St Maarten | 🏛 Catamaran Cruises · Boat Tour St Maarten

Anguilla Catamaran: Swim with Turtles, Snorkel & BBQ Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.81 (452 reviews) 88% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/21

Duration7h

GroupUp to 60

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Catamaran day trip Anguilla beaches turtles snorkeling lunch

You’ll board a catamaran in Anguilla and spend your day swimming with turtles at Little Bay, snorkeling coral reefs at Shoal Bay and Prickly Pear Cays, then relaxing over a fresh BBQ lunch with cocktails onboard. Paddle boards, noodles, snorkel gear—all included—plus stories from locals and plenty of sun-soaked moments you’ll remember long after you’ve rinsed off the salt.

Step-by-step itinerary

Depart from St Maarten by catamaran
Snorkel and watch turtles at Little Bay
Relax and swim at Shoal Bay beach
Snorkel and explore Prickly Pear Cays
Enjoy beach time at Meads Bay
Have BBQ lunch and drinks onboard
Return to St Maarten

The Experience

I barely had time to finish my coffee before we were climbing aboard the catamaran at Sandy Ground — shoes off, toes already gritty with sand. The crew greeted us with that easy Anguilla warmth (I’m still not sure if it’s the sun or the people here that feel softer). Our captain, Marcus, explained the plan but honestly I was distracted by the smell of grilled chicken already drifting up from somewhere below deck. We set out fast enough that my hat nearly flew off.

First stop was Little Bay. I’d heard about swimming with turtles in Anguilla but didn’t expect to actually see one so close — its shell flashed green and gold under the water while I awkwardly tried to keep my snorkel on straight. There were maybe six of us bobbing around, laughing when someone spotted a stingray. Marcus handed out paddle boards for anyone who wanted them, though I mostly just floated on a noodle and watched clouds move over the cliffs. The water was so clear you could count each pebble on the bottom.

Shoal Bay was next — that sand is honestly ridiculous, like powdered sugar but somehow even finer? We wandered up and down a bit before jumping back in for more snorkeling. At Prickly Pear Cays, there’s nothing except two restaurants and these wild birds that seemed totally unbothered by us. One of the crew (Li) let me try saying “Prickly Pear” in his accent — he laughed so hard he nearly dropped his drink.

Lunch hit just as everyone started getting hungry: jerk chicken skewers, garlic shrimp, pasta salad with feta (I ate way too much bread). Someone passed me a cocktail that tasted like pineapple and something else I couldn’t quite place — maybe rum? The boat rocked gently while we ate, music playing low enough to hear waves slapping against the hull. It felt like time slowed down for an hour or so right then. I still think about that view back toward Meads Bay — blue on blue on blue.

What’s included

Your day includes use of snorkel equipment at every stop—Little Bay’s turtle cove through Shoal Bay’s reefs—plus paddle boards and floating mats if you want them.
There’s an open bar serving hand-shaken cocktails along with sodas or juice anytime you want to grab one.
Lunch is served fresh onboard: jerk chicken skewers, garlic shrimp skewers hot off the grill, Greek pasta salad tossed with feta cheese and zesty dressing—and always plenty of bread.
There’s fruit platters when you need something light between swims.
Life jackets are available in all sizes for safety; restrooms are onboard too so you’re never uncomfortable out at sea.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Boomerang Boat Charters