Cartagena · Rosario Islands · Playa Blanca · Cholon
No shared tours. No strangers. Your private boat, your route — Islas del Rosario, Playa Blanca, Barú, or Cholon — with a bilingual captain who knows every reef.
⭐ 4.9/5 · 218 reviews · Bilingual captain · Zero hidden fees
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Boat rental in Cartagena Colombia costs $500–$950/day for a private speedboat (up to 12 people), $1,750–$2,750/day for a mid-size yacht (up to 17 people), and $1,750–$4,500/day for a catamaran (up to 30 people). All charters include a bilingual licensed captain, fuel, and safety equipment. Most popular routes: Islas del Rosario (45–60 min from dock), Playa Blanca on Barú (45 min), and Cholon sandbar (30 min). Note: Rosario Islands visits require a ~$5–8 USD/person national park entrance fee paid on arrival. High-season surcharges (20–35%) apply Dec 15–Jan 15 and during Semana Santa.
All prices include bilingual captain, fuel & safety gear. No platform fees. USD pricing.
| Vessel Type | Guests | Half Day (4hr) | Full Day (8hr) | Best Route |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private Speedboat 24–30 ft | Up to 8 | $350–$500 | $500–$750 | Playa Blanca, Cholon, Bay sunset |
| Private Lancha 32–38 ft ⭐ | Up to 12 | $500–$700 | $680–$950 | Rosario Islands + Playa Blanca combo |
| Mid-Size Yacht 40–50 ft | Up to 17 | $950–$1,400 | $1,750–$2,750 | Corporate groups, birthdays |
| Catamaran 45–55 ft | Up to 30 | $1,200–$2,200 | $1,750–$4,500 | Large groups, island hopping |
| Luxury Yacht 55–70 ft | Up to 20 | $2,200–$3,500 | $4,180–$6,500 | VIP charters, overnight stays |
⚠️ Rosario Islands: +$5–8 USD/person national park fee (paid on arrival, not included). High-season surcharge: +20–35% Dec 15–Jan 15 & Semana Santa.
Five routes — from 30 minutes to a full day offshore.
30 min from dock
Floating bars, turquoise shallows, and the most social spot on the Colombian Caribbean. Anchor, swim out, and find your people. Best for groups that want energy and music without a beach club cover. Depart 10 AM, return by 3 PM.
45 min from dock
White sand, clear Caribbean water, fresh ceviche from beach vendors, and hammocks in the shallows. The most photographed beach near Cartagena. Private boat means you arrive at 9 AM before shared lanchas dump 200 tourists — and leave when you want.
45–60 min from dock
28 coral islands inside a national marine park. Snorkel directly from the boat at 3–12 ft depth — sea turtles, tropical fish, living coral. Park entrance fee: ~$5–8 USD/person paid on arrival. Best visibility: November–April, 8 AM departure.
60 min from dock
The largest of the Rosario Islands — mangrove kayak trails, a small freshwater lagoon, and beachfront pescado frito (fried fish). Fewer tourists than Playa Blanca. Best combined with Rosario snorkeling for a full-day route.
30 min bay loop
Sail past the walled city and Castillo San Felipe as the sky turns gold at 5:30 PM. The most romantic 2 hours in Colombia. Perfect for anniversaries, proposals, or a low-key evening before dinner in Getsemaní. Add champagne and a charcuterie board — we handle it.
Most travelers book a shared tour without doing the math. Here it is.
Break-even point: 6+ people → private boat costs the same per person as a shared tour. Book direct, save the platform fee.
Based on 218 charters — the mistakes we see every week.
01 · Arriving at Playa Blanca after 11 AM
The beach goes from paradise to chaos in 90 minutes.
Shared lanchas unload 200+ tourists at Playa Blanca starting around 10:30–11 AM. Private boats that depart at 8 AM arrive to near-empty beach with clear water. Depart by 12:30 PM before the vendors and crowds peak. We build your itinerary around this window.
02 · Forgetting the park entrance fee
Arriving at Rosario Islands with no cash and no one to help.
The Tasa de Parques Nacionales (~$5–8 USD/person, ~COP 20,000–30,000) is collected at the park entrance and not included in any boat rental price. Bring cash in Colombian pesos — they don't accept cards or USD at the checkpoint. We remind every client 24 hours before departure.
03 · Booking October without checking the weather
Paying full price for a route that gets cancelled due to 2m swells.
Late September–October is peak rainy season in Cartagena. Offshore routes (Rosario Islands) get rough. We're honest about this: if seas are unsafe, we reschedule or refund. Best months for offshore routes: December–April. Bay and Cholon routes run year-round.
04 · Booking via a random local "fixer" on the street
Paying upfront and having the boat not show up.
Cartagena has informal boat brokers who sell on commission with no accountability. You pay, they pocket money, the boat is different than described — or simply late. Always confirm: licensed captain, boat registration number, and a direct WhatsApp contact before sending any deposit.
05 · Trying to do Rosario Islands + Playa Blanca + Cholon in one day
Rushing 3 stops and truly enjoying none of them.
These are 3 different destinations in different directions — attempting all 3 in 8 hours means 4+ hours of transit, 90-minute visits each, and an exhausted group. Our recommendation: Rosario Islands + Isla Grande (full day) OR Playa Blanca + Cholon (half day). Pick your focus, enjoy it fully.
We'd rather lose the booking than have the wrong client on board.
Solo traveler or 2 people on a tight budget. Shared lanchas at $45–$65/person cover Rosario Islands and Playa Blanca perfectly. A private boat for 2 people runs $250–$350 per person — use the shared tour, use the savings for dinner in el Centro.
You want a deep-sea fishing expedition with rods and trolling gear. Cartagena bay is not the right water for serious offshore fishing. We do scenic, snorkeling, and island routes — not sportfishing.
You're booking during October without flexibility. Peak rainy season means real offshore risks. We don't cancel lightly — but we do cancel when it's dangerous. Book with a flexible date if traveling in Sep–Oct.
You want a floating rave with 80 people. Our vessels max at 30 guests. Large event flotillas are a different logistics operation — we can refer you to operators who specialize in that.
Private speedboats (up to 8 people) start at $350–$500 for a half day and $500–$750 for a full day. Our most popular option — a private lancha for up to 12 people — runs $680–$950/day. Mid-size yachts start at $1,750/day and catamarans at $1,750–$4,500/day for up to 30 guests. All prices include bilingual captain, fuel, and safety equipment.
Playa Blanca on Barú Island is approximately 45 minutes by private speedboat from Muelle Turístico La Bodeguita in downtown Cartagena. Shared lanchas take 60–90 minutes and make multiple stops. Private charter = direct route + you control departure and return time.
Yes. The Tasa de Parques Nacionales Naturales is approximately $5–8 USD per person (around COP 20,000–30,000) paid at the park entrance checkpoint. Bring Colombian pesos cash — the checkpoint doesn't accept dollars or cards. This fee applies to everyone, including private charter guests, and is not included in any boat rental price.
Yes — this is our most popular full-day combo (8–9 hrs, depart 8 AM). We go to Rosario Islands for snorkeling first (10 AM–12:30 PM), then to Playa Blanca for lunch and beach time (1–3:30 PM), and return to Cartagena by 5 PM. Requires a vessel with sufficient range — confirm with us before booking.
December–April (dry season) is peak season — calm seas, best water clarity for snorkeling, and daily sunshine. May–August is transitional with occasional afternoon showers but still good for most routes. Avoid late September–October (peak rainy season) for offshore routes. High-season surcharge of 20–35% applies Dec 15–Jan 15 and during Semana Santa.
Main departure point is Muelle Turístico La Bodeguita near the Old City walls — central, easy to reach by taxi from El Laguito, Bocagrande, or the Walled City. We send a GPS pin and parking guide 24 hours before departure. Our captain or crew meets you at the dock.
Message us on WhatsApp. Bilingual response within 60 minutes. We send photos of the actual boat, confirm the captain, and build your itinerary before you pay a peso.
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