Looking for the best day trip in Puerto Rico?
We are big researchers when it comes to planning activities on vacation. Well, by “we” I really mean I find things to do and tell Ryan when it’s time to leave the pool for our next adventure. Finding the perfect day trip for your Puerto Rico vacation can be time consuming. Embarrassingly, it took me a few weeks of researching in Philly to plan our short 5 day stay. But, it was all worth it in the end because let’s be honest, the last thing I wanted to do was frantically scroll through Trip Advisor while missing out on hard earned beach time.
Since Puerto Rico clocks in at a mere 100 miles long, it is relatively realistic to explore most of the island during your visit. But since we’re talking day trips, I suggest making your way to one of the islands many surrounding cays, islets, and atolls. Of the inhabited islands, Culebra and Vieques can be accessed by ferry or personal charter. The other 100+ smaller islands surrounding Puerto Rico however, are uninhabited and make for amazing snorkeling, diving and sailing. With all things considered, here is what we think is the best day trip in Puerto Rico.
Why I think “Cayo Icacos” is the best day trip in Puerto Rico
There are a few things to take into consideration while planning the best day trip in Puerto Rico, including time, cost, and accessibility. I didn’t want to spend too much time traveling to the destination, I wanted to save money in our budget to experience other activities throughout our vacation and I wanted the piece of mind that I would be picked up and dropped off at my hotel. Especially after 1, 2, or maybe even 3 (okay, definitely 3) Pina Coladas out at sea.
“Cayo Icacos” or Icacos Island is located off the coast of Fajardo, a well known beach about 45 minutes east of San Juan. We decided to book our day trip through Traveler Catamaran which I can HIGHLY recommend if you choose to enjoy Icacos. The staff was extremely friendly, welcoming, informative and always kept the conversation light and upbeat. The tour itself ran about 5-6 hours with only about 15 passengers total, including lunch and complimentary liquor. For transportation to and from the hotel, catamaran ride, snorkeling, lunch, and drinks, the total cost of the excursion was $90 per person, which in my opinion, is a steal.
We decided to book through Traveler Catamaran which I can HIGHLY recommend.
What to expect from Icacos Island
Once you make it to Fajardo, you pick out your snorkeling gear, board the open air catamaran and set sail into the incredible waters of the Caribbean. With each passing mile, the water becomes more and more crystal clear. We were lucky enough to experience a family of dolphins swimming right by the catamaran as we bounced up and down sitting on the pontoon of the boat. The ride itself takes only about 30 minutes to reach Icacos, which serves as your first snorkeling spot.
Instead of snorkeling here in the shallow reef, we decided to catch some rays on the beautifully uninhabited white sand beach. After snapping some photos and cooling off in the water, it was time to hop back on the catamaran and enjoy lunch. A variety of prepared salads, snacks, and sandwiches were available with soda and cookies to make for a more indulgent lunch. After lunch came the good stuff as they served up Rum Punch and Pina Coladas for the remainder of the excursion.
For all you snorkeling lovers…
After lunch you will sail off the coast of Icacos Island just a few minutes, deep into an amazing coral reef filled with vibrant marine life. Here, you have about an hour free snorkel and fun time. We took this opportunity to catch some awesome GoPro footage of the reef and after about a half hour, we returned to the boat with our hearts set on some child-like fun. Not two minutes after hopping back on the boat were we sliding off the giant waterslide attached to the back of the boat and into the ocean! It was amazing.
Ryan decided it was time to have fun “his way” which means launching the Mavic Pro drone from the back of the catamaran. If there was anything about this excursion that brought our group of 15 strangers together, it was these last few minutes of carefree fun. We all continued to watch the Mavic Pro zip around the boat while it grabbed action shots of all of us jumping off the waterslide and before we knew it, it was time to set sail back to the mainland in Fajardo. The crew took us “the long way” home which was scenic and ideal in every way. Having this time to appreciate and digest the beauty of what we had just experienced was the highlight of our trip to Puerto Rico and Icacos Island.
If you have any questions about Traveler Catamaran, Icacos Island, or the best day trip in Puerto Rico, feel free to drop me a comment down below! If you are looking for more information on where to stay, check out our blog comparing Condado Beach vs Isla Verde. Otherwise, check out our Puerto Rico Travel Vlogs that are linked below and enjoy your trip!