• By Sea:
• 40 Minute boat ride. Once in the city of Cartagena, it is necessary to take a boat to Isla Grande in the Rosario Islands.
• The output port of the boats to the Rosario islands is from the Muelle De La Bodeguita , located on the Avenue Blas de Lezo , 200 meters from the Clock Tower, the main gateway to the walled city.
• This transport operates from 8:30 am until 9:30 am and costs between 15 USD to 25 USD plus the tourist taxes which are $ 13,500 COP (about 7 USD) Once you arrive at La Bodeguita explain that you want to go to Hostales Paraiso Secreto and find out which boat can take you there. Lizamar is very close by and only about a 10 minute walk. We recommend that you buy a one way ticket, so you are free to choose how you want to return or if maybe you want to stop somewhere new long the way.
• By Land & Sea:
• About 2 hours. Land & Sea transport is the cheapest option to get to Las islas de Rosario. The land part of your trip should cost you just under COP$15,000 (USD$8) one-way by bus and motorcycle taxi if your bargaining skills don’t let you down.
• The first step is by land transport to Playa Blanca. You need to get to Pasacaballos, a small township and transit point from where you can take a ferry across the Canal del Dique to Barú Island.
• Direct buses to Pasacaballos leave from the city centre on Av Luis Carlos (near La India Catalina), from the Mercado Bazurto near Caribe Plaza. The bus should cost approximately COP$2,000 (USD$1.10).
• Once you arrive at Pasacaballos at the park beside the Parroquia De Pasacaballos, you may be hounded by moto taxi-drivers who want to take you to Playa Blanca.
• Resist the temptation to take their offers, and instead walk the 500 metres to the nearby ferry transit point. It costs COP$1,000 to cross the canal which leaves regularly.
• Once you cross the other side, it's easy to find a moto taxi to take you to the beach. Depending on your haggling skills, prices vary between COP$7,000 (USD$3) and COP$10,000 (USD$5).
• Once you arrive in Playa Blanca Have a drink you deserve it! Then once you’ve cooled down and are fed up by the beach vendors ask around for a boat to Islas de Rosario. This should cost you about COP$10,000 (USD$5) to COP$15,000 (USD$7)