The 9 Best Cartagena Snorkeling Tours

1.Cartagena: Rosario Islands Catamaran with Lunch and Snorkel

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

Sail from Cartagena’s Bodeguita Dock to the Rosario Islands aboard a spacious, wheelchair-accessible catamaran. Expect a welcome fruit drink, snack, two water stops, snorkeling gear, lunch, and free soft drinks. The boat does not usually visit island beaches, so book it for time on the water, not island sightseeing.

“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

Set out from Cartagena’s Muelle de la Bodeguita on Bona Vida Catamaranes for a 7.5-hour cruise to two Caribbean anchorages. Swim and snorkel near Isla Grande, enjoy lunch by Barú, and relax on a spacious boat with shaded seating, music, and soft drinks.

“Great experience. Food was alright nothing extraordinary. Changing space gets dirty really quick but otherwise would recommend d.”

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

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

Spend eight hours island-hopping from Cartagena to Isla Grande, Baru, and Tierra Bomba by speedboat. You’ll snorkel, eat lunch, swim, and relax at beach clubs with an English or Spanish guide. Guides such as Jesús, Franklin, David, and John Wayne have earned strong praise for keeping groups safe and organized.

“Our tour guide Alex was awesome! He took care of my family and I, especially of my older mother which has difficulty walking. Alex was knowledgeable, patient, and a genuine person. I would definitely recommend him and this tour.”

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

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

Spend 11 hours from Cartagena at Freedom Beach Club in Barú, with a welcome cocktail, mangrove boat trip, raccoon visit, snorkeling, island lunch, sunset, and nighttime bioluminescent plankton. Spanish-speaking guides lead the day, with Angie and Dequer praised for their care.

“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

Leave Cartagena by air-conditioned bus, boat through Baru’s clear waters, snorkel near coral, visit mangroves with birds, iguanas, and raccoons, then eat fish, chicken, or vegetarian lunch at Playa Blanca. Spanish-speaking guides include Diana, Wilber, Ruben, and others, with pickup from Bocagrande and Laguito.

“It was amazing. The snorkeling was the best part. The staff were very knowledgeable and responsive”

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

★★★★★★★★★★3.6 · 82 reviews · from $89

Set out from Cartagena with an English or Spanish-speaking guide for a fast-paced boat day around Bocachica, the Rosario Islands, Cholon, and Playa Tranquila. You will snorkel, eat lunch on a private island, taste seafood, and see bioluminescent plankton before returning around 8:00 pm.

“Brilliant tour. Boat was fun! The bioluminescence plankton was so cool, a must if you do this trip. The food was nice. The only thing we weren't too keen on was Cholon island. It was really busy, party place (maybe this is what you're after) standing in the water that just felt dirty. But other than that an amazing trip! We loved it!”

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

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

Leave Bocagrande or El Laguito around 7:30 am for a full day around Bocachica, Isla Grande, San Martín de Pajarales, Cholón, and Agua Azul. You get a shrimp cocktail, lunch, snorkelling gear, a bilingual guide, and a late return after the plankton display.

“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

You’ll travel from Cartagena to Barú for a Spanish-guided boat day with mangroves, raccoons, fish photos, snorkeling, lunch, and Playa Blanca. Hotel pickup is offered in the main tourist districts. Expect a lively group, basic equipment, and a schedule that may favor quick photo stops over long water time.

“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, Cholon, Agua Azul, and Barú. A bilingual guide leads the route, with lunch, beach chairs, hotel pickup, and snorkeling goggles included. Note that the snorkeling gear has no breathing tube, and the optional plankton stop runs later.

“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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