A small archipelago of 27 islands comprise the Islas del Rosario. Some are so small that there’s only room for one house. The archipelago is situated some 45 kilometers SE of the bay of Cartagena, only 45 minutes by rapid sea-going launch.
The archipelago is part of the National Rosario and San Bernardo Coral Nature Park (Parque Nacional Natural Corales del Rosario y San Bernardo), which covers an area of 19,500 hectares, or some 190 square kilometers, and was founded to protect the coral reefs, mangroves and the complex marine ecosystem which is home to a profusion of marine flora and fauna.
The history of this area and that of Cartagena de Indias are closely linked. According to historians the islands were originally inhabited by a tribe of indigenous people, the Karib, whose territory originally spanned much of South America’s Caribbean coast, and who were subsequently wiped out during the Spanish Conquest. By the 19th century the islands’ many coves had become home to communities of runaway slaves, known as cimarrones.
White coral sand beaches ring the dazzling turquoise waters; the shoreline is a sun worshipper’s delight, while the depths promise adventure and beckon the diver. You may be less than an hour from the city, but the islands have a magic all their own: you can’t help but relax, isolated as you are from the travails of everyday life.
The islands’ natural attractions lend themselves to diving, either by day or by night, bird watching, canoeing or kayaking through the lakes and mangrove-lined inlets. The islands also boast an aquarium, and an enchanted lagoon where you can moon-bathe au naturel with your partner. Or you can visit an inland village, once home to runaway slaves, learn about the islands’ three ecosystems, and just enjoy the peace and quiet, from dawn to sunset.
SINGULAR LTD designs luxury itineraries that put you in the heart of the best this little paradise has to offer, according to your tastes and inclinations, from sophisticated boutique resorts to luxurious private island homes, and your pick from a fleet of motor or sailboats. You may be in a remote location, lost to the rest of the world, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up the better things in life.
