Puerto Rico ⎮ Best Things to Do in Puerto Rico ⎮ Puerto Rico Islands ⎮ Cayo Icacos / Icacos Cay, Fajardo, PR
5 Star Icacos Puerto Rico Tour
Cayo Icacos (Icacos Cay) is one of the islands of Puerto Rico, and one of the most special places to visit. Icacos Cay is the largest of La Cordillera Nature Reserve, a group of beautiful keys off the east coast of Puerto Rico, a short boat ride from the town of Fajardo, about a 45-minute drive from the capital city of San Juan.
While there are many beaches on the main island of Puerto Rico, taking a catamaran ride to this offshore treasure is certainly special.
Content on Icacos Cay Travel Guide
Once you step onto the boat, you’ll be swept away from the modern world and transported to an archipelago of undeveloped islands. There, the sandy shores are home to birds. The waters are playgrounds for sea turtles, schools of tropical fish, and dolphins that often visit. You’ll be one of the lucky visitors to enjoy crystal clear water and pass the time swimming and snorkeling to see the world underneath the sea and bask under the sun as you relax or play on soft clean white sand. The best beach is on the west side of the island, and the best snorkeling spot is on the rocky part of the beach where fish love to hide and play.
The only sights from Icacos Island are the surrounding water, nearby islands, and the main island.
The landscape on the island is just like nature intended without human interference, with a few scattered palm trees and endemic plants growing freely. The sand is soft, and white, decorated lightly with tiny shells, gently kissed by the mesmerizing blues of the Caribbean Sea.
- Locations: Most charters to Icacos leave from Marina Puerto Chico, Villa Marina, or Puerto Del Rey Marina – all located in Fajardo. See the map at the end of the page.
- Time: Tours can last from 3.5 hours up to 8.5 hours.
- Cost for charter: Varies depending on the type and length of the excursion. Some tours include transportation from hotels in San Juan and nearby tourist destinations.
See top-rated tours to Icacos:
In this guide, you’ll find that we encourage visitors to rent a car, to explore the coast and a few major attractions around the island on your own, it is the most economical and fun way to do it if you have the time, and wish to explore at your own pace.
Icacos Cay is one of the few attractions we highly recommend visitors to book an excursion/charter for the most enjoyable experience. From speaking to so many visitors, the experience is elevated by the music, food, drinks, and friendly hospitality of tour operators.
Below you’ll see information on getting a water taxi, but we think the additional services add to the experience, you’re on vacation, so treat yourself to something special. If the budget does not allow you or you simply wish to spend your vacation dollars on another tour, that’s ok too, scroll below for information on a more DIY trip to Icacos.
Tips for getting the most out of your visit to Icacos Cay
- If the tour operator does not offer transportation from your hotel to the port of departure, we recommend you rent a car. Depending on the size of your group, it may be more economical and you’ll also have the freedom to visit another place of interest nearby for a day full of adventure. The trip from San Juan takes about 45 minutes. Apple Maps and Google Maps work well to get you there.
- Other places you may enjoy while you’re in Fajardo: Las Cabezas de San Juan, Laguna Grande Bioluminescent Bay.
- Icacos is an uninhabited island, a nature reserve, you must bring everything you’ll need if you choose to take a water taxi. Charter boats typically include drinks, snorkel gear, and snacks.
Planning a visit to Icacos Cay on your own
- Book a car rental
- Se your GPS to Las Croabas, Fajardo
- There’s free parking at the waterfront of Las Croabas
- We recommend you get there in the morning. You’ll see small boats at the dock, feel free to ask if they offer trips to Icacos.
- The cost per person is from $50 – $75 is about $25 per person. Bring cash to pay. Some may accept ATH Movil from residents in Puerto Rico.
- There are no food vendors or facilities of any kind at Icacos. You’ll find places to eat at Las Croabas near the dock. Be sure to take snacks and plenty of water for your visit to Icacos.
- Be sure to use the restroom at the little park in Las Croabas or a restaurant when you eat.
- Water taxi ride to Icacos last about 20 minutes.
- Water taxis depending on how busy the day is with visitors, they will go back and forth to the island. Some captains offer the last pick-up before sunset. Feel free to speak to the captain and communicate your preferences, they may be more flexible for your group. Most will give you about 4-5 hours on the island or less if you wish.
- We no longer provide contacts and phone numbers because they often change and they don’t notify us.
- We provide you this information as a general guide, we can’t guarantee you that there will be a water taxi available. There will be more water taxis available during the high season but less availability. In low season you may have more luck getting a space.
A few answers to questions asked by readers
- Is there a ferry from Fajardo to Icacos? – No, there is no ferry service, the Fajardo Port has actually been moved to Ceiba and the ferries offer transport to Vieques and Culebra only.
- Do tour operators offer transportation from resorts? – Most tour operators offer transportation or will arrange it for an additional fee.
- Where do most catamaran and charter boats depart from to Icacos? – At the end of this page, you’ll find a map with locations of marinas where most tour operators depart from. When you book a tour, the operator will give you information and details about the meeting place.
Map - Cayo Icacos / Icacos Cay - Puerto Rico
Driving Time: 1 hour+ southeast from San Juan, but give yourself an extra 30 – 45 minutes just in case to allow for traffic.
Puerto Rico ⎮ Best Things to Do in Puerto Rico ⎮ Puerto Rico Islands ⎮ Cayo Icacos / Icacos Cay, Fajardo, PR
