Planning an experience in Cartagena or the Rosario Islands? Find answers about island hopping, snorkeling, private boats, yachts, beach clubs, booking, weather, safety, and custom travel throughout Colombia.
Pana Tours Colombia is a locally owned Colombian tour operator specializing in high-quality experiences in Cartagena, the Rosario Islands, and selected destinations throughout Colombia.
We focus on well-organized, transparent experiences with trusted local partners, personalized service, and a strong commitment to safety and quality.
What makes Pana different is our goal of helping travelers experience the best side of Colombia while avoiding tourist traps, unclear charges, scams, and high-pressure experiences sometimes associated with highly visited destinations.
Our goal goes beyond providing a great tour. We want every guest to return home with a positive image of Colombia, share that experience with others, and help strengthen the reputation of our country as an extraordinary travel destination.
Yes. Pana Tours Colombia is a Colombian-owned company created from a local perspective.
The company was founded after its Colombian founder spent years traveling internationally and learning how tourism operates in different parts of the world.
After returning to Colombia, he saw an opportunity to provide travelers in Cartagena and the Rosario Islands with a more reliable, transparent, and high-quality experience while helping visitors discover a better side of Colombia.
Pana Tours was created to combine Colombian hospitality and local knowledge with the service standards learned through international travel.
The philosophy behind Pana is to treat guests as more than customers. We want travelers to feel as though they are exploring Colombia with friends and family, something that continues to be reflected in the experiences and reviews our guests share.
Pana Tours is available through major travel platforms because they provide convenient ways for travelers to discover our experiences.
However, booking directly connects you with the local operator actually providing your experience.
Direct bookings reduce the third-party commissions associated with large online travel agencies. This allows more of the value of every booking to remain within our local operation and helps us continue investing in our team, service quality, trusted partners, community initiatives, and competitive pricing.
Booking directly also gives travelers easier access to our team for questions, recommendations, itinerary planning, and special requests.
The best way to experience the Rosario Islands depends on the type of day you want.
For travelers looking for a high-quality shared experience, we recommend our Island Hopping VIP.
The experience combines island exploration with two guided snorkeling sessions, conditions permitting. Instead of simply dropping guests into the water, our guides follow snorkeling routes designed to help travelers explore the reefs, observe marine life, and better understand the underwater environment of the Rosario Islands.
For travelers who prefer more privacy and flexibility, a private boat charter is usually the better option.
A private boat allows your group to customize the itinerary, spend more time at preferred locations, visit selected beach clubs or islands, play your own music, bring your preferred drinks, and experience the Rosario Islands at your own pace.
In simple terms:
Island Hopping VIP Best for a structured, social, snorkeling-focused experience.
Private Boat Charter Best for privacy, flexibility, and a personalized day.
Each option offers a very different way to experience the Rosario Islands.
Island Hopping
Island hopping is a shared experience designed for travelers who want to explore several parts of the Rosario Islands in one day.
Our experience focuses on guided snorkeling, nature, Colombian and island flavors through traditional snacks and lunch, and a relaxed social atmosphere where guests can meet other travelers.
Beach Club
A beach club day pass is better for travelers who prefer to spend most of the day in one location.
Transportation to and from the island is normally included, and packages commonly include a welcome drink and lunch.
The atmosphere depends on the beach club. Some properties have DJs, music, dancing, and a party atmosphere, while others focus on tranquility, nature, and relaxation.
Additional activities such as snorkeling, kayaking, paddleboarding, or visiting the Oceanarium may be available for an additional fee depending on the property.
Depending on conditions and your chosen itinerary, your group can visit different locations such as Isla Grande, Isleta, Cholón, Agua Azul, Playa Blanca, and selected beach clubs.
You can decide where you want to spend more time, bring your preferred beverages for the onboard cooler, play your own music, and enjoy the boat exclusively with your group.
Yacht Charter
A yacht charter provides the highest level of comfort and space.
Yachts are generally larger vessels and, depending on the yacht, may include air-conditioned interior areas, cabins, bathrooms, kitchens, living spaces, televisions, and larger lounging areas.
They provide a more luxurious and comfortable way to explore the islands, normally at a higher price than a private speedboat.
Quick comparison:
Island Hopping → snorkeling + exploration + social atmosphere
Beach Club → one destination + relaxation or party atmosphere
The best experience depends on how you like to travel.
If you are traveling solo and would like to meet other travelers, Island Hopping is a great option. The shared format creates opportunities to meet people who also enjoy nature, snorkeling, and exploring Colombia.
Many travelers connect during the experience and continue exploring Cartagena together afterward.
For couples, families, and small groups, Island Hopping is also a great introduction to the Rosario Islands because you can experience snorkeling, island time, Colombian food, and Caribbean scenery in a single day while keeping the experience more affordable than a private charter.
If your priority is spending most of the day relaxing in one location, a beach club may be a better option.
If your priority is privacy, flexibility, and control over your itinerary, we recommend a private boat.
A great option for first-time visitors is to begin with Island Hopping and discover different areas of the Rosario Islands. If you find an island, beach club, or area you particularly enjoy, you can return later by private boat and experience it with more time and privacy.
The Nomad experience follows the same core itinerary but is designed for travelers seeking a more affordable option.
Guests still receive the core Pana Tours experience, guided snorkeling, lunch, island access, and our focus on avoiding tourist traps and unclear charges.
Nomad does not include the additional snacks and beverages provided with VIP, allowing the experience to be offered at a lower price while maintaining the quality of the tour itself.
Yes. You must know how to swim to participate in the snorkeling sessions. You do not need previous snorkeling experience.
Safety is one of our highest priorities.
Our snorkeling guides are there to guide the experience, help guests explore the area safely, and explain what they are seeing. However, snorkeling during this tour is not a swimming lesson and our guides cannot teach guests how to swim.
If you do not know how to swim, you can choose not to participate in the snorkeling sessions and remain on the boat, relax, and enjoy the surroundings.
However, because snorkeling is an important part of the experience, we generally do not recommend this tour for travelers who are unable to swim.
Private boat and yacht experiences can be customized based on your group, celebration, and preferred itinerary.
We can help organize experiences for:
Birthdays
Bachelor or bachelorette groups
Anniversaries
Marriage proposals
Celebrations
Private family days
Special group itineraries
Depending on your request, we may also arrange additional snacks, beverages, birthday cakes, beach club reservations, island stops, or other special services for an additional cost.
Because protecting the marine environment is important to Pana Tours, we do not allow decorations on our boats that can create plastic waste or potentially harm marine life, including balloons and similar disposable decorations.
If decorations are requested, we can help explore more appropriate options at an island or beach club where they can be properly managed.
Custom arrangements should be requested in advance because pricing depends on the specific requirements.
Rain by itself does not necessarily mean a tour will be canceled. Marine conditions such as strong winds, unsafe sea conditions, and official navigation restrictions are more important when determining whether it is safe to operate.
When authorities advise that conditions are unsafe for navigation, or when conditions create a serious safety concern, Pana Tours may cancel the experience.
Whenever possible, guests are notified the night before.
If Pana Tours cancels an experience because of unsafe weather or navigation conditions, guests receive a full refund or may choose to reschedule when possible.
For customer-requested cancellations:
Cancellations made at least 48 hours before the experience are eligible for a full refund.
Medical cancellations inside the normal cancellation period require supporting medical documentation.
Late cancellations unrelated to weather, safety, or documented medical circumstances are not refundable.
Unless specifically stated otherwise on the individual experience page, Pana Tours prices do not include:
Pier or port tax
Rosario Islands National Park entrance fee
These fees are paid separately by the traveler when required.
Depending on the official process available at the time of travel, they may be purchased through the authorized website or directly at the departure dock.
Pana Tours Colombia can organize private and multi-day experiences beyond Cartagena and the Rosario Islands.
We work with itineraries in regions including the Colombian Caribbean and Coffee Region, with additional destinations available depending on the request.
Travelers looking for a custom itinerary can contact us with:
Desired destinations
Travel dates
Number of days
Number of travelers
Interests
Preferred travel style
Our team can either help organize a specific route requested by the traveler or create a complete itinerary designed around their interests.
For travelers who want to experience several important regions of Colombia in one trip, Pana Tours is developing a multi-day experience called Pachamama, designed to combine some of the country's most important destinations into one curated journey.
