Cartagena Enforces Mandatory Tourist Insurance for Island Visits
Published June 15, 2026
Cartagena has reinstated checks requiring tourists to hold mandatory accident and assistance insurance for visits to Barú and the Rosario Islands, effective immediately.
Mandatory Insurance Requirement Reinstated for Barú and Rosario Islands
Cartagena authorities have resumed mandating that visitors possess accident and assistance insurance before entering Barú or the Corales del Rosario and San Bernardo National Natural Park. This enforcement, led by Parques Nacionales Naturales, Cartagena’s Secretariat of Tourism, and the National Police, follows Resolution 273 of 2024. Tourists without the required policy will not be permitted to disembark on the islands, according to portafolio.co.
Improved Emergency Response Cited as Goal
The reinstatement of this policy is intended to enhance emergency response capabilities in these marine-coastal regions. These areas have experienced increased tourism, with the Rosario and San Bernardo park alone recording a historic 1,246,374 visitors in 2025, as reported by portafolio.co.
Key Takeaways
- Travelers visiting Barú or the Rosario Islands must now carry mandatory accident and assistance insurance.
- Authorities are conducting checks, and those without insurance will be denied entry to the islands.
- The measure aims to improve emergency response due to rising tourism in these areas.
Sources & further reading
- Cartagena retoma controles para exigir seguro obligatorio a turistas que visiten Barú e Islas del Rosario — portafolio.co (June 15, 2026)