Bendita Beach

Bendita Beach is a Cartagena boat company that takes families and groups of friends out to the Islas del Rosario on private boats. All its boats are company-owned, which it says allows it to control price, service and personal attention, and the fleet ranges from 33-foot sports boats for 12 passengers to 42-foot boats that carry up to 50, so it can handle anything from a couple to a large celebration.

The main product is the private day tour to the Rosario Islands, which runs from 09:00 to 17:00. Because the boat is yours for the day, you set your own timing and destinations, but the suggested route gives a good idea of what is possible: a scenic run past Bocachica, the southern entrance to the bay, guarded in colonial times by the Fuerte de San Fernando, then on past the Rosario Islands, with stops to swim in the natural "piscinita", at the sunken light aircraft known as the Avioneta Hundida, and at Cholón, the sandbank where boats anchor and people gather. Lunch is at an island restaurant recommended by the crew before the return to Cartagena.

The price covers the boat with a pilot and a sailor, fuel and a cooler with ice. Lunch and anything you consume on the islands are paid directly to the providers, and the municipal boarding tax is charged per person on top. The company also offers a night tour of the Bay of Cartagena, a different way to see the city's lights from the water.

Private charters suit families, groups of friends and anyone who wants more flexibility than a shared island tour, and the larger boats suit big groups. Bring sun protection, a hat, swimwear and plenty of water. The tour page does not list snorkelling equipment, so ask if you want to look at the reefs. As in all of Barú and the Rosario Islands, Colombia's tourism board recommends asking prices before ordering food or drinks at Cholón.

Reservations are confirmed with a 50% deposit, paid by Bancolombia bank transfer or in cash; transfers from other banks can take up to two days to clear, so book well ahead. The company can be reached by WhatsApp or phone on +57 300 425 0902 or +57 311 659 2210, or by email at [email protected]. Confirm the departure point when you book.