Full Charter All Inclusive for Icacos and Palomino

Tortuga Reef is the day’s best opener: you get guided snorkeling before settling onto the white sand of Cayo Icacos, then sail to Palomino for a second beach stop. The private boat keeps the pace relaxed, with about seven and a half hours on the water.

I like the simple all-inclusive setup, especially the BBQ lunch and drinks already handled. I also like the practical touches: snorkeling gear, floats, a floating mat, music, water, fruit, and an onboard restroom. Jon and Sid are the crew named for this outing, and the boat is described as spotless and spacious.

The main consideration is price. At $1,350 for up to six people, this makes the most sense for a full group. A couple or small family pays for private use of the boat, so compare that cost with a shared cruise before booking.

Key points to know before you go

• Tortuga Reef comes first: Start with guided snorkeling before the beach portion of the day.
• Two island stops: Spend about four hours around Icacos, then roughly two hours at Palomino.
• Private for your group: Only your party participates, with room for up to six people.
• Lunch and drinks are included: Expect BBQ chicken, pasta salad, bread, fruit, snacks, soft drinks, water, juice, Medalla beer, and rum.
• Bring only the essentials: Towels and sunblock are not provided.
• The marina is practical: Sunbay Marina has parking, bathrooms, showers, and access to public transportation.

A private island day from Fajardo

This charter is built for people who want a full day at sea without sharing the boat with strangers. You meet at Sunbay Marina in Fajardo at 9:00 a.m., then spend the day moving between a reef and two beach settings before returning to the same marina.

The boat holds up to six people, making the experience feel more like a private outing than a standard excursion. That matters if you want control over the mood, the music, and the time spent in the water. It also means the $1,350 price is easiest to justify when six people split it.

You should allow about seven and a half hours from start to finish. The planned stops account for around six hours, with the remaining time used for the boat ride and the change between activities. You will not be racing through a short morning trip. This is a substantial part of your day.

The service is designed to remove many small chores. Snorkeling equipment is supplied. The crew provides floats, a floating mat, food, drinks, and music. You need to arrive with a towel and sunblock, and it is wise to wear swimwear under your clothes so you can get into the water without fuss.

Guided snorkeling at Tortuga Reef

The snorkeling at Tortuga Reef is the active part of the day, and it comes before the longer beach break. That order works well. You can see marine life while your energy is fresh, then spend the later hours swimming, floating, eating, or sitting under the umbrella.

The snorkeling is guided, which helps if you want more direction than simply receiving a mask and fins. The crew can show you where to look and help keep the group organized in the water. Snorkeling gear is included, and the equipment received particular praise for fitting well without leaking. That small detail can make a big difference. A leaking mask turns even a beautiful reef into a steady battle with water.

You should still remember that snorkeling depends on sea conditions and visibility. The supplied information promises access to Tortuga Reef and guided snorkeling, but it does not promise a particular animal sighting or exact water conditions on your date. Keep your expectations focused on the experience rather than a checklist of fish.

This stop also sets the tone for the rest of the charter. You get an activity with some structure, followed by open beach time. If everyone in your group wants to snorkel, the day has a clear rhythm. If one person prefers to stay out of the water, the beach portion gives that person more room to relax.

Four hours around Cayo Icacos

After snorkeling, the boat moves to Cayo Icacos for beach time and lunch. This is the longest stop, with about four hours planned here. The island is known for clear water and pale sand, and the schedule gives you enough time to enjoy it without treating the beach as a quick photo stop.

An umbrella is set up in the sand, giving you a place to take a break from the sun. Floats and a floating mat are available for time in the water. Music adds a social, party-like feel, though you should keep the private format in mind: the sound and pace are mainly for your own group.

Lunch is a BBQ meal of chicken, pasta salad, and bread. Fruit and chips are also included, so you have something light before or after swimming. This is not a restaurant meal, and the food is served as part of a beach outing. That is exactly the appeal for many people: no need to leave the island or arrange lunch separately.

Drinks include water, Pepsi, 7Up, Diet Coke, Capri Sun juice, one box of Medalla beer, and 1.75 liters of rum. The mix covers people who want a soft drink or juice as well as those who want alcohol. Use good judgment with alcohol around the water, especially when snorkeling and using the floats.

The four-hour stop is long enough to make this feel like an island day rather than a boat ride with brief landings. It can also feel long if your group does not enjoy sitting on a beach for several hours. The private setup helps because you can settle into your own pace, but the overall plan still centers on sun, sand, and swimming.

Two hours at Palomino Beach

Once lunch and beach time at Icacos are finished, you sail to Isla Palominos, usually called Palomino, for the remaining beach time. About two hours are planned here, giving you a second setting without turning the afternoon into a series of hurried stops.

The appeal of Palomino is contrast. Icacos is the main base for snorkeling, lunch, and the longest stay. Palomino gives you a fresh beach stop late in the day, when a change of scenery can make the final hours feel new. You can swim, use the floats, listen to music, or simply enjoy the sand before returning to Fajardo.

The shorter stay is worth noting. You should not expect a full second activity program at Palomino. The information provided describes it as beach time, not another guided snorkel or separate tour. If your priority is snorkeling, Icacos and Tortuga Reef are the important parts. If your priority is seeing two beaches, the Palomino stop adds useful variety.

This arrangement also gives you a good reason to avoid overpacking the day with personal plans. The charter already has a full route, lunch, and water time. Plan to remain with the boat schedule rather than trying to fit another Fajardo activity immediately afterward.

What the boat setup means in practice

The boat is described as clean, comfortable, spotless, and spacious. Those qualities matter more on a seven-and-a-half-hour charter than they do on a short transfer. You will have time aboard between the reef, Icacos, and Palomino, and a cramped or untidy boat would quickly wear on the group.

An onboard restroom is included. That is a useful feature when you are spending most of the day away from shore. The starting marina also has bathrooms and showers, so you can use those before departure or after returning. The marine has parking as well, which simplifies the morning if you are driving to Fajardo.

Music is part of the setup, and the crew provides a personalized service. Since this is a private activity, your group does not share the outing with other parties. That suits families, friends, and small celebrations better than people who prefer a quiet, low-key boat ride.

The tour accepts service animals, is near public transportation, and states that most people can participate. The information does not give detailed guidance about mobility equipment or specific accessibility arrangements, so you should ask the provider directly if anyone in your group needs special assistance.

Is $1,350 good value?

The price is $1,350 per group, with up to six people included. At full capacity, that works out to $225 per person. For six people, the cost covers a private boat, crew, guided snorkeling, two island stops, lunch, drinks, equipment, floats, and a long day on the water.

That is a stronger value when you would otherwise book several separate pieces. You do not need to rent snorkeling equipment, buy lunch on the beach, or organize a second boat ride to Palomino. The private format also has real value if your group wants time together without adding unknown people to the boat.

For two people, the calculation changes. You are paying the full group price even if the boat is not full, so a shared excursion may be cheaper. The private charter earns its premium through privacy, flexibility within the planned route, and the convenience of having the food and equipment ready.

The value also depends on how much of the included package you will use. If your group wants guided snorkeling, a full beach day, lunch, drinks, and floats, the inclusions are useful. If you do not drink alcohol, do not snorkel, and prefer a short beach visit, some of what you pay for will matter less.

Food, drinks, and what to pack

The food plan is practical rather than fancy. BBQ chicken, pasta salad, and bread make a filling midday meal, while chips and fruit cover smaller appetites. The setup keeps you on the island instead of using part of the day to find food.

Water is included, along with soft drinks and juice. Beer and rum are included too, with one box of Medalla and 1.75 liters of rum for the group. If you have dietary restrictions, the supplied details do not specify alternatives, so ask before booking rather than assuming substitutions are available.

Towels and sunblock are the two items specifically excluded. Bring both. Sun protection matters during the boat ride, snorkeling, and beach time, and a towel becomes useful after swimming even if you plan to spend most of the day in the water.

A phone with a mobile ticket is enough for entry and confirmation. You receive confirmation at booking, so keep the ticket accessible when you arrive at Sunbay Marina. The marine has showers, but the boat itinerary itself is designed around staying on the water and islands for most of the day.

Who will enjoy this charter most?

I would choose this outing for a group of friends or a family that wants a private beach day with a clear plan. The combination of guided snorkeling, two islands, lunch, alcohol, floats, and music gives the day plenty of variety without requiring you to make decisions at every step.

It also suits people who value comfort and convenience. The boat is reported to be spacious and spotless, the snorkeling equipment is supplied, and the onboard restroom removes one common worry about a long day at sea.

You should think twice if your group wants a quiet nature trip with no music or alcohol. Those are part of the experience. You should also compare prices carefully if only two or three people are going, since the group rate is fixed rather than priced per person.

The itinerary is a good match for active beachgoers, but you do not need to snorkel every minute. Icacos and Palomino provide time to relax, and the umbrella, floats, and mat make it easier to spend the day at your own speed.

Booking, timing, and cancellation details

The meeting point is Sunbay Marina, Parcelas Beltran Barrio, Fajardo, Puerto Rico 00738. The start time is 9:00 a.m., and the trip ends back at the same meeting point.

The experience is commonly booked well ahead, with an average booking lead time of about 62 days. That suggests you should plan early if your dates are fixed, especially if you need a private boat for a particular day.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before departure are not refunded, and changes within that window are not accepted.

Should you book this Icacos and Palomino charter?

Book it if you can fill much of the six-person capacity and want an easy, private day from Fajardo. The strongest reasons are the guided snorkeling at Tortuga Reef, the long Icacos stop, the second beach at Palomino, and the fact that lunch, drinks, equipment, floats, and music are already arranged.

I would be more cautious if your group is small or if you prefer a quiet, inexpensive outing. At $1,350, the charter is a premium choice, but a full group gets a much better value than a couple. Bring a towel and sunblock, arrive ready to spend most of the day around water, and this can be a very efficient way to see two of Puerto Rico’s popular beach islands.

FAQ

Where does the charter start?

The charter starts at Sunbay Marina, Parcelas Beltran Barrio, Fajardo, Puerto Rico 00738.

What time does the tour begin?

The start time is 9:00 a.m.

How long does the experience last?

The experience lasts approximately seven hours and 30 minutes.

Does the tour return to the marina?

Yes. The activity ends back at the meeting point at Sunbay Marina.

How many people can join the private charter?

The charter is priced for one group of up to six people. Only your group participates.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is provided, and the route includes guided snorkeling at Tortuga Reef.

What food is included?

Lunch includes BBQ chicken, pasta salad, and bread. Snacks include chips and fruit.

What drinks are included?

Water, Pepsi, 7Up, Diet Coke, Capri Sun juice, one box of Medalla beer, and 1.75 liters of rum are included.

Are towels and sunblock provided?

No. You need to bring your own towel and sunblock.

Does the boat have a restroom?

Yes. A restroom is available on board. Sunbay Marina also has bathrooms and showers.