Wedding in Cartagena on a Boat: The Complete Destination Wedding Guide [2026]

Every wedding planner in Cartagena has the same story: a couple visits the walled city once, sees the bay at sunset with the colonial skyline behind it, and decides that is where they want to say their vows — on the water itself. It is a different kind of ceremony, and it comes with a different set of planning questions than a standard destination wedding.

This guide is written for couples and wedding planners actually working through those questions: how many guests fit on a boat, what the charter includes versus what needs a separate vendor, the decoration rule that shapes which boat to book, and what a realistic charter budget looks like. If you have already booked your private yacht charter in Cartagena for the honeymoon portion of the trip, this is the piece that covers the event itself — the boat as venue, the guests, and the logistics of the day.

Why Cartagena Is a Top Destination Wedding Location

Cartagena offers a photogenic setting for a destination wedding: the 400-year-old walled city, colonial architecture, and Caribbean water, with direct flights from most major US cities. On a boat, that setting becomes the ceremony backdrop itself instead of a photo stop.

What makes it stand out specifically for a boat wedding:

• The backdrop does the work. Bahía de Cartagena’s water, combined with the silhouette of the walled city or Castillo San Felipe, gives every photo a cinematic quality without extensive styling.
• Built-in exclusivity. A private charter means no other events, no shared venue schedule — the boat is exclusively your group.
• A genuinely different ceremony format. Most guests have never attended a wedding on a boat.
• Flexibility to extend the day. The charter can flow from ceremony into a sunset cocktail hour on the same vessel.

Ceremony on Board — What a Boat Wedding in Cartagena Looks Like

A typical boat wedding ceremony in Cartagena follows this general shape:

• Arrival and boarding: Guests board first, followed by the wedding party. Boarding logistics matter more here than at a land venue — confirm dock access and any mobility considerations in advance.
• Positioning for the ceremony: The captain typically anchors or holds position in a calm, scenic stretch of the bay — often with the Old City or Castillo San Felipe visible in the background — for the duration of the ceremony.
• The ceremony itself: Officiant, vows, and rings proceed as they would on land. Sound carries differently on water — a portable PA or lapel mic system is recommended for ceremonies with more than a handful of guests.
• Immediate post-ceremony: Many couples move directly into a champagne toast and photos while the boat begins cruising, using the transit time productively instead of sitting at anchor.

How Many Guests Can You Fit? The Real Cartagena Fleet

Cartagena prices charters by vessel, not by person, and capacity ranges from 10 to 30 guests depending on the boat. Here is a representative spread of the fleet:

This is a representative range — the full Cartagena fleet also includes other lanchas, yachts, and catamarans in between. The exact vessel options for your date and guest count are sent as 2–3 choices with photos and an all-in price when you reach out.

If decoration is part of your plan, it narrows the choice. Decoration is only permitted inside the cabin, and only on yachts — not on open decks and not on speedboats or lanchas, due to the risk of debris going into the water. For a wedding with decoration, the Yate 50', Azimut 62S, Sunseeker Predator 72, or Yate 90' are the vessels that work; a lancha does not.

What’s Included — and What You Arrange Yourself

Nauty 360 provides the boat as the venue. The base charter includes:

• The vessel and a captain
• Fuel for the agreed route
• Taxes
• Cooler with ice on board

Nauty 360 does not provide wedding services. Decoration, catering, music, photography, and an officiant are arranged by the couple — either with your own vendors, or Nauty 360 can recommend local providers on request. No specific provider is named here, and there is no published price for these services, since Nauty 360 does not broker them.

Decoration — the rule that shapes vessel choice: decoration is only permitted inside the cabin, and only on yachts. It is not allowed on open decks, and it is not allowed on speedboats or lanchas, due to the risk of debris going into the water. There is time built into the charter before departure to set up decoration; the exact window is coordinated with you when you book.

Best Time of Year for a Cartagena Boat Wedding

• December–April (dry season): Calm seas and minimal rain — the most reliable window for an outdoor ceremony.
• May–November (rainy season): Afternoon showers are common but often brief. A morning or early-afternoon ceremony reduces weather risk during this period.
• Time of day: A late-afternoon ceremony that transitions into a sunset cocktail hour on the same boat is a popular format. A morning ceremony is an alternative for cooler temperatures and calmer water.

How Much Does a Wedding Boat Charter Cost in Cartagena?

Charter pricing starts from $680 for the smallest vessel and ranges up to $11,800 for the largest yacht — see the fleet table above for the full spread by vessel and capacity. There is no separate “wedding package” price, since decoration, catering, and other wedding services are arranged by the couple, not by Nauty 360. Check availability for your date to get vessel options and a price based on your guest count.

Reservations

A 33% deposit confirms the booking, and Nauty 360 typically confirms within 2 hours of your inquiry. If decoration is part of your plan, let the team know when you book — there is time before departure to set up, and the vessel needs to be one with a cabin.

After the Ceremony

The charter can extend into a sunset cruise — cocktail hour and toasts continuing on board as the sun sets over the bay. Some couples continue the celebration on land afterward; that part is arranged separately from the charter.

Planning a honeymoon after the wedding? Our Cartagena honeymoon yacht charter guide covers the romantic getaway side of the trip — once the ceremony and celebration are behind you.

For guests traveling internationally for the wedding, our guide on is Cartagena safe to visit is a useful resource to share with your wedding party.