Rosario Islands Day Trip from Cartagena – An Escape to the Mangroves (and why I chose Coralina Island Hotel)
A Rosario Islands Day Trip from Cartagena is a must when in Cartagena. This is an archipelago located off the coast of Colombia with 27 different tiny islands in the Caribbean.
On the smaller islands, there is just one hotel/resort on the island, whereas the bigger islands may have 2 or 3. For our Rosario Islands day trip, after a lot of research we decided to go to Coralina Island Hotel. The vibe at Coralina Island Hotel was very peaceful and exclusive.
This was the last full day we had in Colombia after a 10-day journey, and I was exhausted. The hotel staff were very nice and I felt totally relaxed (though I wanted to spend a night here) by the end of the day.
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Rosario Islands Day Trip Basics
- Book online via GetYourGuide
- Timings:
- Arrive at the pier at 8 am (departure at 8:40 am, but you need the time)
- Boat ride: 1 hour
- Return to Cartagena: between 2:30 pm and 3:00 pm
- Time on island: 10 am–3 pm (it goes by quickly!)
- Bring a picture of your passport or a physical ID, sunscreen, and a book to lounge
Package Options
There are two package options at Coralina Island Hotel: the Day Trip Islander (380,000 COP) or the Day Trip VIP (530,000 COP).
Both include transportation, a welcome glass of wine (at 10 am lol), water, coffee and tea, lunch, snorkeling, and canoe equipment.
The VIP package has a “private” water deck in the mangrove area and a 30-minute relaxing massage included. The Islander package is for the beach area.
The mangrove VIP deck
Regardless of the package, you will need to pay an additional port tax of 29,000 COP (under $8 USD) and mandatory health insurance of 5,000 COP (under $2 USD).
Book
You can book via WhatsApp, which is what we did. However, there is now a GetYourGuide option, which I would have chosen, so I could use a credit card. I like this option because it includes transport from your hotel if you need it, and then someone will be with you to help navigate the port line and check in. We booked 3 weeks in advance.
You’ll pay the insurance and park fees at the port check-in.
A Rosario Islands day trip is worth it! It’s a different scene from the bustle of Cartagena and perfect for a little getaway in the middle (or end) of your vacation in Colombia.
Just look at the water!
How to Get to the Rosario Islands and Navigating the Port
Your booking for a day trip will include boat transportation at La Bodeguita Port.
There are several different gates when you arrive at the port. Make sure you enter the correct gate, which is Gate 3 for Coralina Island Hotel (double-check your ticket).
You should arrive by 8 am as it may take 15 minutes or more to move through the line. The line is a little chaotic. I suggest you first go straight to the start of the line and say you have tickets for Coralina Island Hotel — they may let you in directly. You need your reservation visible on your phone to enter.
We had just reached the start of the line when someone from Coralina Island Hotel came over and asked if anyone was going there, so that worked out well for us. It seems she went back several times to try to get people through the line.
When we visited, the Coralina Island check-in spot was through the main hall to the left. Everything is organized, but the first visit feels a little overwhelming. Just keep asking people where the Coralina Island check-in is if you make it without a guide.
You’ll need a picture of your passport or a physical ID for the staff to register you once you arrive.
We boarded at 8:45 am, and the boat left at 8:53 am.
The ride over to the hotel was fun and took about an hour.
When we arrived, we got a glass of wine as we were welcomed by the hotel staff (and a dog).
Activities at Coralina Island Hotel
Besides lounging at the beach by the mangroves, you can go snorkeling and canoeing.
We had breakfast when we arrived. I didn’t eat because I was worried the sea would be a little rough, so I was starving when we got to the hotel. The food took a while to arrive, and I had to scarf it down before our next activity, snorkeling at 11 am.
The snorkeling was not as interesting as other places we’ve been to. I saw just a few fish, and the waves were quite strong. I didn’t think it was worth it. The snorkeling is a 15-minute boat ride away from the hotel.
Then, we chilled for a bit, reading our books before having a massage at 1 pm, which was included as part of our VIP package.
A hint of the massage room
As we were lounging, we saw this guy selling lobsters!
Next, we had lunch at 2 pm and then rested for a bit before we had to head back at 3 pm.
Lunch was very good and flavorful. It was also so filling!
I suggest skipping snorkeling and instead go canoeing or just chilling by the waterfront. If you’re looking for a relaxing Rosario Islands day trip, Coralina is a great choice.
On our ride back into Cartagena Harbor, we saw this interesting Virgin Mary statue.
Stay Longer at Coralina Island Hotel
I felt that a day trip wasn’t long enough! We rushed to have breakfast (which we could have skipped if I had planned to eat beforehand or brought a snack), then we did the snorkeling, lounged for just a bit, had the massage, had lunch, lounged for a bit, and then we were back on the boat! I would have loved to stay longer.
Spend a night here if you have a chance, but if you only have a day, this Rosario Islands day trip is still a beautiful escape from Cartagena.