Private Boat Rental To The Rosario Islands Up To 17

The most appealing part of this Rosario Islands trip is the private boat setup. Your group controls the pace more than it would on a shared excursion, with time for La Piscinita, beaches, island sights, and a beachfront meal. I like the simple group pricing and the chance to get away from Cartagena for a full Caribbean day.

I also like that water, ice, fuel, insurance, and snorkeling equipment are included. The main caution is communication and exact boat arrangements: one booking was operated by a partner boat without the promised English-speaking guide, and the title says up to 17 people while the price details say up to 15. Confirm both points before paying.

Key points to know before you book

• Private boat for up to 15 people: The listed group price is $1,049, which can be fair for a full group but costly for only two or three people.
• La Piscinita snorkeling stop: You can use the supplied snorkeling equipment or simply relax in the clear Caribbean water.
• Isla Grande sights: The route includes Pablo Escobar’s former mansion and an abandoned plane, two unusual stops with plenty of local intrigue.
• Eight hours on the water: This is a full-day outing, not a quick island visit, so plan for sun, spray, and a long stretch away from Cartagena.
• Lunch and drinks need checking: Alcohol is not included, and one account described extra spending at a beach club and a request to cover crew lunch.
• Weather matters: Poor conditions can lead to a new date or a full refund, while cancellations made less than 24 hours ahead are not refunded.

Leaving Cartagena for the Rosario Islands

You meet at Sibarita del Mar on Avenida Blas de Lezo in Cartagena’s El Centro. The activity returns to the same point after roughly eight hours, which makes the day fairly easy to fit into a Cartagena stay.

The appeal is clear. Cartagena’s old center can be hot, crowded, and noisy, while the Rosario Islands offer open water, sand, and a slower pace. You are not just being transported to a resort for a few hours. You have a boat for your own group and can spend the day moving between several kinds of stops.

The private format matters most when your group is large. A family, wedding party, or group of friends can spread the $1,049 cost across as many as 15 people. At full capacity, that works out to about $70 per person before any extra fees, meals, drinks, or taxes. For two people, however, the same boat fee comes to more than $500 each, making this much harder to justify.

I would also clear up the capacity before booking. The experience title refers to 17 people, but the pricing information says up to 15. That may be a simple difference between boat capacity and the rate shown, but you should get the exact number in writing.

The operator is Botegena. A bilingual host and captain are included, though the quality of the language service can depend on the crew assigned that day. One booking involved a partner vessel and two crew members who did not speak English, despite an English-speaking guide being requested. The operator later explained that partner boats may be used during busy periods. That is not automatically a problem, but you should confirm the boat and guide before departure if English support is important to you.

Isla Grande and the first taste of island life

The main destination is Isla Grande, part of the Rosario Islands, a group of Caribbean islands within reach of Cartagena. The day is built around water time rather than a formal walking tour, so you should expect the boat itself to be a major part of the experience.

As you approach the islands, the setting changes quickly. The city gives way to clear water, small beaches, and low tropical shores. You can sit back, swim, take photographs, or use the boat as a base between stops.

The private arrangement gives you more breathing room than a standard shared boat. You are not spending the day with a large mixed group of strangers, and the outing can feel more personal. Still, private does not mean completely unstructured. Your captain and host decide what is practical based on weather, sea conditions, time, and access to each site.

The supplied equipment includes snorkeling gear, which is useful because it removes one common extra cost. You should still pack a towel. Bottled water is provided, but one guest specifically advised bringing your own beverages as well. Alcoholic drinks are not included, so bring only what the operator permits or plan to buy drinks during the day.

La Piscinita snorkeling stop

La Piscinita is described as one of the main snorkeling spots on the route. Its attraction is the clear water and marine life, giving you a chance to see more than just the surface of the sea.

You can snorkel here with the included equipment, or stay dry and enjoy the surroundings. That flexibility is useful for mixed groups. Strong swimmers may want more time in the water, while children, older family members, or anyone uneasy with snorkeling can treat the stop as a swim and rest break.

I would keep expectations sensible. This is a short island excursion, not a specialist marine biology trip. The experience promises the chance to snorkel and see marine life, but it does not specify particular fish, coral formations, water depth, or the length of time at La Piscinita. Sea conditions can also affect visibility.

The practical challenge is sun exposure. An eight-hour boat day means you need sun protection, a hat, and a dry change of clothes. These items are not listed among the inclusions, and towels are specifically worth bringing. Bottled water is supplied, along with ice, but you may want additional nonalcoholic drinks for a full day outdoors.

Pablo Escobar’s mansion and the abandoned plane

The tour adds two unusual sights to what could otherwise be a standard beach day: a mansion associated with Pablo Escobar and an abandoned plane. These stops give the trip a dose of local mystery and visual interest.

The mansion is presented as a place connected with Colombia’s past, rather than as a museum visit. You should expect to view it from the water or nearby, take in its striking appearance, and hear whatever context the host provides. The supplied information does not promise an interior visit, a guided historical presentation, or access to the property.

The abandoned plane is another memorable photo stop. Its presence gives the route a slightly strange, unexpected edge. It is the sort of sight that breaks up the swimming and makes the boat journey feel like more than a transfer between beaches.

I like this mix of activities. You get nature, water time, and odd pieces of local history in one day. At the same time, anyone looking for a serious historical tour should adjust expectations. The experience is primarily a private island outing, with sightseeing woven into the route.

Beach time, lunch, and possible extra costs

The day includes time on white-sand beaches and at turquoise water, plus lunch at a beachfront restaurant. This is where the trip shifts from sightseeing to simple relaxation.

A beachfront meal can be one of the best parts of an island day. You get a break from the boat, a place to sit in the shade, and a chance to eat near the water. But lunch is not listed among the included items, so you should budget separately for it.

One account described a stop at Paue, a private beach club, where a minimum spending requirement applied. The minimum was acceptable to that group, but it was still an extra condition. The same account said the crew asked the group to purchase lunch for them. The crew members were described as friendly, but the request came as a surprise.

I would not assume that Paue, its minimum spend, or crew lunch applies to every departure. Routes and partner arrangements may differ. Still, ask these questions before you go:

• Is lunch at a restaurant or beach club?
• Is there a minimum food or drink spend?
• Are crew meals covered by the operator or expected from the group?
• Which beach stops are planned that day?
• Can the boat follow the advertised route if weather or access changes?

These questions matter because the headline group price is not the full cost of an island day. Food, drinks, taxes, and other fees are listed separately from the included boat services.

What the $1,049 group price really buys

The price makes the most sense when you fill the boat. For 15 people, $1,049 works out to about $70 per person. That covers an approximately eight-hour private outing, captain, bilingual host, fuel, insurance, ice, bottled water, and snorkeling gear.

That is a reasonable structure for a group that values privacy. You are paying for the boat and crew rather than buying individual seats on a shared trip. A large group can also avoid the awkwardness of coordinating several separate bookings.

For a couple, the calculation changes completely. Two people would effectively pay about $525 each before lunch, drinks, taxes, and other charges. Unless having a private boat is the main point of your day, a shared island excursion may offer better value.

The cost also includes flexibility, but not unlimited control. You may have more say than on a group boat, yet the captain still has to work with sea conditions and the schedule. A private booking is best viewed as a more personal boat day, not as a completely custom yacht charter.

The published score is 5 from 79 ratings, and 99 percent of customers recommend the experience. The strongest praise focuses on the boat, the friendly guide and drivers, and the overall quality of the day. Those are meaningful positives, especially for a full-day activity where crew attitude can make a big difference.

The important qualification is consistency. The strongest negative account was not about the sea or the islands. It was about receiving a different boat, not getting an English-speaking guide, visiting a beach different from the expected stop, and facing unexpected crew lunch costs. The crew themselves were described as perfectly pleasant. That suggests the main risk is not necessarily poor service, but a mismatch between what was promised and what was delivered.

Who will get the most from this boat day

I would recommend this trip most strongly to a group of friends or family members who can share the fee. It suits people who want a full day on the Caribbean, enjoy a mix of swimming and sightseeing, and prefer a private boat to a fixed shared schedule.

It also works well for groups with different interests. Some people can snorkel at La Piscinita, while others relax on the beach. The mansion and plane provide sightseeing stops, and the beachfront lunch gives everyone time to sit down.

You should think twice if you are traveling alone or as a couple and are mainly interested in low-cost island access. The group price is not designed for small parties.

I would also hesitate if you need a guaranteed English-speaking guide, a particular boat, or a precise beach itinerary. You can still book, but confirm those details directly with Botegena. The operator has acknowledged that partner boats may be used, and the experience can be less satisfying when the actual service differs from the promised arrangement.

This is not the best choice for someone wanting a detailed historical tour, a luxury yacht charter, or an all-inclusive package. Alcohol is excluded, lunch is not clearly included, and all fees and taxes are listed separately.

Booking, weather, and practical planning

Confirmation is provided when you book, and the activity is generally suitable for most people. Service animals are allowed, and the meeting point is near public transportation.

The tour requires good weather. If poor conditions force a cancellation, you can receive a different date or a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the start time. Inside that 24-hour window, cancellations and changes are not accepted and the payment is not refunded.

The activity is often booked about 64 days ahead. That suggests you should reserve early if your Cartagena dates are fixed, especially if you have a large group. Early booking is also useful because it gives you time to confirm the capacity, boat, language support, lunch arrangements, and expected route.

Before departure, I would bring:

• A towel
• Sun protection and a hat
• A dry change of clothes
• Extra nonalcoholic drinks
• Cash or another accepted payment method for food, drinks, and possible fees
• A waterproof way to protect phones and valuables

The operator supplies bottled water, ice, fuel, insurance, and snorkeling equipment. Alcohol is not included. Since the boat returns to Sibarita del Mar, you do not need to arrange a separate return transfer.

Should you book the Rosario Islands private boat?

Book it if you have a group large enough to share the $1,049 fee and you want a private Caribbean day with snorkeling, beaches, unusual sights, and a beachfront meal. The included boat services are useful, and the best experiences appear to come from the friendly crew, comfortable boat, and freedom of traveling with only your own group.

For a small party, the price is hard to defend. I would also make the booking conditional on clear answers about the boat, the maximum group size, the English-speaking host, the lunch stop, and any minimum spending rules.

My final call: a strong choice for a well-organized group, but not a carefree buy for two people or for anyone who needs every detail guaranteed. Confirm the arrangements, pack your own towel and drinks, and budget beyond the advertised fee. Do that, and this can be a memorable break from Cartagena’s city streets.

FAQ

How long does the private Rosario Islands boat tour last?

The experience lasts approximately eight hours and ends back at the Sibarita del Mar meeting point in Cartagena.

Where does the tour start?

It starts at Sibarita del Mar, located on Avenida Blas de Lezo in El Centro, Cartagena de Indias.

How many people can join the private boat?

The price information states that the fee covers up to 15 people. The experience title refers to 17, so confirm the exact capacity with Botegena before booking.

What is included in the price?

The package includes snorkeling equipment, bottled water, ice, insurance, fuel, a bilingual host, and a captain.

Is lunch included?

Lunch is not listed among the included services. A beachfront restaurant stop is part of the day, so plan to pay separately for food.

Are alcoholic beverages included?

No. Alcoholic beverages are not included in the tour price.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If the activity is canceled because of poor weather, you can choose a different date or receive a full refund.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not accepted and are not refunded.