A Weekend in Cartagena Coast, Off the Path
Two days covers exactly one boat day: Day 1 lands you in Cartagena and gives the walled Old City a single afternoon pass, Day 2 is the Rosario Islands/Playa Blanca trip in full, taxes and all. The 3 day version adds a La Boquilla mangrove morning and a Bocagrande recovery afternoon if you can spare a day.
Book these before you go
- Book a Rosario Islands boat day , a reviewed operator over a dock tout given the overselling reputation
- Compare Bocagrande and Getsemani rates before you book, dry season fills fast
- Browse Cartagena day trips if your dates stretch past two days
| Day | Focus | Travel time | Daily cost (COP) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrival, one Old City afternoon | 15-20 min taxi from CTG | ~120,000-180,000 |
| 2 | Rosario Islands/Playa Blanca boat day | Boat ~45min-1hr each way | ~210,000-280,000 (taxes included) |
Day 1: Arrival and One Pass Through the Old City
Land at Rafael Nunez International (CTG), 15-20 minutes from the center, and take the fixed-rate kiosk taxi, roughly 20,000-30,000 COP, to a hotel in Bocagrande or Getsemani depending on whether you want beachfront convenience or walking distance to restaurants. Old Cartagena gets exactly one pass on this trip: walk the walled city’s plazas for an hour or two while the heat allows, the walls themselves are free and UNESCO-listed since 1984 , then catch the sunset from the ramparts before an early dinner. Tomorrow starts with a boat, so don’t stay out late.
Day 2: The Rosario Islands and Playa Blanca Boat Day
Book the Rosario Islands/Playa Blanca boat day through a platform with visible reviews rather than a dock tout, the overselling reputation here is real and concentrated among unvetted operators. The advertised roughly 159,000 COP adult/139,000 COP child price covers the boat and lunch; budget another roughly 25,000-28,000 COP for the Parques Nacionales entrance fee and roughly 23,000 COP for the separate dock tax, both cash, both usually left off the booking page. Snorkeling gear is often extra, ask before you board. Small boats on this route get a specific rough-seas caution for December and January from the US State Department , so check the forecast if you’re traveling then. Boats typically leave by 8-9am and return by 5-6pm, plan a slow dinner rather than another activity, then head to CTG for an early flight or add the 3 day version if you booked one more night. For the full ranked rundown of what’s worth the extra day, see our Cartagena islands sights .