Departs Noord, minutes from Palm Beach
The sea, privately
Noord, Aruba
Your own captain, three hours on the water, and room for up to 10 guests. Snorkel Boca Catalina, swim the clear shallows at Tres Trapi, and explore the Antilla wreck.
$900the whole boat, up to 10 guests
Book your boatFree to book, nothing charged on this site. $180 out of the $900 confirms the whole boat; $720 cash at the dock.
Three departures daily: 9:00, 12:30, 4:00
Snorkel gear, drinks, and crew included
You set the pace at every stop
Private boat charter, Aruba
Three hours where you set the pace
Most boat days in Aruba mean a schedule: sixty strangers, a whistle, twenty minutes per stop. This is the other kind of day. The boat is yours, the captain was born and raised here and has run these waters for more than fifteen years, and the only schedule is the one your group feels like. Stay an extra half hour at any stop. Skip nothing, rush nothing. When the anchor drops at Boca Catalina and the first person slides into that glass-clear water, the whole trip changes tempo.
Bring a birthday, an anniversary, or no reason at all. The drinks are on ice, the snorkel gear comes in every size, and the crew handles everything except deciding who jumps in first. Tell them what the day is for and they build it around you.
One boat, three departures a day, and the morning trip books out first in high season. Split between a full group of ten, the whole private day comes to $90 a person; a couple simply pays for the privacy.
On the water
3 unhurried hours
The boat is yours
Up to 10 guests
Departs
Noord, near Palm Beach
Price
$900 the whole boat
Book your boat
Sixty seconds, then the water
Pick your date and departure, tell the crew who is coming. A secure $180 deposit link follows, and once it is paid your confirmation lands in your inbox with the dock directions (free parking), your timing, and everything you need for the day. Snorkel gear in every size, drinks on ice, and the crew are all part of the boat.
The facts, checked at the source
- Price
- $900 per boatThe crew's own price, per boat.
- Included
- The whole boat for your group, captain and crew included. Snorkel masks, fins and vests in every size. Non alcoholic drinks on ice. Free parking at the dock.
- Not included
- Alcohol. Hotel transfers.
- Who it suits
- Up to 10 guests. The price is the same whether two of you come or ten.
- Getting there
- You meet the boat at the dock in Noord. Directions come with the voucher we send once your deposit is paid.
- If plans change
- Booked direct with the crew, in plain words:
- Reserving is free. Until you pay the deposit there is nothing to cancel and nothing to lose.
- Cancel 48 hours or more before your activity: full deposit back, no questions.
- The crew cancels for weather, or a departure does not reach its minimum: full deposit back, always, or we rebook you first if you prefer.
- Inside 48 hours: the deposit is not refunded, but we can move your date or transfer the booking to someone else in your group, the same options the crew offers on the beach.
- No-show, or arriving after the crew has left: the deposit stays with us, because the slot was held and other guests were turned away. Tell us as early as you can and we will try to move the date instead.
- The balance never passes through this site, so a cancellation never involves a balance refund from us. Where the balance is sent ahead to the crew, that money sits with the crew and comes back from the crew; we chase it with you.
- Deposit refunds go back to the card you used on the payment page. We send it within one business day of agreeing it. When it lands on your statement is your bank timing, not ours.
Checked with the crew on September 12, 2026.
Cancellation policy, in plain words
- Reserving is free. Until you pay the deposit there is nothing to cancel and nothing to lose.
- Cancel 48 hours or more before your activity: full deposit back, no questions.
- The crew cancels for weather, or a departure does not reach its minimum: full deposit back, always, or we rebook you first if you prefer.
- Inside 48 hours: the deposit is not refunded, but we can move your date or transfer the booking to someone else in your group, the same options the crew offers on the beach.
- No-show, or arriving after the crew has left: the deposit stays with us, because the slot was held and other guests were turned away. Tell us as early as you can and we will try to move the date instead.
- The balance never passes through this site, so a cancellation never involves a balance refund from us. Where the balance is sent ahead to the crew, that money sits with the crew and comes back from the crew; we chase it with you.
- Deposit refunds go back to the card you used on the payment page. We send it within one business day of agreeing it. When it lands on your statement is your bank timing, not ours.
The same words appear in your confirmation email. The balance, $720 for the whole boat, is cash to the captain at the dock and never passes through this site, so a cancellation never involves a balance refund from us. Everything else, including no-shows and how a refund reaches your card, is on our refunds and cancellations page.
Rather be in the sky than on it? Parasailing on Palm Beach is our other direct-with-the-crew booking.
What you pay, and when
- Total
- $900 for the whole boat, up to 10 guests
- Deposit
- $180 flat, whatever the party size, paid by the secure link in your email. The deposit is our fee, taken out of the price rather than added on top of it.
- Balance
- $720, in cash at the dock
- Paid to
- The crew that runs the day. The balance never passes through this site.
- Due
- On the day, at the dock, before you board
- Currency
- US dollars
The crew takes the balance in US dollars cash at the dock. If cash is difficult for your group, tell us when you book and we arrange it with the captain before your date.
The route
Three stops, your order
The same three stops every trip, because they are simply the best this coast offers. The order shifts with the wind; the pace is yours.
1Boca Catalina
The calmest snorkel stop on the island. Schools of blue tang and parrotfish drift over the reef a few kicks from the boat, and the water is so clear the sand ripples look painted.
2Tres Trapi
Three steps carved into the rock and water so shallow and clear the seagrass reads like a map from the deck. Swim it slowly; there is more down there than the first look suggests.
3Out to the Antilla
The charter also visits the Antilla, a WWII wreck off the northwest coast. Travel with your own captain and group, with snorkeling gear included.
Included in the price
- A local captain, born and raised in Aruba, plus crew
- Snorkel masks, fins and vests in every size
- Cold drinks and water on ice
- Free parking at the dock
Bring with you
- Towels and reef-safe sunscreen
- The remaining $720 in cash for the crew
- A camera that can get a little wet
- A birthday, an anniversary, or no reason at all
Exact dock directions come with your confirmation; the boat leaves from Noord, minutes from Palm Beach and Eagle Beach.
From their guests
Treated like royalty, every trip
“The captain was absolutely awesome: professional, knowledgeable, fun, and clearly passionate about what he does. Everyone felt safe and the vibe stayed relaxed.”
“From the moment we stepped on board, the crew made us feel like royalty. A spotless boat and a relaxing atmosphere.”
“They knew all the best spots to avoid the crowds, making our snorkeling feel truly private. Hands down the best boat charter.”
Real reviews of this exact crew from its public Tripadvisor listing, read on September 12, 2026, lightly trimmed for space and with the crew's names removed until your booking is confirmed. Never trimmed for meaning. We did not record each reviewer's own star rating, so these cards carry the words only, no stars.
The honest fit
Is this your day?
We would rather lose a booking than put you on the wrong morning. Read both sides.
Book it if
- Your group wants the day to run at its own pace, not a whistle schedule
- You are celebrating something, or simply allergic to crowds
- There are children or hesitant swimmers aboard: vests for everyone, and the crew stays in the water with them
- Ten of you can turn the whole private boat into $90 a person
Skip it if
- You want the cheapest possible per-person party cruise; our group sail picks are better value for two
- Your dates are locked to one exact morning in high season with zero flexibility: the 9:00 AM trips book out first
- You need hotel pickup; you drive or taxi to the dock in Noord
How booking works
Three quiet steps, no surprises
Reserve the boat
Pick a date and one of the three real departures, tell the crew who is coming. Reserving is free and nothing is charged on this site.
One deposit holds it all
A secure $180 deposit link follows your request, and that single deposit, out of the $900, confirms the whole boat; no per-person math, no prepaying the day.
Step aboard
The remaining $720 is paid in cash at the dock, straight to the crew. Free parking, cold drinks already on ice.
Cancel 48 hours or more ahead for a full deposit refund, and if the captain calls the weather, every cent comes back or you move to another slot, your choice. The same words appear in your confirmation email. What is refundable, and who refunds it.
Good to know
Asked before every charter
How much does a private boat charter cost in Aruba?
This one is $900 total for the whole boat, up to 10 guests, for 3 hours with captain and crew. That is the price of the boat, not per person: a full group of ten pays $90 each, while a couple simply pays for total privacy. A $180 deposit online makes the booking final and the remaining $720 is paid in US dollars cash at the dock on the day, before you board, straight to the crew. If cash is difficult for your group, tell us when you book and we arrange it with the captain before your date.
What is included?
A local captain, born and raised in Aruba, plus crew, snorkel masks, fins and vests in every size, and cold drinks and water on ice. There is free parking at the dock, and exact directions come with your confirmation.
Where does the charter stop?
Three stops on every trip: Boca Catalina for the calmest snorkeling on the island, Tres Trapi for the clearest shallow water, and the Antilla, the largest WWII shipwreck in the Caribbean. The order shifts with the wind and the water, and because the boat is yours, you decide how long to stay at each stop.
What departure times are there?
Three daily departures: 9:00 AM for the calmest water and best snorkeling, 12:30 PM for the warmest swimming (the family favorite), and 4:00 PM for golden light and sunset on the way back. The morning trip books out first in high season.
Can children and non-swimmers come?
Children of all ages are welcome, and the 12:30 PM trip suits families best. Everyone gets a flotation vest, and the crew stays in the water with weaker swimmers.
Do I pay everything upfront?
No. Booking is free. A secure $180 deposit link follows your request, that deposit makes the booking final, and the remaining $720 is paid in US dollars cash directly to the crew at the dock on the day.
What happens if the weather turns?
The captain moves the trip to another slot or your deposit comes back in full, your choice. Aruba sits outside the hurricane belt, so weather cancellations are genuinely rare.
Where does the boat leave from?
From a dock in Noord, a short drive from Palm Beach and Eagle Beach, with free parking. Exact directions come with your confirmation.
How many people fit on the boat?
Up to 10 guests. The price is for the boat rather than per person, so $900 covers the three hours whoever is on board: a full group of ten works out at $90 each, while a couple simply pays for total privacy. Snorkel masks, fins and flotation vests come in every size.
Is food and drink included?
Cold drinks and water on ice are included, along with the snorkel gear, the captain and the crew. Food is not part of the published package, so bring what you want to eat, and anything you want to drink beyond what the crew stocks.
How far in advance should we book a private charter?
There is one boat and three departures a day, and the 9:00 AM trip is the one that fills first in high season. Our form starts about a day out, so a same-day charter is not something we can arrange from here. Reserving is free either way: you pick a departure, and the $180 deposit link only follows once the captain holds the time for you.
What happens if we cancel?
Until the deposit is paid there is nothing to cancel. After that: cancel 48 hours or more before the activity and the deposit ($180 flat, for the whole boat) comes back in full, to the card you paid it on. Inside 48 hours, and for a no-show, the deposit is not refunded, but the date can move or the booking can transfer to someone else in your group. If the crew calls it off for weather, or the departure does not reach its minimum, every cent of the deposit comes back, always, or we rebook you first if you prefer. The balance, $720 for the whole boat, goes to the captain cash at the dock, on the day, before the boat leaves, so it never sits with us and a cancellation never involves a balance refund from this site. All cut-off times are Aruba time (AST, UTC minus 4, the island keeps the same clock all year). The full matrix is on our refunds page.
One boat, your ten people
The captain is local, the drinks are on ice, and the only schedule is the one your group feels like. Pick your date; the $180 deposit out of the $900 confirms the boat.
Book your boat