Icacos Island Swim, Snorkel & Relax — Boat Trip from Fajardo Review
If the all-inclusive slide tour is Puerto Rico's party boat, this is its quieter, more relaxed sibling. The Icacos Island swim, snorkel and relax inclusive boat trip from Fajardo takes a smaller group to the same uninhabited island for four hours of swimming, snorkeling the clear shallows, and doing absolutely nothing on a sandbar. Light lunch and local rum drinks are included. At $115 per person and a 4.8-star rating across 73 reviews, it's the best-value snorkel experience from Fajardo.
About This Activity
Up to 24h in advance — full refund
Book today, pay nothing until later
Afternoon departure from Marina Puerto Chico
Swim, snorkel, and relax at Icacos
Local bread, salads, soft drinks, rum included
Likely to sell out
Check Live Availability & Prices
Real-time dates and prices for the Icacos Island inclusive boat trip — free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
What the Icacos Island Boat Trip Is Like
The Difference from the Slide Tour
Both tours go to Cayo Icacos from the same marina, but they're different experiences. The slide tour is a larger boat, more guests, a water slide, and a livelier atmosphere. This trip is smaller and quieter — oriented around snorkeling and relaxing rather than entertainment.
If you want to spend most of your time in the water rather than on a slide, or if you prefer a calmer, more intimate group, this is the better choice.
- Group size: small (fewer guests than the slide tour)
- Focus: snorkeling, swimming, and relaxing on the sandbar
- No water slide — pure swim-and-snorkel day
- More time per person underwater, less crowd at the island
Snorkeling at Icacos Island
The snorkeling around Cayo Icacos is consistently excellent. The reef sits in protected, calm water inside La Cordillera Reef Nature Reserve — visibility of 40–80 feet is normal, with peak days hitting 100 feet in winter months. The coral formations include brain coral, staghorn, and sea fans in excellent condition.
Parrotfish are everywhere — you'll hear them crunching coral before you see them. Schools of blue tang, sergeant majors, and yellowtail snappers move through the shallows. Sea turtles are regularly seen grazing on the seagrass patches near the sandy areas. The bottom here is mostly sandy with coral patches, making it easy to orient yourself and swim back to the boat.
- Visibility: 40–80 ft typical, up to 100 ft in peak season
- Coral: brain coral, staghorn, sea fans — healthy and dense
- Fish: parrotfish, blue tang, sergeant majors, yellowtail snapper
- Turtles: regular sightings on seagrass near the sandbar
- Depth: 5–15 ft near the boat, shallower at the sandbar
Lunch and the Open Bar
A light lunch is served at the island: local bread, chicken salad, pasta salad, fruit, and grain salad — filling without being heavy after time in the water. Soft drinks, bottled water, and local rum-based cocktails are included throughout the trip. The bar remains open on the return journey.
- Food: local bread, chicken salad, pasta salad, fruit, grain salad
- Drinks: soft drinks, water, local rum cocktails
- Service: lunch served at anchor at the island
- Bar: open from departure through return to marina
Practical Information
Getting to Marina Puerto Chico, Fajardo
The boat departs from Marina Puerto Chico in Fajardo — the same marina as the slide tour. From San Juan, it's a 60–90 minute drive east on PR-66. Check-in is 30 minutes before departure.
Free parking is in the marina lot.
- Address: Marina Puerto Chico, PR-987, Fajardo, PR 00740
- From San Juan: ~60–90 min via PR-66 East
- Parking: free in the marina lot
- Check-in: 30 minutes before departure
What to Bring — Snorkel Tips for Icacos
All snorkel gear is provided. Bring reef-safe sunscreen (mineral only — chemical sunscreen is prohibited in the protected reserve), a towel (not provided), and a dry bag for your phone.
- Reef-safe mineral sunscreen — required (no chemical/spray sunscreen)
- Towel — not provided on board
- UV rash guard or swim shirt for 4 hours in Caribbean sun
- Dry bag for phone and wallet
- Cash for guide gratuity (10% customary)
Not Suitable For
The tour is designed for all skill levels and float belts are provided, but:
- Non-swimmers without water confidence: open ocean swim — mention to crew at check-in
- Children under 4: not recommended
- Guests prone to seasickness: 20-min each-way crossing on open water — take tablets beforehand
Icacos Island Boat Trip — FAQs
What is the difference between the Icacos swim trip and the Icacos slide tour?
Both go to Cayo Icacos from Marina Puerto Chico in Fajardo, but the swim and snorkel trip is smaller, quieter, and focused on the water experience rather than entertainment. The slide tour is a larger boat with a water slide and a livelier atmosphere. The swim trip is ideal for snorkelers who want more time underwater with fewer people around; the slide tour is better for groups wanting a fun, party-boat day.
Is the Icacos boat trip suitable for beginners?
Yes — snorkel gear and float belts are provided and the crew assists guests in the water. Snorkeling happens close to the boat in the protected shallows of La Cordillera Reserve. Basic comfort in open water is recommended, but no prior snorkeling experience is required.
What is Cayo Icacos like as a destination?
Cayo Icacos is an uninhabited cay inside La Cordillera Reef Nature Reserve, about 20 minutes by boat from Fajardo. There are no facilities — no buildings, no crowds, no noise. Just white sand, turquoise water, and one of the healthiest coral reefs in Puerto Rico. It's accessible only by boat, which is what keeps it pristine.
How does the Icacos boat trip compare to Vieques or Culebra snorkeling?
Icacos is more accessible than Vieques or Culebra (no ferry needed, 20 min from Fajardo), making it the best option for a San Juan day trip. Vieques offers the most reliable sea turtle encounters on a small guided tour, while Culebra's Carlos Rosario Beach is the most pristine reef. For ease and overall experience, Icacos is hard to beat.
Smaller group meant we had the reef almost to ourselves at certain points. The water was unbelievably clear — we could see the coral patterns from the surface before we even jumped in. The lunch was better than expected. Worth every penny at $115.
We chose this over the slide tour because we wanted to actually snorkel, not just float around a boat. Great call. Saw a sea turtle within 20 minutes, visibility was incredible, and the local rum drinks on the way back were the perfect end to a perfect day.