Rosario Islands Beach Club Day with Speedboat and Lunch Cartagena

Muelle de la Bodeguita and the speedboat crossing

Every Rosario Islands day trip from Cartagena starts at the Muelle de la Bodeguita, the tourist pier on the bay side of the walled city, a few minutes' walk from the Clock Tower. Your boat leaves from Gate 4 at 07:30, so arrive a little early to pay the port tax and insurance that every passenger pays before boarding; the details are on your voucher. Bring your passport or a copy, because names are checked at the gate.

The speedboat ride takes about fifty minutes. You leave the bay past the fortifications and the container port, pass the long sandbar of Bocagrande and the island of Tierrabomba, then head southwest into open water until the low green outline of the archipelago appears. The sea is usually calm in the morning, but the boat moves fast and bumps over the waves, which is why the day is not suitable for people with back problems or recent surgery.

The Rosario Islands

The Islas del Rosario are an archipelago of small coral islands about forty kilometres southwest of Cartagena, protected since the 1970s as part of a national natural park that also covers the San Bernardo islands further south. The reefs around them hold the clearest water on this part of the Colombian coast, and the colour changes from deep blue in the channels to pale turquoise over the sand, which is what every photo of the Rosario Islands shows.

The largest island, Isla Grande, has mangrove lagoons, a few villages and most of the beach clubs and hotels, while the smaller islets are private or uninhabited. The best time to visit the Rosario Islands is the dry season from December to April, when the sky is clear and the sea flat; between May and November showers pass through, usually in the afternoon, and the morning crossing is still fine. Fishing boats and pelicans are part of the scenery on every trip.

The beach club: loungers, sea and music

The beach club occupies a stretch of shore on the islands with sun loungers and beach beds set out on the sand and on wooden decks, straw parasols, a restaurant, bathrooms and showers, and a shallow, calm swimming area protected from the open sea. The day pass gives you access to everything; loungers are allocated on arrival on a first-come basis from the second row back, so the earlier you settle in, the better the spot.

The atmosphere is lively rather than silent: there is music all day and the staff keep the drinks and food moving, which suits couples, groups of friends and families with teenagers. Snorkelling is not permitted from the club, and outside food, drinks and coolers cannot be brought in. Most guests simply alternate between the water and the shade, and a Cartagena beach club with lunch included is the simplest way to see the islands without planning a thing.

Lunch by the sea

Lunch is included in the day pass and you choose one dish from six: mojarra, the whole fried fish that is Cartagena's classic plate, grilled chicken, balsamic chicken, seafood pasta, a poke bowl or pesto pasta with broccoli, so there is something for fish lovers, meat eaters and vegetarians alike. The mojarra comes the local way, with coconut rice, fried plantain and salad, and is the dish most visitors want to try at least once on the Caribbean coast.

Meals are served at the restaurant on the deck with the sea a few steps away, usually from midday onwards; drinks beyond water are extra and paid at the club. If you have allergies or need a vegetarian choice, tell us when booking so the kitchen is prepared. After lunch there is still time for a last swim before the boat gathers everyone for the return crossing to Cartagena in the mid-afternoon.

Practical notes for the day

The day pass runs about seven hours from the pier and back. The boat does not wait, so be at Gate 4 of the Muelle de la Bodeguita by 07:30 with your passport or a copy, cash for the port tax and insurance, and your beach bag: sunglasses, a sun hat, towel, sunscreen, beachwear and quick-dry clothing. The club has showers and changing rooms, so you can travel back comfortable.

Children under twelve cannot be admitted, and the trip is not suitable for people over seventy, for pregnant women, for anyone with back or mobility problems, recent surgery or a weight above 130 kilograms, because of the fast boat. Pets, surfboards, large luggage and fireworks are not allowed. The sun on the islands is strong even on cloudy days, so reapply sunscreen and drink plenty of water, and keep valuables to a minimum.