Colombia’s Islas del Rosario 
By Mercedes M. Cardona
Thanks to more political stability and security in Colombia, the colonial city of Cartagena is experiencing a tourism boom. Located 30 miles southeast of Cartagena’s Caribbean coast, Rosario Islands National Park (Islas del Rosario) offers a quiet alternative to the city’s beaches. The 48,200 acre national park is comprised of 27 distinct islands, many of which are undeveloped or even uninhabited. The islands are part of a coral reef dotted with stunning lagoons and home to more than 1,300 animal and plant species, from swordfish and sharks to many species of mangrove and birds. This makes it an excellent location for water sports, bird watching, trekking and other outdoor activities.
The Oceanarium in Isla San Martin, the first stop for most day-trippers, offers a glimpse of the marine life in the area’s reefs. A series of open-air pens built into the reef house sharks, dolphins, turtles and other sea creatures that visitors can see close-up from a boardwalk atop the reef.
The guided tours are in Spanish, but language skills are not required. Visitors can watch a brave staffer with a bucket of chum start a real feeding frenzy in a pool full of nurse sharks, or get a much closer peek than in most U.S. aquariums during the dolphin shows that are part of the visit. Tickets are 15,000 Colombian pesos for adults (about $7.75 at the current exchange rate) and 10,000 pesos for children ($5.20), but are included in many package tours.
If you want to get even more up close and personal with the marine life, the island chain is dotted with dive and snorkel sites. The water temperature is mild year-round and visibility is excellent. There are 11 dive sites marked with buoys around the islands and the hotels in Isla Grande have dive shops to handle all the arrangements and equipment rentals.
The 500-acre Isla Grande, the largest island as its name implies, also has a hiking trail that goes around several of the island’s lagoons, including a small village, a bioluminescent lagoon and a bird rookery. You can spot bird species such as migratory ducks, parakeets, crown pigeon and hen hawks.
Local eco-guides trained by Colombian conservation programs ply the island’s hotels, offering a variety of tours including treks on foot, bicycle and on the water. Prices range from 16,000 Colombian pesos (about $8) for a one-hour walking tour of the island to 60,000 pesos (around $30) an hour for a sunset kayak cruise.
Though Isla Grande is the most developed island, its nine hotels are small and intimate, with less than two dozen rooms each. It also has a campsite and a couple of eco-resorts for the backpacking crowd. There are lodgings in a few of the other nearby islands, including Isla del Sol,
Isla del Pirata, and Isla Mucura.
The Sofitel chain operates San Pedro de Majagua (www.hotelmajagua.com) in Isla Grande, a sister property to the luxury Santa Clara hotel in Cartagena. Each of the property’s 17 rooms face a white-sand beach and are just a short walk away from the bioluminescent lagoon where guests can watch their fellow swimmers glow in the dark. The hotel pays 10% commission and offers both FAM trips and special agent rates.
On the other side of the island, Cocoliso Island Resort (www.cocolisoresort.com) is larger and slightly less rustic. The 20-room hotel has a pool, concession stand and more facilities for large groups. It pays 15% commission on agent bookings.
The smaller island of Isla del Pirata, just off the coast of Isla Grande, houses the Hotel Isla Pirata, a slightly more rustic property with 12 bungalows, including two suites and four junior suites (www.hotelislapirata.com). In Isla del Sol, the Hotel Isla del Sol (www.isladelsolhotel.com) has six bungalows with terraces that can house up to six persons each.
For something slightly larger, there is the 45-room Hotel Punta Faro resort (www.puntafaro.com) in Isla Mucura, part of the nearby Archipelago of San Bernardo, another island chain located in the marine park. It also has facilities for meetings and wedding services.
Day Trips and Shore Excursions
Many Cartagena hotels and tour operators offer day trips to the islands leaving the city’s municipal dock around 8:30 a.m. and leaving the islands after 3 p.m. They include the round trip boat ride, a visit to the Oceanarium, lunch and free beach time at one of the hotels. Caliente Tours, the owners of Hotel Isla del Sol, runs day trips that include lunch and transportation for $105 per person and $82 for children.
Several cruise lines that make port calls in Cartagena, including Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Holland America also offer trips to the islands as shore excursions. For example, Royal Caribbean offers a package including a boat tour of the islands, a visit to the aquarium, lunch and free time at the Hotel Isla del Sol for $125. Norwegian Cruises offers a similar program for $135 per person, also with a stopover in Isla del Sol.
For more information, visit www.colombia.travel/en or contact ProExport Colombia at info@colombia.travel