- Duration: the price tiers do not change the day much, most boats run five to seven hours
- Included: the gap between the cheap and the mid tier is almost entirely food, drinks and snorkel gear
- Best for: budget travellers on the water taxi, groups of six or more on a private boat
- Book ahead: prices firm up in high season, so booking three to five days out is usually cheaper than the same week
- Practical warning: private charter prices are per boat, not per person, which is why they look alarming at first glance
The floor of the market. Transport to the sand and back, with nothing bundled in that you may not use.
Check Availability →The middle of the market, and where most people land. Food, gear and open bar folded into one price.
Check Availability →The private tier, priced per boat rather than per person, which only makes sense from about six people up.
Check Availability →Prices are indicative starting prices and can change.
Large party catamaran from $80
The cheapest way to Cayo Icacos is a large party catamaran with 50 to 80 passengers. You get the same itinerary, snorkel stop, beach time, and lunch, just on a bigger, louder boat.
Best for friend groups and travelers on a budget who do not mind crowds.
Small group catamaran $115 to $145
A small group sail under 25 passengers costs more but adds attentive crew, a calmer vibe, and usually a better lunch and open bar. The most recommended tier for couples and families.
Speedboat tour $120 to $150
Speedboats reach Icacos in about 15 minutes, leaving more time on the cay. Smaller groups and a faster, bumpier ride. Good for travelers short on time.
Private charter from $700
A private charter gives you the whole boat, a custom route, and your own crew. From $700 for 6 to 12 people, more for luxury catamarans. Split among a group it can rival a shared tour per person.
What changes the price
- Group size and boat type, the biggest swing
- Lunch quality and whether an open bar is included
- Season, with winter high season firming up prices
- Whether San Juan transport is bundled in
Frequently asked questions
Shared boats generally sit between the water taxi at the low end and the all inclusive catamarans in the middle, per person. Private charters are quoted per boat and run into the hundreds. Treat every figure as a starting price that moves with season and group size.
Because they sell you the crossing and nothing else. Once you add lunch, an open bar, snorkel gear and four hours anchored at the cay, the price roughly doubles. Compare the inclusions line before you compare numbers.
From about six people up it often works out similar per head to an all inclusive shared boat, and you set your own schedule. Below four people it rarely does.
Marina parking, usually five to ten dollars, and crew tips, where 15 to 20 percent is the local norm. Anything you buy beyond the included bar is extra too.
