Private Speed Boat Charter in St Maarten & Nature Reserve

The best part of this St Maarten excursion is control. You get your own speedboat and captain, then shape the day around the weather, your interests, and the time you have. Captain Sam is especially attentive to families, couples, and cruise passengers who need to be back at the ship on time. Creole Rock and Tintamarre Island bring the strongest snorkeling, while Pinel Island adds a relaxed lunch stop.

I like the freedom to skip places that do not suit your group, and I like that water, soft drinks, beer, rosé wine, rum punch, and snorkeling gear come along. The main consideration is comfort: one guest found the boat seating less polished than other boats, and the $398.56 per-person price is a serious spend unless your group shares the value of a private charter.

Key points to know before you book

• Your captain helps shape the route: Choose from snorkeling, beaches, lunch, island views, yachts, and Maho Beach.
• Tintamarre may bring sea turtles: Sightings are possible, not guaranteed, but this uninhabited island is a major draw.
• Creole Rock is the best snorkeling stop: Expect clear water and a good chance to see many kinds of fish.
• The full-day trip lasts seven hours: The half-day option runs about three and a half hours.
• Drinks and gear are included: Water, soft drinks, beer, rosé wine, rum punch, and masks with snorkeling equipment are provided.
• You pay a $5 marine park fee: Lunch, hotel transfers, and the marine park charge are not included.

A private boat day that puts you in charge

This is not a fixed group cruise where everyone follows the same clock. You meet at Powerboat Adventures at 57 Well Road in Cole Bay, board your private boat, and discuss the day with your captain.

That flexibility matters in St Maarten. Wind, waves, cruise ship schedules, and your group’s energy can all change the best plan. You may want a quiet morning at a beach, several hours in the water, or a fast ride around the island with only a short swim stop. Captain Sam can adjust the route to fit.

The trip is offered as a half-day of about 3.5 hours or a full day of about seven hours. The half-day works well for cruise passengers and anyone with limited time. The full day makes more sense if your group wants several stops, lunch at Pinel Island, and enough time to enjoy the boat rather than rush from place to place.

The boat is for your group alone. That private setup is the real product here. You are not waiting for strangers to finish lunch, and you do not need to match the pace of a large excursion. Families can keep the schedule gentle, while active groups can put more time into snorkeling.

Leaving Cole Bay and cruising Simpson Bay

The outing begins in Cole Bay, with the route able to include a cruise through Simpson Bay lagoon. This is a good opening because it shows a different side of St Maarten before you head out toward open water.

Your captain can point out large yachts and explain local history and culture as you pass. The lagoon stop is short, around 15 minutes, so think of it as an introduction rather than a full sightseeing tour.

This portion also gives you time to settle into the boat and explain what you want from the day. If you are hoping for turtles, beach time, lunch, or Maho Beach, say so early. The captain can then weigh those requests against weather and available time.

Creole Rock brings the best snorkeling

Creole Rock sits in the St Martin nature reserve and is the strongest snorkeling stop on the suggested route. You get about an hour here, with snorkeling equipment supplied.

The attraction is the fish life. The water is described as clear, with colorful fish including parrotfish and schools of silver fish. You might also see an eel or stingrays, but marine life is never promised on a particular outing.

I would give this stop priority if snorkeling is your main reason for booking. It gives you a proper amount of time in the water, rather than the quick swim offered on some boat trips. The captain can also adjust the stop if conditions are not suitable.

You should have a moderate level of physical fitness for the overall activity. Children must be accompanied by an adult. The supplied details do not promise special flotation equipment or other accessibility arrangements, so ask Powerboat Adventures about those needs before paying.

Tintamarre Island and the chance to see turtles

Tintamarre is an uninhabited island with another one-hour stop. Its quiet setting makes a strong contrast with the developed parts of St Maarten, and the possibility of snorkeling with sea turtles gives it special appeal.

The important phrase is possibility. You may see turtles, but nature does not follow a schedule. Some outings have also produced sightings of dolphins, stingrays, and other sea life, though those encounters are rare and should be treated as a bonus.

Tintamarre is best for people who want open water, a remote island setting, and another chance to swim. It is less useful if your group mainly wants restaurants, shopping, or a long stretch of sand with facilities.

The exact time spent here depends on the trip length and the captain’s judgment. On a full-day charter, you have room to enjoy Tintamarre without making every other stop feel rushed. On the half-day trip, you may need to choose between several places.

Pinel Island adds lunch and shallow water

Pinel Island offers a practical break from swimming. The island has two beach restaurants, and you can arrange lunch there at your own cost. The water is very shallow, and iguanas may be seen around the island.

Lunch is not included, so budget for the meal separately. Still, this stop can be worth the extra expense because it breaks up a full day on the boat. It also suits families and mixed groups where some people want to swim while others would rather sit down and eat.

Pinel is a smart choice for the full-day option. On a 3.5-hour charter, stopping for lunch may use a large share of your limited time. Tell the captain if lunch matters more to you than another beach or snorkeling stop.

Baie Longue offers a quieter beach stop

Baie Longue, beside La Samanna, A Belmond Hotel, is presented as one of the island’s most beautiful and secluded beaches. You get about an hour here on the sample route.

This is the place for slowing down. You can swim, sit on the beach, and enjoy the scenery away from the livelier parts of the island. The beach’s connection with a five-star resort adds polish to the setting, but this is not a resort stay. Your charter simply gives you access to the coastal stop.

The word secluded should not make you expect complete solitude. Conditions, other boats, and the day’s route can affect how quiet it feels. Still, Baie Longue is a good request if your group wants beach time instead of another snorkeling session.

Maho Beach is a quick, memorable finale

Maho Beach is famous for planes passing close over the beach as they land and take off. The stop lasts about 15 minutes, so it is more of a photo opportunity and quick thrill than a long beach visit.

Ask the captain about including Maho if seeing the planes is high on your list. It may be easy to add during a full-day route, while a half-day trip may require you to give up another stop.

Maho can also be the least relaxing part of the day. It is popular for a reason, but it does not offer the same quiet feel as Baie Longue or Tintamarre. I would choose it for the spectacle, not for snorkeling or a peaceful swim.

Drinks, equipment, and what you still need to pay

The charter includes water, soft drinks, beer, rosé wine, and rum punch. Snorkeling gear is also provided, which saves you from packing a mask and fins or renting them separately.

The alcohol policy is clear: the minimum drinking age is 18. You should also remember that drinking and swimming do not mix well, especially on a moving boat. If people in your group do not drink, the nonalcoholic choices are useful, though one guest felt the alcohol selection could be improved.

Lunch is not included. The easiest meal option on the suggested route is Pinel Island, where two beach restaurants are available. You also pay a $5 marine park fee per person. The information lists this charge twice, but the practical point is simple: expect an additional $5 per person for the marine park.

Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You make your own way to the Cole Bay meeting point and return there at the end.

Is $398.56 per person good value?

At $398.56 per person, this is not a bargain boat ride. It is a premium private outing, and the value depends heavily on group size and how much you care about privacy.

The price makes more sense for a family or group of friends that wants a boat to itself for seven hours. You are paying for the captain, flexible routing, drinks, snorkeling gear, and the ability to combine several island experiences in one day. A group discount may also be available, so check how the final price is calculated for your party.

For a couple on a budget, the cost is harder to justify. You might spend less on a shared excursion, but you would give up control over the route and timing. For cruise passengers, the private format can be valuable because Captain Sam has worked around ship schedules and made sure guests returned in time for reboarding.

Compare the price with your actual plans. If you only want a short ride and one swim, three and a half hours may feel expensive. If you want Creole Rock, Tintamarre, Pinel Island, Baie Longue, and Maho Beach in one day, the full charter becomes easier to defend.

Who will enjoy this boat charter most?

I would recommend it most strongly to:

• Families that want a private schedule and easy conversation with the captain
• Couples looking for a flexible day on the water
• Groups of friends who want snorkeling, beach time, and drinks without strangers onboard
• Cruise passengers with a firm return deadline
• People who want to request quieter beaches or an uninhabited island
• Groups willing to split the cost of a private boat

It is less suited to you if you want a low-cost activity, a guaranteed turtle sighting, a formal lunch included in the price, or a boat with plush seating. One person found the seating layout less comfortable than on other boats, so do not assume the most luxurious ride from the price alone.

Captain Sam’s approach is a major part of the experience. He is described as kind, responsive, relaxed, and attentive to drink requests and timing. He can also suggest places to eat, with Be Kool in Marigot receiving a strong recommendation for dinner after one outing. That restaurant suggestion is separate from the charter and not included, but it shows the useful local guidance you can ask for.

Timing, weather, and cruise ship planning

The experience depends on good weather. If poor conditions force a cancellation, you can receive a full refund or move to another date. You can also cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

Cruise passengers need to provide the ship name, docking time, disembarkation time, and reboarding time when booking. Give accurate details. A private boat helps with timing, but it does not remove the need to allow room for getting from the meeting point back to your ship.

You finish at the same Cole Bay meeting point where you start. Since hotel transfers are not included, plan your transport before the morning begins.

My call: book it if the private format matters

I would book this charter if you want a flexible water day and have enough people to share the cost. The strongest reasons are the private boat, Captain Sam’s careful attention to timing, the good snorkeling at Creole Rock, and the chance to reach Tintamarre and Pinel Island without following a fixed group schedule.

Choose the full seven-hour option if you want lunch, several swim stops, and time at both quiet beaches and Maho Beach. Choose the 3.5-hour version if you are fitting the boat around a cruise visit or want one focused snorkeling outing.

Before booking, confirm the final group price, the boat’s seating arrangement, the $5 marine park charge, and which stops are realistic for your chosen duration. If those details fit your plans, this is a strong way to see St Maarten by water without spending the day herded from one stop to the next.

FAQ

Where does the private speedboat charter start and finish?

The charter starts at Powerboat Adventures, 57 Well Road, Cole Bay, Sint Maarten. The activity ends back at the same meeting point.

How long is the boat trip?

You can choose a half-day trip lasting about 3.5 hours or a full-day trip lasting about seven hours.

Is the charter private?

Yes. Only your group participates in the activity, with a professional captain and guide.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is provided, along with water, soft drinks, beer, rosé wine, and rum punch.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included. You may stop at one of the two beach restaurants on Pinel Island, but you pay for the meal yourself.

Is there an extra marine park fee?

Yes. The marine park fee is $5 per person and is not included in the charter price.

Can cruise ship passengers book this excursion?

Yes. Cruise passengers must provide their ship name, docking time, disembarkation time, and reboarding time when booking.