Cartagena Bay Self-Drive Boat Rental — Be Your Own Captain

Almost every boat day in Cartagena comes with a captain and a fixed route. This one hands you the wheel. It’s a self-drive electric boat you captain yourself around the calm waters of Cartagena Bay — no license, no experience, just a quick briefing and a map. Bring a cooler and some snacks, load up your group, and set your own pace with the walled city and the Bocagrande skyline as your backdrop.

Here’s how it works. You meet at Marina Todomar in Bocagrande, get a short safety briefing and a route map, and take the boat out yourself. It’s an easy, quiet electric boat — simple to steer and stable — and it’s yours for 2 hours (extendable by the hour). Cruise the bay, cut the engine to float and swim, snap photos of the skyline, and picnic on board. When your time’s up, you bring it back to the marina.

Who it’s for: couples who want a private, do-it-yourself afternoon on the water, groups of friends who’d rather have the boat to themselves than share a tour, and families (up to 8 fit aboard). It’s great for a romantic date or a relaxed outing with friends. Note it stays on the calm inner bay — it’s a relaxed, easy cruise at electric-boat pace, not a trip out to the islands.