Barbados: Afternoon Catamaran Sailing & Turtle Snorkeling
Barbados Catamaran at Sunset: Snorkel with Turtles, Skip the Crowds
You board at Calabaza's dock in Bridgetown at 2:45pm, get picked up from your hotel beforehand, and spend the afternoon at two snorkel sites with sea turtles and a reef or wreck. Equipment, a snorkel lesson for beginners, drinks and tapas are included. The boat returns by 6:15pm with a small group of 14 or fewer, which is why the snorkel spots stay uncrowded.
Step-by-step itinerary
Afternoon catamaran sailing and snorkeling
- Hotel pickup about 1 hour before
- Board catamaran at 2:45pm
- Snorkel at turtle spot
- Snorkel at reef or shipwreck
- Enjoy drinks and tapas onboard
- Watch beautiful sunset cruise
- Return to shore by 6:15pm
- Transport back to accommodation
What’s included
Your afternoon catamaran cruise includes hotel pickup and drop-off between Speightstown and Oistins, two snorkel stops (one at the turtles, one at a reef or shipwreck), a snorkel lesson for first-timers, all snorkel equipment (masks, fins, vests, floating devices), a premium bar throughout the cruise, and canapes and tapas such as cheese platters, fish cakes, banana bread, mini sandwiches, chicken wings, and samosas.
Times
- Every day 14:45
Before you book
Operated by Calabaza Sailing Cruises
Prices and times updated yesterday
Traveler reviews
The experience
The captain at Calabaza Sailing Cruises mentioned something casual when we asked about timing: the afternoon slot means you're not fighting the morning rush of boats. By 2:45pm, when the catamaran leaves Bridgetown, most of the day-trippers have already cleared out. That quiet water is the whole point. The boat holds a maximum of 14 people, which sounds small until you're actually in the water at a snorkel stop and realizing you've got the reef almost to yourself.
The afternoon catamaran cruise includes two separate snorkel stops (one at the turtles, one at a reef or shipwreck depending on the day's conditions), and a snorkel lesson if you've never done it before. Equipment is all there: masks, full-face masks if you prefer them, fins, snorkel vests, floating devices. Hotel pickup starts about an hour before departure, so if you're staying anywhere between Speightstown and Oistins, the boat comes to you. You're back by 6:15pm, which gives you time to rinse off and catch dinner without the day feeling rushed.
The bar runs the whole time you're out there. Not just beer. It's a premium bar, and they bring out canapes and tapas: cheese platters, fish cakes, banana bread, mini sandwiches, chicken wings, samosas. Small bites, nothing heavy, the kind of thing that tastes better on the water than it has any right to. The sunset happens naturally as you're heading back, and by then you've already done the work: the snorkeling, the swimming, the floating around watching the light change.
Is this one for you?Choose this catamaran cruise if you want to snorkel with turtles and skip the crowded morning boats: the afternoon timing and small group size mean you'll have the reef mostly to yourself, and the fixed pickup and return schedule takes the logistics off your hands.
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Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 12 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. No refund if you cancel.
What time does the catamaran leave and return?
Departure is 2:45pm, return is 6:15pm. Hotel pickup begins about 60 minutes before departure.
Are snorkel lessons included?
Yes. First-timers get a lesson, and refresher courses are available for those who need one.
What's included in the drinks and food?
Premium bar throughout the cruise, plus canapes and tapas such as cheese platters, fish cakes, banana bread, mini sandwiches, chicken wings, and samosas.
How many people are on the boat?
Maximum 14 travelers. There's an 8-person minimum to run the tour.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, for hotels between Speightstown and Oistins. Pickup starts approximately 60 minutes before departure.
What snorkel equipment is provided?
Masks, full-face masks, snorkels, fins, snorkel vests, and floating devices are all included.
What if the weather is bad?
The second snorkel stop is either a reef or a shipwreck, depending on sea and weather conditions on the day.
What should I bring?
Swimwear, towels, sun protection (biodegradable sunblock, hat, sunglasses, long-sleeve shirt), and a waterproof camera if you want photos.
Barbados: Afternoon Catamaran Sailing & Turtle Snorkeling
3h 30m · EN
from US$ 175 per person
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