Snorkeling Trips in Cartagena: 13 Weighed Up on Cost and Hours

1.Rosario Islands Catamaran with Lunch and Snorkel

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,479 reviews · 7h 30m · from $107Our pick

Sail from Bodeguita Dock toward the Rosario Islands on a large, wheelchair-accessible catamaran with shaded and sunny seating. You get a welcome fruit drink, snacks, unlimited soft drinks, snorkeling gear, two swim stops, and a hearty seafood or vegetable lunch. This is a boat-and-water day, not an island sightseeing tour or guaranteed beach landing.

“I loved this activity! The catamaran sailing was amazing and so much fun. We were able to swim at two different spots, and the lunch was delicious. Sailing back to Cartagena was such a highlight! 100% recommend.”

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2.Excursion to the Rosario Islands with Lunch and Snorkeling

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 569 reviews · 7 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $106

Sail from Cartagena to the Rosario Islands on Bona Vida’s spacious catamaran, with snorkeling gear, swimming stops, lunch, and free soft drinks included. You’ll anchor near Isla Grande and Barú, usually staying aboard rather than visiting beaches. Expect a relaxed seven-and-a-half-hour boat day, not a wild party cruise.

“It was fun to be out on the water for the day. It was a long trip to swim and I wish that we had more time out in the beautiful Caribbean. The snorkeling was pretty blah but the swimming wonderful. We did not go to any beaches so it was all from the boat. The crew was great. Lunch was ample and non alcoholic drinks very good. The boat was also clean and lots of space to sit in the shade.”

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3.Rosario Islands Day Tour with Snorkel & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 402 reviews · 8 hours · from $95

Spend eight hours by speedboat visiting Isla Grande, Playa Blanca on Barú, and Tierra Bomba. You will snorkel, eat lunch, relax at beach clubs, and enjoy sea views with an English or Spanish guide. Guides such as Jesús, Franklin, David, and John Wayne have been praised for keeping groups organized and cared for.

“David Santiago was our guide. He was excellent, took care of everything, start to finish. I would recommend this tour to everyone.”

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4.Full Day 5 Best Rosario Islands Spots Make Friends & do Snorkel

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 240 reviews · 9 hours (approx.) · from $79

Spend about nine hours speeding from Cartagena to Bocachica, Rosario Islands, Isla Grande, Cholón, and Barú. You get snorkel gear, a bilingual coordinator, commentary, water, a seafood lunch allowance, and one beer or soda. Guides such as Franklin, Niche, and Melanie have earned praise, but stops and timing can change with weather and sea conditions.

“It was interesting learning a little history about the Spainards.... The beaches were amazing. Snorkeling was fun, got to see several kinds of fish. The food was nice, although I wouldve rather had the welcome drink with my food, since they gave us the drink on one island and the food on another...Cholon was super dope, the vibes were definitely there and the party was jumpin'! The ride back felt like hydraulics but the captain knew what he was doing, the waves were starting to pick up a little. Overall a fun time, thank you!”

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5.Full Day Barú island: Mangrove +Snorkel + Sunset + Plankton

★★★★★★★★★★3.7 · 139 reviews · 11 hours · from $69

Spend 11 hours traveling from Cartagena to Freedom Beach Club in Baru for a welcome cocktail, beach time, mangrove and raccoon visit, snorkeling, island lunch, sunset, and a night swim with bioluminescent plankton. Spanish-speaking guides lead the day, with Angie and Dequer praised for friendly activity support.

“Fatal! Estafaaaaa total. Nos lanzaron en el peor punto de la playa 7 horas sin explicarnos nada (freedom spot ) sucio, mal trato de los encargados ( Maria, Luis, Adriana) lo único que valia la pena fueron los mapaches y nos dejaron 10 min solamente. Y en la noche al momento del Plancton llenaron las embarcaciones de personas a reventar, no cumplen con ninguna medida de seguridad. TODO FUE MALO! UN ROBO ….”

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6.Snorkel, Mangroves and Playa Blanca Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 132 reviews

Spend eight hours traveling from Cartagena to Baru for a boat trip, snorkeling, mangrove wildlife, and a Caribbean lunch. Spanish-speaking guides such as Wilber, Ruben, Diana, and Daker have earned strong praise for their care. Expect a flexible, sometimes rustic day with beautiful water, beach time, and conditions that can affect snorkeling.

“They entire experience was outstanding! I contacted the day before to detail my trip and they added another adventure to my voucher without a problem. I had a tour guide the entire time I was at Playa blanca and got a few extra tours of hidden. I can't brag enough on how amazing this whole experience was.”

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7.Adventure full day Isla Barú + Mangroves + Snorkel + bioluminescent plankton

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 95 reviews · 15 hours (approx.) · from $65Best value

Spend about 15 hours traveling from Cartagena to Barú for beach time, a 30,000-peso lunch voucher, a short mangrove boat ride, fish viewing, and nighttime bioluminescent plankton. The air-conditioned trip includes a bilingual guide, insurance, facilities at Mambo Beach, and a small group capped at 15 people.

“The beach is ok but the mangroves and snorkelling was awful You get on a crowded boat and are given life jackets. My husband's didn't close properly and no one cared after he mentioned it. Then we took the boat up and down the beach for half an hour picking up other people. I was so excited for the mangroves but you only go in 500 meters and they let you get off the boat to feed the lemurs which is so gross. You're supposed to look but not touch. And that's all you do in the mangroves! Then they to us to feed minnows. The snorkeling experience doesn't even…”

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8.5 Island Tour with Lunch Snorkel in Cartagena Rosario Island

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 94 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $110

This seven-hour speedboat trip from Cartagena visits Bocachica, Isla Grande, Rosario reefs, Cholón, Agua Azul, and Playa Tranquila Baru. You get a fish, chicken, or vegetarian lunch, beach chairs, bilingual guides, and a mask for snorkeling. Guides have included David, Miranda, and Teke. Expect music, sun, vendors, and a bumpy ride home.

“We had a blast...Everyone had fun.. Tha boatride was amazing... David the tour guy was very informative and helpful..”

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9.5-Island Trip by Boat with Lunch and Snorkeling

★★★★★★★★★★3.6 · 82 reviews · from $89

Spend 10 hours aboard a sports boat from Cartagena, visiting Bocachica, Rosario Islands, Isla Grande, Cholon, and Playa Tranquila. You’ll snorkel over coral and a sunken plane, eat fish, chicken, or vegetarian lunch, sample seafood, and see luminous plankton after dark. English- and Spanish-speaking guides, including water guide David, lead the day.

“Brilliant tour. Boat was fun! The bioluminescence plankton was so cool, a must if you do this trip. The food was nice. The only thing we weren't too keen on was Cholon island. It was really busy, party place (maybe this is what you're after) standing in the water that just felt dirty. But other than that an amazing trip! We loved it!”

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10.5 Islands Tour from Cartagena Including Snorkeling and Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 62 reviews · 8 to 11 hours (approx.) · from $100

Spend a full day on the water from Cartagena, visiting Tierra Bomba, the Rosario Islands, Cholon, Agua Azul, and Playa Tranquila Baru. You’ll see colonial forts, Pablo Escobar’s sunken plane, try snorkeling, eat lunch, and meet a bilingual guide. Hotel pickup may require confirmation, and the oceanarium costs extra.

“One of the reasons we chose this tour was because it would go to 5 islands and then spend 3 hours in the last one after lunch (Playa Tranquila Baru Island). Unfortunately we only got 35 minutes. Other issues we faced were regarding how the boat crew behaved, they invited their girlfriends so their attention to the guests was minimal and the other thing was seeing the Captain drinking in the Cholon Island. The tour guide did a job though.”

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11.5 Islands VIP Escape : Snorkeling, Private Lunch & Open Bar

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 48 reviews · 5 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $120

Spend about five and a half hours on a boat from Cartagena, passing Bocachica and Rosario’s islands, snorkeling over a sunken plane near Isla Grande, stopping at noisy Cholón, eating lunch on a private island, and swimming at Playa Tranquila Barú. The tour includes an air-conditioned transfer, lunch, medical assistance, and a snorkeling mask, but not hotel drop-off, drinks, or bottled water.

“After lot of research we settled on this tour. Sadly this has been the low point of entire stay in Cartagena. Anyone used to high quality tours, this is not going to meet the expectation. The summary is as follow 1. Picked up from the hotel late - 30 min past the time 2. Drove for 2 hrs to blanca beach. 3. The beach entrance is quite something. It doesnt have a normal road. Took about 30 min to traverse probably 500 yards. Having been on Indian roads, this was a shock to me. Felt like i was on Mars with craters 4. Walk from the parking lot to the…”

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12.5 Islands Boat Tour with Lunch, Snorkeling, & Bar

★★★★★★★★★★3.7 · 39 reviews · 11h 30m · from $159

This 11.5-hour tour takes you from Bocagrande or El Laguito across Cartagena Bay to Bocachica, Isla Grande, San Martín de Pajarales, Cholón, and Agua Azul. You get a shrimp cocktail, Caribbean lunch, snorkeling gear, and an English or Spanish-speaking guide, followed by a nighttime plankton display.

“A little confusing with the added plankton activity; I should’ve known better that the bus would make me arrive late back to Cartagena for my flight. I would’ve liked a little more explanation in English but the guide mostly spoke Spanish once the rest of the English speakers left”

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13.5 islands tour to rosario Islands with snorkeling activity!

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 36 reviews · 7 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $90

Spend 7 to 8 hours boating from Cartagena through the Rosario Islands, with stops at a private island, Isla Grande for 45 minutes of snorkeling, lively Cholon, and Playa Blanca. Guides such as Milton and Alex keep the boat moving, while transport, park fees, equipment, fruit, lemonade, and a 30,000 COP food credit are included.

“This is the best tour ever to all the Rosario islands book here asap What are you waiting for hurry up and book it you won’t regret it . Staff is amazing and very professional”

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