What would you recommend to anglers fishing in Fajardo for the first time?
Answers by verified BoatBooker customers who went boating in Fajardo
Showing:
1 - 30 of 35 answers
1 - 30 of 35 answers
Princess Poller
Wear comfortable shoes and be prepared for the rocky ocean floor if swimming to/near the island. Bring your own towels and anything specific you might need (they provided light snacks, non alcoholic beverages, and somewhere to store your items). Boat included Bluetooth speakers and bathroom!
Brian Orr
Let me first state that this review is not at all directed at Captain Luis and his assistant, Captain Rebeca. They were wonderful -- Kind, attentive, respectful and accommodating. I am grateful for both of them and glad we had them as our crew.
Overall, I was fairly disappointed in this trip. I spent a total of around $2700 (not including $100 tips I gave to both crew members) to have an afternoon to bring my wife's entire family together - sisters, brothers, cousins, parents, etc. In total, we had 11 people on the boat, and let me first say that overall, the day was wonderful and memorable. It was wonderful and memorable because of the rare time we all come together to do something different, not necessarily because of trip details.
Here are my reasons for rating the trip so low at 2-stars. I am usually fairly forgiving, but at $2700, I expected the little things to be a lot better.
1) This first issue is not a "little thing", however. I paid 10% up front to make the reservation. Great. No biggie. Once our trip started at 10:30, I received multiple texts to my phone (which I was wasn't paying attention to because you know....I am on a trip with my family and don't want to be glued to these stupid devices). Because I wasn't glued to my phone, on a boat going to Icacos, the Captain received a call around 11am and he handed the phone to me and it was the guy I had been communicating with the day prior to work out trip details. He was telling me they expect payment right now for the remaining ~$2,400 balance. They wanted the "rest of the money before the trip ended" (scheduled to end at 4:30pm), but he wanted the money "right now". I didn't make a big deal about it then, and obliged for the sake of not making a scene. Because of some electronic payment issues, it took me about 45 minutes to work out the payment and sent him $2,410 as requested around Noon.
This was unbelievably frustrating to be bothered and annoyed for the remaining balance WHILE I AM ON THE TRIP WITH MY FAMILY. I wasted almost an entire hour screwing around with my darn phone trying to make this guy happy than being with my family, which was the whole point of my paying for the trip. Why on earth would anyone think it is reasonable to bother the person in the middle of the trip that was done to create time together and memories? Although I reflect fondly on the day, I immediately get frustrated thinking about how this person kept bothering me to "pay up now" at the beginning of the trip. I was in the middle of the ocean, on a beautiful island off the coast of Puerto Rico, and I was forced to be on my darn phone for something the clearly could have waited until we got back to shore. I was terribly disappointed in this behavior and is the main reason I am leaving only a 2-star review. Had I been shown the slightly bit of respect with regards to payment details, I'd have left a 3-4 star review, but this really got me annoyed and overall disappointed in the trip.
2) Food: the included food was very basic. We had 11 people and had a single plate of fruit, and tiny turkey/cheese sandwiches made of the cheapest stuff possible - fewer sandwiches than there were people. I would recommend bringing your own food if you want anything reasonable.
3) BBQ "Upgrade" option: Knowing that the included food would probably not be enough or of higher quality, I asked the gentleman coordinating the trip to "add on" a $250 BBQ of chicken skewers, churrasco, rice/beans PR style, etc. I didn't send him an itemized list of things I wanted, as I didn't really think this was my job, but in the end we got essentially some chicken skewers with a cheap Kraft peanut marinate, all cooked on the "BBQ", also known as the
"kitchen stove top". They did not have a BBQ grill. Just got pan fried chicken skewers with a bottle Kraft marinade. It was probably $25 of food at most that we paid $250 for. They did not bring any Churrasco (red meat), as I requested multiple times. Overall, this was a total disappointment. I paid $250 for something I should have paid like $50 for, at most.
4) The boat anchored 100 feet off shore. Getting little kids to/from the beach was annoying all day long. This really didn't play into my rating, however, but thought the public should know.
Overall, # 1-3 above were the reason for my poor rating, in addition to having the bedrooms on the boat unusable due to mildew smell in one, and equipment in the other (couldn't use either for kids' naps). For $2700, I expected the basics to be covered without just covering the bare minimum standards, and expected to not be bothered for payment right when my trip started, distracting me on my phone for almost an hour while I was supposed to be disconnected. It felt like an aggressive money grab at the beginning of my trip, and it affected my attitude all day long. Also, trash/empty beer bottles from the trip the day before were on the boat - so clearly the boat wasn't cleaned.
Sammantha Furniss
Use the charter company app but
do NOT use this specific charter.
A charter is DEFINITELY the way to go. The commercial boats are crowded and loud. It basically costs the same to charter than to go on a big commercial boat.
Jose Lugo
I highly recommend this boat and captain. Jason is an incredible host, the boat ride was amazing, and the location is gorgeous. From the music, to his expert boating, to the delicious ceviche and charcuterie, we had a spectacular day.
Jesse Barton
Just be mindful of the weather. Hard for there to be a bad time to boat in Puerto Rico. But, we were in torrential downpour and it got a little sketchy in the sea. However this is why it’s important to have a solid captain who knows the area and can keep you safe.
Hayden Robinson
sunscreen is a must. sunglasses and hats are also very helpful. the boat will also be moving quite a bit even when anchored because of waves, so if you experience motion sickness or aren’t sure, have some dramamine with you just in case
Robert Niederhoff
Be aware of your own body - if you get motion sickness AT ALL, take Dramamine before any trip on the boat. Also remember your sunscreen, lots of sunscreen! If you're going snorkeling, consider rash guards/swim shirts to reduce how much sunscreen you use (which can harm aquatic life, even the "safe" kinds).
Renee Deal
I wouldn't change a thing about our trip! The weather was perfect and parking and meeting at the marina was easy! Great experience all around!
Carmine Herrera
Don’t forget your towels! Underwater camera would be nice. Take some motion sickness medicine if your subject to motion sickness.
Jason Katzman
The snorkeling around Palomino Island wasn’t great and we weren’t able to go to Icacos due to the weather. Overall a really fun day on the water though!
Troy Siver
Sea conditions can vary depending on island location you can get to, but trust Captain Alexis, he is a seasoned Captain with everyone's safety in mind.
Lisa Neidt
Pack lightly. Keep it simple, allow extra time to get to Fajardo, especially if you plan to stop anywhere to eat. Reapply sunscreen while on the water.
Cumbo Colleen
Absolutely! The ocean might seem rough with high waves, but once you’re out on the boat, it is not a rough ride. It was a very enjoyable day on the water.
Peter Pena
Sunblock! Lots of sunblock, sometimes the water can be a little rough so take your precautions if you are prone to seasickness.
Gladys Naling
If the weather is bad, the captain will let you know. My recommendation is to always take their suggestions if you need to go to another island because of bad weather.
Anna Perkins
Book a tour with Alexis Colon, he is a great captain and will help make your experience a lot of fun!
Nicolas Deninno
Weather is a hit or miss so make sure you have an experienced captain. I was very impressed with our captain as young as he was.
Claire Windsor
The water was rough the day we when out. That wasn’t the captains fault and he did everything he could to keep us safe and comfortable
Sara Berlingieri
A boat ride to paradise with a polite and considerate captain! 5 star!! Book your trip now! We will be back to book again in a few months!! Such an amazing time! Best day of our vacation!
Melissa Teal
Plenty of sunscreen and bring sun shirts. We brought our own towels as well it can be a little chilly when you first get out of the water.
Kyra Chabay
Bring lots of sunscreen! If you get seasick I would recommend taking Dramamine beforehand since the water can be slightly rough but once you anchor it’s very calm.
Rachel Schmitt
Bring Sunscreen! Enjoy the adventure! we wish we’d had more time. The day was perfect!
JoyAnn Jeremy-Wang
Don’t think, as long as you can afford the experience then do it. Amazing indeed
Alex Chavez
Bring swimming shirt to wear. you will be in the Sea and Ocean most of the Day!
Ashley Pulsipher
We had a great time snorkeling! We did that at the first stop and saw a lot— barracuda, puffer
Kait McConkey
The main island had rain but where we went was clear, sunny and perfect weather
Margaret Klotz
Bring sunscreen and reapply often. Food and drinks were provided and plentiful. Get ready to relax!
Traci Paulk
Everything was second to none; we had the best time. Capt Bill and first-mate, Monica, were warm, friendly, and knowledgeable about all things PR.
Nancy Bernal
Make sure you bring a water proof phone case
So you could swim to the beach to get some great pictures
Kulsum Qasim
Book with Hector Barreto! Also, booking a private boat was 100% the best way to experience the islands, that is the best advice.