Private Half-Day Sailing and Snorkeling Tour

Four hours, one island, and a private sailboat. This Fajardo outing gives your group a relaxed way to reach Icaco Island or Palomino Island, swim in clear water, snorkel, paddleboard, and enjoy the east coast from the sea. The boat carries up to six people, so the day feels personal rather than crowded.

I like the private group format, especially for families or friends who want to choose how they spend their time. I also like the thoughtful food and drink setup, with cold cuts, cheeses, fruit, chips, dips, soft drinks, water, and local beers included. The main point to consider is that you visit one selected island, not both, and the four-hour schedule can feel short if you want a long beach stay.

The crew has offered these sailing trips for more than 19 years and operates with a U.S. Coast Guard captain and crew. Past feedback gives particular praise to the friendly captain and mate, the tasty food, and the value of the itinerary. You should also know that boarding can be difficult for people with mobility disabilities, and the strict cancellation policy calls for careful planning.

Quick facts for planning your day

• One nearby island per trip: Choose Icaco Island or Palomino Island, then spend your time swimming, snorkeling, and relaxing there.
• Private boat for up to six: Your group has the sailboat to itself, with a captain, crew, and tour guide.
• Food and drinks included: Expect a charcuterie board with meats, cheeses, appetizers, fruit, chips, snacks, and assorted dips, plus water, soft drinks, mixes, and local beers.
• Water gear is supplied: Snorkeling equipment, paddleboards, floaties, a floating water mat, and an open swim platform are included.
• Four hours from Sunbay Marina: The tour leaves from Fajardo and returns to the same meeting point.
• Weather matters: Poor conditions can lead to a new date or a full refund, but ordinary cancellations and changes are non-refundable.

Setting out from Sunbay Marina in Fajardo

Your day begins at Sunbay Marina in Fajardo, at Parcelas Beltran Barrio. The marina is near public transportation, and the activity ends back at this same point, which keeps the day simple if you are arranging your own way around eastern Puerto Rico.

The four-hour clock covers the sailing time, island time, and return trip. That matters because this is not a full-day beach charter. You get enough time for a pleasant escape from shore, but you will want to use the hours wisely rather than expecting a slow, all-day cruise.

The boat is a spacious private sailboat, and the size limit is six people. That is a good fit for a family, two couples, or a small group of friends. At the full price of $695 per group, the cost works out to about $116 per person for six people. A smaller group pays more per person, but you still receive the privacy and flexibility of a charter instead of joining a larger boat.

A U.S. Coast Guard captain and crew handle the sailing. Life jackets are available in all sizes, and an ice cooler, music radio, and open swim platform are provided. The details are practical rather than flashy, but they make a difference once you are wet, hungry, and ready to get back aboard.

Choosing between Icaco Island and Palomino Island

You select one island for the outing: Icaco Island or Palomino Island. The available details do not promise a fixed order or a visit to both, so confirm your preference when arranging the trip if one island matters more to you.

The appeal of either stop is straightforward: clear blue water, beaches, swimming, snorkeling, and time outdoors. The crew can spend more time in one area depending on what you want to do, giving your group some say in the rhythm of the day.

That flexibility is useful. If your group wants to swim for most of the outing, you can focus on the water instead of rushing through several stops. If snorkeling and paddleboarding are the priority, you can organize your time around those activities. Still, the island choice and the four-hour limit mean you should not plan on seeing every possible attraction along the east coast.

Palomino Island and Icaco Island are presented as nearby island destinations from Fajardo, but no precise beach, reef, or marine-life details are promised. I would treat the snorkeling as a chance to explore the water rather than a guaranteed wildlife show. Conditions, visibility, and the time available can affect what you see.

Swimming, snorkeling, and paddleboarding from the boat

Once you reach the selected island, the focus shifts from sailing to water time. You can swim in clear water, use the snorkeling equipment, paddleboard, float with the supplied inflatables, or relax on the floating water mat.

The open swim platform is especially handy. It gives you a clear place to enter and leave the water without climbing awkwardly over the side of the sailboat. That can be useful for children and for anyone who is comfortable in the water but not eager to make a dramatic boat exit.

Paddleboards add another option for people who want activity without spending the entire stop snorkeling. Floaties and the floating mat suit a slower afternoon. Since this is a private outing, your group does not need to agree to a set activity schedule. One person can snorkel while another rests with a drink, as long as the crew’s safety instructions are followed.

Bring your own towel. Towels are not included, and you will want one for the ride back. Lunch is also not included, although you may bring your own. The supplied food is more like a generous snack spread than a full lunch, so pack additional food if your group has a large appetite or plans to stay active in the water.

A useful food spread instead of a bare-bones charter

The included refreshments add real value to this trip. You receive assorted cold cuts, cheeses, appetizers, fresh fruit, chips, snacks, and dips, along with water, soft drinks, drink mixes, and local beers.

That setup suits a half-day sail well. You can eat casually between swims rather than stopping the outing to find food on shore. It also helps keep the mood easy for a mixed group, since people can choose small portions and return to the water when ready.

Local beer is included, but the supplied information does not describe a full bar or a meal service. If you want a substantial lunch, bring it yourself. A private boat allows you to bring food, but you should keep it practical for a marine setting and confirm any packing questions with the operator before departure.

Past comments give the food clear praise, along with the helpful and friendly captain and mate. Those points matter because a short private charter depends heavily on the crew. Good service can make the difference between a simple boat ride and a comfortable day that feels worth the price.

How the $695 private rate holds up

The $695 price covers up to six people, not each individual. For six, that is roughly $116 per person. For four people, it becomes about $174 per person, and for two, about $348 per person.

That makes the group size important. I see the best value for a full or nearly full group that wants a private boat, included water gear, food, drinks, and a flexible island stop. A couple seeking a quiet private sail may still like it, but the per-person price is much higher.

You are paying for more than transportation to an island. The rate includes the captain and crew, snorkeling equipment, paddleboards, floaties, a floating mat, life jackets, refreshments, and the privacy of having only your group aboard. A larger shared trip might cost less per person, but it would not offer the same control over the pace or group setting.

The positive comments call the trip a very good value and praise the itinerary. That assessment makes the most sense when your group uses the included equipment and treats the sailing, swim stop, snacks, and return cruise as one package. If you only want a short ride and a beach chair, cheaper options may be available. If you want a private outing with several activities already covered, the price is easier to defend.

Who will get the most from this sailing trip

This is best for a small private group that wants several choices in one outing. Families with older children, friends celebrating a special day, and couples traveling with another couple could all make good use of the boat.

It also suits people who prefer a flexible schedule. You can spend more time swimming or adjust the balance between snorkeling, paddleboarding, and relaxing. The private format means your day is not built around the interests of strangers.

The tour may be less suitable if your main goal is a long beach day, a full lunch on the water, or visits to multiple islands. Four hours passes quickly once you account for leaving the marina, reaching the island, water activities, and returning.

People with mobility disabilities should take the boarding warning seriously. Getting onto the sailboat can be challenging, and the operator says it cannot accommodate travelers with mobility disabilities for safety reasons. Anyone with concerns about boarding should contact Bezo Sailing Charters before paying.

Timing, weather, and the fine print

The tour is generally booked about 14 days in advance, so I would not leave it until the last minute if your Fajardo schedule is fixed. Confirmation is normally sent at booking, though reservations made within one day of departure are confirmed as soon as possible and depend on availability.

The listed operating period runs from September 2, 2024, through November 26, 2026, with hours shown as Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Your booking confirmation should provide the exact departure details.

Weather can change the plan. If poor conditions cause the operator to cancel, you are offered another date or a full refund. The customer cancellation policy is strict: the experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason after booking. I would avoid booking this as a casual placeholder and wait until your schedule is firm.

Gratuities are not included. A 10 to 15 percent tip is customary, so include that in your budget when comparing the total cost. With a $695 booking, that customary range would be about $70 to $104 for the group.

Should you book this private Fajardo charter?

Book it if you have a group of up to six, want a private boat, and care about having swimming, snorkeling, paddleboards, snacks, drinks, and island time in one package. The friendly crew, praised food, and flexible use of the stop are the strongest reasons to choose it.

Think twice if you want both Icaco and Palomino Islands, need a full meal, dislike strict booking terms, or have difficulty boarding a sailboat. For everyone else, this is a practical half-day escape from Fajardo, with enough equipment and food to make the $695 group rate feel fair when shared among several people.

FAQ

How long is the private sailing and snorkeling tour?

The tour lasts approximately four hours, including the sailing from Fajardo, time at one selected island, and the return to the marina.

Which islands can I visit?

You can select either Icaco Island or Palomino Island. The tour is based around visiting one island during the four-hour outing.

How many people can join the private tour?

The boat accommodates a maximum of six travelers, and only your group participates in the activity.

What food and drinks are included?

The tour includes cold cuts, cheeses, appetizers, fresh fruit, chips, snacks, assorted dips, water, soft drinks, drink mixes, and local beers.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment, paddleboards, floaties, a floating water mat, an open swim platform, and life jackets in all sizes are included.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes the tour to be canceled, you can choose a different date or receive a full refund. Customer cancellations and requested changes are otherwise non-refundable.