Cartagena Rosario Islands Tour Review: Snorkeling & Plankton

Planning a trip to Cartagena and dreaming about crystal-clear waters and colorful marine life? You might be, like, seriously considering a tour to the Rosario Islands, and many include snorkeling and even a chance to see bioluminescent plankton. But that’s the question, right? Is it, you know, actually worth it? Well, I’m going to walk you through my experience on one of these tours, so you can see whether it might be, in a way, up your alley.

Setting Sail from Cartagena

The day, that’s it, starts super early! Most tours, I believe, get going from Cartagena around 8:00 or 9:00 AM. So, you might need to set that alarm clock early! It’s important, to be honest, to get to the dock with, like, a bit of time to spare so you aren’t, you know, rushing. Once everyone’s checked in, you’ll, sort of, pile onto a speedboat or a catamaran. Catamarans can be a bit, sort of, calmer if you tend to get seasick, so you may want to think of that.

The ride to the Rosario Islands, I would say, is part of the experience! You zip across the water, seeing the skyline disappear in the distance. Just a tip: That sun can be powerful! Bringing sunscreen is super important, and maybe a hat and sunglasses, alright? Plus, the spray from the boat can, honestly, get you a bit wet, so bringing a towel or wearing clothes that dry rather quickly could be helpful. You are, like your clothes, out in the sea. Some tours are accompanied with music, as well.

Snorkeling in Paradise

Alright, so the first main stop is, like, usually for snorkeling! The Rosario Islands, I believe, are a group of islands surrounded by coral reefs, so the marine life tends to be plentiful. You’ll, sort of, get your gear—mask, snorkel, fins—and get a briefing on where it’s safe to snorkel. To be honest, sometimes the snorkeling area can get rather crowded with other tours. Despite, that, the chance to see those colorful fish and coral is often worth it. Look out for parrotfish; they are, like, genuinely vibrant! Visibility can shift, depending on the weather that, right, is fairly usual for any snorkeling excursion. Still, that bit of time swimming around in warm, turquoise waters is refreshing, literally, honestly.

You know, regarding snorkeling, think about what you hope to get out of it. Is that the main point for you? Or simply a single experience during the boat tour. That determines if you need to acquire a tour for better quality.

Island Time: Playa Blanca & Lunch

After snorkeling, a lot of tours will bring you to Playa Blanca on Isla Barú, and honestly, Playa Blanca is what many might see as a picture-perfect Caribbean beach, alright? It’s a broad stretch of white sand and turquoise water. And this is where lunch comes into the picture!

Lunch, I think, is, sort of, usually included in the tour price, yet it can depend on the tour. Frequently, you will find a choice of, like, typical Colombian dishes, often featuring fresh seafood. The food, to be fair, might not be gourmet, however it gets the job done after swimming. Spend some time relaxing on the beach. You can, you know, sunbathe, take a dip in the sea, or sip on a fresh coconut. This part can be, like, quite relaxing.

Isla Barú, I believe, is also where the tour might get… very intense. You will find vendors, alright? And they’re going to be trying to offer you massages, souvenirs, braids—all kinds of things. They are not shy, to be fair. A simple “no, thank you” said directly will normally work. But it is vital to brace yourself. It’s one of those situations where the natural setting is incredibly superb, however, it is extremely touristic.

The Bioluminescent Plankton Experience

Seeing the bioluminescent plankton tends to be, like, one of the highlights of the tour for many. These tours frequently happen at nighttime because it needs, in a way, to be seriously dark for you to see the plankton. After sunset, you are taken to a spot—typically a lagoon—where the plankton tends to be, alright, highly concentrated. When the water gets disrupted, these little organisms emit a blue glow, is that awesome or what? Swimming in that water looks and feels like, maybe, something from a fantasy movie.

How well you can actually see the plankton varies widely, though. It could depend on the moon phase, the water temperature, and honestly just, like, luck! On a super clear night with, like, no moon, the plankton might seem exceptionally bright. However, when the moon is shining brightly, that glowing effect may be, more or less, diminished. Still, even when it isn’t totally amazing, just being out on the water at night can be, to be honest, fairly special.

Choosing the Right Tour

You will discover that, honestly, a lot of agencies offer these tours in Cartagena. They all appear very similar. But the truth, honestly, is that the quality varies widely. It’s a good plan, alright, to shop around a bit and perhaps read several reviews ahead of booking. You, potentially, get what you are paying for—a seriously cheap tour could indicate a crowded boat or a less-than-great lunch.

See how big the group may be. Nobody appreciates being crammed onto a boat with too many folks, correct? Does the business look respectful in relation to the natural environment and the regional communities? You may want to also consider what’s included—snorkeling gear, lunch, drinks—so, too, there won’t be many sudden extra charges.

Don’t hesitate to ask for recommendations at all. Speak to the front desk employees at the place where you are lodged. They might, you know, have insight on tours which regularly get good reviews. In a way, individual testimonials could be super helpful in selecting the proper tour.

Some Things to Think About Before You Go

Here are a few points so, too, your Cartagena Rosario Islands tour might be, arguably, more seamless:

• Seasickness: If you think that you are very prone to seasickness, taking medicine just before might be, is that, smart. Also, stay close to the center of the boat, as you will likely feel much less movement there.
• What to Wear: Wear clothes that can dry really fast, put on a swimsuit underneath, and maybe just bring a light cover-up. Bear in mind that it can potentially get seriously sunny, however, so too can it also get cool the moment the sun goes down, specifically when you’re on a boat.
• Cash: Though the tour can be paid for, that you will desire some pesos on hand for, maybe, drinks or even souvenirs, alright? Or a small tip for the team.
• Protect your phone: Put it inside a water resistant case if you are inclined to take images on the beaches. Sand, that is the main enemy of electric devices, as well!
• Respectful behaviour: If you go on one of those smaller islands. Value local norms and natural life. Abide by your tour guide’s instructions and don’t throw any garbage.

In the End: Is that Tour Worth It?

Going to the Rosario Islands, seeing that sea, and swimming with plankton might be, more or less, a fantastic adventure. Though, the experiences might be different. If you know the details and take care of yourself, so you’re prepared to take in the positive features while handling the difficulties, then yeah, I believe you would totally like the tour.

• Go snorkeling in coral reefs and find varied sea life.
• Hang out on beaches which feel heavenly, though you’ll find several other people.
• When in full darkness and everything is correct, seeing the plankton is superb.
• Do your due diligence before reserving, and try to come up with the trip plan, to be great.

Hopefully, that provides some solid specifics as for the tour! Maybe you’ll find it fantastic!