Boat Tours & Catamaran Trips in Puerto Rico: Compared
An honest, fact based comparison of 13 real boat tour operators, shared catamarans and private charters, real prices, durations and verified review counts.
Boat tours in Puerto Rico range from a short San Juan lagoon cruise to a full day on a catamaran crossing to Culebra. The split that actually matters when you're picking one isn't the destination, it's whether you want to share the boat with other travelers and pay per person, or book the whole boat privately for your group. Here are 13 real, bookable operators across both, side by side, including our own, Oceania Boat Tours, held to the same standard as everyone else.
Shared catamaran or private charter?
A shared catamaran charges per person and runs on a fixed schedule with other travelers aboard, usually $95 to $165 a head. A private charter is a flat price for the whole boat, typically $175 to $2,000, capped at 6 to 12 people depending on the operator, so the more people in your group, the cheaper it works out per person. There's also where you leave from: short San Juan and Carolina cruises (30 to 90 minutes, no car needed) versus full day trips from the Fajardo marinas, about an hour east, to Culebra, Culebrita and Cayo Icacos.
A word from the captain
I run Oceania's boat out of Cangrejos Yacht Club in Carolina, and I'm not going to pretend it does what the operators below do. If you want a full day crossing to Culebra or Cayo Icacos with lunch aboard and 40 other people on a catamaran, Sail Getaways and East Island Excursions do that well, that's their trip, not mine, and I'm listing them here because that's the honest comparison. Casa Del Mar out of Isleta Marina in Fajardo is built for bigger groups too, up to 35 on one boat, about an hour from the San Juan airport versus the five minutes it takes to reach mine at Cangrejos.
What I run is small on purpose: a handful of people, close to San Juan, no fixed departure time, no other boat's music playing next to yours. If that's what you're after, call or WhatsApp me directly and I'll tell you straight if it fits your day. If you want the bigger island hopping trip, book one of the Fajardo operators below, you'll be better served there than squeezed onto my boat.
— Jose, captain, Oceania Boat Tours
Shared catamarans & boats (pay per person)
| Operator | Departure | Price | Group size | Duration | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sail Getaways 📞 787-860-7327 Book Now | Villa Marina Yacht Harbor, Fajardo | $110 to $165/person | Up to 40 people | 3 to 6 hours | 4.8★ (907 reviews on Google) |
| East Island Excursions Book Now | Puerto del Rey Marina, Fajardo | From $100/person | Up to 80 people | 6 hours | 4.8★ (5,077 reviews on Google) |
| Castillo Tours Book Now | Fajardo | From $94.99/person | Shared catamaran, all ages | 5 hours | 4.8★ (226 reviews on Google/Birdeye) |
| Crash Boat Experiences Book Now | Aguadilla (west coast) | From $114/person | Up to 12 people, min. 3 to book | 3 hours, weekday sunset | 5.0★ (574 reviews on Google) |
| Casa Del Mar Book Now | Isleta Marina, Fajardo | From $85/person | Up to 35 people | 4 hours | 4.4★ (127 reviews on FareHarbor) |
Private charters (book the whole boat)
| Operator | Departure | Price | Group size | Duration | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oceania Boat ToursOur brand 📞 787-949-3542 Book Now | Cangrejos Yacht Club, Carolina | Scenic cruise from $50 (shared) or private charter, not published, direct quote | Up to 6 on private charter | 30 min to 7 hours | 5.0★ (129 reviews on Tripadvisor) |
| Pirate Snorkeling Shack 📞 787-556-0104 Book Now | Fajardo | From $650 (whole boat) | Up to 6 people | 5 hours | 4.8★ (430 reviews) |
| Caribbean Chiliboats Book Now | La Parguera (south coast) | From $895 (whole boat) | Up to 6 people | 6 to 7 hours | 4.7★ (9 reviews) |
| PR Rentals Book Now | San Juan Bay | From $175 (whole boat) | Up to 6 people | 2 hours | No public rating found |
| Island Reef Tours Book Now | Fajardo | From $1,995 (whole boat) | Up to 6 people | Full day | No public rating found |
| Aquazul Tours Book Now | Fajardo | From $1,995 (whole boat) | Up to 6 people | 7 hours | No public rating found |
| Bellaventuras Book Now | Fajardo (Puerto del Rey) | From $1,440 (whole boat) | Up to 6 people | 6 hours | No public rating found |
| Caribbean Bookings Book Now | Fajardo | From $1,970 (whole boat) | Up to 6 people | 4 to 8 hours | No public rating found |
Set on a full day private charter to Culebra, Culebrita or Cayo Icacos specifically? See our dedicated comparison of Navea PR Adventure, Escape To Paradise PR and Leisure Boat Experience, three private charters built around that exact trip.
Shared seat or private boat: which costs less for your group?
Tell us how many people and we'll estimate the per person cost both ways.
Which boat tour fits your trip?
- Big group (10 to 80 people), wedding or event: East Island Excursions or Sail Getaways, both run large shared catamarans to Icacos and Culebra. Casa Del Mar in Fajardo also takes up to 35 on its snorkel and beach day boat.
- Full day to Culebra or Icacos, budget conscious, going solo or as a couple: Castillo Tours or East Island Excursions, from under $100 per person.
- Want the whole boat to yourselves, group of 4 to 6: Pirate Snorkeling Shack, Caribbean Chiliboats, or our dedicated Culebra/Icacos private charter comparison.
- Short, relaxed trip near San Juan with young kids (from age 1), no drive to Fajardo: Oceania Boat Tours.
- On the west coast (Rincón, Aguadilla area): Crash Boat Experiences' weekday sunset tour.
- Based in the south (La Parguera): Caribbean Chiliboats' 3-in-1 cays, sunset and bio bay charter.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a boat tour in Puerto Rico?
Shared catamaran trips run about $95 to $165 per person with snorkeling and, often, lunch. Private charters are priced per boat, from about $175 for a short San Juan cruise to roughly $2,000 for a full day to Culebra for up to 6 people.
What is the difference between a shared catamaran and a private charter?
A shared catamaran charges per person, runs on a fixed schedule, and you share the boat with other travelers, usually up to 40 or 80 people on the bigger boats. A private charter is a flat price for the whole boat, typically capped at 6 to 12 people, so you get the boat to yourselves and can often set your own schedule.
Is it cheaper to book a shared tour or a private charter?
It depends on your group size. For 1 or 2 people, a shared seat is almost always cheaper. For 5 or 6 people, a private charter often works out to about the same or less per person while giving you the whole boat. Use the calculator above with your own group size.
Can I book a boat tour for a big group, like 10 or more people?
Yes. East Island Excursions and Sail Getaways run shared catamarans up to 80 and 40 people, which work well for big groups, bachelor or bachelorette parties, and events that don't need a private boat.
Are there boat tours that leave from San Juan?
Yes. Short lagoon and bay cruises leave from Carolina and San Juan and last 30 to 90 minutes. The longer catamaran trips to Icacos and Culebra leave from the Fajardo marinas, and PR Rentals runs private party boat charters directly from San Juan Bay.
How do I get from San Juan to the Fajardo marinas?
It is about one hour by car. Some operators sell hotel pickup; otherwise rent a car or book a private driver.
Can young children go on a boat tour?
Short calm water cruises in San Juan take children from age 1. Catamaran and charter trips set their own minimum ages, so check each operator before you book.
What is the difference between Icacos and Culebra trips?
Icacos is 20 to 30 minutes from Fajardo by boat and works as a half day. Culebra is a longer open water crossing and a full day.
What should I bring?
Reef-safe sunscreen, a towel, a hat, and a dry change of clothes. Most boat tours include snorkel gear, and full day trips usually include lunch; confirm on the booking page.
Just want to snorkel? See snorkeling tours in Puerto Rico compared: 11 tours in San Juan, Icacos, Culebra and Rincón.
Looking for something else on the water? Compare jet ski rentals in San Juan, fishing charters and bioluminescent bay tours in Puerto Rico.
Verified and current: we check prices and availability on this page every week against each operator's live booking calendar.