The Rosario Islands have very few stand-alone restaurants: you eat at the beach club or hotel where you spend the day, and a lunch of fried fish, coconut rice and patacones is usually included in the day pass (79-169 USD). If you want to order à la carte, head to Isla Grande: Sol & Papaya, San Pedro de Majagua or the home kitchens of Orika.
Last updated: October 21, 2026. Ratings and prices were checked that day in the sources listed below; island prices shift with the season, so confirm before you book.
Quick facts
- Location: Isla Grande (à la carte restaurants and the village of Orika) plus beach clubs on private islands inside Los Corales del Rosario y de San Bernardo National Natural Park.
- Getting there: speedboat from Muelle La Bodeguita (Old Town) or from marinas in Bocagrande, 45 minutes to 1.5 hours.
- Best time to eat: between noon and 1:30 p.m.; day boats head back around 3 p.m.
- Budget: day pass with lunch 79-169 USD (about 251,000-537,000 COP); à la carte mains from roughly 40,000-80,000 COP (13-25 USD); extra drinks 10-30 USD per person.
- Time needed: a relaxed lunch of 1 to 1.5 hours; two days if you want to try Orika and a seaside dinner.
- Payment: bring Colombian pesos in cash; Isla Grande has no ATMs and many places are cash-only.
How does eating work in the Rosario Islands?
Before picking a restaurant, it helps to know one quirk: most of the archipelago’s 27 islands are private, and nearly everything you eat is served inside a hotel or beach club. You have three ways to have lunch:
- Lunch included in a day pass: the most common option. The package covers the boat, use of the club and a typical lunch, often with three to eight choices (fish, chicken or vegetarian) or a buffet. Lobster and large red snapper cost extra.
- À la carte on Isla Grande: the only island with several restaurants and a local community. You can arrive on a shared boat and choose where to eat.
- Home cooking in Orika: Isla Grande’s Afro-Colombian village has small family kitchens, the cheapest food in the islands.
Still deciding which island to visit? Start with our complete Rosario Islands guide, covering boats, fees and safety.
What food do they serve in the Rosario Islands?
Island food is Colombian Caribbean cooking: simple and very fresh.
- Whole fried fish: mojarra or red snapper, crisp outside and served with lime.
- Coconut rice: the essential side, slightly sweet and toasty.
- Patacones: green plantain smashed and fried twice, with a tomato and onion salad.
- Lobster and shrimp: in garlic sauce or grilled; these are the pricey dishes.
- To drink: fresh coconut water, coconut lemonade, fruit juices, cold beer and piña colada.
What are the best restaurants on Isla Grande?
Tripadvisor lists only four restaurants on Isla Grande, with few reviews, so we combine its ranking with travel guides updated in 2026. Wherever we quote a rating, we give the source and the number of reviews.
Sol & Papaya
Ranked number 1 on Tripadvisor for the Rosario Islands (3.8/5 from 26 reviews, Caribbean and bar, $$-$$$, checked October 21, 2026). It sits next to Playa Libre under palm-thatched roofs with hammocks, and lobster is the dish Gecko Routes and Tom Plan My Trip recommend most, along with coconut rice and garlic lobster. Several operators sell its day pass: Nativo Tours includes a lunch of fish, chicken or a vegetarian dish (departs 8 a.m., returns 3:30 p.m.), and GetYourGuide lists it from 106 USD with a buffet, although that listing has only two reviews, with complaints about the return time.
Hotel San Pedro de Majagua restaurant
Isla Grande’s best-known hotel has two open-air restaurants and beach bars serving Cartagena-style and international dishes, according to its MyBoutiqueHotel listing. The local guide Cartagena Colombia Rentals (2022) singles out its whole fried red snapper at fair prices. It is the most polished option on the island: the Silver day pass costs 124 USD (Gold 150, Diamond 169), with a daily cap on guests and park fees included (Cartagena Day Tours, May 2026).
Pa’ue Beach Lounge
A quiet club with no DJ and swing beds over the water. Tom Plan My Trip (May 2026) praises its garlic shrimp and attentive staff, and notes that the cocktails are good but pricey. The day pass includes lunch with four choices and costs about 127 USD for adults and 81 USD for children.
Bora Bora Beach Club
On Isla Grande’s southwest coast, with white canopy beds and a small private beach. The menu is traditional: fresh seafood or grilled meat with rice, patacones and vegetables (Gecko Routes, 2026). It is adults-only with a DJ and a party feel; day passes start at 109 USD (VIP 139).
Hotel Isla del Sol
A mid-range seafront hotel with a pool and a family focus. The 90summers guide (updated May 2026) calls its food stellar. Day passes start at 105 USD.
Where can I eat cheaply in Orika?
Orika is Isla Grande’s only village and the place to eat like islanders do, with the catch of the day and lower prices than the clubs. These are family businesses without websites; checking photos and hours on their Tripadvisor pages, or asking at your hotel, is the best way to confirm them.
Restaurante La Pola
On the beach near Orika, it serves whatever fish the fishermen bring in that day, with rice, fried plantain, beans and salad. The Brazilian guide 360meridianos calls it one of the cheapest places on the island, with good sunset views and use of its small beach if you order. That information dates from 2023, so check it still applies.
Sabor de Marlin and Micelio
Two family-run kitchens in Orika that 90summers recommends for authentic Colombian food. It also gives a useful warning: places sometimes close during posted hours or run out of dishes, so don’t leave lunch too late.
La Crepería de Loraine and Sabor Nativo Café Museo
Two surprises on an island of fried fish. La Crepería de Loraine, a French crêperie, is rated 4.7/5 on Tripadvisor and is one of the few places with vegan options, according to 90summers. Sabor Nativo Café Museo, serving Colombian food, is rated 5.0/5. Note that both scores come from just three reviews.
Which beach clubs on other islands have a good lunch?
If you prefer a private island where everything is taken care of, these clubs are clear about their food. Prices are from Cartagena Day Tours (May 2026) unless another source is noted.
Isla del Encanto
A resort that takes up the whole island, with a pool and a wide beach. It offers two tiers: Premium with a buffet and Gold with an à la carte menu and open bar (tur.com). From 114 USD; the dock fee, the return hotel transfer and the Oceanarium are extra.
Pao Pao Beach Club
Nature-focused, with snorkeling routes and mangrove kayaking. It scores 8.7/10 from 24 reviews on Civitatis, where several travelers praise the food and also warn that extra drinks are expensive. From 139.55 USD on that platform, plus a 40,300 COP (12.70 USD) harbor fee that is not included.
Cocoa Beach Club and Mangata Ocean Club
Two newer clubs with more choice on the plate: Cocoa includes a lunch with five options (from 115 USD), and Mangata, which has a pool, offers eight lunch options and 2-for-1 cocktails (from 108 USD), close to the sunken-plane snorkel spot.
Islabela and EcoHotel Isla Los Erizos
The best-value picks. Islabela, on Isleta opposite Isla Grande, includes a Caribbean lunch from 79 USD; Tom Plan My Trip sums up its cooking as unexceptional but good value, with professional service. The bar-restaurant at EcoHotel Isla Los Erizos, serving Caribbean food and seafood, is rated 4.1/5 from 17 reviews on Tripadvisor, in the lowest price band ($).
Comparison table: where to eat in the Rosario Islands
| Place | Cuisine | Price range | Location | Why go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sol & Papaya | Caribbean, bar | $$-$$$ · day pass from 106 USD | Isla Grande, by Playa Libre | No. 1 on Tripadvisor; lobster and coconut rice |
| San Pedro de Majagua | Cartagena-style and international | Day pass 124-169 USD | Isla Grande | Fried red snapper, limited capacity |
| Pa’ue Beach Lounge | Seafood | Day pass 127 USD | Isla Grande | Garlic shrimp, calm atmosphere |
| Bora Bora Beach Club | Seafood and grill | Day pass 109-139 USD | Isla Grande, southwest coast | Adults only, DJ |
| Orika (La Pola, Sabor de Marlin, Micelio) | Caribbean home cooking | $ · cash only | Isla Grande, Orika village | Catch of the day, cheapest |
| La Crepería de Loraine | French | Not listed | Orika | Vegan options |
| Isla del Encanto | Buffet or à la carte | Day pass from 114 USD | Isla del Encanto | Families, pool |
| Pao Pao Beach Club | Lunch included | From 139.55 USD + fee | Rosario Islands | 8.7/10 on Civitatis |
| Islabela | Caribbean | Day pass 79-129 USD | Isleta, opposite Isla Grande | Best-value club |
| EcoHotel Isla Los Erizos | Caribbean, seafood | $ | Rosario Islands | 4.1/5 on Tripadvisor (17 reviews) |
How much does it cost to eat in the Rosario Islands?
With a day pass, lunch is included and the extra spend is usually drinks: Cartagena Day Tours estimates 10 to 30 USD per person for drinks and snacks. If you order à la carte, yate.co (February 2025) puts island mains at about 40,000 COP in the simplest places and 80,000 COP or more at beach clubs, with cocktails at 25,000-40,000 COP. Lobster and large red snapper are priced separately, by size.
The risk lies in places without a printed menu. A case reported by Blu Radio at Playa Tranquila (Barú, January 2020) shows the pattern: prices quoted verbally and a final bill of 593,000 COP, with red snapper at 75,000 COP each instead of the 55,000 COP quoted. Always ask for the menu, or the price in writing, before they start cooking.
What should I watch out for when eating on the islands?
- Get the price first: especially for lobster and from vendors in canoes or kayaks who pull up to boats. Negotiate and confirm whether the price is per piece or by weight.
- Pesos only: Colombia’s Superintendence of Industry and Commerce bans charging in dollars or any other currency (Portafolio, 2024).
- Enough cash: there are no ATMs on Isla Grande. Hotels and clubs usually take cards, but some add a surcharge.
- Tipping is optional: in Colombia the service charge is voluntary, and you can ask for it to be removed from the bill.
- Check what your day pass covers: cheap tours sold on the street often include a very basic lunch and charge for any upgrade (Cartagena Explorer, April 2026).
- Stay hydrated: buy bottled water; the small cays have no shops, so pack snacks if your tour skips a lunch stop.
- If you are overcharged: call 123 or visit the Tourist Assistance Center at Muelle La Bodeguita when you get back.
Back in the city, keep eating well with our list of the best restaurants in Cartagena, our guide to cheap eats in Getsemaní or the classic Cartagena shrimp cocktail. And if you still have time on the islands, discover what to see in the Rosario Islands.
Frequently asked questions
Are there restaurants in the Rosario Islands?
Yes, but few independent ones. Most operate inside hotels and beach clubs. Isla Grande is the only island with several à la carte restaurants, including the family kitchens of Orika village.
Is lunch included on a Rosario Islands tour?
On most day passes and multi-island tours, yes: usually fried fish, coconut rice, patacones and salad, or a buffet. Lobster and extra drinks cost more.
What is the best restaurant on Isla Grande?
Sol & Papaya ranks number 1 on Tripadvisor for the Rosario Islands (3.8/5, 26 reviews, October 2026). For a more polished experience, try the restaurant at Hotel San Pedro de Majagua.
Where can I eat cheaply in the Rosario Islands?
In Orika, Isla Grande’s village, where family kitchens such as La Pola, Sabor de Marlin and Micelio serve the catch of the day for less than the clubs. Bring cash.
How much does food cost in the Rosario Islands?
A day pass with lunch costs 79 to 169 USD per person. À la carte mains run from about 40,000 COP in simple places to 80,000 COP or more at clubs; extra drinks add 10-30 USD.
Can I pay by card on the islands?
Usually at hotels and beach clubs. In Orika, with vendors and at small restaurants it is almost always cash only, and Isla Grande has no ATMs.
Sources
- Tripadvisor: restaurants in Islas de Rosario (checked 10/21/2026)
- Tripadvisor: restaurants in Isla Grande (checked 10/21/2026)
- Cartagena Day Tours: best beach clubs in the Rosario Islands (05/01/2026)
- Cartagena Day Tours: Rosario Islands day trip cost 2026
- Tom Plan My Trip: Isla Grande guide (05/28/2026)
- Gecko Routes: visiting Isla Grande (05/26/2026)
- 90summers: Isla Grande guide (05/24/2026)
- 360meridianos: things to do on Isla Grande (04/10/2023)
- MyBoutiqueHotel: Hotel San Pedro de Majagua
- Cartagena Colombia Rentals: Majagua Restaurant (2022)
- Nativo Tours: Sol y Papaya day pass
- GetYourGuide: Sol y Papaya Beach Club
- Civitatis: Pao Pao Beach excursion
- Pelago: Pa’ue Beach
- tur.com: Isla del Encanto day pass
- yate.co: the best restaurants in the Cartagena islands (02/06/2025)
- Cartagena Explorer: Rosario Islands guide (04/25/2026)
- Blu Radio: overcharging at a Barú restaurant (01/03/2020)
- Portafolio: plan against tourist scams in Cartagena (01/25/2024)
- Portafolio: official rate of 3,174.67 COP per dollar (10/19/2026), used for conversions
