Cartagena is the city of the Colombian Caribbean Coast that is most equipped with boats and the most visited by international vessels between cargo and passenger transport , which makes the economy of the entire city move, from restaurants, transport, street vendors and else. The city of Cartagena also receives tourists from other regions and cities in Colombia and the most frequented activity is to rent a boat (whether it be a yacht, catamaran, sailboat, pontoon or speedboat) that takes them to see and enjoy the beaches and islands that the archipelago has and all the services that are offered there; in fact, this is one of the reasons why the city is very touristy.
If you visit the city and want to take a panoramic tour of the islands and reach a beach where you can enjoy the beach, sun and sand and you want to do it on board a boat, but your budget is not so high to be able to take it on a yacht or other large boat, the best and very good option is to take a sports speedboat. Within this category you will find luxury boats and simpler boats; Their prices vary according to those characteristics. The luxury boats have a better designed distribution of space, luxury cushions and in optimal conditions and some even include a console bathroom and fresh water showers with an excellent sound system where you can listen to the music you like by connecting via Bluetooth, generally and it is very rare the one that asks that it be by cable; while the simplest boats are not as visually attractive as the others, but they can still offer transportation services to the islands.
Here you can find boats to rent in Cartagena
One thing that you should keep in mind is that you have to make sure that you rent the boats through companies that are legally constituted , either as a natural person or as a legal entity; so, to be calmer, you can request the documents and there should be no problem for them to send them to you and you can be sure that you are not going to lose your money and they are a serious company in every sense.
Also, you should know that in Cartagena there are several docks from where boats can set sail ; so, depending on which one you take, it can be a pier or a different one. For example, some of them are: Yacht Club, La Bodeguita Dock, Los Pegasos Dock, Los Rosales Dock, Todomar Dock, Marina Santa Cruz, Bocagrande Dock, among others and the return for full day tour from 9:00 AM must be done until 5:00 PM
On the other hand, you should keep in mind that if you rent a boat and decide not to take it for some reason or other, you cannot refund the money. The money is only disbursed if the weather conditions do not allow the departure or if the boat has suffered some damage and is undergoing maintenance and the other option would be that it can be rescheduled for another day, if the boat is available. For the rest, no disbursements are made because the client cannot take the boat or the day trip.
You may also be interested in: The best yachts in Cartagena
Boat prices in Cartagena
Now, the price of the boats in Cartagena are stipulated according to the capacity or size of the boat ; that is to say, the smallest ones cost less than the large boats, the luxury boats cost more than the simple ones and the boats that have a console bathroom cost more than the boats that do not have a bathroom and you can visualize it as follows:
the boats that are 28, 29 and 30 feet (capacity for about 10 people) without a bathroom have an approximate price of $1,900,000 COP, while those with a bathroom have an approximate price of $2,000,000 COP;
likewise, the boats from 33 to 34 feet (capacity for 12 to 14 people) without bathroom are priced between $2,200,000 and 2,400,000 COP and if they have a bathroom they can cost approximately 2,550,000 COP.
The 38 and 39 foot boats (capacity for 15 to 18 people) without bathroom can cost $2,700,000 COP and with bathroom $2,900,000 COP
and, the largest boats of 41 and 41 feet (for about 22 people) without a bathroom can cost $3,100,000 and with a bathroom $3,300,000 COP
Also, you can have the option of renting two, three or four hours that can usually be taken from 6:00 PM onwards. This price can be around $500,000 COP per hour or maybe a little less.
You should bear in mind that some of the boats, depending on the weather conditions (for example, if there is a lot of wind), carry 2 or 3 people less than their total capacity. Just as there are others that in normal weather conditions it is accepted that 1, 2 or 3 more people are added. In the same way , it must be taken into account that prices may increase according to the season; that is to say, if it is high season like January, Holy Week in April, June, July and December more than anything, it is when these prices can increase by up to 15% or by 500,000 and up to 1,000,000 Colombian pesos in some cases, For example, if there is an event in the city and there is too much demand for boats, prices go up.
Places you can visit aboard a sports boat
You may also be interested in: Cartagena Beaches
Cartagena is a very touristy place and the islands are one of the most important and visited attractions in the city, which you can visit on board a boat:
Tierra Bomba : it is the closest island you could go to because it is almost opposite Cartagena and the journey takes very little time, about 15 minutes. In this area you cannot practice snorkeling because the corals are not found in this area and the water is not as crystalline as near the other islands; however, you will be able to use other water toys such as paddle board, kayak and jet ski; likewise, there are a variety of hotels where you can stay or take a day plan, have lunch on the spot and relax. Tierra Bomba is made up of 4 locations, the two most popular of which are Bocachica and Punta Arena from where you will have spectacular views of the city of Cartagena.
Islas del Rosario : it is a wonderful archipelago made up of a number of 27 islands that of course you can go by speedboat. The journey can take about an hour since it is located about 100 km from the southeast of the Cartagena coast. In this area you can practice snorkeling since the water is very crystalline and there are corals of all colors (also in Cholón and Barú you can practice the sport), you can swim with the little fish and enjoy the sun, beach and breeze . You will also find options for lodging and day trips.
Cholón : this island is part of the Rosario Islands and has a more party atmosphere. This beach has shallow water. Most of the people when they go to cholón in a boat, stay in the boats dancing, drinking and they also get off to take a dip (there are also places for lodging and day trips); but, it is an area with music where you will feel very happy in this festive atmosphere.
Barú : on the white beach of Barú you can also have an excellent experience where you can swim, snorkel, use the other water toys and also stay, take a day trip or go to lunch.
Another of the beaches that you could visit are Agua Azul and Playa Tranquila , which are the complete opposite of Cholón, ideal for relaxing while lying on a sunbathing chair and enjoying the beautiful scenery.
You may also be interested in: Boats for events
Recommendations for taking a tour
If you are going to rent a sports speedboat in the city of Cartagena you should take into account the following tips so that you have a pleasant stay on board:
The first thing you should do is use plenty of sunscreen , since most luxury and simple sport speedboats do not have a roof from stem to stern; so, you are going to receive the sun's rays and it is better to protect yourself and prevent any damage caused by UV rays.
We also recommend wearing a cap and sunglasses . But, you must be careful because the movement and the breeze can make them fall into the water; so, you should use them but manage so that it doesn't happen to you.
Wear comfortable clothing and shoes. You should wear something during the tour to protect yourself from the sun and a bathing suit or some light clothing underneath so that you feel free on this tour.
You must follow the instructions of the captain and take care of the boat ; so, if you consume snacks and drinks, avoid spreading them around the place. You cannot make sudden movements, much less jump into the water while the boat is in motion; since, it is very dangerous and can be dragged by the motors. It is better to wait for the captain to reach an area where they can go down and take a dip.
Taking a sports speedboat in Cartagena is a very good option. You can take the tour wherever you like and have panoramic views of the entire tour; likewise, choose the one that best suits your budget and you must take into account that in the city there are several docks from which you can set sail. Likewise, if after the tour of the islands you still feel very energetic, you can tour Cartagena at night and go to a restaurant, to a disco or take a carnival chiva, which is a bus with music where you can dance and drink while you have a tour of the most touristic sites.
We invite you to take a look at other articles at https://yate.co/es/blog