While Cartgena's city beaches can't compete with tropical destinations as found on Cuba, Mexico, Aruba or Belize, some nearby destinations indeed can beat them. Rosario Islands, Playa Blanca and Baru are just a few minutes by speedboat away. But hard to reach. This article will give you an idea on how to get there.

There is an impressive open water aquarium, where you'll enjoy a dolphin show, sharks, giant turtles, and all kinds of tropical reef fauna. The islands are coral formations which have grown in size over hundreds of years, so just about anywhere you will find good Snorkling and Scuba Diving. Also, the Rosario's still waters make it attractive for water sking, canoing, swimming and wind surfing. Inquire at your hotel and they will provide you with the equipment, Guides or Certified Instructors needed for your water activities.

The first choice for travelers in search of relaxation and the unparalleled beauty of the Pacific Northwest, Rosario Resort and Spa is a member of the Historic Hotels of America, listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Centerpiece of Rosario is the 1906 Moran Mansion, designed with a unique blend of nautical and Arts and Crafts influences. Guests enjoy frequent access to the mansion, with its music room and live performances. The Moran Mansion houses our restaurant, spa, boutique, lounge, music room, library and museum, along with administrative and management offices, but does not feature any of our guest rooms. Our hillside accommodations are approximately one-half mile from the mansion. Spread across eight acres of evergreen-covered hillside, Rosario Resort and Spa offers 116 guest rooms and suites, as well as a conference center equipped to delight groups from 20 to 400 with innumerable settings and attentive staff and fine dining at the Mansion Dining Room. All accommodations enjoy views of the pristine Cascade Bay or the lush evergreen forest of Orcas Island, and some rooms also feature such amenities as gas fireplaces, sunken Jacuzzi tubs, and private balconies. An abundance of activities on Orcas Island and Puget Sound begin at the resorts Avanyu Spa with two pools, a fitness room, a sauna, Jacuzzi, and a host of pampering and rejuvenating spa treatments. Outdoors, Rosario's harbor features a full-service marina, moorings, whale watching charters, and kayak tour guides await. Featured in such publications as Town and Country, Northwest Travel, Orange Coast, Small Market Meetings, and Sunset Magazine, Rosario Resort and Spa garners praise from all corners, but most importantly, from its guests.

Located 40 kilometers from Cartagena, with public access in 50 minutes via water taxis. The Rosario Islands are made up of 43 islands, covering 20 hectares of coral islands and reefs. The climate is tropical, humid, and averages 27 degrees Celsius. The Parks mangroves, coral reefs, and sea flora constitute one of the most diverse and productive ecosystems on the planet. Come, be one with nature, and enjoy this beautiful under water world! Speed boats leave and return daily from Muelle de la Bodeguita, which is across from the Convention Center, across the street from the Walled City, El Centro.