Private lanchas, catamarans and yachts for the Rosario Islands, Barú, Playa Blanca and sunset cruises — fully crewed, no deposits required.
Cartagena's walled city and emerald archipelagos are best seen from the water. A private charter puts you in the Rosario Islands in under an hour, anchored off Barú's white-sand beaches before the ferry crowds arrive, or watching the colonial skyline glow orange on a sunset cruise. Nauty 360 operates fully crewed vessels out of Marina El Lagito — no shared tours, no rigid schedules, no hidden fees.
Every charter includes a licensed Colombian Maritime Authority-certified captain, deck crew, cooler with ice, life jackets and snorkeling equipment. Fuel and dock fees are included in the listed rate.
All routes depart from Marina El Lagito (Bocagrande). Departure time is your choice.
Full-day private charter to the Islas del Rosario. 45–55 min crossing each way. Snorkeling, beach time, anchored lunch stop. Up to 10 guests on 29-ft lancha.
Barú island's southeastern coast — Playa Blanca + optional Cholón bay stop. 30–40 min transit. 4–5 hours on the beach. Same day-charter rate as Rosario.
3–4 hr evening cruise along Cartagena's fortified walls, Las Murallas and Castillo San Felipe. Best between 5 and 8 pm. Drinks and music. Up to 20 guests.
52-ft catamaran for up to 30 guests. Birthdays, corporate events, bachelor/bachelorette. DJ setup available, full crew, custom route. Minimum 6 hours.
All vessels are fully crewed. Fuel, equipment, and captain are included.
| Vessel | Size / Capacity | Half Day (4 hr) | Full Day (8 hr) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lancha (speedboat) | 29 ft / up to 10 guests | ~$450 | $680 | Rosario Islands, Barú, couples & small groups |
| Lancha grande | 40 ft / up to 20 guests | ~$750 | $1,250 | Medium groups, full-day island hop |
| Sailing Catamaran | 52 ft / up to 30 guests | $1,100 | $1,850 | Large groups, events, sunset parties |
| Yacht / Motoryacht | 48–55 ft / up to 12 guests | $1,400 | $2,650 | VIP days, proposals, luxury overnights |
Rates are per charter, not per person. National park entry fee (COP 43,000 ≈ $10 per adult, cash) paid on arrival at Rosario Islands and is not included.
Public ferries from Muelle TurÃstico take 1.5–2 hrs with 3–4 stops. A private lancha departs on your schedule from Marina El Lagito.
Parques Nacionales Naturales fee (~$10 USD per adult) is collected on arrival by the park warden. Cards not accepted. Bring small bills.
Weekends and public holidays turn Cholón into a loud, crowded anchorage. Midweek visits before noon are calm, clear water and half the boats.
Dry season brings 1–2 ft swells and consistent 20–25 km/h trade winds. May–November seas get rougher; September and October are the worst months for open-water crossings.
Shared tours to Rosario Islands run $55–$80 per person and include 20–40 strangers, fixed itineraries and no choice of stops. Here is the break-even math at current private charter rates:
| Group Size | Shared Tour Cost | Private Lancha ($680) | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 guests | ~$130 ($65/p) | $680 | Shared wins — private is 5x more expensive |
| 4 guests | ~$260 ($65/p) | $680 | Shared still cheaper, but private delivers full flexibility |
| 8 guests | ~$520 ($65/p) | $680 | Private nearly equal — add flexibility for $160 more |
| 10 guests | ~$650 ($65/p) | $680 | Private wins — $30 difference for an exclusive boat |
| 12 guests | ~$780 ($65/p) | $680 | Private clearly wins — $100 cheaper + total privacy |
| 20 guests | ~$1,300 ($65/p) | $1,250 (40-ft) | Private wins convincingly — save $50 and own the boat |
Shared tour rates from Muelle TurÃstico operators, April 2026.
Cholón bay on Barú's north side has waist-deep crystal water you anchor in and swim from the boat — it is not a beach destination, it is a bay. The bars run out to the water on floating pontoons. Go Tuesday–Thursday before noon. Weekends see 50+ boats anchored bow-to-stern and music at 100 dB from competing sound systems. If you want tranquility, Playa Blanca (15 min further southeast) is the better call on a Saturday.
In April 2026, we cross-referenced 14 private charter listings, 6 shared-tour operators and Dimar (Dirección General MarÃtima) vessel registry data to build this rate overview. Key findings: