How do you get to Icacos Island?

You reach Icacos by boat from Fajardo. Water taxis use Las Croabas, while catamarans leave from specific marinas named on your booking page. Some tours offer hotel pickup in San Juan before the boat trip. Your road journey to Las Croabas from Muelle 1 is 65.2 km, followed by the sea crossing.

Can you get to Icacos without a tour?

Yes, you can take a water taxi without joining a guided tour. The crossing from Las Croabas takes about 15 to 20 minutes. Your boat drops you at the cay and returns for pickup; food and beach gear depend on what you've arranged. There isn't a public ferry or a shop to fill gaps once you're ashore.

Is there anything on Icacos Island?

No services operate on the island. There are no restrooms or lifeguards, and you can't buy food once you've reached the beach. Some catamarans have onboard toilets. A bathroom on your boat doesn't provide facilities elsewhere on the cay.

Can you snorkel at Icacos?

Yes, snorkeling trips visit reefs around Icacos. You need basic swimming skills. The south side is more sheltered, though your crew chooses the route for the conditions. Your fins should stay clear of coral even where the reef looks shallow.

How long is the boat ride to Icacos?

Water taxis from Las Croabas take about 15 to 20 minutes each way. Some power catamarans take about 20 to 25 minutes, while sailing boats can take longer. The departure point matters too. That crossing time doesn't include your drive from San Juan or check-in at the marina.

What should you bring to Icacos?

Food and drinking water need to cover your whole stay on Icacos. You'll need a hat and sunscreen; a bag for trash keeps the island clear of what you brought. An umbrella and reef shoes help ashore, while a waterproof bag keeps your things dry during the boat trip. Bring snorkel gear unless it's included.

Things to do in Puerto Rico › Puerto Rico beaches › Icacos Island

Icacos Island

Snorkeling and boat days

Updated October 8, 2026 Access and facilities: Discover Puerto Rico; south shore: DRNA report

Cayo Icacos is an uninhabited cay off Fajardo on Puerto Rico's east coast. You can reach it only by boat. The trip from Fajardo takes about 25 minutes, depending on your boat. There are no toilets or food vendors. No lifeguards, no built shelters. Bring all your supplies. Take all your trash back.

Map

Where Icacos Island is

18.3867° N, 65.5877° W Directions in Google Maps Apple Maps OpenStreetMap

How to get there

With a tour from Fajardo Catamarans and private charters leave from Fajardo marinas; the guided mini boat trip from Puerto Chico lasts 3.5 hours. Some charge extra for San Juan hotel pickup. The booking page gives your meeting point and shows which meals or gear come with the trip.
By water taxi A water taxi provides transport without a guided outing; trips from Las Croabas take about 15 to 20 minutes. There's no public ferry. Agree on the return pickup before you leave. Confirm the time.
From San Juan Las Croabas is 65.2 km, or 40.5 miles, by road from Muelle 1 in Old San Juan. That's the water taxi area. Use the marina address on the booking page; catamarans may leave from a different part of Fajardo.

At a glance

Icacos Island at a glance

Water	calmer along the south side. Other cays shelter it from wind and waves. That doesn't make every crossing calm, so your captain's decision still governs the trip even on a day with clear skies.
Lifeguards	none on the island. You can't rely on a staffed swimming area here. Your swim needs to match your ability.
Snorkeling	a main reason to make the crossing. Some trips stop at offshore reefs. Ask if a guide joins the group in the water.
Shade	no built shelters on the cay. An umbrella gives you portable shade. Arrange bulky gear with the water taxi before departure.
On the shore	no toilets or shops. You can't buy lunch or refill your cooler at a stand on the sand. Pack supplies. Take everything back to Fajardo.
Getting there	boat only. Water taxis from Las Croabas take about 15 to 20 minutes; some power catamarans take about 20 to 25 minutes. Sailing boats can take longer.

Before you go

Toilets and vendors are absent from the cay. An umbrella supplies shade. Reef shoes are useful on shore. The south side is calmer. Keep your feet and fins off the coral.

The beach

What Icacos Island is like

White sand runs along an uninhabited cay in La Cordillera Nature Reserve, with Fajardo across the water. Other cays shelter the south shore from waves. Boats share that sheltered water with swimmers, so you may arrive alongside other day trips. You can see catamarans off the south shore while water taxis use the southwest beach. Weekdays tend to draw fewer visitors, so a midweek trip gives you more chance of space on the sand.

Snorkeling trips use reefs beyond the beach, including reef areas south and northwest of the cay. The boat route and sea conditions determine the day's snorkeling stop. For a first snorkel, a guide can help with fitting a mask and choosing a route around the coral. A flotation vest can help you stay off the reef; fins and shoes can damage coral when they make contact. Don't touch the coral. Don't feed the fish.

A day from Fajardo starts with a dock address; the water taxis and catamarans don't all leave together. Water taxis cross in 15 to 20 minutes. Some power catamarans take 20 to 25. A power catamaran outing can last 4 hours, with the drive from San Juan adding more time to the day. A tour with lunch and gear included cuts down on packing, while a water taxi leaves more supplies to carry. Choose a boat that suits the help you need and the hours available for the whole outing.

Tours

Tours to Icacos Island

Snorkeling and catamaran sails 14 tours · from $39

The snorkeling list includes catamaran trips from Fajardo with reef stops and beach time at Icacos. Compare the meals and gear included, plus whether someone leads the snorkeling session in the water.

Boats, kayaks and jet skis 14 tours · from $30

The boats list includes guided mini boat outings and private charters that visit Icacos. The choice depends on who drives and how long the group wants to spend ashore.

Culebra and Flamenco Beach day trips 11 tours · from $80

The Culebra list offers a different island day with routes to Flamenco Beach. You need a trip that names Flamenco if that beach matters more to you than stopping at Icacos.

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