Cartagena Bay Sunset Cruise

Cartagena Bay at Sunset

Cartagena sits on a sheltered bay on Colombia's Caribbean coast, and the water is at its calmest and most colourful around sunset. The sun goes down somewhere between about 17:30 and 18:15 through the year, which is why the 17:00 departure is timed to put you in the middle of the bay as the sky turns orange, pink and purple. A Cartagena sunset cruise is one of the simplest ways to see the city in its best light.

The two-hour route keeps close to the shore so that you always have something to look at, from fishing boats and moored yachts to the lights coming on along the coast. Many visitors choose the best time for a sunset in Cartagena as the last evening of their stay, because the trip pairs well with dinner in the old town afterwards.

The Skyline of Bocagrande and Castillo Grande

The tour first sails between the Manga district and the Bocagrande peninsula, then continues between Castillo Grande and Manzanillo Island. Bocagrande is Cartagena's modern beachfront, lined with tall apartment towers and hotels, and from the water they form one of the most striking skylines in the Caribbean, especially when the lights come on after sunset.

A Cartagena bay cruise gives you a very different view from the beach or the street. You see how the modern city and the historic centre sit on the same bay, the sweep of the coastline and the reflections of the towers on the water. It is also a wonderful moment for photographs, so keep your camera ready and your phone charged.

The Walled City from the Water

The cruise starts from a pier directly in front of the walled city, the historic heart of Cartagena and a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1984. The thick stone walls were built between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries to protect the port from pirates and rival fleets, and they still circle the old town today, with colonial houses, churches and squares inside.

If you are asking how to get to the departure point, it is easy to reach on foot from most hotels in the old town, and a short taxi ride from Bocagrande. We send the exact spot after you book. Arrive about 20 minutes before departure to check in, and take a last look at the walls, because the return leg brings you back with the evening lights on.

On Board: Host, Appetiser and Practical Details

A host in Spanish welcomes you on board and looks after the guests during the two hours, with music playing, an appetiser and the boarding fees included. Extra services on board are optional and can only be paid by card. Please note that the cruise commentary is in Spanish, but the views speak for themselves.

You will need your passport or ID card, and the booking asks for the details of every passenger, so keep them ready at checkout. The boat is described as wheelchair-accessible, so please let us know in advance if you need help boarding. Smoking is not allowed and outside food and drinks may not be brought on board.