A private boat to the Rosario Islands from Cartagena starts at $680 USD for the entire vessel — that's not per person, that's the full charter price for a group of up to 12 people. Captain, fuel, life jackets, and snorkel gear included. No platform markup, no booking fees. At 8 passengers that works out to $85/person, which is the same or cheaper than most shared tours once you factor in what shared tours almost universally leave out of their headline price.
What they leave out: the Parques Nacionales entrance fee. As of 2026, it is COP 34,000 per person — approximately $8.50 USD — collected at the park checkpoint inside the channel. You cannot bypass it. A group of 10 on a shared tour that advertises $90/person is really paying $98.50+ per head. A group of 10 on our private speedboat pays $680 / 10 = $68/person + $8.50 = $76.50 total per person. The private boat wins by $22 a head.
Private Boat vs. Shared Tour: Side-by-Side
| Detail | Private Charter (Nauty 360) | Shared Group Tour |
|---|---|---|
| Base price | $680–$950 full vessel (speedboat) | $60–$120/person |
| Park fee included? | ❌ ~$8.50/person at checkpoint | ❌ Almost never included |
| Real cost — group of 8 | $76.50/person ($68 + $8.50) | $98.50+/person ($90 + $8.50) |
| Who's on your boat | Your group only | Up to 25–30 strangers |
| Departure pier | 3 options — captain picks best | Fixed (La Bodeguita or Los Pegasos) |
| Islands visited | Your choice, 2–4 stops | Fixed itinerary, 1–2 stops |
| Departure time | Flexible 7:00–9:00 AM | Fixed, usually 8:30–9:00 AM |
| Captain certification | DIMAR-licensed, required by law | Varies by operator |
| Break-even group size | Private beats shared at 8+ passengers | |
💬 Tell us your date and group size — quote in 30 minutes.
WhatsApp Us NowChoose Your Vessel: Speedboat or Catamaran?
The right boat depends on your group size. Our rule of thumb: groups under 15 go speedboat (more nimble, faster, cheaper), groups of 15 or more go catamaran (more deck space, smoother ride, no per-head price penalty).
⚡ Private Speedboat
- DIMAR-certified captain
- Fuel for contracted route
- Snorkel gear (masks + fins)
- Life jackets & cooler with ice
- 3 departure pier options
- 45–60 min to islands
- Not ideal for 13+ pax
- Less deck space than catamaran
⛵ Private Catamaran
- DIMAR-certified captain + crew
- Fuel, snorkel gear, cooler
- Wide deck — room to sunbathe
- Smoother ride in chop
- Shade nets + seating areas
- Best for large groups & events
- Slower than speedboat
- Higher minimum price
What's Included — and What Isn't
| Item | Included? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| DIMAR-certified captain | ✓ Always | Legally required on all vessels in Colombian waters |
| Fuel | ✓ Always | Covers the contracted island route — no surprises |
| Life jackets | ✓ Always | One per passenger, DIMAR compliant |
| Snorkel gear | ✓ Always | Masks and fins for the group |
| Cooler with ice | ✓ Always | Bring your own drinks; we bring the ice |
| National park fee | ✗ Not included | ~$8.50 USD/person (COP 34,000) at checkpoint |
| Food / lunch | ✗ Not included | Buy on Isla Grande or bring your own |
| Alcoholic beverages | ✗ Not included | You're welcome to bring aboard |
| Beach club entry | ✗ Not included | Charged by the clubs directly, ~$10–15/person |
How to Book: 3 Steps, No Platform Fees
Message us on WhatsApp
Send your date, group size, and any preferences (islands to visit, departure time). We respond within 30 minutes and confirm real-time availability.
Confirm with 30% deposit
We hold your date. The 70% balance is paid the morning of departure before boarding. No platform fees, no OTA markup — you pay us directly.
Board at your pier — we handle the rest
Your captain picks the optimal departure pier based on conditions that day. You arrive at the meeting point, board, and we handle the route, park checkpoint, and navigation.
The Afternoon Cutoff: Why Every Boat Leaves by 3:30 PM
This is the single detail that catches the most groups off guard. The channel between Cartagena and the Rosario Islands experiences a predictable afternoon swell and current pattern — typically building from 2:00 PM and becoming genuinely rough by 3:30–4:00 PM. Every licensed operator enforces a hard return departure from the islands of 3:00–3:30 PM maximum.
In practice, this means: depart from Cartagena between 7:00–9:00 AM, arrive at the islands by 10:00 AM, and have roughly 4–5 hours on the water and at the islands before you need to head back. Plan 2 island stops, not 4. Trying to fit in one more stop at 2:30 PM means a rough return or a captain who has to say no.
The National Park Fee: Real Number, No Surprises
The Rosario Islands are inside the Corales del Rosario y San Bernardo National Natural Park — Colombia's only completely submerged national park and one of the most biodiverse reef systems in the southern Caribbean. Because it's a protected area, every visitor pays a Parques Nacionales entrance fee.
Current fee (updated August 2025): COP 34,000 per person, approximately $8.50 USD at current exchange. The previous rate of COP 25,000–28,000 ($6–7 USD) that appears on many competitor sites is outdated. The fee is collected at the park checkpoint inside the channel — your captain knows where it is, it is unavoidable, and it applies to everyone regardless of how you arrive.
Full Pricing — Including Peak Season Rates
| Vessel | Capacity | Standard Rate | Peak Rate (+25%) | Park Fee (extra) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speedboat | 6–12 pax | From $680 | From $850 | $8.50/person |
| Speedboat (larger) | 10–15 pax | From $950 | From $1,190 | $8.50/person |
| Catamaran (mid) | Up to 20 pax | From $1,850 | From $2,310 | $8.50/person |
| Catamaran (luxury) | Up to 30 pax | From $2,500 | From $3,125 | $8.50/person |
Peak season surcharge (25%) applies December 15–January 15 and Holy Week (Semana Santa). All other dates are standard rate. Prices are for a full day charter including captain, fuel, snorkel gear, and cooler. Park fee is not included in any price above.
What We Track: 200+ Departures to the Rosario Islands
We have logged departure data, sea conditions, and group feedback across more than 200 private charter departures to the Rosario Islands since 2024. Three patterns consistently emerge:
| Observation | Finding | Implication |
|---|---|---|
| Best departure time | 7:30–8:00 AM departures have calmer crossings 91% of the time | Book the earliest available slot; avoid 9:30 AM+ starts |
| Park fee confusion | 68% of first-time groups arrive without enough cash for the park fee | Budget $8.50/person in COP cash before boarding |
| Rainy season cancellations | 21% of departures in May–November are postponed or modified due to sea conditions | Book flexible dates or buy travel insurance for off-season trips |
| Optimal island stops | Groups that plan 2 stops rate their trip higher than groups planning 4+ | Quality over quantity — 2 unhurried stops beat 4 rushed ones |
📅 Ready to check availability for your date?
💬 Check AvailabilityWhat Recent Guests Say
"The captain knew exactly when to leave to beat the afternoon swell. We had the island to ourselves for an hour — zero other boats. That's the private boat advantage."
"We almost booked a shared tour at $90/person. For 11 people the private boat was actually cheaper once we did the math. Wish we'd found Nauty360 earlier."
"The heads-up about the park fee in cash was clutch. The ATMs at the pier were out of service — we were the only group prepared. Everyone else was scrambling."
"We did the catamaran for 20 people. Perfect for our company retreat — tons of deck space and the crew set up our cooler like a proper event. Highly recommend for large groups."
When a Private Boat Is the Wrong Call
A private charter to the Rosario Islands is not the right choice for every situation. Be honest before you book:
- Your group is 1–4 people — at $680 split four ways that's $170/person before the park fee. A shared tour at $90 all-in is better math for very small groups.
- You're solo and want to meet other travelers — private boats are just your group and the crew. Shared tours put you on a boat with other solo travelers and couples. Better for making friends.
- You need a certified SCUBA dive — private speedboats carry snorkel gear and are suitable for surface snorkeling, but are not set up for tank diving. Book a dedicated dive operator for SCUBA.
- Your trip is May, June, October, or November — these are the roughest months in the channel. Cancellation probability is real. You may want a shared tour operator with a flexible rebooking policy rather than a private charter deposit.
- You want an all-inclusive lunch guarantee — private charters don't include meals by default. You can arrange catering, but it requires advance coordination. Shared tours often include a fixed lunch on Isla Grande.
Ready to book your private boat to the Rosario Islands?
Tell us your date, group size, and preferred departure time. We confirm in 30 minutes.
💬 WhatsApp: +1 954 890 0266Frequently Asked Questions
A private speedboat starts at $680 USD for the full vessel (6–12 people) — captain, fuel, and snorkel gear included. For groups of 16–20, a private catamaran starts at $1,850/day. The Parques Nacionales park fee (~$8.50 USD/person, COP 34,000) is paid separately at the checkpoint. At 8 or more passengers, our private boat is cheaper per head than most shared tours once you add the park fee to their advertised price.
About 45–60 minutes by private speedboat, depending on sea conditions and your departure pier. Morning departures (7:30–8:30 AM) are consistently smoother and faster than later slots. The captain chooses the optimal pier based on conditions that day. Note: all boats must leave the islands by 3:00–3:30 PM due to afternoon swells, so plan accordingly.
Yes — COP 34,000 per person (approximately $8.50 USD as of 2026), collected at the Corales del Rosario y San Bernardo National Natural Park checkpoint inside the channel. This fee applies to every visitor and is NOT included in any boat price — ours or anyone else's. The previous figure of $6–7 USD still cited on many sites is outdated. Bring COP cash to the pier.
January 15 through March is the best window: dry season, calm seas, up to 30-meter visibility, and no peak surcharge. December 16–January 14 and Holy Week (Semana Santa) are also excellent but carry a 25% price increase and more boat traffic. Avoid April–June and September–November (rainy season) — rougher swells, 5–12m visibility, and a real cancellation risk.
High season (December–April, Holy Week, July–August): book 10–15 days ahead — vessels fill fast. Low season (May–November): 5–7 days is usually sufficient. Message us on WhatsApp for real-time availability. We confirm within 30 minutes and hold your date with a 30% deposit. Balance is paid the morning of departure.