Icacos or Piñero Full Day Private Snorkeling Charter

Yes. We will be provided you a flotation belt, so no expert knowledge of swimming is required. The vessel is equipped with US Coast Guard approved life jackets. Our tour guides are also trained lifeguards. If you choose not to join the snorkeling sessions and only enjoy the trip and beach explorations, that is fine too. 

Yes you can bring your own food. The experience includes an all you can eat and drink buffet, with both soft drinks and non alcoholic beverages, so it’s better that you just come ready to enjoy and take advantage of all the perks already included in your trip. 

We constantly monitor weather and swell forecasts to ensure all our guests safety. In the event that weather conditions are not optimal for going out, you will be notified by phone. In case we cannot reach you quickly by phone, text message and email will be our next options. If we are forced to cancel a tour due to weather conditions, we will offer you the solution that better fits your needs, including rescheduling to another date, booking another tour, or full refund. 

TripOutside recommends knowing how to swim before snorkeling, but participation is ultimately up to you and the tour operator's discretion.

• Check ocean conditions and only snorkel at lifeguarded beaches. The chance of rescue is much higher with trained lifeguards present.
• Never snorkel alone. Always bring a buddy. Beginners should consider booking a guided tour.
• Rest after flying. Flying can dehydrate and exhaust you—give your body at least a day to acclimate before snorkeling.
• Test your gear on land or in a pool first. Make sure your mask fits snugly, you can breathe through the snorkel, and you know how to clear water if needed.
• Practice with fins. You should be able to scissor kick while swimming. Avoid doggie paddling—it won’t get you far.
• Don’t wear fins on land. Walk into the water, get past the waves, then put your fins on. Remove them before exiting.
• Take it slow. Breathe calmly, relax, and avoid overexertion to keep your heart rate low.
• Know your limits. If you’re feeling tired, anxious, or unsure about conditions, skip the snorkel session. Panic in the water is dangerous.
• Stay aware of currents and tides. Even experienced swimmers can get pulled out. Know how to identify rip currents and how to escape them (swim parallel to shore).

We specialize in introducing guests to the amazing underwater life and natural beauty of Puerto Rico. We are passionate about marine-life and eco-tourism and hope that our guests are inspired to make a commitment to protect our oceans and marine-life too. We ask that you do not touch coral, fish, or turtles and please, never feed the fish anything a human would eat. Help our reefs and oceans by using sustainable practices such as reef safe sunscreen, reusable water bottles, and reusable cups. 

Disclaimer: We cannot guarantee the amount or type of fish you will see on our tours. We do not feed the fish to bring them close to visitors. This is harmful to the fish’s natural diet and it interferes with their natural feeding cycles.

Common sunscreens contain chemicals that can harm coral reefs, as the particles are small enough to be absorbed by corals, causing toxicity and coral bleaching. Reef-friendly sunscreens are formulated without these harmful chemicals. Reef-SAFE sunscreens go a step further by using non-nano particles, which are too large for corals to ingest, helping to preserve marine ecosystems. 

Please avoid sunscreens with oxybenzone, octinoxate, and parabens. Consider wearing sun-protective clothing, like long-sleeve rash guards, as an alternative to sunscreen. If you choose a mineral-based sunscreen, ensure it is labeled ‘non-nano.’

Yes, snorkels allow you to breathe with your face in the water at the surface. If you’d like to dive down, though, water will enter the snorkel, so you’ll need to hold your breath until you resurface. Once back at the surface, you can clear the snorkel by blowing out the air in your mouth hard. That should clear the snorkel, but if it doesn’t, tread the water, remove the snorkel from your mouth and dump the mouthpiece out. 

Standard eyeglasses can’t be worn with a snorkel mask, but prescription masks are available for those who need vision correction while snorkeling. If you’re interested, consider looking into a prescription mask option before your tour. Alternatively, contact lenses can be worn under a snorkel mask, though it’s best to close your eyes if water enters to prevent losing a lens.

You can snorkel with a beard or mustache but it can prevent a tight seal between the mask and your face, which may cause water to leak in. It is often recommended to shave at least your mustache before snorkeling. If you’d prefer not to shave your mustache, please bring petroleum jelly or chapstick with you. If you coat your mustache in that chapstick or jelly, it may be able to seal and prevent water from getting in.

While all three islands sit off Puerto Rico’s east coast, each offers a different experience for snorkelers. Icacos is the largest and most popular cay, known for its broad sandy shores and offshore reefs that make it a prime snorkeling spot. Its shallow reefs are home to abundant fish life, and the water clarity is some of the best in the region. Palomino, on the other hand, has a mix of sandy stretches and rocky areas. It tends to be more developed, with parts of the island privately managed, and is better suited if you want to balance snorkeling with relaxing in calm, protected waters. Piñero Island is a less-visited and more secluded option, making it appealing if you want a quieter atmosphere. The reefs near Piñero are rich with coral formations and offer a sense of exploring somewhere more off the beaten path.

Both Icacos and Piñero are excellent for encountering the diverse biodiversity of Puerto Rico’s reefs. Expect to see schools of colorful reef fish such as blue tang, sergeant majors, parrotfish, and wrasse darting among the coral. The reefs also attract larger species like barracuda and yellowtail snapper. With luck, you may spot sea turtles gliding gracefully through the water or stingrays resting in the sandy bottoms. Coral formations are abundant, including brain coral, elkhorn coral, and waving sea fans that provide shelter for smaller creatures like damselfish, butterflyfish, and cleaner gobies. Piñero, being less trafficked, can sometimes feel more untouched, giving snorkelers the chance to encounter marine life in a quieter, less crowded setting.