Power Boat Tour Antigua: Laviscount Island & Snorkeling

Mangroves, tortoises, and reefs in one morning on the water

A 6.5-hour power boat tour from Antigua's west coast through the Northeast Marine Management Area, the Eastern Caribbean's largest marine park, stopping at private Laviscount Island to see giant Aldabra tortoises and rare Lesser Antillean iguanas, then snorkeling the coral reefs off Great Bird Island. Lunch under a wooden pavilion, guided snorkeling, and a traditional rum punch on the return are included. The boat navigates between two dozen small islands and cays sheltered by reefs.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Laviscount Island and Marine Park

• Boat pickup from Antigua west coast
• Navigate Northeast Marine Management Area
• Arrive at Laviscount Island and briefing
• Visit giant Aldabra tortoises
• Lunch under wooden pavilion
• See Lesser Antillean iguana and macaw parrots
• Short hike with historical insights
• Choose snorkeling or more time with tortoises
• Cruise to Hell’s Gate
• Explore rocky bridge, limestone caves, natural jacuzzi
• Guided snorkeling off Great Bird Island
• Cruise home with traditional rum punch

The experience

The boat leaves from the west coast of Antigua and heads into the Northeast Marine Management Area, weaving between more than two dozen small islands and cays that form a natural barrier against the Atlantic. The route itself is the draw: you're traveling through protected waters where the reef system keeps the swells down, and the islands rise around you as you go. A live English-speaking guide narrates the route and explains what you're seeing as the boat cuts between them.

Laviscount Island is where the day anchors. The docking area opens onto shallow water where fish move through the shallows, and the island is ringed by red mangrove plants. After a briefing from the hosts, you walk to see the giant Aldabra tortoises (the kind of animal that stops you mid-stride), and then the Lesser Antillean iguanas, a rare native species to this part of the Caribbean. Macaw parrots move through the trees. A short hike crosses the middle of the island, and your guide walks you through the history of the original inhabitants and why these offshore islands mattered to their survival. You choose between a guided snorkel along the mangroves or more time with the tortoises. Lunch is served under a wooden pavilion, with soft drinks, bottled water, sodas, juices, and a homemade rum punch waiting at the end of the day.

After Laviscount, the boat heads to Hell's Gate, where limestone caves and a natural jacuzzi sit inside a rocky bridge formation. A stop the operator has been running since 1999. Then comes a guided snorkel through the coral reefs off Great Bird Island before the return cruise home. The rum punch comes out on the way back, and the ride is quiet enough to let the day settle.

What’s included

• Lunch under a wooden pavilion on Laviscount Island.
• soft drinks, bottled water, sodas, juices, and homemade rum punch.
• guided snorkeling at Great Bird Island and along the mangroves at Laviscount Island.
• live English-speaking guide.
• all fees and taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (4 and older) · Under 4: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48h

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transport

Operated by Adventure Antigua

Is this one for you?At 6.5 hours, the tour fills most of a morning and early afternoon, leaving the rest of your day free in Antigua. The boat is wheelchair accessible and the pace suits all fitness levels, so mobility or fitness concerns don't rule you out.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What animals will I see on Laviscount Island?

Giant Aldabra tortoises, rare Lesser Antillean iguanas, and macaw parrots live on the island. You'll spend time with the tortoises after a host briefing, see the iguanas during a guided walk, and encounter the macaws as you explore.

How much time do I spend snorkeling on this tour?

There are two snorkeling opportunities: a guided snorkel along the mangroves at Laviscount Island (which you can choose instead of extra time with the tortoises) and a guided snorkel through the coral reefs off Great Bird Island later in the day.

Is the boat ride rough, or does the reef system keep the water calm?

The two dozen small islands and cays in the Northeast Marine Management Area are sheltered by reefs that create a barrier against the Atlantic's waves and swells, so the water between them stays calmer than the open ocean.

What's included in the lunch and drinks?

Lunch is served under a wooden pavilion on Laviscount Island. Drinks include soft drinks, bottled water, sodas, juices, and a homemade rum punch served on the return cruise home.

What is Hell's Gate, and how long do we spend there?

Hell's Gate is a rocky formation with limestone caves and a natural jacuzzi that the operator has been taking guests to since 1999. It's a stop between Laviscount Island and the snorkeling at Great Bird Island.