Short answer: Yes, you can rent a private boat in Cartagena on Christmas Eve (December 24) and New Year's Eve (December 31): Nauty 360 has its full fleet available on both dates. Choose a Full Day to the islands (9 AM to 5 PM) or an evening on Cartagena Bay from 6 PM, and on December 31 our boats can be on the water at midnight for the New Year's fireworks. Full Day prices per boat start from $680 (Hawaii 29 ft), with options from $950 (Suad), $1,290 (Alan), $1,865 (Caro Blue catamaran) and $2,800 (Azimut 62 Sport yacht). The evening on the bay starts from $480 per boat. From December 15 to January 15, high-season rates apply and availability is limited. Message us on WhatsApp to confirm the price for your date.
Ask for Christmas or New Year's availability on WhatsApp
What a holiday boat day in Cartagena looks like
Christmas and New Year's fall right in the middle of Cartagena's high season. Most of the boats you see advertised for these nights are shared party boats: a fixed departure, a set menu, and tables next to people you don't know. A private charter works the other way around. The boat is only for your group, the price is per boat and never per person, and you decide how the day or the night goes.
On December 24 and December 31 you have two ways to do it:
- Full Day to the islands (9 AM to 5 PM). Eight hours to the Rosario Islands, Playa Blanca or Cholón, back in the city in time for dinner and the celebrations on land.
- Evening on the bay (from 6 PM, minimum 3 hours). The last of the sunset over Cartagena Bay, then the walled city, Bocagrande and Castillo San Felipe lit up from the water. This trip stays inside the bay and does not go to the islands. See the sunset cruise in Cartagena.
On New Year's Eve, boats can be out on the water at midnight so your group sees the fireworks from the bay. Tell us when you book and we plan the departure time with you.
How to book your Christmas or New Year's boat in 7 steps
- Pick the date. December 24, December 31, or both. Both dates are high season, so the earlier you write, the more boats you can choose from.
- Choose day or night. Full Day to the islands (9 AM to 5 PM) or the evening on the bay from 6 PM. On December 31, say if you want to be on the water at midnight for the fireworks.
- Count your group. Capacity goes from 10 guests on our smallest boat to 25 on the 52 ft catamaran (26 to 30 with a surcharge). The table below helps you match group and boat.
- Think about the breeze. December brings steady trade winds. The sea stays fully navigable, but a bigger boat, such as a catamaran, is more comfortable with kids or anyone prone to motion sickness. More in our best time to visit Cartagena by boat guide.
- Confirm the price for your date on WhatsApp. Full Day prices per boat start from $680 (Hawaii 29 ft), with options from $950 (Suad), $1,290 (Alan), $1,865 (Caro Blue catamaran) and $2,800 (Azimut 62 Sport yacht). The evening on the bay starts from $480 per boat. From December 15 to January 15, high-season rates apply and availability is limited. Message us on WhatsApp to confirm the price for your date. Send us the date, the trip and your group size at +1 (954) 890-0266 and we reply with the price for your boat.
- Confirm with the deposit. A 50% deposit confirms the booking (100% if the trip is within 3 days). The balance is paid 2 to 3 days before. Read the cancellation policy before you pay.
- Plan the details. Food and drinks are not included, so bring your own or ask us about catering or a DJ as add-ons. Depending on the boat, departures are from different marinas in Cartagena; we confirm your exact meeting point on WhatsApp, and your captain waits for you with a Nauty 360 sign.
Checklist before you sail
- ☐ Date confirmed: December 24 or December 31
- ☐ Day trip (9 AM to 5 PM) or evening on the bay (from 6 PM)
- ☐ For New Year's Eve: midnight on the water requested and departure time agreed
- ☐ Final number of guests, within the boat's capacity
- ☐ Price for your date confirmed on WhatsApp and deposit paid
- ☐ Food and drinks packed, or catering requested as an add-on
- ☐ Meeting point and marina confirmed on WhatsApp
- ☐ Hotel pickup requested if you need it (extra cost)
- ☐ For the islands: swimsuit, sunscreen and your own snorkel gear (not included)
Which boat for your group: comparison
The "From" column shows the public Full Day price for the whole boat, never per person. From December 15 to January 15, high-season rates apply and availability is limited. Message us on WhatsApp to confirm the price for your date.
| Option | Guests | From (Full Day, per boat) | Evening on the bay (3 h, from 6 PM) | Best for on December 24 and 31 | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speedboat Hawaii 29 ft | Up to 10 | From $680 | From $480 | Couples, families and small groups; Full Day to the islands or an evening on the bay | Rosario Islands by private boat |
| Argento 42 ft | Up to 20 | From $1,245 | Ask on WhatsApp | Mid-size groups who want to reach the islands fast | Rosario Islands by private boat |
| Catamaran Caro Blue 38 ft | Up to 15 | From $1,865 | Ask on WhatsApp | Families with kids; more stable in the December breeze | Catamaran rental Cartagena |
| Catamaran Sea Warrior 52 ft | Up to 25 (26 to 30 with surcharge) | From $3,779 | Ask on WhatsApp | Large groups and family reunions | Catamaran rental Cartagena |
| Azimut 62 ft Sport | Up to 18 | From $2,800 | Ask on WhatsApp | A New Year's Eve on a yacht, birthdays, special occasions | Azimut 62 Sport |
| Sunseeker Predator 72 ft | Up to 18 | From $4,950 | Ask on WhatsApp | A premium yacht night on the bay | Sunseeker 72 |
Always included: DIMAR-licensed captain, fuel, ice, safety equipment and personal accident insurance for every passenger. Not included: food and drinks (bring your own), snorkel gear. Hotel pickup is available at an extra cost.
Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve: which one?
Christmas Eve is the calmer of the two nights. Many families do a Full Day to the islands on the 24th and are back in the city by 5 PM for dinner. If you'd rather keep the day free, the evening trip from 6 PM gives you the city lights from the water before your dinner plans.
New Year's Eve is about the fireworks. The evening on the bay starts from 6 PM, with the end of the sunset and the walled city, Bocagrande and Castillo San Felipe lit up from the water. If you want to stay out until midnight, tell us when you book: we agree the departure time and how long you stay on the water with you, and you watch the New Year come in from the bay with only your group on board.
Want both? Book a Full Day on one date and the evening on the other. Two very different days, one booking contact.
Why book a private boat instead of a shared holiday cruise
- Your group only. No shared tables, no strangers on deck.
- Price per boat, not per person. The bigger your group, the lower the cost per guest.
- Your food, your music, your timing. Bring what you like on board, or add catering or a DJ.
- Direct booking. No platform commission, one contact from the quote to the dock, and a DIMAR-licensed captain on every trip.
Planning another night in Cartagena? See our sunset cruise, our private yacht charters and the Rosario Islands by private boat.