Boat rental for the Rosario Islands up to 15 people.

Sea time, your way. This private Rosario Islands charter gives your group an eight-hour boat day from Cartagena, with room for up to 15 people and freedom to choose how long to stay at several stops. I like the flexible route and the chance to bring your own food and drinks, and I also like that the crew can help with local lunch orders in Cholón. The main consideration is that the $815 price works best for a full group, and you should confirm the exact departure time before setting out.

The boat leaves from Todomar CHL Marina Bocagrande at 9 A.M. and returns around 5 P.M. The package includes a captain, skipper, fuel, ice, life vests, snorkeling equipment, a restroom, bottled water, and a Bluetooth sound system. The route can include Isla Grande, Caño Ratón, La Piscina, Cholón, and Aguazul, but you cannot go back to a stop once you have passed it.

Key points at a glance

• A private boat for up to 15 people: The $815 group price becomes much better value when shared by a large family or friend group.
• A flexible island route: You can decide how long to stay at each stop, but the boat must keep moving forward through the route.
• Cholón adds a lively change of pace: The crew can help with local food and drink orders, which makes this stop easier to manage.
• Your own music and provisions are welcome: Bring snacks, lunch, and nonalcoholic or alcoholic drinks, or pay extra for add-ons.
• Useful onboard basics are included: You get a cooler, 13 kilos of ice, a restroom, life vests, snorkeling gear, and two 330cc water bottles per person.
• Crew service is a major strength: Luis and Moisés received special praise for being punctual, friendly, helpful, and good at tailoring the day.

Why a private Rosario Islands boat makes sense

Cartagena is a city of stone streets, balconies, and busy plazas. The Rosario Islands offer the opposite kind of day: open water, small island stops, swimming, snorkeling, music, and time on a boat with only your own group.

A private charter changes the feel of the outing. You are not tied to the pace of a large shared group, and you can talk with the captain about which stops matter most to you. If your group wants more swimming time, less time at a busy beach, or a longer lunch stop, that flexibility has real value.

The boat holds up to 15 people, so this works particularly well for a birthday, reunion, family outing, or group of friends. With a full party, the cost is about $54 per person. A group of 10 pays about $82 per person, while a small group of four would pay about $204 per person. That is the key price question: this is a sensible group splurge when many seats are filled, but a costly day if only a few people share it.

The experience lasts about eight hours, from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. That gives you a full day on the water rather than a quick island visit. I would treat the schedule as a guide, not a minute-by-minute promise, since the time spent at each location depends on your group and the route.

Getting to Todomar CHL Marina Bocagrande

Your meeting point is Todomar CHL Marina Bocagrande, in Cartagena. The tour ends back at this same marina, which keeps the day simple. You do not need to arrange a separate return from an island or find your way back to the city after sunset.

The boat is listed with private transportation, but the supplied information identifies the marina as the start point rather than describing hotel pickup. Plan to reach the dock with enough time to check in and board without rushing.

One practical point deserves attention. The normal schedule is described as 9 A.M. to 5 P.M., but one poor account described a captain not appearing after a delayed start at noon. That does not match the stated schedule, but it is still a reason to confirm the meeting time and departure details directly before the day begins. Keep your confirmation handy and arrive at the named marina.

The boat setup and what comes with it

This is not a bare-bones boat hire. The package includes a captain and skipper, fuel, a cooler, 13 kilos of ice, life vests, a restroom, snorkeling equipment, and two 330cc bottles of water per person.

The restroom matters on an eight-hour boat day. It lets you stay out on the water without treating every island stop as a necessary facilities break. The cooler and ice are also useful because you can bring food and drinks from Cartagena instead of relying entirely on island prices.

The sound system connects by Bluetooth. You can play your own music, which is a small feature with a big effect for a birthday or a day with friends. Use it with some courtesy, especially near other boats and quieter swimming areas. The boat is yours, but the sea is shared.

The water allowance is modest. Two small 330cc bottles per person will not cover a hot full day at sea, especially if you are swimming and snorkeling. Bring additional water, then use the cooler and ice to keep it cold. You can also bring your own snacks, lunch, and drinks.

Alcohol is not included. You may bring your own alcoholic drinks, or arrange them for an additional cost. Lunch is also extra, unless you bring your own food. These rules give you control over spending, but you need to plan ahead rather than assume a full meal is part of the package.

Isla Grande, Caño Ratón, and La Piscina

The route may include Isla Grande, Caño Ratón, and La Piscina. The supplied details do not promise a fixed order or a guaranteed length of stay at each location, so think of these as possible stages in the day rather than rigid appointments.

Isla Grande is one of the principal Rosario Islands stops. It gives you the broad island setting most people picture when they book a day at sea from Cartagena. You can use the stop for swimming, photos, or a slower break from the boat.

Caño Ratón adds another island-water stop to the route. Since the boat is private, your group can discuss whether to spend more time here or continue toward the next location. This is where the flexible format helps, especially if some people want to swim while others mainly want photos and music.

La Piscina is presented as another stop on the route. The name suggests a swimming-focused place, but the available details do not specify facilities or exact conditions. Bring the included life vest if you are not a confident swimmer, and use the snorkeling equipment according to the crew’s instructions.

The most important route rule is easy to miss: once you pass a point, you cannot return to it. Talk through your priorities early. If Isla Grande matters most to your group, do not spend the morning casually moving past it with the idea that you can come back later.

Cholón brings food, music, and a busier mood

Cholón is likely to feel different from the quieter island and swimming stops. It is a popular place for boats, social energy, music, and food orders. If you want a peaceful hour with only the sound of the water, this may not be your favorite stop. If you want a lively break with friends, it can be exactly the right change of pace.

The crew can help you buy typical lunch on the islands. Luis and Moisés were praised for giving useful advice about where and when to buy from local sellers, and for helping place orders in Cholón. That kind of practical assistance can save time and reduce confusion when menus, prices, and ordering customs are not familiar.

You still need to budget for lunch. It is not included in the base price. You can bring your own meal, purchase local food, or arrange lunch at an additional cost. Bringing food gives you more control over dietary needs and spending, while buying locally keeps the day lighter and lets you try a typical island meal.

Cholón is also a place where drink costs can add up. Since alcohol is extra, decide before boarding if you want to bring your own drinks or arrange them through the provider. The cooler and ice make bringing your own supplies practical.

Aguazul and the value of choosing your pace

Aguazul is another possible stop on the route. The available information does not give a detailed description of its facilities or activities, so you should ask the crew what conditions and plans apply on the day.

That uncertainty is not necessarily a flaw. Island conditions, sea traffic, and group preferences can affect the best use of your time. The private format lets the captain and skipper shape the day around what your group actually wants, within the route’s limits.

This is also why you should not try to force every stop into the schedule. Five named places sound appealing, but a rushed visit to all of them can be less enjoyable than spending meaningful time at three or four. Decide if your priority is snorkeling, swimming, lunch, photos, or simply being on the boat. Then make those priorities clear at the start.

Snorkeling, swimming, and photo time

Snorkeling equipment is included, which removes one common extra cost. Life vests are also provided, so you can use them during swimming stops whether you are a strong swimmer or not.

The details do not promise a particular reef, marine life sighting, or underwater tour. Keep expectations grounded. You are booking a private boat day with snorkeling equipment, not a specialist marine biology excursion.

The boat’s private setup is especially useful for photos. You can choose when to stop, gather your group, and play your own music while moving between islands. One birthday group appreciated a stop at a private island for quiet time and photographs. If pictures matter to you, tell the crew early so you do not leave your best photo stop until the end.

Bring protection for your phone and camera. The supplied information confirms a cooler, ice, and a restroom, but it does not describe dry storage or waterproof cases. A sealed bag for electronics is a sensible precaution on any boat day.

Crew service and the human side of the day

The strongest praise centers on the crew. Luis and Moisés were described as punctual, courteous, entertaining, and willing to tailor the route to the group. They also helped with local buying decisions and food orders in Cholón.

That matters because a private charter is more than a motor and a map. You depend on the captain and skipper for timing, route choices, safety reminders, and practical help. Friendly service can turn a basic boat rental into a relaxed day.

The overall rating is 4.9 from 68 reviews, with 99 percent recommending the experience. Those numbers point to very strong satisfaction, but the single poor account should not be ignored. The complaint concerned a captain who did not show after a late start, which highlights the importance of confirming the agreed departure time and arriving at the marina promptly.

How to judge the $815 price

At first glance, $815 is a substantial amount for a day on the water. The calculation improves when you fill the boat. Fifteen people sharing the cost pay roughly $54 each, before optional food or alcohol. That can compare favorably with buying many separate seats on a public boat, especially when you value privacy and control over the route.

The package also covers fuel, captain, skipper, ice, snorkeling gear, life vests, bottled water, a restroom, and the boat itself. Those inclusions reduce the number of small costs you need to manage.

The value drops for a small party. Four people would pay roughly $204 each, and that is before lunch and drinks. I would book this for a group event or a large family gathering, not for a couple unless privacy is worth a major premium.

The ability to bring your own supplies helps keep the total under control. Bring lunch, snacks, extra water, and drinks if that suits your group. If you prefer convenience, budget for island lunch and any alcohol separately.

Who should book this boat

I would choose this experience if you want the Rosario Islands to feel like your group’s day rather than a fixed group excursion. It suits people who value privacy, music, flexible stops, swimming, snorkeling, and time for photos.

It is especially good for birthday celebrations. The birthday group that used the boat praised the crew’s help and the private island stop, and the Bluetooth system gives you an easy way to create a party atmosphere.

Families can also benefit from the restroom, life vests, cooler, and private schedule. Parents can bring familiar food and drinks, while the group can adjust the pace rather than follow strangers.

I would be more cautious if you dislike social beach areas, since Cholón may not match a quiet-island mood. I would also think twice if only two or three people are splitting the cost, unless a private boat is your main priority.

Booking, cancellation, and final practical advice

Free cancellation is available when you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded, and changes inside that window are not accepted. The cut-off uses local Cartagena time.

Confirmation is provided at booking. Service animals are allowed, the meeting point is near public transportation, and most people can participate. Those details make the experience broadly accessible, though the information does not provide specific guidance for mobility needs.

Before the day, confirm the 9 A.M. meeting time, ask about the planned order of stops, and tell the crew which locations matter most. Pack extra water, sunscreen, food if you want to save money, and waterproof protection for electronics. Remember that you cannot turn back to a passed stop, so make route decisions early.

Should you book the Rosario Islands boat?

Book it if you have a group large enough to share the cost and you want privacy, flexible timing, music, and control over your food. The strong rating, helpful service from Luis and Moisés, and useful included equipment make this a convincing choice for a birthday or full-day island outing.

Think twice if your group is small or if you want a quiet, tightly scheduled nature tour. For the right group, this is less about checking off every island and more about building a comfortable day on the water, at your own pace.

FAQ

Where does the boat tour start?

It starts at Todomar CHL Marina Bocagrande in Cartagena de Indias, Bolívar, Colombia.

Where does the tour end?

The boat returns to the same meeting point at Todomar CHL Marina Bocagrande.

How long does the experience last?

The planned duration is about eight hours, from 9 A.M. until approximately 5 P.M.

How many people can join the private boat?

The boat can accommodate a group of up to 15 people.

What islands and stops may be included?

The possible stops are Isla Grande, Caño Ratón, La Piscina, Cholón, and Aguazul.

Can I choose how long to stay at each stop?

Yes. Your group can determine how long to stay at each island, but you cannot return to a location after the boat has passed it.

Is lunch included?

No. You can bring your own food, buy a typical lunch on the islands, or arrange lunch for an additional cost.

Are alcoholic drinks included?

No. You can bring your own alcoholic drinks or pay an additional cost to include them.

What equipment and supplies are included?

The package includes a captain, skipper, fuel, cooler, 13 kilos of ice, life vests, a restroom, snorkeling equipment, and two 330cc bottles of water per person.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.