Delightful Day Trips: Sail and Snorkel in Fajardo

All photos supplied.

A half dozen or so catamarans and sailing ships in Villa Marina and Puerto del Rey in Fajardo specialize in treating  happy visitors to the thrills of a day sail to nearby cays, where they sun on a deserted beach, snorkel among abundant sea life in crystal-clear water, munch on lunch, and refresh themselves with tropical drinks. This is one of the most popular—and most reasonably priced—day trips available on the island.

The sailboats go out every day (weather permitting, of course) and the fee (about $70-$90 per person when you meet the boat at its dock) includes captain and crew, lunch, refreshments, snorkeling equipment, and life vests. This same excursion in other Caribbean islands can cost up to twice as much.

The sail begins at 10:00 a.m. and returns at about 3:30 p.m. (it is considered really bad form to arrive late—you may miss the boat and you certainly will inconvenience your boat mates and crew). If you drive from San Juan, plan for traffic and allow at least an hour to an hour and a half for the drive. You should be at the dock by 9:15 a.m. (see map and driving directions). Make sure you go to the right marina: East Wind and Erin Go Bragh depart from Puerto del Rey; all others from Villa Marina.

If you arrange to be picked up at your hotel, it is also important to be on time—a delay at one location will hold up the trip for everyone. Most transportation operators charge $30-$45 per person round trip to Fajardo by minibus, a pleasant trip that allows you to see a good part of the northeast side of the island.

Passengers usually bring along sunblock, a towel, a light change of dry clothing, a camera, and a smile. You don’t need to know how to snorkel (the crew will teach you) or swim (you can just bask in the warm, shallow water with a float or life vest), and if you’d rather just soak up the sun on the boat or on the beach, that’s cool, too.

Here is a guide to the seven experienced sail & snorkel catamarans in Fajardo that are endorsed by the Puerto Rico Tourism Company—your assurance of safety and quality.

Action-Catamaran Fun Cat (Caribbean School of Aquatics)

787-728-6606 or 787-383-5700, www.saildiveparty.net

The Fun Cat is a 51-foot sailing catamaran designed and built by Capt. Greg Korwek, a NAUI scuba instructor who opened the island’s first hotel watersports and dive shop in 1963. The Fun Cat—which operates out of Villa Marina—has 60 seats with a U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) license for 48. It usually hosts about 18 people, who enjoy the ample space and shade of its permanent sunroof, unlimited picnic lunch, and refreshments. For those who prefer a private excursion, the company also features the Innovation party, snorkel and scuba motorboat, USCG licensed for 25.

Barefoot IV (Castillo Sightseeing Tours & Travel)

787-791-6195 (ESJ Towers), 787-791-9487 (Verdanza Hotel) or

787-253-8092 (Ritz-Carlton San Juan), www.castillotours.com

Located in Villa Marina, Barefoot IV is a 46-foot Gold Coast Catamaran USCG approved for 44 passengers. Daily trips include all snorkel gear and instructions and complimentary picnic lunches with soft drinks, piña coladas, and rum punch. The Barefoot is also available for private group charters—times can be adjusted according to the group’s needs. Sunset sails are available in Fajardo and special arrangements can be made for sunset cruises in the San Juan Harbor. Private charters can also include BBQ on the beach, DJ, beach games, watersports program, and team building.

Catamaran Spread Eagle

787-887-8821 or 888-523-4511, www.snorkelpr.com

Sail to the paradise island of Icacos aboard the Spread Eagle II, a 51-foot SeaRunner Catamaran, USCG certified to carry 48 passengers. The Spread Eagle—docked at Villa Marina—features free brand-new snorkels for every passenger, instruction for beginner and intermediate snorklers, a premium sandwich buffet lunch, unlimited piña colada and rum punch (with or without rum), and a variety of soft drinks. The Spread Eagle II has a stairway that lowers at the front of the boat for easy access while at the island and the reef, a freshwater deck shower, sun and shade decks, and a bathroom/changing room.

East Wind Catamaran (East Island Excursions)

787-860-3434 or 787-409-2485, www.eastwindcats.com

Sail from Puerto del Rey in the comfortable 78-passenger, 62-foot sailing catamaran East Wind to nearby cays and the Icacos marine reserve. Sip cool piña coladas and enjoy a sumptuous lunch buffet served in a shaded cabin area. Enjoy a water slide and eight-foot glass windows so even non-swimmers can enjoy viewing sea life. East Island Excursions can also custom-design a sailing experience to your specifications and can arrange for an exclusive “on the beach” dining service with tents, tables, chairs, and flatware or an elegant sit-down dinner aboard with table linens, flowers, and candles.

Erin Go Bragh III (Erin Go Bragh Charters)

787-860-4401, 305-393-6600 or 787-409-2511, www.egbc.net

Erin Go Bragh Charters has been offering the very best sailing and snorkeling adventures aboard its 50-foot Gulfstar sailing-ketch since 1990. For more than two decades the charter company has provided personalized service and delicious meals to small groups, families, and individuals (up to six) of all ages (two months to 98 years), including a “world-famous” BBQ lunch. In 75% of the trips, some or all guests are repeat visitors. Also offered are romantic, sunset and full-moon dinner cruises plus overnight and longer-term charters sailing from Puerto Del Rey Marina in Fajardo.

Salty Dog Catamaran

787-717-6378 or 787-717-7259, www.saltydreams.com

Salty Dog is a 46-foot Hard Top Gold Coast Catamaran with a capacity for 42 passengers that has been hosting sail and snorkel trips from Villa Marina for eight years. After swimming, snorkeling, or combing the beach for seashells and treasures, passengers enjoy a buffet lunch with fresh locally baked bread, vegetables and relish tray, premium cold cuts, tuna salad, fresh tropical fruits, cookies, and its famous “pain-killers” and rum drinks. The boat is equipped with a stairway for easy access to the beach. Salty Dog also offers a sunset sail with snacks and drinks, departing at 5:30 p.m.

Traveler Catamaran (Fajardo Tours)

787-863-2821, 787-396-0995 or 787-412-9555, www.travelerpr.com

Departing daily from Villa Marina in Fajardo, the 48-passenger, 54-foot Traveler Catamaran sails to the beach of Icacos Cay and after lunch visits Lobos Cay reef. The trip includes snorkeling equipment, instruction, a salad bar buffet lunch (open for two hours), fruit, snacks, soft drinks, and “never-ending” piña coladas and rum punch made with world-famous Puerto Rican rum. The vessel also features a waterslide that small children especially enjoy. Ask about group, family and special combo rates for biobay, kayak, and rainforest tours.

Luquillo Beach Jazz Fest

My Puerto Rico: Monte Guilarte 360 degrees of beautiful views

Text & photos by Claritza De León Marrero

Monte Guilarte is one of Puerto Rico’s tallest mountains, rising 1,204 meters (3,950 feet) above sea level. Its highest peak, known as Cerro Guilarte, or Silla de Guilarte, is in the municipality of Adjuntas.

On one of my visits to that town, along with three girlfriends, we decided to venture out and head up to the peak. From the town center, we drove on PR123 and then PR518. After passing Garzas Lake, we kept going for about eight minutes until we reached Guilarte Forest. There, we turned left and parked the car on an empty lot next to El Bosque restaurant. Across from the lot and restaurant a trail leads up the mountain.

For the most part, the trail wasn’t too difficult, but you definitely have to be in good physical shape, wear adequate shoes, bring along water and, if possible, hiking poles as well. We weren’t prepared, and not having the right shoes worked against us. Despite using some branches we found at the foot of the trail (left there by someone for the benefit of other adventurers) to support ourselves, there were many slippery rocks that did a number on our feet. It took us about an hour to hike the length of the trail—and at the end things got complicated. To reach the top of the mountain, you must climb some rocks, and although the segment is short, it is rather rugged and requires a certain degree of agility. Three of us made it, and we got our reward upon reaching the top. The view was impressive! As soon as you get a chance to admire it, all hardships encountered along the way are forgotten.

No one else was around, so we took as many photos as we wanted and enjoyed the beautiful views undisturbed. From Silla Guilarte, on a clear day, you can relish in majestic 360-degree views that capture the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, and the Central Mountain Range. Although the day we went up was cloudy, we enjoyed the views of the island and the town of Adjuntas and its lovely Garzas Lake—which despite of its considerable size looks like a small pond from up there.

The hike back was much easier and took us around 40 minutes. We were tired but also fascinated by the adventure. Monte Guilarte is one of the island’s lesser-known beautiful places. So, if you’re an adventurer at heart, this is a place you shouldn’t miss.

[Editor’s Note: A version of this charming account was posted on TripAdvisor.com recently. To see it (in Spanish), search TripAdvisor for Monte Guilarte. The story is used here with the author’s permission and with photos she supplied.]

Monte Guilarte 360 grados de hermosa vista

Monte Guilarte es una de las montañas más altas de Puerto Rico, con una elevación de 1,204 metros (3,950 pies) sobre el nivel del mar. Su pico más alto, conocido como el Cerro Guilarte o la Silla de Guilarte, ubica en el municipio de Adjuntas.

En una de mis visitas a ese pueblo con otras tres chicas, decidimos aventurar y subir hasta el cerro. Desde el centro del pueblo, tomamos la carretera PR123 y luego la PR518. Después de pasar el Lago Garzas, subimos  unos ocho minutos hasta llegar al Bosque Guilarte. Allí doblamos a la izquierda y estacionamos el auto en un lote vacío, justo al lado del Restaurante El Bosque. Frente a ese lote y el restaurante hay un camino por donde se puede subir al monte.

La mayor parte del trayecto no fue difícil, pero ciertamente hay que estar en buena condición física, tener zapatos adecuados, llevar  agua y, si es posible, bastones de senderismo o hiking poles. Nosotras no íbamos preparadas y no tener los zapatos adecuados nos afectó. A pesar de que para apoyarnos utilizamos unas ramas que encontramos al principio del camino (que alguien dejó allí para beneficio de otros aventureros), hay muchas piedras resbalosas que nos maltrataron los pies. Tomó cerca de una  hora hacer el recorrido completo y al final la hazaña se complicó. Para poder subir al tope, hay que escalar por unas piedras y aunque el tramo es corto, esa área es bastante incómoda y requiere agilidad. Tres de nosotras lo logramos y tuvimos la recompensa al llegar a la cima. La vista desde allí es impresionante y tras admirarla, cualquier percance del camino queda en el olvido.

No había nadie más en el lugar, así que fotografiamos y admiramos el hermoso paisaje a nuestro antojo. En un día claro, desde Silla de Guilarte se disfruta una vista majestuosa de 360 grados que permite apreciar el océano Atlántico, el mar Caribe y la Cordillera Central. Aunque el día en que subimos el cielo estaba brumoso, disfrutamos las estampas de la isla y la vista del pueblo de Adjuntas y su hermoso Lago Garzas, que a pesar de su gran tamaño, desde esa altura parece una pequeña charca.

La caminata de regreso fue mucho más fácil y nos tomó algunos 40 minutos. Bajamos cansadas, pero fascinadas por la aventura. El Monte Guilarte es uno de esos hermosos lugares de la isla que no es conocido por muchos. Así que si se tiene alma de aventurero, es un lugar que no se debe pasar por alto.

[Nota del Editor: Una versión de este encantador relato fue recientemente publicado en TripAdvisor.com. Para leerlo, acceda a TripAdvisor y busque bajo Monte Guilarte. El relato que aquí publica cuenta con el permiso de la autora e incluye fotos que ella suministró.]