Islas del Rosario, Colombia
Rosario Islands
Private Day Charter
Forty minutes from Cartagena. A world away.
The Islands
The Rosario Islands are the finest natural destination in the Colombian Caribbean — and they reward those who arrive by private boat rather than by public speedboat.
The Rosario Islands — Islas del Rosario — are a UNESCO-recognised national park archipelago located forty minutes by sea from Cartagena. They consist of around 27 coral islands and cays set in Caribbean water of extraordinary clarity, surrounding reef systems that support some of the healthiest marine biodiversity on the Colombian coast. The islands range from small uninhabited cays ringed with white sand to larger islands with mangrove interiors and shallow lagoons where the water reaches your knees and stays warm throughout the year.
Most visitors to the islands arrive on shared speedboats that depart at fixed hours, deliver passengers to one or two designated stops, and return on a schedule that has no relationship to how much the travellers are enjoying themselves. A private charter with CGLUX works entirely differently. Your boat departs when you want to leave. Your captain chooses anchorages that the shared boats do not use. You stay as long as you want in each place. You eat your lunch where you choose to eat it, and you return to Cartagena at an hour that suits your evening plans rather than someone else’s.
The ideal season for the Rosario Islands runs from December through April, when the sea is calm and the sky is reliably clear — though the islands are accessible and beautiful year-round. Wind conditions in the dry season make sailing particularly pleasant, and visibility for snorkelling is at its highest. We recommend departing before ten in the morning to reach the best anchorages before the shared tours arrive, and to have the middle of the day in calm water while the wind picks up by afternoon.
A CGLUX private day to the Rosario Islands includes your boat and captain, snorkelling equipment for every member of your party, a full catering setup arranged in advance to your preferences, and private transfers between your hotel and the marina in Cartagena. The day requires no planning on your part beyond confirming it with us.
Duration
Full day (8–9 hours) or half day — your choice, your schedule
Group size
2 to 20 people — vessel matched to your party
Best season
December through April — though available year-round
Share your dates. We confirm the vessel, the captain, and the catering.
Enquire Privately →Common Questions
Frequently asked
Approximately 45–60 minutes by private speedboat, or 90–120 minutes by sailing catamaran. Many guests prefer the slower crossing for the journey itself.
Yes. The waters are calm and exceptionally clear, ideal for swimming and snorkeling. We advise on the best spots based on the day’s conditions and your group.
A full-day private charter typically includes Playa Blanca, the coral reef at Barú, and a private cove. We design the itinerary around your pace — not a fixed schedule.
Yes. The Rosario Islands fall within a protected marine reserve. Entry fees are handled entirely by CGLUX as part of your experience — no surprises on arrival.
Reef-safe sunscreen, light layers for the return journey, and nothing else you wouldn’t want to lose to the sea. We handle everything else.