Rosario Islands see safety checks from 3 to 11 October
Published on 10/04/2026 at 06:37 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Rosario Islands (Islas del Rosario) in Cartagena are covered by intensified maritime safety checks from 3 to 11 October 2026 under the Colombia Navega Segura campaign. The measures apply during Colombia's school holiday period and affect visitors travelling by boat to the islands.
Colombia Navega Segura brings checks to Rosario Islands
Colombia's Maritime Directorate, known as Dimar, activated the operation on 2 October 2026. It includes preventive inspections of boats, checks on passenger transport companies and information sessions for tourists, boat crews, operators and coastal communities. The holiday safety operation covers the port office in Cartagena and other maritime offices across Colombia.
Dimar expects more than 80,000 people to travel towards Cartagena's island destinations from public docks and marinas during the period. The authority's advice is practical: passengers should use authorised maritime transport, board only at approved docks, check sea conditions, wear life jackets and respect the permitted capacity of their vessel. Cartagena's maritime controls also cover boat documents, safety equipment and passenger transport rules.
Rosario Islands remain part of a protected marine park
The islands form part of the Corales del Rosario and San Bernardo National Natural Park on Colombia's Caribbean coast. The protected area lies within the jurisdiction of Cartagena and includes coral reefs, seagrass meadows, mangroves and other marine-coastal ecosystems.
The park authority lists the area as open and records its declaration date as 6 June 1977. Its current information gives a total area of 123,393.67 hectares and identifies the coral platform as the largest on Colombia's continental Caribbean coast, covering about 420 square kilometres. The park's visitor guidance links the holiday checks to the place's marine setting: boat safety and authorised access are part of reaching a protected reef environment.
Visiting Rosario Islands: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The Colombia Navega Segura operation runs from 3 to 11 October 2026, including travel from Cartagena towards the Rosario Islands.
- The park is open, but travellers should board only authorised maritime transport at approved docks and follow Dimar's safety instructions.
- From Cartagena, the park authority directs maritime visitors to the tourist dock at La Bodeguita on Avenida Blas de Lezo, opposite Parque de La Marina. Operators authorised to serve the park are based there.
- The setting is marine and includes coral reefs, seagrass and mangroves. Sea conditions can affect boat travel, so the authority advises checking the latest maritime information before departure.
- The official language is Spanish and the national currency is the Colombian peso.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Rosario Islands
When do the Colombia Navega Segura checks take place at Rosario Islands?
The intensified maritime safety operation runs from 3 to 11 October 2026 during Colombia's school holiday period.
Where are Rosario Islands and how do you get there?
The islands are in Colombia's Caribbean region within Cartagena's jurisdiction. The park authority directs maritime visitors to authorised operators at La Bodeguita dock in Cartagena.
What is Rosario Islands?
Rosario Islands are an archipelago within the Corales del Rosario and San Bernardo National Natural Park, a protected marine area declared on 6 June 1977.
