How much does it cost to rent a yacht in Cartagena?

There is no single figure, because the price is driven by the size of the boat, the number of hours and the date. A small sport boat for a group of six and a large yacht for a group of twenty are different products with very different costs. What matters more than the headline number is what the quote includes — fuel, crew, park fees and taxes are the four items that commonly sit outside a cheap-looking price.

What is usually NOT included in a yacht charter price?

Four things, most often — fuel, the national park entry fee for the Rosario area, food and drink, and the crew tip. Some quotes also exclude the marina or dock fee. Always ask for the price with everything included before you compare two offers, because the gap between "boat only" and "everything" can be large.

How many hours should I book?

Six to eight hours is the normal range for a day that reaches the Rosario Islands and back without feeling rushed. The crossing alone takes about an hour each way, so a four-hour charter spends half its time in transit. If you only want a sunset run along the bay, three hours is plenty.

Where do yachts leave from in Cartagena?

Most private charters board at one of the marinas in the bay, on the Bocagrande and Manga side of the city. The exact dock is confirmed with the booking and depends on the vessel, since not every boat is berthed in the same place.

Do I need to bring anything?

Identification, reef-safe sunscreen, a towel and a hat. Boats supply life jackets. Whether food, drink and ice are on board depends on what you arranged — confirm it in writing rather than assuming, because it is the single most common surprise of the day.

What a private yacht day in Cartagena actually looks like

UpdatedAugust 19, 2026Tourism Business Operations, Cartagena

The honest version: where you board, how the day is paced, what drives the price and the things worth asking before you pay a deposit.

What a private yacht day in Cartagena actually looks like

A private charter out of Cartagena is one of those things that sounds simple and turns out to have a dozen moving parts. This is what the day is actually like, and what determines whether it goes well.

The shape of a day

Boarding: between 8:00 and 9:00 in the morning. Earlier than most people expect, and there is a reason: the sea is at its calmest early. Wind and swell build through the day, every day, in every season. A charter that leaves at eleven has a bumpier crossing than the same boat leaving at eight.

The crossing: about an hour. Cartagena’s skyline drops behind you and the water changes colour somewhere around the halfway point. On a fast boat this is transit. On a yacht it is part of the day — this is when people swim off the back for the first time or sit up front.

Late morning to mid-afternoon: the islands. Anchoring somewhere in the Rosario archipelago to swim, or heading to a beach club on Barú. This is the long stretch of the day and the part you should protect from a packed itinerary.

Mid-afternoon: Cholón, or straight back. The sheltered cove on the south side of Barú fills up in the afternoon. Some groups want that; some want the opposite. Say which before the day, not during it.

Back in Cartagena: between 4:00 and 6:00 pm. Late enough to see the skyline in good light on the way in.

What actually drives the price

Four things, roughly in order of weight:

The size of the boat. Not the number of people you are — the vessel. A boat for twenty costs what it costs whether eight of you turn up or twenty do.
The number of hours. Charters are priced by time, and the clock usually starts at the dock, not at the islands.
The date. Late December, early January and Colombian long weekends are the most expensive dates of the year, by a wide margin.
What is included. This is the one that catches people out.

The four items that hide outside a cheap price

Fuel. Sometimes quoted separately and it is not a small line.
The national park fee for the Corales del Rosario area, charged per person.
Food, drink and ice. Some charters are boat-only.
The crew tip. Customary, and not included.

Ask for the all-in number. A quote that looks 30% cheaper often is not, once these four are added, and comparing two offers on the headline price alone tells you nothing useful.

What nobody tells you before you book

The captain decides, not you. If the port authority closes departures or the captain judges the sea unsafe, the day moves. This is not a company being difficult — it is the reason charters in Cartagena have the safety record they do. Build a spare day into your trip and it stops being a problem.

Boats are not interchangeable. The photograph you were shown may not be the hull you board. Ask for the name of the vessel and its capacity in writing.

Capacity is a legal limit, not a suggestion. A boat licensed for twelve carries twelve. Groups that grow after booking are the most common cause of a problem on the morning of departure.

Shade matters more than you think. Between 11:00 and 3:00 the sun at 10 degrees north is punishing. A boat with a hard top or bimini changes the day for anyone who burns.

There is no fuel dock in the middle of the sea. Route changes on the day — “can we also go to X?” — are often a fuel question, not an attitude question.

Questions worth asking before you pay a deposit

What is the name of the boat, and what is its licensed capacity?
Is the price all-in? Specifically: fuel, park fees, food, drink, ice, taxes.
What time do we board and what time do we return to the dock?
Which dock?
What happens if the port authority closes departures that day?
Is there shade, a bathroom, and freshwater on board?

Any operator worth booking answers all six in writing without hesitating.

Who a private charter is actually for

It is worth it when privacy is the point — a group that wants the boat to itself, a celebration, a family that does not want to share a deck with strangers, a couple who want to choose their own stops.

It is not the cheapest way to see the Rosario Islands. Shared boats exist and they work. What you are buying on a private charter is control of the day: where you stop, how long you stay, when you eat, and who else is on board.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to rent a yacht in Cartagena?: There is no single figure, because the price is driven by the size of the boat, the number of hours and the date. A small sport boat for a group of six and a large yacht for a group of twenty are different products with very different costs. What matters more than the headline number is what the quote includes — fuel, crew, park fees and taxes are the four items that commonly sit outside a cheap-looking price.
What is usually NOT included in a yacht charter price?: Four things, most often — fuel, the national park entry fee for the Rosario area, food and drink, and the crew tip. Some quotes also exclude the marina or dock fee. Always ask for the price with everything included before you compare two offers, because the gap between "boat only" and "everything" can be large.
How many hours should I book?: Six to eight hours is the normal range for a day that reaches the Rosario Islands and back without feeling rushed. The crossing alone takes about an hour each way, so a four-hour charter spends half its time in transit. If you only want a sunset run along the bay, three hours is plenty.
Where do yachts leave from in Cartagena?: Most private charters board at one of the marinas in the bay, on the Bocagrande and Manga side of the city. The exact dock is confirmed with the booking and depends on the vessel, since not every boat is berthed in the same place.
Do I need to bring anything?: Identification, reef-safe sunscreen, a towel and a hat. Boats supply life jackets. Whether food, drink and ice are on board depends on what you arranged — confirm it in writing rather than assuming, because it is the single most common surprise of the day.