Colombia · CRUISES & BOAT TOURS
The 15 best cruises & boat tours you can book right now, with what each costs, how long it runs and who it suits. Number one is first for a reason; start there.
Climb Piedra del Peñol, explore colorful Guatapé, ride the reservoir by boat, and eat real Colombian meals, all from Medellín.
“Marlon and David were great! Marlon was fun and knowledgeable! This experience was very interesting!”
Day trip from Medellín to Guatapé and Peñol Rock with breakfast, lunch, and a reservoir boat ride, plus town exploring.
“This day trip to Guatape was an amazing experience, but what truly made it outstanding was our guide, Andreas. From the very beginning, he set the tone for the day with his warm personality, perfect English, and fantastic sense of humor. He has a natural talent for storytelling and keeping everyone engaged without ever feeling rushed or overwhelmed. Andreas was incredibly knowledgeable and shared so many interesting facts about Colombia in general, Guatape, and the local culture, always in a clear and entertaining way. He was attentive to absolutely everyone in the group, patient, and genuinely cared that each person was enjoying the experience. You could tell he truly loves…”
Medellín day trip to Guatapé and Peñol: step climb, dam boat lunch, Umbrella Street, and Antioquia tastings. Small groups, big views.
“A very good experience, and good value for the amount paid. We took longer than expected, departing about 8:45 AM and arriving back around 10 PM. Lunch was very good and well timed. We could have used more time at the piedra, but we were a bit behind schedule by then. This tour is recommended for those interested in a deeper exploration of the area around Medellín! Be prepared for lot of time on the bus.”
A full-day catamaran cruise from Cartagena to the Rosario Islands with lunch and snorkeling, plus multiple swim stops in clear water.
“I had an amazing relaxing day on the boat and the food was so good!!”
2-hour Cartagena sunset catamaran from Bodeguita, skyline lights, included drink and snack, smooth sailing across the bay.
“Enjoyed the sunset cruise. It was nice being on the catamaran sail boat with the nets you could sit on over the water. Much better than cramped party boat. Forgot that we could get one drink so I enjoyed the beer although it would have been better if it was cold. It was slightly more than room temp. The white wine is meh. My partner did not enjoy it and so didn’t finish it. I was happy to find little snacks being served at the start which was needed as we didn’t have time to eat! Dinner came later once we finished the tour. The sunset and having a sail…”
5-stop Rosario Islands day trip from Cartagena with lunch, fort views, snorkeling (Eco/VIP) and beach beds. Choose VIP, Eco, or Party.
“Great staff easy to do and enjoy. Very knowledgeable and helpful. The tour takes you to great places. The ride is a bit bumpy on the way back”
A 2-hour Cartagena sunset party boat with open bar, music, panoramic bay views, a Virgen del Carmen stop, and a nightclub entry.
“Nice quick tour great way to end the day. Views from the water are amazing, fun dancing drinking.”
Small-group boat day to Colombia’s Rosario Islands with snorkeling gear, included lunch, snacks and drinks, plus private-feeling island time.
“This was not a party boat experience, but it was also not a day spent snorkeling, enjoying coral reefs, and checking out mangroves as advertised in the VIP package we purchased. Rather, we only spent about 30 minutes snorkeling for the entire day, and we spent the rest of the time at two different beach locations where we could buy a massage, nap in a hammock, or order drinks - which the crew and captain also seemed to be taking part in. Chill time is fine, but for us the day was really disappointing and not at all the experience the company described.”
Two-hour sunset catamaran cruise from Cartagena’s La Bodeguita dock, with Walled City and Clock Tower views, snacks, and soft drinks.
“Overall, I didn't enjoy the cruise nor do I feel this was worth the $30. First, the boat/catamaran was crowded. Not sure how many people were on board but I believe the listing mentioned the boat holds up to 150 people. Second, the appetizers offered were cold and...unappetizing. You get a token for a free drink onboard with very limited options. Finally, the staff wasn't very friendly which is unusual in Cartagena. Instead, they were quite indifferent and unwelcoming. It seemed they were just going through the motions. There was no communication when the boat departed (i.e., no safety protocols, no warnings, etc.). It simply left the port. But when…”
Cartagena sunset cruise on the Sibarita Express with an open bar and music. Sail past Bocagrande, Getsemani, and old city lights.
“the tour was amazed. from start to finish. the captain of the boat was very helpful with pictures. The servers was punctual with drinks. drinks was open bar. we left on time. came back on time. as said we would. 10/10 I recommend”
Sail on Artivela from Santa Marta to Bahía Concha in Tayrona National Park for a swim, snorkeling, paddleboarding, and grilled fish.
“The crew was nice but no one spoke English. I received message on Whatsapp at 9pm the night before saying we were changing from a sail boat to a catamaran and we were leaving at 9h instead of 10h30. The food was good. We were only 8 people so that was nice. Snorkeling was not good way too much waves. The beach Palmata was horrible. Brown water with lots of débris floating.”
Guatapé and Piedra del Peñol day trip from Medellín with breakfast, lunch, Guatapé Dam boat tour, town stops, and a climb option.
“This is a very complete and well-organized tour with a total of six stops. You truly get more than what you pay for. The tour included both breakfast and lunch, which was a great bonus. The guide managed the time very well, giving us enough time at each stop without feeling rushed. There were restrooms available at every stop, which made the experience very comfortable. Everything felt very pleasant and enjoyable. I highly recommend this tour.”
Sail from Santa Marta to Bahia Concha in Tayrona Park by boat. Snorkel and SUP gear included, lunch served, sunset return.
“Good way to spend a couple hours at Tyrona if you want to avoid the bus/hike. The meeting point is different to what is outlined on the booking and we didn't leave until 10:30 meaning an hour and half waiting around unnecessarily at the harbour. No guide/limited English spoken.”
Private boat rental in Cartagena for up to 10, with Rosario Islands and Baru options, JL Bluetooth sound, and beach-club stops.
“The experience was great and the crew was very knowledgeable about where to go and they gave great recommendations and was very flexible. I would definitely recommend them to anyone who wants to rent a private boat to go to the islands.”
2-hour Cartagena Bay dinner cruise on the Sibarita Master with a 4-course meal, half bottle of wine, and night views of the walled city.
“We had a wonderful evening. The food was delicious and the vibe was romantic. The servers were accommodating and very nice. We enjoyed it!”
Pick a base, pick a kind of day, read the reviews.
