Party boat, pub crawl or club night in Cartagena: which should you book?
3 min read
For most people: the two-hour sunset party boat. It costs €25.80 per person, offers unlimited drinks during the tour and entry to a nightclub in the centre, and has 4.6 stars from 1,376 reviews. The speedboat with open bar and after-party costs €21.50. The Rosario Islands party boat tour at €62.88, plus a tourist port tax of COP 31,500 payable on the day, gives you a whole day with Cholón; if you would rather go on foot through Getsemaní, take the pub crawl at €20.35.
The four options are not variants of the same evening: two boats last about two hours, the island tour 6.5 hours and the pub crawl six hours. The speedboat states 18 and over, the island tour calls itself adults-only, and the pub crawl is marked not suitable for children under 18. For the sunset party boat, check the minimum age on the booking page; with an open bar on board, ask the operator before bringing anyone under 18.
Four party options compared
| Option | Duration | From | Rating | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunset party boat | 2–2.5 hours | €25.80 | 4.6 (1,376) | The all-rounder with club entry |
| Speedboat with open bar and after-party | 2 hours | €21.50 | 4.6 (342) | Open bar, then an optional after-party |
| Rosario Islands 5-stop party boat with lunch | 6.5 hours | €62.88 | 4.5 (332) | An island day with Cholón |
| Pub crawl with dancing lessons and free shots | 6 hours | €20.35 | 4.2 (254) | Nightlife in Getsemaní on foot |
The party boat: the safest choice
The description promises a panoramic sunset view, Caribbean music, an entertainer, unlimited drinks during the tour and entry to a nightclub in the centre. According to the page, the open bar is white rum with orange juice and dark rum with Coca-Cola, the boat leaves from the Muelle de los Pegasos, where you should arrive 15 minutes early, and the trip is not suitable for people prone to seasickness. The boat has 1,376 reviews, against 342, 332 and 254 for the other three. That is the reason for our recommendation, not the price.
If you want a quiet sunset, this is the wrong boat: music and an entertainer are part of its core. Our guide to the sunset cruises compares calmer alternatives.
See availability and prices for the party boat
The speedboat: open bar and after-party
The speedboat cruises into the sunset on Cartagena’s bay, has an open bar on board, puts you together with other travellers and continues the party as a group in the historic centre. Its open bar is a simple selection of rum with cola, vodka with Sprite and aguardiente; one highlight also mentions a BYOB policy, so ask the operator whether you may bring your own drinks. The open bar does not extend to the optional after-party in the Old Town, which runs until midnight; drinks there are paid for separately. Rated 4.6 from 342 reviews and priced at €21.50 against €25.80 for the party boat, it suits anyone who really wants the after-party. It is for adults 18 and over, starts at the Hard Rock Cafe on Plaza de la Aduana, and men need long trousers and closed shoes for the venues.
See dates and prices for the speedboat
The Rosario Islands: a day instead of an evening
The tour visits Bocachica Fort and Escobar’s mansion as sightseeing stops, then three islands: Barú, Marina and Cholón, described as the party hub and highlight. Lunch is included, with fish, chicken or vegetarian options, as are beach beds with parasols; drinks are for purchase, and the page lists a tourist port tax of COP 31,500 payable on the day of the tour. It starts at the Monumento Santander, and you get there on your own. The page calls it adults-only and marks it not suitable for pregnant women, people prone to seasickness, people with recent surgeries or people over 70. It costs €62.88 against €25.80 for the party boat, not for a better evening but for a different day. If you want the islands without the party, the comparison of Rosario boats has alternatives.
See the Rosario Islands party boat
The pub crawl: Getsemaní on foot
For six hours, according to the description, it goes through Getsemaní with a dance lesson, karaoke, free shots and well-known nightclubs and bars. It is rated 4.2 out of 5 from 254 reviews. “Free shots” does not mean every drink is included. The description gives separate programmes for Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, starting from different hostel bars. The page marks the crawl not suitable for children under 18 or people over 60, and sandals, shorts and sportswear are not allowed. A rolling alternative, the chiva, is covered in our nightlife guide.
See availability for the pub crawl
Our recommendation
Book the two-hour sunset party boat: 1,376 reviews, club entry included and an evening that ends after about two hours or carries on at the club. The Rosario tour is only worth it if a party day on the islands is itself your goal.
