Rosario Islands Day Trip: Snorkel & Sunbathe at Isla del Sol
Traveler rating
3.6/5
Based on 98 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Rosario Islands Day Trip: Snorkel & Sunbathe at Isla del Sol worth booking?
Rosario Islands Day Trip: Snorkel & Sunbathe at Isla del Sol is a 8-hour experience in Cartagena, Colombia, from $233 per person. It scores 45 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 3.6/5 rating across 98 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 45 / 100
- Rating
- 3.6/5 (98)
- Duration
- 8 hours
- From
- $233 per person
The Outty verdict
It ranks #7 of the 7 similar experiences we compared in Cartagena, with an Outty Ranking of 45. At $233 it sits above the typical similar option ($42), so book it for what is included rather than price. Best for families and travelers who want a full-day outing.
Prices and availability checked
Escape to the breathtaking beauty of the Rosario Islands on an unforgettable day trip from Cartagena. Experience the idyllic splendor of iridescent waters and pristine sands as you cruise to the enchanting Isla del Sol. Dive into the crystal-clear Caribbean Sea, relax under the shade of swaying palm trees, and savor a delicious traditional lunch. This heavenly excursion combines relaxation, adventure, and culinary delights, all with convenient hotel pickup.
What you get
About this experience
Escape to the breathtaking beauty of the Rosario Islands on an unforgettable day trip from Cartagena. Experience the idyllic splendor of iridescent waters and pristine sands as you cruise to the enchanting Isla del Sol. Dive into the crystal-clear Caribbean Sea, relax under the shade of swaying palm trees, and savor a delicious traditional lunch. This heavenly excursion combines relaxation, adventure, and culinary delights, all with convenient hotel pickup.
What's included
Included
- Private transport from hotel to port (only covers hotels located at Boca Grande, Laguito, Casco Antiguo and Getsemani)
- Typical Colombian lunch featuring fresh, local ingredients.
- Speedboat transportation to the islands.
Not included
- Transport from the port to the Hotel (drop-off)
- Extra activities
- Towels
- Admission fees
What you'll see and do
Islas de Rosario
After a seamless hotel pickup in Cartagena, venture to the marina and board your stylish speedboat. Set sail over the shimmering waters toward the Rosario Islands, a stunning archipelago celebrated by both locals and tourists, and declared a protected national park in 1977. The protected waters are home to vibrant tropical fish and stunning coral reefs. Upon arrival at the exclusive Isla del Sol, immerse yourself in the beauty of the Caribbean. Jump into the warm, crystal-clear waters, swim, or simply bask in the sun on the soft sands. Take advantage of the available kayaks, hammocks, and snorkeling options (optional at your own expense). Indulge in a freshly prepared lunch featuring fish caught the same day, before unwinding on the beach or taking a dip in the inviting waters. As the day comes to an end, watch the sun set over the ocean, leaving you with magical memories of your adventure.
420 minutes here
Cartagena
On the island, you will be served lunch prepared with fresh fish and typical ingredients of the island. After lunch, you will have some time to relax at the beach before returning to Cartagena. Join us for a day of sun, sea, and relaxation at Isla del Sol, where your perfect Caribbean getaway awaits!
Pass by without stopping
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers. Pickup begins about 15 minutes before departure.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en, es
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Impulse Travel
Know before you go
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- A port fee of $18,500 COP must be paid in cash and in Colombian pesos before boarding the boat.
- We recommend to bring your own towels
- Changes on the tour may occur due to external factors. These changes will be notified to you with anticipation.
- Please Note: English support is limited/basic. This product doesn't offer a guided tour, it offers only basic support by your driver/guide
- Please note: the boat departure time from the port is set to a range between 09:00 AM and 09:30 AM depending on boat traffic.
- Bear in mind that the beach line is small and that there are limited amount of sun beds.
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 98 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
Food and drink
5 mentionsThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
The guide
3 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Value for money
2 mentionsTravelers feel they got more than they paid for.
Pace and timing
2 mentionsSeveral reviewers comment on how the schedule is paced.
Traveler reviews
98 verified traveler reviews for Rosario Islands Day Trip: Snorkel & Sunbathe at Isla del Sol. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Disappointing
This could have been a great day trip, it had great potential, however poor management spoiled it The sea at the beach was full of rubbish and where we docked the sea was thick with plastic bottles and floating trash The snorkelling trip was chaotic, we had poor equipment, no instructions and there was very little live coral. The guide was surly and carried out his work in a perfunctory way There was no dessert with lunch ( lunch wasn’t great) It’s such a lovely place spoiled by lack of attention to details Sad considering it was quite expensive
Response from the operator: Very sorry to read this. You are right, the coral condition is a world problem and the rubbish is also a problem communities face every day, hopefully management can be more organized - but the instructor and the food quality is something we will look into, because it shouldnt be this way. I hope you enjoyed the rest of your holidays.
via Tripadvisor
Adventure CTG Day trip to Islabela- Rosario islands
Used adventure ctg- Victor- he picked us up at our hotel caribe n took us to door of pier n make sure we got in passed the line. Organized. He did every thing he said he would n things at the island we paid for were what he said. He even called early to tell us to bring towels cuz they were charging a rental fee for towels at isla Bela. Price was pretty cheap for everything we got. While at isla Bela they were nice n great service. The tour we paid for included drive to port, welcome drink nonalcoholic, lunch. Anything else was extra money but things are soO inexpensive that it didn’t matter. The boat trip was not over filled it was safe. Food excellent, yoga class was free, the snorkeling worth it for $10 US dollars n alcoholic drinks very cheap. This tour company Adventure CTG was good. Recommend
via Tripadvisor
Worse than awful!
To say this trip was awful is being nice! This trip was worse than awful. I have to agree with another review below which said that the boat ride was hilariously dangerous. It was a speed boat and the waters were so rough that you got completely soaked on the way there. I had so much water in my face at one point that I had to question whether I was in the boat or the water. Before we even arrived on the island, we were told that we would need to depart 15 minutes early due to weather (it was sunny all day long so they obviously knew the waters were too rough). On the way back, we took another route because it was "too dangerous" to go back the way we came. We pretty much came to a hault and our guide explained what was happening in Spanish and kept the rest of us that spoke English in the dark. We went through a canal that was barely deep enough for the boat. There were a couple of other boats in the same situation and we sat and watched people get in the water push and pull the other boats. We went no where really fast. I finally asked our guide what was happening and that is when he said we couldn't leave the way we came because it was not safe. That was not cool. Is this really safe? This is after our arrival to the island where we felt trapped because we were confined to the pool and a very small beach area. There was no beach to walk down and a very small part of the beach was sectioned off to swim in. It wasn't pretty looking. It felt like they brought us to this island so they could sell us their other services... massage, or snorkeling, scuba, and dolphin watching which we would have had to risk our lives and go out on another boat with them?? No thank you. They offered us coffee when we got there but no water or anything else and we were there for 5 hours. We were told we could buy from the bar. Then we heard through the grapevine that a Mohito was included but no one offered this to us. The traditional Columbian fish buffet that was included was ok, which was not served until 1:00pm. So we were basically stranded on this island for 5 hours and sat at the pool for the day, which is not a bad thing to sit by a pool all day long but it was not what we were expecting. The highlight was a guy who called himself Elvis who was selling jewelry - he was really nice and kept us entertained for some time as we looked through his jewelry. I would 100% not recommend this trip. Thumbs down all the way.
Response from the operator: Hi Danielle, thanks for taking your time to share your comments regarding your experience in Cartagena. I would like to response to your concerns with this experience, however, after checking our booking system in November and December we couldn't find your information regarding your booking with Impulse Travel. I'm sorry that you had such a bad experience, but this complain is something that don't correspond to our operation in Cartagena, since our Isla del Sol daytrip never included an alcoholic drink as you mentioned. Thanks for your comprehension. Kind regards, Valeria
via Tripadvisor
A good day of rest
It is a good place ti visit fro a day of rest from Cartagena. The only bad experience is that the beaches and sea are somehow dirty in some areas. But overall a good beach rest.
Response from the operator: Hi Marco! Thanks for taking your time to share your comments regarding your experience in the Rosario Islands. It's very important for us to know our customers' opinions. I'm glad that you had a great and relaxing experience at the beach. We know that some areas can be dirty and we're aware of this problem. This is something that everyone must change and we always try to work with responsible local operators that take care of their space and ecosystems. Hopefully this problem can be solved soon. Hope to host you in your next time in Colombia. Kind regards, Valeria
via Tripadvisor
Pictures can be deceiving
You only spend time on a tiny beach!! The food and boat ride was good. Not much to do on the tiny beach!
Response from the operator: Good morning, Thanks for taking your time to share your comments regarding your experience in the Rosario Islands. It's very important for us to understand the opinions of our travelers so that we can improve our services. I'm sorry that the experience in Isla del Sol didn't meet your expectations regarding the size of the beach. The of islands in Archipielago de San Bernardo and Islas del Rosario are regonized for their biodiversity and turquoise water, but do not have extended coastlines. I hope the rest of your time in Colombia was fantastic. Kind regards, Valeria
via Viator
Good to know
- Duration
- 8 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $233 to $254
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 34
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Who runs this experience
Operated by Impulse Travel, who run 34 experiences we rank across 3 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 53.1.
See everything Impulse Travel runsWhy this scores 45
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Rosario Islands Day Trip: Snorkel & Sunbathe at Isla del Sol: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Cartagena.
How does Rosario Islands Day Trip: Snorkel & Sunbathe at Isla del Sol compare to similar tours in Cartagena?
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It ranks #7 of the 7 similar experiences we compared in Cartagena, with an Outty Ranking of 45. At $233 it sits above the typical similar option ($42), so book it for what is included rather than price. Best for families and travelers who want a full-day outing.
Who is Rosario Islands Day Trip: Snorkel & Sunbathe at Isla del Sol best for?
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It suits families and travelers who want a full-day outing best, based on its 8-hour length, all-ages access and free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Is Rosario Islands Day Trip: Snorkel & Sunbathe at Isla del Sol good value?
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It is a premium pick. It starts at $233, above the $42 typical for similar experiences in Cartagena.
How much does Rosario Islands Day Trip: Snorkel & Sunbathe at Isla del Sol cost?
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Prices start at $233 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Cartagena usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Rosario Islands Day Trip: Snorkel & Sunbathe at Isla del Sol take?
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Plan for about 8 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Cartagena is not rushed.
Is Rosario Islands Day Trip: Snorkel & Sunbathe at Isla del Sol worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 45 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (3.6/5 across 98 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Cartagena, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Rosario Islands Day Trip: Snorkel & Sunbathe at Isla del Sol?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Rosario Islands Day Trip: Snorkel & Sunbathe at Isla del Sol suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 8-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Rosario Islands Day Trip: Snorkel & Sunbathe at Isla del Sol?
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Around 34 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Cartagena can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Cartagena and add a light layer if any part of the 8-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Rosario Islands Day Trip: Snorkel & Sunbathe at Isla del Sol start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Cartagena within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Cartagena?
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On Outty we rank every Cartagena experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Historic Center & Getsemaní Shared Tour in Cartagena, Cartagena Antigua & Barrio Getsemani group with audio system, Cartagena VIP Boat Tour: Rosario Islands & Snorkel. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Cartagena?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Cartagena?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in Rosario Islands Day Trip: Snorkel & Sunbathe at Isla del Sol?
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Included: Private transport from hotel to port (only covers hotels located at Boca Grande, Laguito; Typical Colombian lunch featuring fresh, local ingredients; and Speedboat transportation to the islands. Not included: Transport from the port to the Hotel (drop-off); Extra activities; Towels; and Admission fees. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Does Rosario Islands Day Trip: Snorkel & Sunbathe at Isla del Sol include hotel pickup?
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Yes, pickup is offered for every traveler from 167 listed pickup locations in and around Cartagena. Be ready about 15 minutes before the start time. You can also enter a custom pickup address when booking.
What languages is Rosario Islands Day Trip: Snorkel & Sunbathe at Isla del Sol offered in?
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It is offered in English and Spanish. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Rosario Islands Day Trip: Snorkel & Sunbathe at Isla del Sol?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
Is Rosario Islands Day Trip: Snorkel & Sunbathe at Isla del Sol wheelchair or stroller accessible?
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The operator notes: Not recommended for pregnant travelers. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.
What happens to Rosario Islands Day Trip: Snorkel & Sunbathe at Isla del Sol if the weather is bad?
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This experience depends on good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.
What do travelers say about Rosario Islands Day Trip: Snorkel & Sunbathe at Isla del Sol?
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Across 98 reviews averaging 3.6 out of 5, recurring themes include food and drink, the guide, value for money. The tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers. One thing to know: Several reviewers comment on how the schedule is paced.
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