 2018, 2018-03-01.
- DIMAR, Cartagena, Colombia: equipment every boat must carry: life rings, a communications radio and a first-aid kit. DIMAR, Capitanía de Puerto de Cartagena: "Capitanía de Puerto de Cartagena continúa campaña de seguridad integral marítima", 1 March 2018, 2018-03-01.
- DIMAR, Cartagena, Colombia: where private outings may leave from: marinas authorized by the maritime authority (marinas habilitadas por la Dirección General Marítima). DIMAR, Capitanía de Puerto de Cartagena: "Capitanía de Puerto de Cartagena continúa campaña de seguridad integral marítima", 1 March 2018, 2018-03-01.
- DIMAR, Cartagena, Colombia: boarding after departure: once a boat leaves its authorised point, taking people aboard anywhere else is prohibited. DIMAR, Capitanía de Puerto de Cartagena: "Capitanía de Puerto de Cartagena continúa campaña de seguridad integral marítima", 1 March 2018, 2018-03-01.
- DIMAR, Cartagena, Colombia: what passengers should check on the hull, and load: the boat's name and number on the hull; boats must not be overloaded. DIMAR, Capitanía de Puerto de Cartagena: "Capitanía de Puerto de Cartagena continúa campaña de seguridad integral marítima", 1 March 2018, 2018-03-01.
- DIMAR advice to boat passengers in Cartagena, Colombia, on alcohol: excessive drinking can affect your judgment and put your safety at risk. DIMAR: "Cartagena refuerza seguridad marítima para la temporada de mitad de año", 21 June 2024, 2024-06-21.
- DIMAR, Cartagena, Colombia, mid-2024 season: registered boats (lanchas) available: more than 600. DIMAR: "Cartagena refuerza seguridad marítima para la temporada de mitad de año", 21 June 2024, 2024-06-21.
- DIMAR, Cartagena, Colombia: boats leaving Muelle La Bodeguita: inspected every day. DIMAR, Capitanía de Puerto de Cartagena: "Capitanía de Puerto de Cartagena continúa campaña de seguridad integral marítima", 1 March 2018, 2018-03-01.
- Sunrise, sunset, sea and rain by month. Sunrise and sunset for the 15th of each month, UTC-5. Rain: IDEAM: Normales Climatológicas de Colombia 1991-2020, station 14015080 Aeropuerto Rafael Núñez, mean days with 1 mm or more and mean millimetres per month. Sea: typical values from the Open-Meteo Marine model, 2016 to 2025 (CC BY 4.0).
- Distances on the chart. Straight-line distance from the Clock Tower, computed from OpenStreetMap coordinates (ODbL).
Photographs
- Three twin-engine speedboats with blue canopies moored at a tourist dock below the old city wall of Cartagena, life jackets on the seats. Photo: Joe Ross, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- The wooden boardwalk of Muelle de los Pegasos with a replica galleon and sport boats moored, the Bocagrande towers across the water at dusk. Photo: Lorenzo07ver, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- A small sandy cove on Tierra Bomba with a stone groyne, looking across the water to the towers of Bocagrande. Photo: Richardaemix, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Playa Blanca on Barú seen from a boat: turquoise shallows, a few swimmers, tents and thatched huts along the sand. Photo: David Shankbone, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Fuerte San Fernando de Bocachica seen low on the water from a passing boat, with palms behind its walls. Photo: David Shankbone, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- The waterfront of Muelle de los Pegasos with flags, palms and the pier basin, the dome of San Pedro Claver behind. Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Thatched house on a small cay in turquoise water. Photo: Maria Pia, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- The Cholón lagoon on a busy day: people standing waist-deep among thatched bars in the water. Photo: Imagen23jr, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Playa Blanca on Barú at ground level: pale sand, turquoise shallows, boats close to the swimmers and stalls along the beach. Photo: David Shankbone, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- High aerial view over a Rosario island toward the open sea and other islands. Photo: República de Colombia (Presidencia de la República), public domain, via Wikimedia Commons