Day Trips from Cartagena — Rosario Islands, Beaches & Beyond Compared
The classic escapes are the Rosario Islands and the white sand of Playa Blanca on Barú; inland day trips add the Totumo mud volcano and the Afro-Colombian town of San Basilio de Palenque.
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6 options
Avg. rating
4.5 - 5,468 reviews
From
$49424 COP
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Free up to 24h before
Day Trips from Cartagena: what to know before booking
The classic escapes are the Rosario Islands and the white sand of Playa Blanca on Barú; inland day trips add the Totumo mud volcano and the Afro-Colombian town of San Basilio de Palenque.
- Availability
- 6 ticket options compared
- Starting price
- Tickets currently start around $49424 COP before checkout fees.
- Rating signal
- Compared options average 4.5 stars across 5,468 traveler reviews.
- Location
- Departures from Cartagena marinas (Mercado de Bazurto / Muelle de la Bodeguita) and central hotel pickups
- Best time
- Morning departure for calmer seas; December–April for the clearest water
- Ticket note
- Date-specific; arrive 30 minutes before departure as boats leave on a fixed tide schedule
Day Trips from Cartagena in Cartagena
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Everything you should know before you book
Cartagena's best days are often spent away from the walls. The Rosario Islands — a coral archipelago an hour offshore by boat — are the headline trip, with snorkelling, beach clubs, and clear Caribbean water. Playa Blanca on the Barú peninsula is the easiest white-sand fix, reachable by road or boat, while the bubbling Totumo mud volcano makes a quirky half-day inland.
Book island and beach trips a day or two ahead in high season. December to April and Colombian holidays sell the boats out, and afternoon seas can get choppy, so morning departures are smoother. The San Basilio de Palenque day trip — the first free town in the Americas — is the most cultural option and a UNESCO-listed living heritage site.
Frequently asked questions
Rosario Islands or Playa Blanca — which day trip is better?
Rosario Islands for snorkelling and clear coral water reached by boat; Playa Blanca for the longest white-sand beach, reachable by road or boat. Many tours combine both via Barú.
Is there a dock tax on island trips?
Yes — Cartagena charges a small port/dock tax payable in cash at the pier, separate from your tour price. Carry Colombian pesos for it.
What is San Basilio de Palenque?
A UNESCO-listed Afro-Colombian town founded by escaped enslaved people — the first free town in the Americas — about an hour from Cartagena, visited for its language, music, and history.