Icacos Island Luxury Sailing Catamaran: The All-Inclusive Experience Worth $195
Most all boat tours to Icacos Island get you to the island and back. This one makes the journey itself part of the experience. The luxury sailing catamaran moves under wind power through the Cordillera Cays, serves gourmet food and Bacardi rum cocktails on deck, and limits group size so it never feels crowded. At $195 it is the most expensive option in the lineup — and the one guests are most likely to call the best day of their trip. Here is what separates it from every other catamaran departure out of Fajardo.
About This Activity
6 hours — the longest and most immersive Icacos sailing experience available
4.9 stars from 141 verified reviews
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure
Gourmet lunch, Bacardi rum cocktails, beer, soft drinks, water, snorkel gear, and snorkel clinic coaching
Small groups — intimate luxury experience with fewer guests than standard catamarans
Wind-powered sailing through the Cordillera Cays — not just a motor ferry to the island
Check Live Availability & Prices
With small group sizes and a 4.9-star reputation, this tour books out further in advance than any other Icacos departure — especially for weekend dates in December through April. Check live availability and reserve your spot now. Free cancellation up to 24 hours means no risk holding a date.
What Makes This Luxury Sailing Catamaran Different
Sailing, Not Just Motoring: The Cordillera Cays Route
The difference begins before you reach Icacos. Where power catamarans run straight to the island on engines, this tour uses the trade winds to sail through the Cordillera Cays — a string of small protected islands between Fajardo and Icacos. The route is longer in time but shorter in noise: you hear the water, not the engine.
The sailing captain uses this leg to explain the geography of the reserve, point out bird colonies on the cays, and let guests position themselves on the nets strung between the hulls — a classic sailing catamaran feature that puts you just above the waterline. It sets a tone that the rest of the day continues.
The Snorkel Clinic: Technique Coaching, Not Just a Swim
This tour includes something unique among Icacos departures — a guided snorkel clinic rather than a standard guided swim. The difference:
| Standard guided snorkel | Snorkel clinic | |---|---| | Guide leads the group, points out fish | Individual technique assessment + correction | | Flotation vest if requested | Fin kick coaching for effortless movement | | Generic reef tour | Breathing rhythm and mask clearing drills | | Suitable for beginners | Suitable for beginners AND experienced swimmers who want to improve |
For first-timers, the clinic removes the anxiety of learning mid-water. For experienced snorkelers, it often unlocks efficiency they didn't know they were missing. The clinic runs before the open-water snorkel, so guests enter the reef already comfortable with their gear.
Gourmet Lunch and Bacardi Rum Cocktails on a Secluded Sandbar
The food and drink on this tour are a meaningful step above the standard rum punch and rice plate on budget tours. Gourmet lunch (plated, typically including fresh fish, grilled chicken, tropical salads, and sides) is served while anchored off Icacos Island's most secluded sandbar section — away from the main anchorage zone used by day-trip ferries. The Bacardi rum cocktail service runs throughout the afternoon portion of the trip, alongside beer and non-alcoholic options.
Small group size means the deck never feels crowded and the service stays personal.
What's Included and What Isn't
Fully Included in Your $195 Ticket
- 6-hour luxury sailing catamaran experience from Marina Puerto Chico - Wind-powered sailing route through the Cordillera Cays - Professional snorkel clinic (technique coaching, not just a swim) - Full snorkel equipment (premium mask, fins, buoyancy vest) - Gourmet lunch served on deck at Icacos Island - Bacardi rum cocktail service (signature cocktails, not just rum punch) - Beer, soft drinks, and water throughout the trip - Access to secluded Icacos Island sandbar (small group anchorage) - Cordillera Nature Reserve entry and permit fees - Safety equipment, flotation devices
Not Included — Plan For These
- Reef-safe mineral sunscreen (mandatory inside the reserve — bring your own zinc oxide or titanium dioxide formula) - Guide gratuity (10–15% is appropriate for a luxury service of this level) - Personal dry bag for phone, camera, and valuables - A light cover-up or wind layer for the sailing portions — moving under sail at speed can feel noticeably cooler than standing still in the sun - Cash for parking at Marina Puerto Chico
What Happens on This Tour — Step by Step
Important Things to Know Before You Board
What to pack
- Reef-safe mineral sunscreen (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide — rangers enforce this inside the reserve) - A light cover-up, rash guard, or thin layer — sailing at speed creates wind chill even in the Caribbean sun - Dry bag for phone, camera, and any valuables - Water shoes or sandals with a strap (useful for wading to the sandbar) - Cash for parking and guide gratuity (10–15% is appropriate for this level of service) - Sunglasses with a retainer cord — wind on the sailing leg can take them
What to leave behind
- Chemical sunscreen (oxybenzone, octinoxate, avobenzone) — not permitted inside the Cordillera Nature Reserve; rangers will ask you to rinse off - Excessive luggage — catamaran storage is limited; a small dry bag or beach bag is ideal - Glass bottles or containers - Anything irreplaceable — even on calm days, the catamaran deck sees spray and guests wade to shore
Insider Tips for the Icacos Island Luxury Sailing Catamaran
Get the Premium Experience Right
1. Book early — this tour sells out further in advance than any other Icacos departure. Small group size is its defining feature, which means capacity fills fast. December through April dates often go weeks ahead. 2. Bring a light cover-up specifically for the sailing portions. Moving under sail creates wind that can feel surprising against wet skin in the morning. A thin rash guard or linen shirt keeps you comfortable for the outbound leg and makes the snorkel clinic more enjoyable when you first get in the water. 3. Use the snorkel clinic fully — tell the instructor your experience level. Whether you are a first-timer nervous about breathing through a snorkel, or an experienced swimmer who wants to move more efficiently, the clinic is calibrated to your level.
You will get more out of the reef stop afterward. 4. Sea turtles are most common at the reef in morning light. The 9:15 AM snorkel start on this tour puts you in the water at the optimal window. Let the guide know you are hoping to see turtles — they know which coral formations the turtles frequent. 5. Arrive at Marina Puerto Chico 20 minutes early. Parking can fill on weekends and the small group nature of this tour means staff have time to give you a proper welcome briefing, which sets the tone for the day. 6. Tip at the 15% level rather than 10%. The level of service on a luxury sailing tour — clinic instruction, plated lunch, cocktail service, personal guiding — warrants a step above the standard snorkel tour gratuity.
Getting to Marina Puerto Chico, Fajardo
Who Is This Tour Right For?
Ideal guests
- Couples celebrating anniversaries, birthdays, honeymoons, or special occasions — the small group size and premium service make this feel genuinely private - Travelers who want the complete Icacos experience in one day: sailing, snorkel instruction, gourmet food, premium cocktails - Guests who have done standard snorkel tours before and want something more memorable - Anyone who values the sailing journey as part of the experience, not just a means of transport - Snorkelers of any level — the clinic format makes it equally accessible to beginners and rewarding for experienced swimmers
Not ideal for
- Budget-conscious travelers — at $195 this is the premium option; the Traveler catamaran at $130 (tour-4) or the power catamaran at $135 (tour-5) offer excellent value if price is the priority - Guests who are highly sensitive to motion sickness — 6 hours under sail covers more open water than shorter motor tours - Large groups looking for a party boat atmosphere — this is a curated, intimate experience - Families with very young children who may not stay engaged for a full 6-hour sailing day
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the luxury sailing catamaran worth $195 compared to the $130–$135 tours?
Three meaningful differences: a genuine sailing experience through the Cordillera Cays (not just a motor transfer), a snorkel clinic with individual technique coaching rather than a standard guided swim, and gourmet lunch with Bacardi rum cocktails rather than a casual buffet and rum punch. Combined with small group size, these add up to a fundamentally different day on the water — one that guests consistently describe as the highlight of their Puerto Rico trip.
What is a snorkel clinic and how is it different from a regular guided snorkel?
A snorkel clinic includes individual instruction before you enter the water — breathing technique, fin kick mechanics, mask clearing, and buoyancy control. A standard guided snorkel assumes you already know how to use the gear and simply guides you around the reef. The clinic format removes the self-consciousness of learning in public, improves your efficiency in the water, and means you spend the actual reef portion enjoying marine life rather than managing your equipment.
Is the Bacardi rum cocktail service an open bar or limited to a set number of drinks?
The service is generally run as an open bar during the beach and return portions of the trip, with the crew mixing Bacardi-based cocktails to order. Specific cocktail recipes and quantity limits vary by departure — confirm with the operator at booking if this is important to you. Beer and non-alcoholic drinks are unlimited throughout.
Is this tour suitable for the anniversary or honeymoon we are planning?
Yes — this is specifically the tour we recommend for couples celebrating a special occasion. The small group size means it never feels like a mass-market excursion, the sailing leg through the cays is genuinely scenic and romantic, and the quality of food and cocktails is a step above anything else departing Fajardo. Many couples book this as their signature Puerto Rico day trip for exactly these reasons.
What happens if the wind is not strong enough for sailing?
Sailing catamarans carry auxiliary engines and will motor when wind conditions are insufficient for comfortable sailing. The captain makes the call based on conditions on the day. The itinerary, snorkel clinic, lunch, and beach time are unaffected — only the mode of propulsion changes. The Cordillera route and all inclusions remain the same regardless.
What Guests Say
My husband and I did this for our anniversary and I genuinely cannot recommend it highly enough. Sailing through the cays in the morning was beautiful — we lay on the nets and watched the islands pass. The snorkel instructor was patient and I finally understood how to clear my mask properly. The gourmet lunch was delicious. Worth every dollar of $195.
I've done snorkel tours in the Maldives and Belize and this ranks with the best. The small group made a real difference — the guide spent actual time with each person, and we had the sandbar almost to ourselves while the other boats were crowded at the main anchorage. The Bacardi cocktails were excellent too.
We were nervous about the snorkeling since neither of us had done it before. The clinic at the start changed everything — by the time we got in the water we felt completely comfortable. Saw a huge sea turtle within the first five minutes of the reef stop. The whole day felt premium from start to finish.