The Rosario Islands: Underwater Coral Reefs

Hey everyone, welcome back to another travel entry. We are in the beautiful Rosario Islands, which are located off the coast of Colombia. The islands are a nice escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. The views are breathtaking and unforgettable. There is so much to look at including white sands, crystal blue waters, and underwater coral reefs that extend west from the Island of Baru. The Rosario Islands were declared a National Park to preserve the coral reefs and the ecosystems. The goal is to also protect the seagrass, mangroves, and sea animals that live within the coral reefs.

The Rosario Islands

The Rosario Islands also referred to as Corales Islas del Rosario, are a cluster of islands located off the coast of Colombia, about 100 km from the city of Cartagena. The Islands are one of the forty-six National Parks in Colombia. There are so many excursion opportunities while exploring these islands. You can visit the Oceanary, which has all kinds of sea animals in their natural habitats such as sharks, giant sea turtles, tropical fish, and even a dolphin show. They offer a lot of different packages to tourists to choose from including all-day passes, guided tours, single boat rides or passes including certain excursions and dining.  

We decided to take a boat from Cartagena to the Rosario Islands, which was one of the most beautiful adventures I have ever been on. It was about a forty-five-minute boat ride, and the views of the crystal blue waters were breathtaking. The color became more beautiful as we got closer to the islands. There’s a bunch of mangroves and marsh areas we got to swim into. It’s also beautiful because as we were leaving to go back to Cartagena, we were able to see the skyline of huge condos, which is nicknamed Little Miami.

Things to Do and See

There were a ton of vendors on little boats and canoes floating around waiting for bigger boats, like ours, to come by to sell things. They were fairly persistent, and we ended up buying a lobster, which was about fourteen US dollars. We had the opportunity to see where Pablo Escobar’s plane had crashed. It is now completely underwater and was a little eerie to see. We also got to see Pablo’s mansion that had been abandoned on one of the islands. Currently, the remains of the mansions are owned by the Government of Colombia. It is now a popular tourist site to observe the remains of what was once a famous drug lord’s private getaway. Pablo Escobar ended up being killed by police during a chase to apprehend him in 1993, Needless to say, there is a lot of history on this island in regards to Pablo Escobar, which is what makes this spot so interesting to see.

The Experience

I respect the culture here. They care so much about the environment and protecting their islands. It’s super cool because the islands have special government protection as a natural park, which means there is no private property allowed on the islands. I love how they admire the natural beauty of the land and will do anything to preserve it. 

The Rosario Islands were amazing, and I would highly recommend this location to anyone of any age, shape, or size. The views are amazing and one-of-a-kind. There is so much to see and do here. They offer fun boat tours, scuba diving in the coral reefs, dolphin encounters, and so much more. I was truly in awe of these amazing islands and the amazing people we got to bond with. The culture is amazing and there is a lot to learn from this place. Thanks for following along. I can’t wait to keep exploring Colombia. If you would like to read more about my travels, check out my previous posts. Now, off to explore the beautiful city of Cartagena in Colombia.