Cartagena 4 or 5 Islands Day Trip: Snorkeling, Beaches & Lunch Review

Most island tours from Cartagena follow a similar script: fort, beach, lunch, beach, return. This excursion goes further — literally and figuratively. At 8–9 hours, it is the longest island day trip available, and it takes you to destinations that shorter tours never reach: Cholón, the famous 'party island' where floating bar-boats anchor in a lagoon and the whole scene defies easy description, and the sunken plane that Pablo Escobar allegedly used for drug trafficking, which now rests in shallow water and is one of the most unusual snorkel sites in the Caribbean.

Among all the best Cartagena excursions available, this one is specifically for travellers who want a full-commitment day on the water — people who are happy spending eight hours between boat rides, beach swims, snorkeling and dancing in knee-deep water beside a floating bar. It is not the tour for anyone looking for a quiet, meditative beach day. It is very much the tour for anyone who wants a story to tell.

Hotel pickup from central Cartagena is included, and the buffet lunch is one of the most substantial meals served on any island excursion in the region. The 4-island and 5-island options differ by one additional beach stop — choose 5 islands if you want the maximum scope.

The route visits between four and five islands depending on the option chosen. Here is what each stop involves.

• Isla Grande — the first major stop with a coral reef system for the opening snorkel session; shallow enough for beginners but interesting enough for experienced snorkelers
• Snorkel site: Escobar's sunken plane — the most talked-about stop on the tour: snorkel over the wreck of a small aircraft resting in about 4 metres of water, now covered in coral and surrounded by fish
• Cholón party island — the floating bar-boats of Cholón anchor in a turquoise lagoon where the water is chest-deep; reggaeton pumps from sound systems on the boats and the entire scene is unlike anything else in Colombia
• Playa Blanca de Barú — a long white-sand beach with calm swimming water and local vendors selling coconuts, fresh fish and artisan crafts
• Rosario de Mar beach club (5-island option) — an additional beach club stop with sun loungers, hammocks and bar service before the return journey
• Buffet lunch — served on Isla Grande at a beachfront restaurant: traditional Caribbean dishes with rice, fish, chicken, plantains and fresh tropical fruit

Hotel pickup and a buffet lunch set this tour apart from most island excursions in the same price range.

• Hotel pickup from central Cartagena and return drop-off
• Round-trip speedboat transfers between all island stops
• Snorkeling equipment (mask, fins and life vest) for all snorkel sessions
• Buffet Caribbean lunch on Isla Grande
• Beach club access and sun loungers at all beach stops
• Bilingual guide throughout the day

At 8–9 hours, this is a genuinely full-day commitment. The following preparation tips come from the most experienced travellers who have done this route.

• Bring significantly more cash than you think you'll need — Cholón's floating bars, beach vendors at Playa Blanca and gratuities for an excellent guide add up quickly
• The Escobar plane snorkel is in 3–5 metres of water — basic snorkel skills are sufficient but you should be comfortable putting your face in the water
• Reef-safe sunscreen is mandatory inside the national park; bring your own as it's not available on the boat
• A dry bag is more important on this tour than most — the crossing to the outer islands is longer and choppier than the standard Rosario run
• Cholón can be lively and very wet — if you bring electronics without a waterproof case, leave them on the boat
• The marine park entry fee (approx. $5) is collected on the water — have cash ready
• Vegetarian and pescatarian options for lunch are available if requested at booking; confirm in advance as the buffet is set

What to pack

Pack these before you head to the dock or meeting point:

• Swimsuit and a towel
• Reef-safe sunscreen (SPF 50+ recommended)
• Colombian pesos for the pier tax (~COP 29,000–39,500) and drinks at Cholón
• Dry bag for your phone and valuables
• A light change of clothes for the boat ride home

Things experienced travellers wish they'd known beforehand:

• The return leg from Cholón to Cartagena is the longest and roughest boat ride of the day — roughly an hour back, and afternoons in the Caribbean mean bigger swells. Sit towards the middle of the boat, not the bow, to reduce the impact.
• Cholón is genuinely a party atmosphere — floating vendor boats pull alongside, music is loud, and the drinks flow. If you want a quiet beach day, this is not the tour for you.
• Windy season (December to April) means an earlier return from the islands — boats typically leave around 2:30 PM instead of 3:30–4 PM. The morning outward crossing is fine; it's the afternoon return that gets bumpy.
• Bring enough cash for the pier tax (around COP 29,000–39,500) plus drinks at Cholón, where floating bar-boats only accept cash.
• The "sunken plane" snorkel stop refers to a small Cessna-sized aircraft resting in shallow water — it's a novelty stop, not a dive site. The fish around it are good for snorkeling.

This tour is not for everyone — and it knows it. At 8–9 hours, it is the most physically active and socially energetic island excursion available from Cartagena. It is ideal for:

• Travellers who want the most adventurous and immersive island experience available
• Groups celebrating a birthday, anniversary or reunion who want Cholón's party atmosphere
• Snorkeling enthusiasts who want both a reef session and the unusual sunken-plane experience
• Younger travellers and active adults who want a full-day commitment rather than a half-day beach trip
• Those who have done a standard Rosario Islands tour before and want to go deeper into the archipelago

Not ideal for

This tour is not a good fit for:

• Guests over 70 years of age
• Anyone prone to seasickness — the return leg from Cholón can be a long, choppy ride
• Travellers looking for a quiet beach day — Cholón is lively and music-heavy