Fajardo Icacos Snorkeling & Slide Boat Tour — Full Review

Getting There: Marina Puerto Chico, Fajardo

The tour departs from Marina Puerto Chico in Fajardo, on Puerto Rico's northeast coast. From San Juan, allow 60–90 minutes by car on PR-66 East. Free parking is available in the marina lot.

Check-in is 30 minutes before departure — 7:30am for the morning tour, 1:30pm for the afternoon.

• Address: Marina Puerto Chico, PR-987, Fajardo, PR 00740
• From San Juan: ~60 min via PR-66 East (highway, toll road)
• Parking: free in the marina lot
• Check-in: 30 min before departure — don't be late

On the Boat: 20-Minute Ride to Cayo Icacos

The tour runs on a large motor vessel with a water slide at the stern. Once everyone is on board and briefed, the boat heads northeast for about 20 minutes to reach Cayo Icacos — the largest cay in La Cordillera Reef Nature Reserve. En route, the crew gives a snorkeling briefing and distributes gear: mask, fins, snorkel, and a personal safety float belt.

The water around Icacos is calm and protected by the offshore reef, which is why visibility here can reach 50–100 feet on a calm day.

At Icacos: Snorkeling, Water Slide & the Beach

Once anchored off Icacos, the water slide opens and guests snorkel at their own pace around the boat and along the sandbar edge. The reef here has healthy brain coral and staghorn formations, resident parrotfish, blue tangs, and sergeant majors. Sea turtles are a regular sighting — they graze on the seagrass beds visible in the shallows from above.

After snorkeling, lunch is served on deck: a full hot meal with local flavors, served with soft drinks, water, and the bar. The water slide stays open throughout — most guests alternate between snorkeling and the slide for the full 2–3 hours at the island.

• Snorkeling: 2–3 hours at anchor near the island
• Water slide: open throughout the island stop
• Marine life: parrotfish, blue tang, sea turtles, stingrays
• Lunch: hot meal served on deck mid-stop
• Bar: local rum cocktails and soft drinks, all included

Return Trip & What to Expect Overall

The return to Marina Puerto Chico takes another 20 minutes. The bar stays open on the way back. Most guests arrive back at the marina with wet hair, a full stomach, and a very good mood.

The tour runs daily weather permitting. On rare days when conditions at Icacos are rough, the boat may route to the alternate Vieques destination instead — same duration, similar marine life, different island.

• Total trip: ~5 hours door-to-dock
• Morning departure: 8am → back by ~1pm
• Afternoon departure: 2pm → back by ~7pm
• Alternate destination: Vieques (rough weather only)

Everything Included in the Price

This tour is genuinely all-inclusive — there are no surprise extras at the marina and nothing to buy on board.

• Snorkel mask, fins, snorkel tube, and safety float belt
• Hot lunch (full meal, served on deck at Icacos)
• Open bar: local rum cocktails, soft drinks, and water
• Free parking at Marina Puerto Chico
• Entry to La Cordillera Reef Nature Reserve

What to Bring Snorkeling in Fajardo

The crew provides everything you need in the water, but bring these extras for the best experience.

• Reef-safe mineral sunscreen — required at La Cordillera Reserve (no chemical sunscreen)
• UV rash guard or swim shirt — 5 hours on open water in Caribbean sun
• Towel — not provided on board
• Cash for gratuity — 10% for the crew is customary
• Motion sickness tablets if prone (20-min each-way crossing on open water)
• Dry bag for your phone, wallet, and keys

Not Suitable For

This tour is designed for all skill levels but there are a few things to know:

• Non-swimmers: float belts are provided, but comfort in open ocean water is recommended
• Guests with severe seasickness: the crossing is 20 min each way on open water — take tablets beforehand
• Infants and very young children (under 4): not suitable for the water slide or snorkeling
• Not allowed: chemical sunscreen (damages coral in the protected reserve)