Cartagena Snorkeling Tours: Our Top 9

1.Cartagena: Rosario Islands Catamaran with Lunch and Snorkel

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,479 reviews · 7h 30m · from $107Our pick

Sail from Bodeguita Dock toward the Rosario and San Bernardo Corals National Natural Park on a spacious catamaran. You get a fresh-fruit welcome drink, a snack, two water stops, snorkel gear, lunch, and unlimited non-alcoholic drinks. Expect swimming from the boat rather than a guaranteed island visit, plus music on the return.

“Very well run. The team on the boat are friendly and work hard. The boat is really comfortable. The toilets are well maintained which is always a good sign. Nice and laid back. 2 swimming spots are fine but please bear in mind that you don’t visit the islands or any beaches. Food was really nice. I really like that they had nice drinks (try the lemonade) even though these are free. A lot of tours will give you lower quality free drinks in the hope that you will buy the drinks that aren’t free. Overall I would recommend the tour.”

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2.Excursion to the Rosario Islands with Lunch and Snorkeling

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 569 reviews · 7 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $106

Sail from Cartagena to the Rosario Islands aboard Bona Vida’s spacious catamaran. You’ll stop near Isla Grande and Barú for swimming and snorkeling, enjoy lunch with seafood, chicken, or vegetable rice, and have soft drinks served on board. This is a calm, family-friendly boat day, not a wild party cruise.

“We had a fantastic time up until the second island stop where some guys came up to the boat offering banana boat rides. They took us out and threw us off the banana and they “helped” us back on and in doing so ripped my husbands gold chain off his neck. My advice don’t wear any jewelry and you will have a great day.”

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3.Cartagena: Rosario Islands Day Tour with Snorkel & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 402 reviews · 8 hours · from $95

Spend eight hours boating from Cartagena to Isla Grande, Playa Blanca on Barú, and Tierra Bomba. You’ll snorkel, eat a choice of fish, chicken, or vegetarian lunch, and relax at beach clubs with pools, chairs, and umbrellas. Guides such as Franklin, Jesús, and David Santiago have led past departures. Expect sun, spray, and a quick pace.

“It was a great big adventure, the food was delicious and the guide John Wayne was the best guide- he was funny kind and made sure everyone was well taken care of.”

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4.Full Day Barú island: Mangrove +Snorkel + Sunset + Plankton

★★★★★★★★★★3.7 · 139 reviews · 11 hours · from $69Best value

Travel from Cartagena to Freedom Beach Club on Barú for mangrove wildlife, raccoons, snorkeling, a Caribbean lunch, sunset, and a nighttime swim with bioluminescent plankton. Spanish-speaking guides lead the day, with Angie and Dequer praised for their care, though transport and scheduling can be uneven.

“La experiencia nadando en el plancton fue inolvidable. Me encantó que tomaran fotos en cada actividad y luego las compartieran con el grupo. Hermosa la playa en Freedom Club.”

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5.Cartagena: Snorkel, Mangroves and Playa Blanca Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 132 reviews

Spend a full day from Cartagena exploring Baru by boat, snorkeling over coral, and passing through mangroves where guides point out birds, iguanas, and raccoons. Guides such as Wilber, Ruben, Diana, and Daker have earned warm praise for their care. Spanish is the main language, and the day ends with lunch and beach time at Playa Blanca.

“Everything was almost perfect and I'm saying this because it was cloudy outside so the snorkeling wasn't so good. But if you have the luck to catch a sunny day you won't regret. The guide is a nice guy and explained me many things. The mangrove forest is great too, something to see. The lunch was good. I really liked them”

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6.Cartagena: 5-Island Trip by Boat with Lunch and Snorkeling

★★★★★★★★★★3.6 · 82 reviews · from $89

Spend 10 hours on a guided speedboat trip from Cartagena to Bocachica, the Rosario Islands, Cholon, and Playa Tranquila. You get snorkeling, water activities, seafood tasting, lunch, and a night visit to glowing plankton. English and Spanish guides lead the day, with David praised for his help in the water.

“Excellent crew and captain! The boat was so modern and powerful! The lunch was really good, at a great little island hang-out, and the party scene in the water, was a hoot! We would recommend this company!”

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7.Cartagena: 5 Islands Boat Tour with Lunch, Snorkeling, & Bar

★★★★★★★★★★3.7 · 39 reviews · 11h 30m · from $159

Spend about 11.5 to 12 hours sailing from Cartagena to Bocachica, Isla Grande, San Martín de Pajarales, Cholón, and Agua Azul. You get hotel-area pickup, a bilingual guide, shrimp cocktail, lunch, snorkeling gear, and a life vest. Expect music, swimming, island scenery, and a late return after the plankton stop.

“A little confusing with the added plankton activity; I should’ve known better that the bus would make me arrive late back to Cartagena for my flight. I would’ve liked a little more explanation in English but the guide mostly spoke Spanish once the rest of the English speakers left”

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8.Cartagena: Raccoon Island Snorkel, Mangrove, Photos & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★3.1 · 17 reviews · 7 hours · from $85

Leave Cartagena by coach for Barú, then explore mangroves by boat, meet raccoons, try a short snorkeling stop, and eat a fish, pork, or vegetarian lunch. Hotel pickup is offered in the main beach districts. The guide service is in Spanish, and underwater photos are included, though snorkeling time and group organization can vary.

“si cumplen con todo lo que ofrecen, sin embargo, al momento de realizar las actividades como alimentar a los mapaches no se disfruta ya que la lancha tiene capacidad para 16 personas y al final ibamos mas de 30 personas, incomodas y sin poder disfrutar todas las actividades, y a las 30 personas nos dieron de 1 guineo a todos para alimentar a los mapaches. el snorkel son 30 segundos y muy peligroso porque en el area se encuentran muchas lanchas y no tienen distancia, chocan entre ellas y las personas muchas veces se encuentran entre las lanchas”

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9.Cartagena: 5 Islands Premium Tour with Lunch and Snorkeling

★★★★★★★★★★3.6 · 10 reviews · from $96

Spend a full day by speedboat around Tierra Bomba, Rosario, Cholón, Agua Azul, and Barú. A bilingual Spanish and English guide leads the trip, with lunch, beach chairs, and snorkeling goggles included. Expect scenic boat rides, busy beach stops, a shrimp cocktail, and an optional evening plankton visit.

“In general, well, they should clearly specify to the tourist that it is a recreational tour and not a party and liquor tour, it was uncomfortable and annoying to be waiting for people who were not interested in the total tour but only in the place where they were going to party and then wait for them to that they ride more people who didn't go on the tour with the rest.”

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