Isla Grande: 5 common pitfalls to avoid

A lot of travelers aim to visit Isla Grande while staying in Cartagena, and it’s easy to see why—you’re on vacation, after all, so why not enjoy a little piece of paradise?

That said, I’ve often seen people struggle to plan it properly into their trip or feel let down by their visit because they made a few missteps.

Here are 5 tips I suggest you keep in mind to get the most out of your time on Isla Grande.

TOM’S TIP

Read our guide to discover where to stay on the Rosario Islands. If you’re only going for the day, I’ll show you how to book the best boats from Cartagena.

Mistake 1: You can’t go to Isla Grande whenever you please

Boats heading to Isla Grande depart from Cartagena in the early morning. The schedule varies based on the tour or hotel you select, but it’ll be between 7:30 and 9:00 AM.

This means:

  • No sleeping in if you plan to go to Isla Grande.
  • You’ll have to get to Cartagena at least the night before.

Make sure to think about the type of boat you’ll be taking as well.

If you opt for your hotel’s boat, things are generally pretty smooth.

On the other hand, if you go for the budget option (or your hotel doesn’t offer a boat), the organization can get a bit wild. You’ll have to buy your ticket at La Bodeguita dock, figure out the right gate, and listen carefully for them to call your name (wish you luck with that!)—picture 1 & 2.

When we tried this, the boat left 45 minutes late (for reasons unknown) and made multiple stops to drop people off at their hotels on the island. We finally arrived around 11 AM, even though we were ready by 8:30 AM.

So, I strongly suggest opting for your hotel’s boat, even if it costs a little more.

If not, the best choice is definitely a private boat—you can set your own departure time (but leaving early is still ideal to fully enjoy the islands, as boats must be back in Cartagena before 5 PM)—picture 3.

ADRIEN’S TIP

You can rent a boat and ask the captain to drop you off at your hotel on Isla Grande at the end of the day. It’s one of the 5 tips I recommend here.

Mistake 2: Forgetting about the day-trippers

Most beachfront hotels on the Rosario Islands offer day-passes for travelers. This can be a convenient option if you just want to lounge on the beach for a few hours without too much planning.

However, if you’re planning to spend 1 or 2 nights on Isla Grande, it can sometimes be bothersome.

Imagine you’re having a calm breakfast by the crystal-clear waters, and suddenly a boat full of tourists shows up with their loudspeaker. Goodbye, peaceful little retreat.

To avoid this, try visiting Isla Grande during the week. I also suggest looking into the hotel’s stance on day-trippers: Do they host a lot? Is the atmosphere lively? Is there a private area reserved for guests?

Mistake 3: Expecting white sand beaches all around

Hearing “turquoise Caribbean waters,” “paradise islands,” and “beach clubs” might make you imagine endless stretches of white sand beaches. But that’s not the reality for the Rosario Islands.

The only big white sand beach is Playa Blanca on Isla Barú, but it’s so crowded with tourists that it’s far from a paradise.

Isla Grande and the nearby smaller islands are coral islands, so there’s very little sand, and the beaches that do exist are small and private.

If you’re staying on Isla Grande, make sure to check out the hotel’s photos carefully. And keep in mind that you can still walk around and access other beaches.

When you book a “5-island” day tour, it’s often unclear which beach you’ll be taken to (and they certainly won’t be the best ones), and you’ll rarely have enough time to enjoy it properly.

TOM’S TIP

To easily uncover the secret beaches of Isla Grande, book a boat with our partner Aymeric.

Mistake 4: Planning the wrong day trip to Isla Grande

And trust me, there are many bad choices.

First, don’t make the same rookie mistake I did—there’s no such thing as a good tour leaving from Playa Blanca to Isla Grande. You’ll end up in a crowded boat full of tourists visiting useless spots like the aquarium or a “snorkeling spot” with more tourists than fish.

Also, stay away from tours with multiple stops (like “3-islas this” or “5-islas something”). Yes, you’ll visit more places, but you’ll waste your time hopping on and off the boat and never see the best locations.

If your goal is to truly enjoy Isla Grande, there are only two options:

  • Book a nice beach club for the day. The top choices are Pa’ue (pic left) and Rosario de Mar (pic right).
  • Or rent a private boat and let our partner craft a custom itinerary (he’ll even book lunch for you at a beach club)—pic 3.

Mistake 5: Not venturing outside your hotel

This advice only makes sense if you plan to stay at least 2 nights on Isla Grande.

Isla Grande is one of the few Colombian islands you can really enjoy by walking. I had a great time following the shaded trails to access different private beaches. Just know there aren’t any signs, so I recommend downloading Maps.me and the map so you can navigate offline.

I spent an entire week exploring the island without any safety issues.

If you’re staying on Isleta (just across), you’ll need to take a quick 5-minute boat ride to reach Isla Grande.