Private Speed Boat Charter to Anguilla

The best part of this trip is control. You leave St Maarten on a private speedboat and work out the day with your captain instead of following a fixed bus schedule or sharing every beach stop with strangers. The usual route links Cap Juluca, Sandy Island, Crocus Bay, Little Bay, and Meads Bay, but the final plan depends on weather and what you want to do.

I like the flexible route and the simple onboard comforts: snorkeling gear, water, soft drinks, and beer are supplied. Captain Sam also has a reputation for keeping the boat clean, answering questions promptly, and shaping the day around a group’s interests. The main catch is the extra US$35 cash clearance fee per person, plus the need to carry a current passport.

Key points to know

• Private boat, private pace: Your group has the captain and boat to itself, with no set public-tour schedule.
• Anguilla by water: The route can include white beaches, Sandy Island, Little Bay, and several good swimming spots.
• Snorkeling gear and drinks included: Masks, snorkels, unlimited water, soft drinks, and beer are provided.
• Plan for seven hours: The sample route gives roughly an hour at several stops, with time spent moving between islands.
• Bring your passport and US$35 cash: Anguilla clearance fees are paid to the captain on the day.
• Best for active groups: You should be comfortable boarding a boat, swimming, snorkeling, and spending much of the day outdoors.

Why a private boat changes the Anguilla day

Anguilla is close to St Maarten, but the trip feels far more special when you approach by water. From the meeting point at Powerboat Adventures in Cole Bay, you head out with your own captain and can adjust the day as conditions change.

That matters in the Caribbean. Wind, waves, clouds, and sea conditions can affect which beach feels best and where snorkeling is worthwhile. A private charter lets you spend longer at a place you love, skip a stop that does not suit your group, or ask for a different mix of beach time and swimming.

You are not buying a guided history tour or a formal sightseeing program. This is a day on the water, built around scenery, swimming, snorkeling, and relaxed time on shore. If your ideal holiday day means choosing your own beach and having cold drinks within reach, the format makes sense.

The boat holds only your party, and the private setup is especially useful for families or friends with different priorities. One person can snorkel while another stays on the beach. You can also ask the captain to adjust the route rather than accept a one-size-fits-all schedule.

What the seven-hour outing includes

The advertised price is $404.42 per person, which needs to be judged as a private charter rather than a basic ferry ticket or shared boat ride. For a couple, that is a serious expense. For a larger group splitting the cost, the private boat, captain, drinks, equipment, and flexible route make the price easier to justify.

The charter includes a professional captain, taxes and handling charges, snorkeling equipment, and unlimited water, soft drinks, and beer. Lunch is not included, and you will also pay a US$35 clearance fee per person in cash on the day. That fee is easy to overlook, so set aside the money before you leave.

There is no hotel pickup or drop-off. You must reach Powerboat Adventures at 57 Well Road in Cole Bay, Sint Maarten. The boat returns to that same meeting point at the end of the outing.

The experience lasts about seven hours. That is enough time for several beaches and a meal stop, but it is not an excuse to cram in every possible bay. I would discuss your priorities with Sam before departure. A group that wants serious snorkeling should say so. A group that mainly wants beach time and lunch should make that clear too.

Leaving Cole Bay with Captain Sam

The day begins at the Powerboat Adventures base in Cole Bay. Captain Sam is the main name associated with this charter, and Sam and Mel have also handled departures together. Communication before the trip matters, especially because passport details and border requirements are part of the process.

The boat itself has been described as clean and well maintained, which is important on a full day under the sun. You are not simply using the boat as transportation. You will sit aboard it between stops, keep drinks nearby, and use it as your base for the day.

A few practical points deserve attention before you arrive:

• Bring a current, valid passport for every person traveling.
• Bring US$35 in cash per person for clearance.
• Children must be accompanied by an adult.
• The minimum drinking age is 18.
• Expect a moderate level of physical activity.
• This is not designed for standard cruise ship timing or cruise ship passengers.

One cruise-based group did receive a modified outing, but the stated conditions say the tour is not suitable for cruise ship passengers. I would not book it for a cruise day unless the operator confirms the arrangement directly.

Cap Juluca gives you the first beach stop

Cap Juluca, home to a Belmond hotel, is listed as a one-hour stop on a private white-sand beach facing Saint Martin. The appeal here is simple: broad sand, clear water, and a fine setting for your first stretch of beach time after the boat ride.

This is a good place to settle into the day. You can swim, sunbathe, and take in the view back toward Saint Martin. The stop is less about a scheduled activity than about enjoying one of Anguilla’s polished beach settings.

The tradeoff is time. A seven-hour charter cannot give every beach an unlimited visit. If Cap Juluca is your top choice, tell the captain early so the stop receives the attention you want. If your group cares more about snorkeling or a quiet cove, you may prefer to shorten this visit.

Sandy Island adds a small-island feel

Sandy Island is a tiny private island with white sand, snorkeling, and a beach bar. It is one of the more distinctive stops because it feels separate from Anguilla itself. You get a compact beach setting, an easy swim, and the chance to move between water time and a drink at the bar.

The stop is planned for about an hour. That is enough for a quick snorkel and a look around, but you should not expect a full island day here. Conditions can affect how enjoyable the water is, so the captain’s judgment matters.

Sandy Island works well for a group that wants variety. Instead of spending all seven hours on one long beach, you get a series of different settings. The downside is that moving between several stops means less time at each individual beach.

Crocus Bay is the practical lunch stop

Crocus Bay combines clear water with an easy lunch option. DaVida’s restaurant can be reached from the water by a dock, making this the most convenient point in the sample route for a proper meal.

Lunch is not part of the charter price, so plan to pay separately at the restaurant. The dock is useful because it avoids a long walk from the beach and keeps the stop tied neatly to the boat route.

I like this arrangement for groups that do not want to pack food. You can eat on shore, return to the boat, and continue the afternoon without changing the basic plan. Still, lunch takes time. If swimming and snorkeling matter more than sitting down for a meal, tell the captain that before the schedule fills up.

Little Bay is the quiet, boat-only stop

Little Bay is described as a paradise bay reached only by boat, with clear water, a small hidden beach, and cliff jumping. It offers a different kind of stop from the open beach at Cap Juluca or Meads Bay.

The enclosed feel of the bay makes it a strong choice for swimming and exploring by water. The cliff jumping is an option, not a requirement. I would treat it as something to discuss with the captain and assess carefully on the day, since comfort, sea conditions, and local guidance should come first.

Little Bay may be one of the most memorable stops for an active group, but it is not the best fit for anyone who wants a purely gentle beach day. You should be comfortable getting in and out of the water and moving around a boat.

Meads Bay closes with a classic Anguilla beach

Meads Bay is presented as one of Anguilla’s most beautiful beaches, with white sand, clear water, and good snorkeling. It is a fitting final beach stop because it offers the classic Anguilla combination: a broad shore, bright water, and time to slow down before returning to St Maarten.

The suggested visit lasts about an hour. You can swim, snorkel with the supplied equipment, or simply sit on the sand. If your group has spent the day moving from stop to stop, Meads Bay gives you a chance to enjoy one last uncomplicated stretch of beach.

The route is only a sample. Cole Bay is listed as a short opening point, while the Anguilla stops can be changed with the captain. Weather and available time may mean you do not visit every location in the order shown, or at all.

Snorkeling, drinks, and the boat itself

Snorkeling equipment is included, which saves you from packing your own mask and fins. The charter also supplies unlimited water, soft drinks, and beer, a useful touch on a hot day when you are moving between beaches and spending time in salt water.

The drinks are not a substitute for lunch, and you should still think about what your group needs for a full day outside. The supplied water is particularly practical. Beer is available only to adults, and the minimum drinking age is 18.

Several details point to a comfortable, service-focused operation. Sam has been described as responsive before departure, ready at the dock, and willing to offer advice on the route. Some groups have also received small morning refreshments such as coffee and croissants, but that should not be treated as a guaranteed inclusion because it is not listed among the formal inclusions.

The strongest part of the service is the combination of a well-kept boat and a captain who can adjust the day. That matters more than a long speech about the islands. You want someone who can help you choose a good stop when wind or sea conditions change.

The passport and clearance details matter

Anguilla is a separate island destination, so this is not a simple local boat ride. A current valid passport is required on the day of travel, and clearance costs US$35 per person in cash, paid to the captain.

Make this one of your first booking checks. A communication problem about travel documents caused frustration for one party, even though the requirement was part of the booking information. You can avoid that problem by confirming exactly what documents your group needs and sending any requested details promptly.

The physical demands are moderate. You need to manage a boat departure, spend time aboard, and take part in swimming or snorkeling if you choose those activities. Children need adult supervision, and the private format does not remove the normal care needed around water.

Who gets the most value from this charter

This outing suits you best if you are traveling with family or friends and want to control the pace. It is also a good match for people who would rather see several beaches than spend a full day at one resort-style shore.

The private format has real value for groups with mixed interests. You can combine a restaurant lunch, beach time, snorkeling, and a quiet bay without negotiating with a large tour party. It also gives you more privacy, which was an important reason one six-person group chose this option.

I would be more cautious if you are a solo visitor, a couple on a tight budget, or someone who dislikes boat travel. The per-person price is easier to defend when several people share the charter. You also need to accept that weather can change the route and that lunch is an extra cost.

The tour is not aimed at cruise ship passengers. If you are arriving by cruise, the seven-hour schedule and departure location may not fit your port timetable. Ask the operator before booking rather than assuming the cruise-based exception can be repeated.

Booking, cancellation, and the final decision

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the local start time. Changes made inside that 24-hour window are not accepted, and poor weather can lead to a new date or a full refund.

I would book this if you want a private Anguilla beach day and have a group large enough to share the cost. The strongest reasons are the flexible route, clean boat, supplied snorkeling gear, and Captain Sam’s hands-on approach.

I would skip it if your main goal is the cheapest way to reach Anguilla, if you need hotel transport, or if you are not prepared with passports and cash clearance fees. For everyone else, this is a practical way to turn a St Maarten stay into a full day of island hopping, swimming, and unhurried beach time.

FAQ

How long is the private speedboat charter?

The experience lasts approximately seven hours and returns to the original meeting point in Cole Bay.

Where does the tour begin?

You meet at Powerboat Adventures, 57 Well Road, Cole Bay, Sint Maarten. The activity also ends there.

Is the boat shared with other groups?

No. This is a private tour, so only your group participates.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is provided for use during the charter.

Are drinks included?

Yes. Unlimited water, soft drinks, and beer are included. The minimum drinking age is 18.

Is lunch included in the price?

No. Lunch is not included. Crocus Bay offers access to DaVida’s restaurant, but you pay for your meal separately.

Do I need a passport?

Yes. A current valid passport is required on the day of travel.

What is the clearance fee?

The Anguilla clearance fee is US$35 per person. You pay it to the captain on the day, in cash.