• 3 min de lectura
• 3 min de lectura
Between January and March 2026, Colombian ports received 174,371 cruise passengers and registered 103 calls from these types of ships, figures that represent a growth of 4.8% and 8.4%, respectively, compared to the same period in 2025, according to a report from ProColombia with data from the General Maritime Directorate (Dimar). According to the report, during the first quarter of 2026, 25 cruise lines and 39 vessels operated in Colombia, maintaining the positive trend of recovery and growth in the maritime tourism sector.
Cartagena continues to be the main receiving port, concentrating 80 calls and more than 158,000 passenger movements, followed by Santa Marta, San Andrés, Leticia, and Providencia. Precisely, one of the highlights of this season has been the diversification of destinations chosen by cruise lines, with two arrivals registered in Providencia and new operations in Cabo de la Vela, operated from Puerto Bolívar.
"These results reflect the confidence of cruise lines in Colombia and show how the country continues to expand its tourism offerings beyond traditional destinations. Each new route and each new arrival represent opportunities for the regions, boost local economies, and strengthen Colombia's international positioning as a sustainable and diverse tourist destination," affirmed the president of ProColombia.
Furthermore, this season has been marked by the arrival of new vessels and international lines to the country. Among them, Explora II, from Explora Journeys, stood out, arriving for the first time in San Andrés on January 8 with 781 passengers; Queen Mary 2, from Cunard, which arrived in Cartagena on January 23 with 2,396 guests; Norwegian Escape, from Norwegian Cruise Line, which docked for the first time in the same destination on February 9 with 4,094 clients; and Azamara Quest, from Azamara Cruises, which began operations in that port and in Santa Marta on March 17 with 666 guests.
Also noteworthy was Hanseatic Spirit, which arrived in Leticia on March 26 with 204 passengers, consolidating the growth of the Colombian Amazon in the cruise industry; and Borealis, which chose Cartagena as its first destination in Colombia on March 27 with 1,110 guests.
In addition to the new lines, several international cruises returned to the country during the 2025-2026 season, which began in July 2025, ratifying the renewed interest of the industry in Colombia. These include Le Dumont D'Urville and Le Champlain de Compagnie from Ponant; MSC Magnifica, from MSC Cruises; Hebridean Sky, from Noble Caledonia; Zuiderdam, from Holland America Line; and Wind Surf, from Windstar Cruises. The records do not correspond exclusively to the January-March 2026 period, as some arrivals occurred in the last months of 2025.
The report also highlights the recovery and strengthening of non-traditional destinations within the country's cruise offerings. Leticia continues to consolidate itself in the expedition and specialized tourism segment.
