What to expect when visiting Isla Grande
Isla Grande is the most beautiful of the Rosario Islands, an archipelago 34 km off of Cartagena’s coast. It’s a popular destination for day trips, but we highly recommend spending at least two nights to get a proper chance of exploring the island.
Offering white sand beaches and turquoise waters, visiting Isla Grande will take you to the ultimate beach paradise in Colombia. It’s a laidback island where you can really get away from the world, just lay on a hammock and let the soft waves calm your mind.
PRO TIP: The number of accommodations in Isla Grande is very limited. There are a few amazing places to stay in Isla Grande, but be sure to book early as they get fully booked quickly.
Heads up about return ticket to Cartagena
For your return journey from Isla Grande to Cartagena, it’s best to buy a return ticket before going to Isla Grande because there is no main port on this island. The pick-up points are usually agreed upon beforehand between the boatmen and the passengers.
The ferry tickets from Isla Grande to Cartagena cost the same as the vice versa tickets. Travel time is around 1 hour unless you take a Delfines Tour speedboat. Delfines Tour makes a 2-hour stopover at Playa Blanca on Baru Island.
TIP: After your visit to Isla Grande, we highly recommend visiting Tayrona National Park. You can travel straight from Cartagena to Tayrona by minivan or bus, without having to stay in Santa Marta.
3 ways to get from Cartagena to Isla Grande
There are 3 ways to travel the distance of 34 kilometers (21 miles) from Cartagena to Isla Grande by Speedboat ferry (45 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes), Speedboat ferry (the way back) (1 hour to 1 day 1 hour) and Day Trip (8 hours 30 minutes). The journey duration ranges between 45 minutes to 1 day 1 hour and the quickest way is by speedboat ferry. The lowest priced tickets start from €17 for the speedboat ferry.Where to stay in Isla Grande?
Still looking for accommodation? Don't forget to check out our favourite places to stay in Isla Grande.
Cartagena to Isla Grande by Speedboat Ferry
You can choose from a few tour operators for the Cartagena to Isla Grande route. Some of them are Opitours, Mary Cartagena Travel, Delfines Travel, Cartagena y algo +, Juan Ballena and CTG Tours.
Ferry rates start from €17. But note that you also need to pay a mandatory port tax of 20,000 COP (€4.30) per person when departing from Cartagena.
Travel time is around 45 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes, excluding any extra stops. The same boats are also often used to transport passengers to other islands such as Baru or Cholon, so there can be an extra stop without any prior notice.
Also, be aware that most boats operating from Cartagena to Isla Grande only depart when they have enough passengers. This means that ferry departures can sometimes be delayed by up to 1 hour.
Departure and arrival port
All boats from Cartagena to Isla Grande depart from Muelle La Bodeguita, right outside the old city’s walls.
Drop off for CTG Tours is Sol y Papaya Restobar on the north coast. As for the other ferries, you can be dropped off at any hotel on Isla Grande.
Ferry schedules from Cartagena to Isla Grande
There is also an option to arrange the service by yourself with vendors at the port. But we recommend booking online beforehand for fixed prices — because you might still need to negotiate for cheaper rates at the port.
IMPORTANT: All ferries from Cartagena to Isla Grande operate only in the morning. There are no ferry departures allowed beyond 09:30. Cartagena’s port authority is pretty strict on this rule so make sure to arrive at the pier no later than 09:00.
Cartagena to Isla Grande by Speedboat Ferry (the way back)
Speedboat ferry rates from Isla Grande to Cartagena start from €17 when you book online through BookAway. You can also buy through your hotel, but usually for a higher price.
Keep in mind that unlike the journey from Cartagena, there is no additional port fee when coming from Isla Grande.
Departure and arrival port
There is no main port at Isla Grande. Mary Cartagena, Delfines Tours and Juan Ballena pick up passengers directly from their hotels. CTG Tours departs from Sol y Papaya Restobar, which is also its drop-off point on the way to the island.
All boats depart from Isla Grande in the early afternoon to arrive in Cartagena before its port closes at 16:00. The ride to Cartagena takes around 45 minutes to 1 hour and ferries arrive at the same port where the trip started (Muelle La Bodeguita).
Ferry schedules from Isla Grande to Cartagena (the way back)
Cartagena to Isla Grande by Day Trip
If you only have one day to spare, you can also book a day trip from Cartagena to Isla Grande. Many tour operators and hotels offer group day trip options known as ‘pasadía,’ which includes the use of hotel facilities, lunch and some pre-arranged activities at an extra cost.
Day trip prices start from 100,000 COP (€22) per person. You can also book this directly at the port.
PRO TIP: When choosing which day trip package to book, bear in mind that generally, the lower the price, the lower the quality of the trip. This also usually includes a larger group. Rates for a decent quality pasadía from Cartagena to Isla Grande start from 200,000 COP (€43) per person.
Most day passes already include lunch and the use of hotel facilities. On a budget? You can choose not to include meals in your tour package and save some money by eating at local restaurants on the island.
Day Trip from Cartagena to Rosario Islands
Looking to explore not just Isla Grande but also other destinations in the Rosario Islands?
GetYourGuide offers day trip packages that include return speedboat transfers, snorkelling gear, lunch and drinks. Rates start from 330,000 COP (€71) for the 10-hour tour.
Book a Day Trip with GetYourGuide
Cartagena to Isla Grande by Private Boat
Another option is to rent a private speedboat or yacht for up to 10 people, with prices starting from 2,393,000 COP (€515) when you book one online beforehand through Viator.
This is something to consider when you’re travelling in a larger group if you want to sail around the islands at your own pace, or if you just want some privacy.
You should also be able to book a private boat with one of the tour companies in Cartagena. Rates start from 2,400,000 COP (€515) a day.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cartagena to Isla Grande
What is the distance from Cartagena to Isla Grande?
The distance from Cartagena to Isla Grande is 34 kilometers (21 miles).
What is the fastest way to get from Cartagena to Isla Grande?
The fastest way to get from Cartagena to Isla Grande is by speedboat ferry and takes 45 minutes.
What is the cheapest way to get from Cartagena to Isla Grande?
The cheapest way to get from Cartagena to Isla Grande is by speedboat ferry with ticket costs starting from €17.
Rounding it up
We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from Cartagena to Isla Grande. If there's anything else you're wondering about, drop us a comment and we'll do our best to answer you within a few days.
PS: If you've recently travelled this route, share your experience with fellow travellers and help us improve this post. Thanks for helping out our travel community!
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Ela is a storyteller, content producer, solo traveller and a mermaid-in-training. When she’s not in front of her laptop, you will find her barefoot and living her best tan on some island in the Philippines… Or exploring the depths of its seas as a budding freediver. An island girl at heart, she’ll be happy anywhere there is sea, sand, sun and coffee.
Bonjour, est ce qu’il y a un poids maximum/bagage maximum à prévoir pour faire un trajet carthagene / isla grande en bateau ?
merci beaucoup
Hi Marie! It differs per company. But normally, you’re allowed to bring a 12-kg luggage plus one handbag per passenger. We hope this helps. Enjoy Colombia!
PS J’ai répondu à ce commentaire en anglais, donc d’autres nationalités peuvent également bénéficier de cette info. Je recommande d’utiliser Google Translate pour le lire en français.
Hola, estuve buscando en google más información sobre el Hotel Isla Coralina pero resulta que no parece estar en Isla Grande sino en una isla llamada Coralina. Me puede confirmar la ubicación, por favor? Gracias
Hi Sara, Hotel Carolina Island is located in Isla Marina. This island is also part of the Islas del Rosario archipelago and is just 10 minutes away from Isla Grande by boat. You can arrange the boat ride with the hotel.
PD: Esta respuesta está escrita en inglés para que sea útil para los viajeros de todo el mundo. Recomiendo usar Google Translate para traducir esta respuesta al español.
Bonjour
Pourriez vous me dire comment pouvoir traverser de Isla Marina (où je loge) à Isla Grande ? La traversée est elle longue ? Y a t il souvent des bateaux qui font cette traversée ? Merci
Hola Perdrizet, desde Isla Marina son solo 10 minutos en bote para llegar a Isla Grande. El Hotel Islabela confirmó que el barco se puede reservar a través de su hotel y suponemos que cualquier hotel de la isla puede reservar este barco para usted. ¡Disfruta tu viaje!
Great information! Due to some timing issues, we would like to leave the island at about noon. Can you provide information or a recommendation on who we could hire for the boat ride back? There are 3 of us. We’re looking to leave on October 20th. Thinking of staying at hotel Cocoliso.
Hey Susan! Among the ferry operators on BookAway, Delfines Tours has the earliest departure time from Isla Grande at 12:00, but it makes a 2-hour side trip to Playa Blanca. The next ferry departures are at 14:00 and go straight to Cartagena, which takes about 1 hour.
Hotel Cocoliso looks like a good place to stay, but you might also want to check out Hotel Coralina Island and Hotel Islabela Isla Del Rosario, two fantastic accommodations we recommended in our guide with best places to stay in Colombia.
Hope this is helpful and have a wonderful trip ahead Susan!
This is great info. I needed to know where the ferries leave from so I can go to my airbnb on Isla grande. Now I’m all set !!!
Thank you so much for leaving a comment Anne. I’m glad it was helpful and have an amazing trip!