St Maarten: Speed Boat Snorkeling Tour & Beach Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.93 (4,472 reviews) 96% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/18

Duration6h

GroupUp to 16

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Speed boat adventure across Dutch & French St Maarten with snorkeling, beach time, and wild airport thrills

You’ll zip between Dutch and French sides of St Maarten by speed boat, snorkel with turtles off Tintamarre Island, eat lunch with your feet in Pinel Island’s sand, float at Mullet Bay with a cold drink, and feel jets thunder overhead at Princess Juliana Airport—plus plenty of laughs along the way.

Step-by-step itinerary

Speed boat tour with snorkeling and beaches

Depart from Philipsburg
Pass islands Saba, Statia, St. Barts
Enter Simpson Bay Lagoon and view mega yachts
Cross to French side, pass Marigot and bays
Snorkel at Tintamarre Island with turtles and stingrays
Relax and have lunch at Pinel Island
Snorkel at Creole Rock coral reef
Pass Baie Rouge, Plum Bay, Terres Basses
Swim and float at Long Bay or Mullet Bay
Watch jets land at Princess Juliana Airport
Return to dock and receive free ice cream

The Experience

I’ll admit, I almost bailed that morning — the idea of a “speed boat tour” sounded way more intense than I’d pictured for my lazy vacation in St Maarten. But there we were at Philipsburg’s dock, coffee barely kicked in, when Captain Bob (not his real name, but everyone calls him that) grinned and handed out snorkel gear like it was candy. The boat wasn’t huge, maybe 14 of us plus the crew, and right away it felt less like a tour and more like some weird family outing where nobody knows each other yet.

Simpson Bay Lagoon was our first stretch — you can smell salt and diesel mixed together as you pass those mega yachts. Our guide pointed at one and said something about Jay-Z; I missed the punchline because a pelican dive-bombed right next to us. Crossing over to the French side felt subtle — suddenly the signs switched languages and Marigot’s buildings looked softer somehow. We zipped past Happy Bay (I still don’t know why it’s called that) before anchoring off Tintamarre Island. That water is so clear you can see your own feet from the boat. My mask fogged up instantly but I still caught sight of a turtle gliding under me — slow as if he knew we were watching.

Lunch happened on Pinel Island, which honestly just smells like grilled fish and sunscreen. There are these iguanas everywhere, acting like they own the place. One tried to climb onto my bag while I was distracted by rum punch (included — dangerous). The sand is soft enough to make you forget about shoes for a while. After that we hit Creole Rock for more snorkeling — this time with way more fish than I could name, all darting around coral that looks painted on.

The last bit was pure chaos in a good way: Mullet Bay’s water is that impossible turquoise you see in postcards but never believe is real until you’re floating in it with a noodle and a beer (yep, also included). And then Princess Juliana Airport — planes roar so low overhead you feel them in your chest before you even look up. Someone on our boat screamed-laughed when an Air France jet came in; I think we all did.

I didn’t expect to remember the little things — like how our captain kept checking everyone had enough drinks or how sunburned my nose got despite three layers of SPF. But yeah, this day trip from St Maarten sticks with me for reasons I can’t quite put into words.

What’s included

Your day includes pickup from your hotel or cruise ship dock, all snorkel equipment and flotation devices provided by your local captain-guide, complimentary drinks (soft or alcoholic), snacks throughout the ride plus lunch served right on Pinel Island’s sand before returning late afternoon—sunburn optional but likely.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Captain Bob's Soualiga Destinations Boat Tours