LUX ISLAND
So first of all, this beach club is actually called "Luxury Island" which I consider one of the worst names ever and can't bring myself to actually put as the title. The name is also the reason I delayed checking out this new option, waiting a good few months before finally scheduling a visit. So I can now happily admit that I was wrong and you can't judge an island by its name. Luxury Island makes a really great option if you want to book an islands day in Cartagena.
Luxury Island is located on Isla Grande in the Rosario Islands. It has one of the best locations available, since it is situated on an actual white sand generous beach with direct access to beautiful aquamarine transparent water.
Other great things about Luxury Island:
- They operate their own boat to the island, so you don't have to make other stops along the way.
- They have 2 excellent water activities available for visitors for an additional fee; a private snorkel tour with a native from the island (45,000 pesos pp) and a private tour round the islands and reef in a glass bottomed boat (55,000 pesos pp)
- They also have massages available, a shady house that will lend you books if you need, tasteful sun beds and hammocks
- All the team from arrival at the dock, to the boat operators, to the massage ladies, lunch ladies and island hosts were super friendly and attentive in their service.
The lunch is the standard island fare but on the day I went it was done well. They offer the choices of fried fish, chicken or stirfried vegetables with ample sides of coconut rice, plantain, salad. It's served at a set time and people queue to have their plates filled by the friendly lunch ladies. It's not a la carte and it's not "Luxury" but flavours were good and they definitely don't skimp on portions.
There is a pretty basic, island-style bar with reasonably priced cocktails and the piña coladas looked very enticing (I wasn't drinking). The people enjoying the open bar definitely seemed to be having the most fun!
The photos below were taken by/of me. I was intentionally strategic to avoid shots that included lots of people because; Instagram. I was told there were 75 people there that day and their maximum is 80 day passes per day.
Not so great:
It does have a "package tour" kind of feel about it, I would not call it luxury.
Options:
Day Pass Classic
240,000 pesos pp (Children 4-7 200,000 pesos)
Includes-
Transport via boat (doesn't include hotel pickup, you need to make your way to the dock)
Welcome drink
Lunch (choice of 3 options - fish, chicken, vegetarian)
Use of chairs, sun lounges, shade umbrellas etc
Use of kayaks and paddleboard
Use of beach games (volleyball, mini football, Frisbee, floating tubes)
Use of snorkel
Beach shower
Transport to the Aquarium (optional)
Doesn't include:
Marine tax
Extra drinks or food
Some towels available, recommended to bring your own
Day Pass Luxury Open Bar
300,000 pesos pp
Transport via boat with preferential boarding (doesn't include hotel pickup, you need to make your way to the dock)
Open Bar (local beer, cocktails with local liquor such as mojitos, cuban libres, caipirinha or house cockails)
Lunch (choice of 4 options - seafood rice, fish, chicken, vegetarian)
Use of chairs, sun lounges, shade umbrellas etc
Use of kayaks and paddleboard
Use of beach games (volleyball, mini football, Frisbee, floating tubes)
Use of snorkel
Beach shower
Transport to the Aquarium (optional)
100,000 pesos pp
As above, but doesn't include transport. This option is for if you want to visit and spend the day, traveling via your own private boat.
Instructions:
Send us an email making your booking or fill in the booking form below. Luxury Island request your phone number (the one that you use for WhatsApp) so they can communicate with you on the day.
Arrive at the dock called Muelle de la Bodeguita and go to gate 5. You can find this Muelle (dock) in google maps. It is located a short walk from the clocktower, past the pirate ships. Gate 5/Puerta 5 is clearly marked.
Go directly to Gate 5, ignoring the various people trying to sell you islands. You can tell them "ya tengo" to let them know you already have your reservation.
At the gate you will find 1 or 2 ladies wearing a white t shirt that says "Luxury Island", first they will ask you to pay the marine authority tax (currently 18,500 pesos pp). You will have to bring this in cash, preferably exact money. You will receive a ticket for the tax which you will show to enter into the marina.
The Luxury Island representatives will escort you to the desk to process your reservation. You will also be asked to select which lunch option you want.
Then you will be taken to a seated area to await boarding the boat.
When I went I arrived at 8.20am on the dot, thinking I would sneak in right before the 8.30 departure time. But after the administration part, I was actually seated at about 8.40am and I found out that I had been relegated to the second boat and didn't end up leaving until 9.15am. So I would recommend arriving on time at 8am.
The boat journey takes about 1 hour.
When you arrive at the island you can choose where you want to sit from the available options. The day I went was almost full (75 day passes) and everyone had a space/chair/sunlounge.
Lunch is served about 1pm. There is no a la carte food menu, so don't arrive hungry.
Overall this is a good option if your priority in choosing an island/beach day is the quality of the beach and water. This, for me, is the best beach/water I have experienced on a day pass (outside of privately owned islands of friends). The food was basic but good, but not on the level of say Blue Apple, Fenix or Aura (which for me have the best food options), so if that is the most important for you, this might not be your pick. The music was also pretty basic and I think the playlist of about 9 songs was repeated throughout the day. This is quite common, but places like the aforementioned have Djs and curated playlists.
Recommendations:
Arrive on time. If you are assigned to the second boat, you'll get second choice of seats/lounges and less beach time.
Bring the marine tax in cash (18,500 pesos pp)
Bring your own towel and sunscreen, and if you are into it, snorkel gear
Upgrade to the snorkel or glass-bottom boat experience
Choose a sunlounger/table away from the big speakers
Luxury Island is located on Isla Grande in the Rosario Islands. It has one of the best locations available, since it is situated on an actual white sand generous beach with direct access to beautiful aquamarine transparent water.
Other great things about Luxury Island:
- They operate their own boat to the island, so you don't have to make other stops along the way.
- They have 2 excellent water activities available for visitors for an additional fee; a private snorkel tour with a native from the island (45,000 pesos pp) and a private tour round the islands and reef in a glass bottomed boat (55,000 pesos pp)
- They also have massages available, a shady house that will lend you books if you need, tasteful sun beds and hammocks
- All the team from arrival at the dock, to the boat operators, to the massage ladies, lunch ladies and island hosts were super friendly and attentive in their service.
The lunch is the standard island fare but on the day I went it was done well. They offer the choices of fried fish, chicken or stirfried vegetables with ample sides of coconut rice, plantain, salad. It's served at a set time and people queue to have their plates filled by the friendly lunch ladies. It's not a la carte and it's not "Luxury" but flavours were good and they definitely don't skimp on portions.
There is a pretty basic, island-style bar with reasonably priced cocktails and the piña coladas looked very enticing (I wasn't drinking). The people enjoying the open bar definitely seemed to be having the most fun!
The photos below were taken by/of me. I was intentionally strategic to avoid shots that included lots of people because; Instagram. I was told there were 75 people there that day and their maximum is 80 day passes per day.
Not so great:
It does have a "package tour" kind of feel about it, I would not call it luxury.
Options:
Day Pass Classic
240,000 pesos pp (Children 4-7 200,000 pesos)
Includes-
Transport via boat (doesn't include hotel pickup, you need to make your way to the dock)
Welcome drink
Lunch (choice of 3 options - fish, chicken, vegetarian)
Use of chairs, sun lounges, shade umbrellas etc
Use of kayaks and paddleboard
Use of beach games (volleyball, mini football, Frisbee, floating tubes)
Use of snorkel
Beach shower
Transport to the Aquarium (optional)
Doesn't include:
Marine tax
Extra drinks or food
Some towels available, recommended to bring your own
Day Pass Luxury Open Bar
300,000 pesos pp
Transport via boat with preferential boarding (doesn't include hotel pickup, you need to make your way to the dock)
Open Bar (local beer, cocktails with local liquor such as mojitos, cuban libres, caipirinha or house cockails)
Lunch (choice of 4 options - seafood rice, fish, chicken, vegetarian)
Use of chairs, sun lounges, shade umbrellas etc
Use of kayaks and paddleboard
Use of beach games (volleyball, mini football, Frisbee, floating tubes)
Use of snorkel
Beach shower
Transport to the Aquarium (optional)
100,000 pesos pp
As above, but doesn't include transport. This option is for if you want to visit and spend the day, traveling via your own private boat.
Instructions:
Send us an email making your booking or fill in the booking form below. Luxury Island request your phone number (the one that you use for WhatsApp) so they can communicate with you on the day.
Arrive at the dock called Muelle de la Bodeguita and go to gate 5. You can find this Muelle (dock) in google maps. It is located a short walk from the clocktower, past the pirate ships. Gate 5/Puerta 5 is clearly marked.
Go directly to Gate 5, ignoring the various people trying to sell you islands. You can tell them "ya tengo" to let them know you already have your reservation.
At the gate you will find 1 or 2 ladies wearing a white t shirt that says "Luxury Island", first they will ask you to pay the marine authority tax (currently 18,500 pesos pp). You will have to bring this in cash, preferably exact money. You will receive a ticket for the tax which you will show to enter into the marina.
The Luxury Island representatives will escort you to the desk to process your reservation. You will also be asked to select which lunch option you want.
Then you will be taken to a seated area to await boarding the boat.
When I went I arrived at 8.20am on the dot, thinking I would sneak in right before the 8.30 departure time. But after the administration part, I was actually seated at about 8.40am and I found out that I had been relegated to the second boat and didn't end up leaving until 9.15am. So I would recommend arriving on time at 8am.
The boat journey takes about 1 hour.
When you arrive at the island you can choose where you want to sit from the available options. The day I went was almost full (75 day passes) and everyone had a space/chair/sunlounge.
Lunch is served about 1pm. There is no a la carte food menu, so don't arrive hungry.
Overall this is a good option if your priority in choosing an island/beach day is the quality of the beach and water. This, for me, is the best beach/water I have experienced on a day pass (outside of privately owned islands of friends). The food was basic but good, but not on the level of say Blue Apple, Fenix or Aura (which for me have the best food options), so if that is the most important for you, this might not be your pick. The music was also pretty basic and I think the playlist of about 9 songs was repeated throughout the day. This is quite common, but places like the aforementioned have Djs and curated playlists.
Recommendations:
Arrive on time. If you are assigned to the second boat, you'll get second choice of seats/lounges and less beach time.
Bring the marine tax in cash (18,500 pesos pp)
Bring your own towel and sunscreen, and if you are into it, snorkel gear
Upgrade to the snorkel or glass-bottom boat experience
Choose a sunlounger/table away from the big speakers
