Full day Isla del Encanto – Rosario Islands

Cartagena’s coast gives way to the Rosario Islands after a one-hour speedboat ride, and Isla del Encanto offers a full day of sand, sea, pool time, and lunch without arranging the pieces yourself. The island has more than 300 meters of beach inside Corales del Rosario Natural Park.

I like the easy setup: transport, lunch, loungers, pool access, and kayaking are bundled into the main price. I also like the choice between free time and a guided look around the island, plus the option to visit the Oceanarium if you want more than a beach day.

The main catch is cost. At $158 per person, the tour is not cheap, and you still pay the Cartagena boarding tax. Extras at the Oceanarium add more, while one account found the buffet basic and the pier process confusing.

Key points before you book

• One-hour speedboat ride: The crossing from Bodeguita Pier to Isla del Encanto takes about 60 minutes each way.
• Beach, pool, and hammocks: Your day includes more than a swim, with loungers, beach beds, hammocks, and a pool available at the hotel.
• Buffet lunch included: You get a typical buffet-style meal, though expectations should stay practical rather than gourmet.
• Kayaking is included: This gives you an activity beyond lying on the sand.
• Oceanarium is optional: Dolphins, turtles, rays, cat sharks, and other sea life are part of the extra visit, with entrance and boarding fees charged separately.
• Extra pier charge: The COP31,500 boarding tax is not included in the advertised tour price.

Leaving Cartagena from Bodeguita Pier at 8 a.m.

Your day begins at gate 3 of Muelle de la Bodeguita in Cartagena’s El Centro area. The stated start time is 8 a.m., so plan to arrive with enough time to find the correct gate, pay or confirm the required boarding charge, and get through the pier entrance.

This first step deserves more attention than it might seem. One account describes the gate and boarding process as confusing, with delays getting into the pier and onto the boat. I would not treat the 8 a.m. start as a suggestion. Arriving early gives you room for the practical muddle that can come with a busy waterfront departure.

The tour uses a speedboat, not a slow sightseeing vessel. That saves time and gets you to the islands in roughly an hour, but it also means an open-water ride that can feel rough when the sea is choppy. The return crossing may be especially bumpy, so hold on and keep loose belongings secure.

The group can reach 40 people. That is large enough to feel organized rather than private, but small enough for a standard day tour. You should expect a shared experience, not a custom island outing.

The one-hour ride to Corales del Rosario

The trip heads across the Caribbean to Corales del Rosario Natural Park. The ride itself is part of the appeal. You leave the dense city edge behind and spend the morning on the water before reaching the island.

The speedboat provides a direct route, but it is not designed as a calm-water cruise. If you are sensitive to motion, the ride is worth considering before you book. The information provided does not promise special seating or a smooth crossing, and sea conditions can change.

The same applies on the way home. Choppy tides have caused hard bumps at the front of the boat, so sit where instructed and follow the crew’s directions. The trip is only about an hour each way, but that hour matters if you are comparing this with a slower, more comfortable boat excursion.

Still, the efficient crossing leaves most of your time for the island. You are not spending half the day in transit.

Isla del Encanto gives you a ready-made beach day

At the island, you disembark at Isla del Encanto hotel. The setting is built for a day visit, with more than 300 meters of sand, clear water, loungers, beach beds, hammocks, and a swimming pool.

I like this setup for travelers who want comfort with their Caribbean scenery. You do not need to organize a chair, find a place to eat, or search for a pool after arriving. You can move between the sea and pool, rest under a hammock, or settle into a lounger for most of the afternoon.

The island time is not presented as a demanding outdoor excursion. It is a relaxed day with space to choose your own pace. You can spend your time swimming, resting, walking around the property, or using the included kayak.

That freedom is useful for families and couples. A parent may prefer the pool and loungers, while someone else heads into the sea or takes a kayak. A couple can keep the day quiet instead of following a packed schedule.

The tradeoff is that this is a resort-based island visit, not an untouched beach experience. You are visiting hotel facilities within a popular day-trip system. If you want a carefully guided nature outing or a remote stretch of coast, this may feel too organized.

Free time or a guided look around the island

After getting off the boat, you can explore freely or take a guided tour of the island. The supplied details do not name the guides or explain the exact route, so do not book this expecting a specific guide, lecture, or wildlife walk.

The free-time option may be the better fit if your main goal is water and rest. You are not forced into a long schedule, and the property gives you several ways to spend the day.

If you choose the guided option, use it to get oriented early. Then you can decide where to spend the rest of your time. Since the tour is only about eight hours in total, keeping an eye on the return departure is important.

The word free does not mean every service on the island is included. One account reports being charged for various items and recommends bringing your own towel. The included list covers loungers, beach beds, the pool, and kayaking, but it does not state that towels are provided. Bring one if you need it, and ask before accepting any paid service.

You should also expect sales pitches or vendors offering goods. The island is not isolated from the commercial side of Cartagena tourism. A polite no is usually the simplest answer if you do not want to buy anything.

Lunch is practical, not a reason to book alone

Lunch comes as a typical buffet-style meal. That is useful because you do not need to leave the beach area to find food, and the meal is included in the tour price.

The buffet should be viewed as a convenient island lunch rather than a destination meal. One account found it basic and inexpensive in style, while another praised the food highly. The safest expectation is a straightforward meal that keeps the day moving.

If food quality is central to your decision, this tour may not satisfy you as much as a smaller outing with a focused restaurant stop. If you care more about convenience, the included lunch adds real value.

The meal also makes the pricing easier to judge. You are not paying only for a boat seat and beach access. You are paying for the crossing, the island facilities, lunch, and some built-in activities. That package can work well if you intend to use the pool, loungers, and kayak.

Kayaking, swimming, and pool time

Kayaking is included, which gives the day a little more shape than simply sitting on a beach. The information does not specify how long you can kayak, the route, or the equipment limits, so ask the staff when you arrive.

The main water choices are simple: swim in the sea, use the pool, or take a kayak. You can also rest on a lounger or hammock between swims. This mix is why the tour suits families and couples looking for an easy island day rather than a high-adrenaline outing.

The clear water is the visual draw, but conditions can affect how much you enjoy it. The tour requires good weather, and a rough sea can affect the boat ride and the comfort of your swim.

A useful point for families is the range of activity levels. Not everyone has to kayak or spend the whole day in the sea. The hotel facilities offer a calmer alternative, though the tour information does not provide detailed accessibility or swimming guidance.

The optional Oceanarium adds marine life and extra fees

The Oceanarium visit is optional and takes about an hour. It features dolphins, turtles, rays, cat sharks, and other sea life.

This is the best add-on if you want a more structured wildlife stop. It breaks up the beach day and gives you something specific to see beyond the hotel grounds. It may also appeal to families who need a change of pace after several hours around the water.

The cost is not included. Entrance is listed at COP30,000 per person, and a separate Oceanarium boarding fee is listed at COP20,000 per person. That means you should budget COP50,000 per person for the two stated Oceanarium charges, in addition to the tour price and the COP31,500 Cartagena boarding tax.

The schedule may also feel tighter if you add the Oceanarium. The main island visit is listed at about seven hours, while the Oceanarium takes about one hour, bringing the overall experience to approximately eight hours. Confirm the timing with the operator so you know how much beach time remains after the optional stop.

What the $158 price really covers

At $158 per person, this is a premium day trip by Cartagena standards. The value depends on how many included features you use.

The price includes:

• Speedboat transportation
• Lunch
• Sun loungers and beach beds
• Pool access
• Kayaking
• Time at Isla del Encanto

You also pay the COP31,500 boarding tax per person. The Oceanarium costs extra, with COP30,000 entrance and COP20,000 for its boarding fee listed separately.

I see the price as reasonable for a person who wants a planned island day with facilities. You avoid arranging a boat, lunch, beach access, and activities separately. The hotel setting also gives you more than a bare beach landing.

The value is weaker if you only want to sit on sand and swim. You may feel you are paying for features you barely use, especially if the weather is poor, the water is rough, or you skip the pool and kayak.

It also helps to remember that the price does not guarantee a private boat or quiet, empty beach. With a maximum of 40 people, the outing has a group-tour feel. The private-beach atmosphere praised by one account may depend on the day and on how many other island visitors are present.

Who will enjoy this Rosario Islands day

I would point this tour toward couples and families who want a simple, comfortable day away from Cartagena. The combination of beach, pool, lunch, loungers, and kayaking gives you several ways to relax without planning each detail.

It also suits people who want to see the Rosario Islands but do not want an overnight stay. You leave in the morning and return to the same Cartagena pier that afternoon.

You may want a different outing if you prefer:

• A small private boat
• A quiet, less commercial beach
• A more adventurous water trip
• A gourmet meal
• A smooth, slow boat ride
• A detailed nature or marine-life tour

The tour does not promise those things. It is best understood as a comfortable resort-style island excursion with optional marine-life viewing.

Most people can participate, according to the supplied activity information, and the group limit is 40. Still, the details do not explain mobility access, boat boarding assistance, or swimming requirements. If those issues matter to you, ask Colombia Travel before paying.

Timing, weather, and cancellation details

The experience starts at 8 a.m. and ends back at the Bodeguita Pier. Confirmation is provided when you book, and the activity requires good weather.

You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund. If bad weather causes the operator to cancel, you are offered another date or a full refund.

I would avoid booking this as your final full day before an important flight. The activity is scheduled for about eight hours, and boat timing can be affected by sea conditions or pier delays.

Should you book Isla del Encanto?

Book it if you want a full-service beach day with a direct boat ride, included lunch, hotel facilities, kayaking, and an optional Oceanarium visit. It is a good match for couples and families who value ease and comfort more than solitude or adventure.

Think twice if $158 feels high for a beach day, especially after adding the boarding tax and Oceanarium fees. The pier process can be untidy, the buffet may be basic, vendors may approach you, and the return boat can be rough.

My practical call: choose this tour when you want the Rosario Islands without arranging the details yourself, and plan to use the pool, kayak, loungers, and lunch. Skip it if your ideal island day means a small boat, no extra charges, and a truly quiet shore.

FAQ

Where does the Isla del Encanto tour start?

It starts at gate 3 of Muelle de la Bodeguita in El Centro, Cartagena de Indias.

What time does the tour begin?

The stated start time is 8 a.m.

How long is the boat ride to Isla del Encanto?

The speedboat ride from Cartagena to the island takes about 60 minutes.

Is lunch included?

Yes. The tour includes a typical buffet-style lunch.

Is the Oceanarium included in the price?

No. Oceanarium entrance costs COP30,000 per person, and a separate Oceanarium boarding fee of COP20,000 per person is listed.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience begins. If poor weather causes the operator to cancel, you are offered a different date or a full refund.