Last updated on March 23, 2024.

During a trip to Cartagena, one of our tour groups decided to spend a day at Gente de Mar, a beach resort on Isla Grande, one of the Rosario Islands, rather than the overcrowded Playa Blanca. We booked the day trip directly through the resort.

 

Gente de Mar

Gente de Mar charges COP$229,500 per person for a day on their resort (as of June 2021). The cost includes a traditional Caribbean fish lunch, but for those who don’t eat fish, they’ll make something different. It also includes access to all the facilities on the resort, a towel, and a beach chair. Not included are massages, snorkeling equipment, other optional activities, and the COP$23,000 dock fee to enter the national park (as of June 2023).

 

The Excursion

To get to the island, you have to walk to the docks and find Gate 4. Once you arrive, you pay the dock fee and get escorted to the boat. The boat leaves at around 8:30am, and you should be on the beach just over an hour later.

Gate 4 on the docks at Cartagena, Colombia
Gate 4

There are usually anywhere between 30 and 50 people visiting the resort on a day trip plus the overnight guests, but it feels like fewer once everyone disperses on the beach and throughout the resort.

Beach at Gente de Mar, Rosario Islands, Colombia
Beach

The beach wasn’t as good as I was expecting. There was lots of seaweed and some rocks, but at least the water was warm and calm.

Beach at Gente de Mar, Rosario Islands, Colombia
Beach

It was a relaxing day (minus a few vendors trying to sell us souvenirs) and the lunch was decent. When it was over, we were taken by boat back to Cartagena at about 3:30pm and had to walk back to our hotel once we arrived.

Lunch at Gente de Mar, Rosario Islands, Colombia
Lunch

 

Conclusion

It’s much more expensive than a day trip to Playa Blanca, but if you want to get away from the crowds and chaos and have a more peaceful beach experience, Gente de Mar is a good option.

Author

Owner of Paisadventure. World traveler. Chicago sports lover. Living in Colombia.

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