Rosario Islands Private Boat Tour

Espectacular experiencia con Gran Colombia Tours, el bote muy lindo, limpio y los capitanes muy atentos. Gracias por la experiencia, lo repetiríamos mil veces.

DO NOT TAKE THIS TOUR. We were taken to two different lousy beaches/restaurants where they attempted to fraudulently charge my credit card an extra 20%. I had an altercation with the staff on the beach and requested the Tourism police. Our guide did not intervene or protect us from these scammers. I am the son of Colombian immigrants to the US who brought another family to Colombia to visit. I know a scam when I see one and I strongly suspect there was collusion between the operators and locals to extract as much money as possible from unsuspecting foreigners. Only because I spoke the language and know the local customs, the damage was limited BUT for a average lunch meal, I still paid the same price as we had for a dinner at Cande, an excellent high end restaurant the night before. BEWARE OF THIS. I will be requesting refunds

Gran Colombia Tours advertising their tours to be luxurious and fun are far from the truth. Here’s the true treatment you’ll receive: You will be brought to a port where your guide picks out a fishing boat (literally a fishing boat! Nothing like the photos in the advert). from a group of rag-tag kids who have borrowed someone else’s fishing boats looking for work for the day. Once on board you will not receive or be asked if you need a life vest. You will also be told that you can buy water and anything else you may need for the trip at the port. Yes, you will not receive a complimentary water for $350 per person. You are also not told that you will have to pay for snorkeling gear until you’re out to sea (which is NOT listed in the exclusion or listed in what IS included). You will be taken to only 2 beaches, one of which is nothing but coral. The other had so many small boats coming and going in the water that the fumes from their diesel engines was dizzying. Let us not forget the people on the island who your guide warns of being gouged. 2 mixed drinks will cost $50 or more and you will be harassed constantly even if you’re in the water. They will be watching and waiting on the beach for you to get out of the water or they’re literally in the water trying to get you to either buy something or ride on jet skis (this should be expected though). When you’re ready to head back to land, you’ll have to wait nearly 20 minutes to track down your crew because one is off playing in the water and the other is knocked out asleep on the boat where it’s anchored. For the return to port you will be asked by your guide if the driver of the boat can pickup his mother. It was a unsettling and very uncomfortable situation. Technically they weren’t “asking” they made that decision themselves. By the time we were “asked” they were well on their way to the area that his mother was waiting, which was no where near the attractions I wanted to take pictures of. And for the cherry on top of the sundae, you’re brought back to port on the yacht side and have to be hoisted up nearly 6 feet by hand in order to get off the boat. It was unacceptable. It was not worth the $700 price tag and certainly not luxurious. TripAdvisor should be ashamed to advertise this group. I would suggest anyone who views this to please not be taken advantage of and lied to by these people. If you do decide to take the chance of having a better experience, only pay with a credit card. That way you dispute the purchase and actually get your money back. Hope this helps. Enjoy the beautiful beaches of Colombia with someone other then Gran Colombia Tours! ????