East Island Excursions, Reviewed
What 2,750 reviews of Fajardo's biggest catamaran operator say: the crew by name, the 5:40am pickup, lunch at 9:30, a modest reef, and which boat to book.
East Island Excursions is the operator with the most reviews on the Fajardo coast and the one most people mean when they say “the Icacos catamaran”. They sail from Puerto del Rey, the big marina at the south end of town, and sell two days: a sailing catamaran to Icacos and a faster power catamaran to Culebra. Between them the two listings carry 2,750 reviews as of October 2026. We read the recent ones closely, and this is what they say - including the parts the ratings hide.
The numbers
| Icacos sailing day | Culebra power-cat day | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.8 from 1,010 reviews | 4.7 from 1,740 reviews |
| Price | $155, plus $3 in cash at check-in | $185, plus the fee |
| Crossing | 45-50 minutes under sail | 50-55 minutes on a faster boat |
| Stops | Icacos (“normally”), 1.5 hours on the beach, a reef stop | a reef, then Flamenco or Culebrita, as the captain decides |
| Included | BBQ buffet lunch, open bar with piña colada and rum punch, snorkel gear | deli buffet, open bar; snorkel gear per guests, not the listing |
| Where the $155 comes from | the operator’s own price is $135 plus 11.5% tax plus the $3 fee - the platform price is the same money, pre-taxed | - |
Both ratings are high for their volume, and the shape of the complaints matters more than their number.
What the reviews praise
The crew, by name. Almost every recent review names someone: “Capt Carlos is a true gentleman and we fell in love with Paola and her great customer service skills”; “Neff, a guy who’s like an octopus working with his tentacles to please all people around”; “Captain William and crew were great”. When a company’s reviews name its staff this consistently, the staff are the product, and the people who book it for the crew are not disappointed.
The boat and the space. “The catamaran is super clean and organized.” On the Culebra boat: “there was plenty of space on the boat, and we could even go upstairs … We were never crowded or packed in, unlike some other excursions I’ve been on.”
The cay. “Icacos was unreal.” “This Island is a dream!” “The island was breathtaking and soooo nice to swim in!” The beach, not the reef, is what the Icacos day sells, and the reviews agree with the listing on that.
Families. “Perfect for large families with smaller children.” “My family had a blast including my two daughters (7 and 14).” The shallow lee at Icacos is why; the Culebra beach needs a swim from the boat, and that review is from the Culebra day, where the children were older.
What the reviews warn about
The pickup. “If you opt for transport please note they pick you up at 5:40am! I was staying in old San Juan and was picked up at 5:35am.” And from the Culebra day: “we added the pick up drop off for this but honestly we should have taken an uber because we ended up being the first ones on and last ones off so it really did extend drive time.” The shuttle is a convenience sold at the cost of your morning; share a car if you can.
Lunch at half past nine. “They also served lunch on the boat! However it was served at 9:30, and i had jsut eaten at the marina so that was annoying.” The Icacos day eats early so that the beach time falls in the middle; do not breakfast at the marina shop expecting lunch at one.
The Icacos reef is modest. “The snorkeling was okay, didn’t see much.” “Wish we saw some bigger critters but what we did see - was incredible.” The second half of that sentence is the fair reading: a small shore reef with fish, rays and the odd dolphin, not the Culebra wall. The Culebra day’s reviews use different words - “snorkeling was awesome, saw so much sea life” - and the price difference is partly that.
The crossing. “Boat ride can get a little choppy so if you’re prone to motion sickness, take your meds!” “I felt sick during the journey, but I really want to thank the guides and the driver. They were incredibly caring.” Both from the Culebra day, which is open water; the Icacos sail is shorter and more sheltered, but in the winter trades it is not flat.
Which cay you land on. No review we read complained about it, and the listing is honest in advance: the captain “will sometimes head to Cayo Lobo or Palominos if the conditions are better for the day”. If the cay itself is non-negotiable, the water taxi is the boat that promises it.
Booking direct or on the platform
The operator’s own site lists the Icacos day at $135 plus 11.5% tax plus the $3 fee - $153.53, against the platform’s $155. The platform adds free cancellation up to 24 hours before (the operator’s own terms give 48) and takes payment in your currency. The $3 is cash at the marina either way. There is no meaningful price reason to book direct; there is a cancellation reason to book here.
Which of their two boats
Same marina, two different days:
Icacos sailing catamaran
Shorter, calmer, shallow water for children, lunch early, a small reef. The cay is the point.
Check dates →Culebra power catamaran
Longer and rougher, a real reef, a swim to Flamenco or Culebrita. The island is the point.
See the day →Prices, ratings and review counts from our October 2026 data check; operators use seasonal pricing - treat them as the shape of the market, not a quote.
Check dates for the Icacos day
The verdict, compressed
Book them for the crew and the beach day; treat the reef stop as a bonus, and read the captain’s-choice line before you decide it matters. Drive yourself to Puerto del Rey, eat lightly before boarding, carry $3 and tablets in winter, and read the one line about the captain’s choice of cay before you decide it matters.
Book a Boat to Cayo Icacos
The catamaran day from Puerto del Rey with lunch and a bar, rated 4.8 by 1,010 verified guests, from about $155 - or the water taxi beach day from Las Croabas from $95. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on both (checked October 2026). Nothing on this page gets you there without a boat.
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