This Little Known Caribbean Archipelago is The Perfect Off-Grid Tropical Escape
An easy day trip from Cartagena’s charming walled Old Town, these spectacular islands with pristine beaches are the perfect Caribbean escape.
Cartagena may be known for its colorful colonial streets and sizzling Caribbean energy, but just offshore lies a totally different kind of paradise.
The Rosario Islands—an archipelago of 27 tiny islets—are where you’ll find turquoise water, coral reefs, and that barefoot, toes-in-the-sand kind of bliss that’s missing from the city’s main beaches.
These little islands are part of a protected national park, and they’ve managed to stay relatively under the radar despite their postcard-perfect appeal.
My husband Dave and I kicked off our 3-month Round-the-World honeymoon in Cartagena and a day trip to the Rosario Islands was one of the best things we did.
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And since most tours leave in the morning and return by mid-afternoon, it’s easy to fit this tropical escape into your itinerary—no overnight stay required (unless you want to, of course).
Here’s how we spend our days in Cartagena and why you won’t want to miss the Rosario Islands…
Arrival in Cartagena
After an overnight layover in Bogota, we hop on a late-morning flight and land in Cartagena just before noon.
A Suite stay at the Hilton Cartagena
We chose the Hilton Cartagena for our stay primarily to make use of some Hilton Honors points. But also because it was ridiculously cheap to upgrade to the Presidential Suite.
I mean, we are on our honeymoon after all!
We discover that the Hilton Cartagena itself is a bit dated but the Presidential Suite turns out to be spectacular.
Every room has a terrific view of the city and beaches.
With the rest of the day still ahead of us, we settle into the room quickly and head back out to explore.
Things to do in Cartagena
Cartagena has plenty of things to see and do.
You can explore the Old City with a private walking tour, hit the beaches, get offshore to snorkel the coral reefs of the Rosario Islands, visit a fortress, take a volcanic mud bath at El Totumo, have sunset drinks at Cafe del Mar…the list goes on and on.
The Cartagena Street Food Tour highlighting the local street food or through the lively Bazurto Market is another fun thing to do in Cartagena.
But since our time is short, we decide to focus on local history and culture on day one. And then spend the next two days visiting Cartagena’s best beaches and islands.
1. The Walled City of Old Town Cartagena
First up, the Old Town within the historic walled city of Cartagena.
Up until the late 16th century, the port town of Cartagena sat totally unprotected. After the attack by Francis Drake, construction began on the thick city walls – called Las Murallas – which surround the historical districts of El Centro and San Diego to this day.
Thanks to repeated storms and pirate attacks, the project took nearly two centuries to reach completion in 1796.
Today, Las Murallas stand remarkably well preserved as an astounding example of military engineering. A walk along the city walls of Cartagena is a great place to begin your tour of the Old Town, so that’s exactly what we did.
A stroll through Old Town Cartagena
A leisurely stroll along the walls gives us the perfect birds-eye view of the protected old city of Cartagena, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Cobbled streets, expansive squares, ornate churches, and primary-colored buildings make up Cartagena’s charming Old Town.
Many of the colonial buildings have overhanging iron balconies that remind me a lot of the French Quarter in New Orleans.
It is absolutely oozing with charm and a terrific glimpse into Cartagena’s history.
After a thorough walk of the city walls, we return to ground level and wander the streets of the Old Town for a while. We pass quaint storefronts, colorful markets, and entertaining street art before stopping for lunch.
2. Cartagena’s Best Beach – Playa Blanca
For our second day in Cartagena, we headed over to Playa Blanca. It’s widely considered the best beach around Cartagena, and with good reason.
Located on Isla Baru, it’s a popular destination with both locals and day-trippers and can get quite busy during the day as we discovered. A day trip to a beach club on Playa Blanca is the easiest way to spend the day there.
The white sand beach and turquoise waters rival anything in the Caribbean and the laid-back vibe is perfect for a relaxing day at the beach.
Read More: Know Your Caribbean ABC Islands: Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao
If we had more time, an overnight stay in one of the rustic-looking beachfront accommodations would be a must. Rumor has it once the day-trippers are gone, Playa Blanca is pure tranquility.
3. The Rosario Islands (Islas del Rosario)
For our last day in Cartagena, it’s time to head offshore and check out some of the islands Colombia is famous for.
Located just an hour speedboat ride from Cartagena, the Rosario Islands National Park of Colombia is an archipelago of 27 islands covering more than 4,600 square miles.
In 1988, it was designated a national park in order to protect the delicate ecosystem of the area. The national park area includes a coral reef filled with colorful fish and an abundance of sea flora and fauna.
Set amidst the coral reef are several islands offering both resort amenities and day-trip facilities.
When planning our trip to Colombia, we originally hoped to stay at one of the island resorts while in Cartagena. In fact, I had my eye on the gorgeous Hotel Coralina Island on Isla Grande.
But most are all-inclusive and comparably expensive for the area. So with just 3 days in the city, it seemed impractical to drag luggage all the way out and back on a speedboat.
Instead, we settled for one of the many day trips to the Rosario Islands offered through the Hilton Cartagena.
A day trip to Isla del Sol in the Rosario Islands
When booking a trip to the Rosario Islands, several island options are available, each with different amenities.
We chose a full-day trip to Isla del Sol. Mainly because it looked like it had the nicest beach.
We haven’t been particularly impressed with the beaches of Cartagena so far. So we’re looking forward to getting off the mainland for more of a Caribbean-like atmosphere.
Our group consists of about 30 people today and after departing Cartagena harbor at 9:00am we arrive at the dock on Isla del Sol just before 10:00am.
Just as the tour desk pictures promised, the island is Caribbean perfection with a white sandy beach and crystal clear waters. And (surprisingly) it is completely empty except for staff.
Isla del Sol Eco Resort
I assumed there would be at least a few guests staying overnight at the island’s lovely little Eco Hotel. But apparently, the vast majority of the hotel’s business comes from day-trippers.
The resort welcomes us with a quick briefing on the island’s facilities (including what time lunch will be served) and then we are free to relax and enjoy our day.
Dave and I assume the vacation mode position in two umbrella-shaded lounge chairs and proceed to do absolutely nothing for the rest of the day.
The island actually reminded me a little of some of my favorite remote Central American islands like Nicaragua’s Corn Islands and Panama’s San Blas Islands.
It is a much-needed day of total rest and relaxation interrupted only by a delicious seafood lunch.
A ride on the Chiva party bus
By 5:00pm we are back in Cartagena harbor and headed back to the Hilton Cartagena.
Our mode of transportation? One of the local, vividly colorful, open-air Chiva party buses. It’s a festive way to travel and the bus’s Latin music fills the street as we drive through town.
It’s the perfect end to a fantastic day and a great way to wrap up our visit to Cartagena and the Rosario Islands.
Don’t Miss the Rosario Islands
So if you’re spending a few days in Cartagena, be sure to carve out some time for a day trip to the Rosario Islands. You won’t regret it!
Whether you’re into snorkeling, sunbathing, or sipping something cold on a hammock-strung dock, the islands offer a much-needed break from the city heat and hustle.
Looking for more terrific lesser know Caribbean destinations? Start here:
Panama’s San Blas Islands: A Dreamy Island for Every Day of the Year
The Best Caribbean Islands You’ve Never Heard Of: Nicaragua’s Corn Islands