Boat Tour Cartagena: Private Charters, Routes & Prices [2026 Guide]

Cartagena sits on the edge of the Colombian Caribbean with some of the most accessible island scenery in Latin America, and the boat is the only way to reach most of it. The Rosario Islands are 35 km offshore. Playa Blanca on Barú is 30 km to the south. Cholón, the famous floating beach club bay, is tucked inside the archipelago. None of these are reachable on foot. A private boat charter in Cartagena puts your group in full control of the day — your own captain, your own schedule, your own stops.

This guide covers every practical dimension of a Cartagena boat tour in 2026: the types of boats available, the routes that are actually worth doing, what the prices include and what they don’t, the best months to go, and how to book without overpaying or getting a surprise bill at the dock. Routes and timing notes below reflect what local captains see on the water, day to day.

Types of Boat Tours in Cartagena

Not all boat tours are the same product. There are three distinct categories operating out of Cartagena, and the differences matter for pricing, experience, and route flexibility.

The private speedboat (locally called a lancha) is the most common choice for groups of 4–10. It is the fastest vessel to the Rosario Islands — about 75–90 minutes — and the $680 price covers the entire vessel for a Full Day charter (9 AM–5 PM), not per person. Split among 8 people that is $85 each for the day, captain and fuel included. For groups smaller than 4, the math still works because the cost does not change.

The private catamaran makes sense for groups of 12–20 who want more deck space, shade, and stability. At $2,600 split among 15 people it is about $173 per person for the Full Day charter — a fundamentally different on-water experience than the speedboat, with more room to move around and a smoother, more comfortable crossing.

The sunset cruise is an evening charter of at least 3 hours that does not require anchoring or island stops. The route typically circles the Walled City from the water, catching the colonial skyline against the Caribbean sunset. It is the lowest-commitment option and excellent for guests who arrive on a short layover or who have already done the island route on a previous trip.

Best Boat Tour Routes from Cartagena (2026)

There are five routes that captains run consistently from Cartagena. Each has a different rhythm, a different ideal group type, and a different payoff. Here is the honest breakdown of each.

Rosario Islands + Cholón (most popular, Full Day, 8 hours)

This is the flagship route. Departure at 9:00 AM from your assigned marina (Club Náutico, Muelle de los Pegasos, or Marina Todomar), about 75–90 minutes across the bay, first stop at Isla Grande for snorkeling on the coral reef, then an hour at Cholón anchorage before heading back by 5:00 PM. Cholón is a sheltered bay where dozens of private boats anchor close together — the social scene there between 11am and 1pm is unlike anything else on the Colombian coast. Music from neighboring boats, vendors paddling between anchors, crystal water for swimming in place. Best for groups who want snorkeling plus the social beach-club atmosphere. See our complete guide to the Rosario Islands for the full breakdown of every stop in the archipelago.

Playa Blanca + Barú (Full Day, 8 hours)

A more relaxed route for groups whose priority is a genuinely beautiful beach, with more time to enjoy it once you're there. Playa Blanca on Barú Peninsula is one of the finest stretches of white Caribbean sand accessible from a major city anywhere in South America — a long, palm-lined shore with vendors grilling whole lobster for $12–15 USD. The boat ride is 30–45 minutes, slightly shorter than the Rosario Islands trip. One practical detail most guides skip: Playa Blanca is technically accessible by road, but the overland route takes 2–3 hours each way on rough, poorly maintained road. The private boat from Cartagena — direct, 35 minutes, no detours — is unambiguously the better option. Full route breakdown in the Playa Blanca and Barú boat tour guide.

Sunset Cruise — Walled City from the Water (at least 3 hours)

This is the only route that does not involve anchoring at a beach. The boat departs after 6:00 PM, circles the Walled City and the Bocagrande waterfront, and returns to the marina after dark. The view of the colonial fortifications turning orange and pink as the sun drops is the kind of scene that makes people feel they have seen Cartagena properly. Best for couples, guests on a short visit, or groups who already spent the day at the islands and want a low-effort evening on the water.

Full-Day Rosario Islands + Playa Blanca Combo (Full Day, 8 hours)

The premium option: snorkel at Isla Grande, move to Cholón for the social hour, then continue south to Playa Blanca for a beach lunch before the return trip — all within the Full Day charter (9 AM–5 PM). This route packs in the most ground of any single day on the water — reef snorkeling, beach club, and a long Caribbean beach — by moving at a faster pace than the other routes, since it covers more stops in the same 8 hours. Best for groups visiting only once and wanting to cover the most ground.

Private Cove Snorkeling — Coral Reef Focus (Full Day)

A reef-focused itinerary on your Full Day charter, designed specifically for snorkelers. The captain takes the boat to the best reef access points in the national park — typically Isla Grande and the Natural Aquarium, which has a 1–2 meter shallow lagoon with giant starfish and juvenile reef fish ideal for non-swimmers and children. No beach club stop, no crowds, just the reef. Best for families with children, dive-curious travelers, and groups where at least one person has already done the Cholón route and wants something different. For a full list of what to do once you are on the water, the things to do in Cartagena from a boat guide covers activities beyond the standard island stops.

Boat Tour Cartagena Prices (2026)

The prices below are for private charters — the entire vessel is yours, regardless of group size. Captain, fuel, cooler with ice, and life jackets are always included. What you pay does not change based on how many people show up, so the effective per-person cost drops as your group grows.

What private charter prices include: DIMAR-certified captain, fuel for the full route, life jackets and safety equipment, cooler with ice, and Bluetooth speaker. Departure is from your assigned marina — Club Náutico, Muelle de los Pegasos, or Marina Todomar — depending on which vessel is assigned to your charter.

What is not included by default: food and drinks (you can bring your own or buy on the water — vendors at Cholón and Playa Blanca sell cold drinks, fresh fruit, and seafood) and snorkel gear, available to rent on request — confirm when booking. There is no park entry fee on a private charter.

What’s Included in a Private Boat Tour

The included vs. not-included breakdown matters because some operators price low on the headline rate and add costs at each stop. On a private charter with Nauty 360 the following are always included regardless of route:

• DIMAR-certified captain — every vessel operating legally on Colombian waters requires a captain licensed by DIMAR (Dirección General Marítima), Colombia’s maritime authority. Nauty 360 operates exclusively with certified captains.
• Fuel for the full charter duration and route
• Life jackets and standard safety equipment for all passengers
• Cooler with ice for your drinks and food
• Bluetooth music — bring a playlist or use theirs
• Flexibility — stay longer at a stop, skip one, add a new one mid-trip. The captain works for your group, not the schedule.

The main practical advantage of a private charter is route control. If your group wants to spend three hours at Cholón instead of one, the boat stays. If someone in your group gets seasick and wants to go back early, you go back. If you decide halfway through the day you want to add a stop at Playa Blanca, the captain re-routes — all within your Full Day charter. For a detailed look at what else you can do once you have the boat to yourself, see activities in Cartagena from a private boat.

Best Time for a Boat Tour in Cartagena

Cartagena operates boat tours year-round, but sea conditions and crowd levels vary significantly by month. Local captains note that seas tend to be calmer and crowds lighter earlier in the day than in the afternoon — the Caribbean wind picks up as the day goes on. If your group has anyone sensitive to motion, ask about morning departure options when you book.

During the dry season, captains note that December through early January brings the strongest trade winds (locally called los vientos alisios), which can add some chop to the open crossing on the Rosario Islands route. If wind is a concern for your group, mention it when you book — your captain can advise on what to expect for your date.

How to Book a Boat Tour in Cartagena (Step by Step)

The booking process is straightforward if you know what to confirm upfront. These are the five steps that consistently result in a smooth departure day.

1. Choose your route and group size. Decide which destination or combination you want — Rosario Islands, Playa Blanca, sunset cruise, or a combo — and confirm how many people are in your group. This determines whether a speedboat (up to 10) or catamaran (up to 20) is the right vessel.
2. Request a quote via WhatsApp or the online form. Send your date, group size, preferred departure time, and any specific requests (snorkel gear, early departure, dietary restrictions for on-board food). The response comes back with a specific vessel, captain name, price, and meeting point.
3. Receive confirmation within 2 hours. Nauty 360’s 2-hour confirmation window is the operational standard — captain details, vessel type, and departure dock are confirmed before you have to pay anything.
4. Pay a 50% deposit to hold your date. The deposit secures the captain and vessel. The balance is paid on the day of departure at the dock. Confirm the payment method in the WhatsApp conversation — accepted methods are confirmed at booking.
5. Show up at the dock, captain handles everything. Arrive at your assigned marina (Club Náutico, Muelle de los Pegasos, or Marina Todomar) 15–20 minutes before departure. Your captain will be there. Fuel is loaded, the cooler is stocked with ice, and life jackets are on board. Everything from that point is managed by the captain.

If this is your first time booking a private charter in Cartagena, the main thing to confirm before paying is captain certification. All Nauty 360 captains hold a DIMAR license, which is the Colombian maritime authority equivalent of a Coast Guard certification. If you are booking through any operator and they cannot confirm DIMAR certification, that is a red flag. More on safety considerations and what to expect from the city more broadly in the Cartagena safety guide for 2026.