To Islas Rosario from Cartagena.

msaucey says on Jan 8, 2008, 21:35:

You should do a search on the google link.... I think this has been discussed quite a bit lately...

As for traveling alone, that would depend on your spanish skills and your overall traveling experience.... Normal precausions should always be made...

The trouble about trying to make yourself stupider than you really are is that you very often succeed. - CS Lewis

0 funny, 0 helpful.

sloopskipper says on Jan 9, 2008, 03:12:

I visited in October and found it to be a pleasant day, along with a side trip to Aquaria. In a fast boat it takes about 45 minutes to reach Isla Grande, and it seemed totally safe. I went to Aquaria but you could also do some diving. There was a diving instructor on the trip.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

travelingirl says on Jan 9, 2008, 03:35:

Like sloopskipper said, I believe it is a 45 minute boat ride. I've been to some sketchy places when traveling alone and this isn't one of them. You should be okay going solo. But as others have mentioned, be cautious and aware of what's going on around you even though you are on a nice beach and not in the middle of the Amazon.

Around her hair she wore a yellow ribbon...

0 funny, 0 helpful.

jinksmiester says on Jan 9, 2008, 04:07:

I to have taken the tour...it was a nice trip and never had any problems...mostly tourists sight seeing and taking pictures...i will go again sometime.

A man is not old until regret takes the place of dreams

0 funny, 0 helpful.

tomtom33 says on Jan 9, 2008, 04:08:

The trip is closer to 90 minutes in a larger boat. Just go down to the tourist pier around 7:45 am to buy a ticket and go. It is quite safe. Of course the seas pick up in the afternoon. You are likely to get wet and bounced around a lot on the way back.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

tompower says on Jan 9, 2008, 05:38:

Rosario islands are very safe and a women travelling alone need not worry. The way to get there is to just show up at the pier its called muelle pegasos like tomtom says around 8am and buy a ticket for the islas rosarios tour. There are many different lanachas and as they fill up they leave. Try avoiding the big boat alcatraz it takes a lot longer and there fore you spend more time on the boat and less on the islands. When I go I always ask to get on the lanchas Ketty 1 or Ketty 2 these lanchas are all engine they zip out there the fastest. The trip can be arduous because they stop at the fort at tierra bomba for gas , stop a playa blanca to drop off food(sometimes) then on to the island where the aquarium is, you'll have to pay the fee to get in there if you dont wanna just wait, then back to playa blanca for the beach then around 3 pm they'll head back. but stop again at tierra bomba for another break or lunch if you didn't have it on playa blanca. In my opinion the trip isn't quite like the booze cruises you'd see in mexico or other sun destinations. What happens is I think the lancha driver gets a cut from every where he goes so instead of just taking you to the beach at playa blanca for the day he runs the people around from one stop to the next making a little baakshesh here and there. If you'd like i'll be in cartagena from the 20th of january for a month, e-mail me and I'd love to go too.
Remember, we're all inthis together.
Tom Power

0 funny, 0 helpful.

LilaM says on Jan 9, 2008, 06:35:

Tey are beauuuutiful, the trip is a little bit uncomfrotable if you are not use to take a boat to go to work ajjajaja i felt soooo dizzy during the trip but it worth it. At that time the ticket cost me like 45.000 i don´t know how much is now. You go at 9 in the morning and then come back at 4 in the afternoon. I had that "dizzyness" for a week.

"You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don´t try" B. Sills

0 funny, 0 helpful.

JSM says on Jan 9, 2008, 07:07:

Here is my opinion: The isles are beautiful but taking a large boat is a terrible idea. In total I spent hours on the boat and just two on Playa Blanca. I was hot, uncomfortable, and annyoed. If you want to see the Aquarium then yes, take a smaller boat tour which is faster. If you just want to get to the beach I recommend going to the pier and asking if anyone goes straight to the Playa Blanca.

Read this blog post for a humorous lesson: http://bubbler.wordpress.com/2007/12/29/islas-del-rosario/

0 funny, 0 helpful.

ColombianoGringo says on Jan 9, 2008, 07:29:

Do any of the boat tours leave later? The only time I get up that early on vacation is when I'm skiing and it means fresh powder. In San Andres, we got to the dock around noon and talked some guy into taking us.

Also, can you take a bus or taxi to Playa Blanca?

0 funny, 0 helpful.

tomtom33 says on Jan 9, 2008, 07:38:

You can get to Playa Blanca by land. You can also rent a private lancha at several spots along el Laguito nearly any time of the day.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

LilaM says on Jan 9, 2008, 07:43:

No CG is because of the sea level, la marea se sube (I don´t know how to say that in english)

"You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don´t try" B. Sills

0 funny, 0 helpful.

ColombianoGringo says on Jan 9, 2008, 07:50:

Ah OK. In that case, I may just take the land route to Playa Blanca. That is too early. Heck, I might even manage to wake up, but there is no way in hell my wife is getting up that early on vacation.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

tompower says on Jan 9, 2008, 07:53:

no no noi cg I took the land rout forget it. worse than hours on a boat.
u and me we'll get a private lancha in laguito and leave later go straight to playa blanca, tomtom u commin?

0 funny, 0 helpful.

tomtom33 says on Jan 9, 2008, 07:59:

Yeah, I'll be up for a trip.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

sloopskipper says on Jan 9, 2008, 08:05:

My experiences were a bit nicer than Bubbler's. I was staying at Hotel Da Pietro, and they made the arrangements, which included a pickup by the tour-guide, at the hotel, and she purchased all the tickets.

I think the fast boat left about 9:30, made two stops to drop some passengers at island hotels, and then preceded directly to Isla Grande (no Playa Blanca). Maybe in October some of the sellers are vacationing, as I didn't really find them too annoying on the island, in the city, or on the beach.

I was lucky to have an English speaking dive instructor seated next to me on the boat, although they mixed announcements in English and Spanish. One of the sellers (I bought a cheap necklace) gave me a walking tour of the island, and he spoke Spanish, English, and Palenquero(?).

After a nice lunch we motored to Aquaria, which I really enjoyed.

The return trip to the city was direct and I think barely took 45 minutes. The seas were relatively calm, at least for an old salt ;)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

tomtom33 says on Jan 9, 2008, 08:09:

Slooper, did you try the pizza at da Pietro? They make the best I have had in Colombia.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

sloopskipper says on Jan 9, 2008, 08:13:

Yes, very good, and done over a wood fire, I think.

I found the hotel to be a good value, and nice people. I got a special price on Expedia and think I paid about $65 for an upgraded room with wireless internet.

I am thinking to maybe stay there again in a few weeks.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

tompower says on Jan 9, 2008, 08:18:

so you gonna come too? sloopskipper? we should have a PBH party in cartagena.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

LilaM says on Jan 9, 2008, 08:19:

Everybody have the right to work wherever they want, but those guys selling things at the beach are a pain!!! You are watching the landscape, and suddenly a guy saying, "la chancla, la chancla", after one sec they realize that you are with your daughter or any girl and the start "la trenza la trenza", If you are just taking sun tan they pass and say "el masaje, el masaje", and the worst are the guys that sell oysters ajajjaaj, they say "prueba una rolita" and then "prueba otra sin compromiso cuadro", so when you try the thirt one they say, ok now you have to pay $10.000..... If its free remember, everything in life is not for free. When I was at the hilton in Cartagena we went to rest after a full week partying and working, and it supposed to be private, a Mopri appeared, and we fell in love of the neckless and all the merchandise that he had, we spent 100.000 in five minutes, jajajaj and i didn´t realize why jaaaaaaaa, anyway I still have that bracelet made of carey....

"You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don´t try" B. Sills

0 funny, 0 helpful.

sloopskipper says on Jan 9, 2008, 08:23:

Sounds great, tompower!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

ColombianoGringo says on Jan 9, 2008, 08:24:

TP,
Do you check your email when in CTG? I think tomtom gets to CTG the day I leave (1/30).

0 funny, 0 helpful.

sloopskipper says on Jan 9, 2008, 08:26:

Lila, I guess they are annoying, although I really spent little time on the beach. Only enough time to check it out, and lunch near el Caribé(?).

0 funny, 0 helpful.

aztec says on Jan 9, 2008, 08:28:

My wife and I made the trip. I recall going past many small and beautiful islands. The water is clear and the sand white, not at all what you see in Cartagena.

We also did some snorkeling (we are both certified scuba divers). That is when we had our only problem. We were both hit by Jelly fish. My wife had a serious burn accross her face. Was entirely our own fault because we were warned the Jellfish were there. They didn't look very dangerous.

We would not hesitate to do it again but would just pay more attention! The trip is one you will remember. Do take it.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

LilaM says on Jan 9, 2008, 08:33:

Yes i know sloops, Cartagena is just for party and dinner time, and if you want to go to the beach go to Islas del Rosario or a private island. Whatsoever every place you go are with those vendors, Once we, 3 ladies, went to Plaza Santo Domingo while we were eating a delicious mojarra, the ugly waiter came and said "Aqui estoy para servirles y si requieren otros servicios con gusto las atiendo" I´m here to serve you and if you need OTHER services just tell me. jajajajaj that was very funny. So if you have a prepagos to call for fun jejeje you can find guy prepagos too!!

"You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don´t try" B. Sills

0 funny, 0 helpful.

sloopskipper says on Jan 9, 2008, 08:44:

"You can find anything you want, at Alice's Restaurant", or Plaza Santo Domingo! jaja

Is that the plaza in front of the Santa Clara? That is quite charming, especially in the evening.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

kentuckygreg2 says on Jan 9, 2008, 08:46:

Guy prepagos? hilarious.

Love and happiness!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

LilaM says on Jan 9, 2008, 08:47:

Not Exactly in front of but is about 5 min taxi ride, this one is in front of Iglesia Santo Domingo 2 blocks from plaza de la aduana.

"You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don´t try" B. Sills

0 funny, 0 helpful.

sloopskipper says on Jan 9, 2008, 08:50:

Yeah, but no big surprise.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

sloopskipper says on Jan 9, 2008, 08:51:

Is that where the Gordita is? I think I saw all of them, but don't know the names, except Aduana.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

sloopskipper says on Jan 9, 2008, 09:01:

Or ?

0 funny, 0 helpful.

LilaM says on Jan 9, 2008, 09:15:

I don´t know exactly where is that one, the streets are very similar one to each other, I have a nice map but I don´t know yet how to put a picture like you do. :(

"You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don´t try" B. Sills

0 funny, 0 helpful.

sloopskipper says on Jan 9, 2008, 09:29:

I found a foto of Iglesia Santo Domingo and I don't really recognize the church.

Uploading the fotos is not really too complicated. If you get a free account at http://photobucket.com/ you can easily upload them there (and create foto slide show, etc, also). Once you have a photo there, several codes are displayed beneath the pic. You can copy and paste that code here in the comment field, and poof, just like magic, your pic Displays on PBH!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

LilaM says on Jan 9, 2008, 09:38:

jejej thank you!! sloopskipper is the same with videos?

"You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don´t try" B. Sills

0 funny, 0 helpful.

sloopskipper says on Jan 9, 2008, 10:05:

Haven't tried that here, but I will:

0 funny, 0 helpful.

sloopskipper says on Jan 9, 2008, 10:05:

Yeah, I guess so. Only a slideshow, but videos would work the same.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

LilaM says on Jan 9, 2008, 10:15:

Let´s try

"You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don´t try" B. Sills

0 funny, 0 helpful.

LilaM says on Jan 9, 2008, 10:16:

yesssssssssss it works!!! thanks for the lesson sloopskipper

"You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don´t try" B. Sills

0 funny, 0 helpful.

sloopskipper says on Jan 9, 2008, 10:18:

Cool! My pleasure.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

sloopskipper says on Jan 9, 2008, 10:19:

You're a pretty quick study!

0 funny, 0 helpful.