Boomerang’s Best of Anguilla: Swim with Turtles Adventure

The best part of this day is the variety. From St. Maarten, you reach four very different Anguilla stops for swimming, snorkeling, beaches, and turtle spotting, all from one comfortable catamaran. Little Bay brings a quiet cove, Shoal Bay brings famous white sand, and the Prickly Pear Cays add a remote-island feel.

I like the open bar and onboard BBQ, which turn a full day on the water into an easy vacation day. I also like the useful gear supplied, including snorkels, paddleboards, noodles, a floating mat, and child-size life jackets. The main thing to consider is that the boat can carry up to 55 people, and some stops may feel short, especially if you want serious snorkeling time.

Key points to know before you book

• Four Anguilla stops: Visit Little Bay, Shoal Bay, Prickly Pear Cays, and Meads Bay during an approximately eight-hour outing.
• Turtle potential at Little Bay: This secluded cove is the main stop for turtle watching, though wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.
• Food and drinks are included: Expect an open bar, tropical fruit, and a BBQ lunch with jerk and curry chicken, shrimp, pasta salad, baguette, and garlic bread.
• Bring cash for Anguilla: The $25 per-person port and immigration fee is extra and must be paid in cash.
• A fun rather than luxury boat day: The catamaran has indoor and outdoor seating and a restroom, but the group may reach 55 people.
• Pack for getting wet: Towels are not supplied, Wi-Fi is not available, and anything brought near the swim areas may get wet.

A full day from St. Maarten to Anguilla

Boomerang’s Best of Anguilla trip is built for people who want to see a lot in one day without arranging separate boats, beach transfers, meals, or snorkeling rentals. You meet at the Sint Maarten Police Station in Simpson Bay at 8:30 a.m., then head out on a catamaran designed for a steady cruising speed of about 15 to 20 knots.

The boat has both indoor and outdoor seating, plus a restroom. That matters on an eight-hour outing. You can sit in the sun, find shade, or move inside when the ride gets windy. The boat is described as stable, but this is still a sea trip. If you are prone to motion sickness, plan accordingly.

The atmosphere leans social. Music, cocktails, and an open bar are central to the experience, and the boat can carry as many as 55 people. That capacity is reasonable for a party-style charter, but it is not the setup for a quiet, private sail. I would choose this trip for an upbeat day with a group, family, or teenagers, not for a secluded romantic cruise.

The crossing and stops take up the full day, with the boat returning to the same Simpson Bay meeting point. The four listed stops add up to about five hours, leaving the rest of the schedule for cruising, serving lunch, moving between islands, and handling the port process.

Little Bay: the best chance for turtles

Little Bay is accessible only by boat, which gives the first stop a secluded feel. The cove is calm enough for swimming and has a tranquil beach, making it a good place to settle into the day.

This is also the stop most closely tied to the trip’s turtle theme. You can snorkel here and look for turtles in the water, along with other marine life. Some people have seen turtles and an octopus during the outing, but you should treat that as a possibility rather than a promise. Animals follow their own schedule.

Little Bay also offers a little extra edge for adventurous swimmers. Cliff jumping may be possible, but it is not the reason to book the trip, and you should follow the crew’s safety instructions. The supplied noodles and floating lily pad can help you stay comfortable in the water, especially if you are not a strong swimmer.

The scheduled stop lasts about 1 hour and 15 minutes. That is enough for a swim and a look around, but you may need to choose between snorkeling, beach time, and cliff jumping rather than doing everything at length.

Shoal Bay: famous sand and clear water

Shoal Bay is the classic Anguilla beach stop. Its soft white sand and clear turquoise water are the main attraction, and the beach gives you the postcard setting many people picture when they think of the island.

You can swim, relax, or use the snorkeling gear around the reef areas. The water is described as calm, but conditions can change. One useful point from the on-water experience is that currents may feel stronger than expected, so use a noodle or another float if you need support. Fins are not listed among the supplied equipment, so bring your own if you have them and want more control in the water.

The planned time here is about 1 hour and 30 minutes, the longest of the four stops. That makes Shoal Bay the best place to slow down, take photos, and enjoy the beach without rushing through every activity.

Still, this is not a resort day with hours at one beach. You are sharing your time with the other stops, and the boat must keep to its route. If your ideal Anguilla visit means spending most of the day at Shoal Bay, a land-based beach day would give you more time. If you want several locations in one outing, this schedule works better.

Prickly Pear Cays: a remote island break

About five nautical miles north of Anguilla, the Prickly Pear Cays are uninhabited except for two restaurants. This stop changes the mood again. Instead of a main island beach, you get small offshore islands, reef snorkeling, wildlife, and time to walk around.

The cays are a strong reason to pick this tour over a simple beach transfer. They offer a sense of being away from the main island, and the mix of water and land activities gives you a break from sitting on the catamaran. Snorkel here, look around the shore, or stroll the island before returning to the boat.

The scheduled stop lasts about 1 hour and 15 minutes. That is enough to sample the place, but not enough to explore at a slow pace. Sea conditions also matter. If the water is choppy, the captain may change the plan. One outing substituted or adjusted stops because of conditions, so you should view the route as weather dependent rather than fixed in stone.

That flexibility is sensible for safety, but it can disappoint if you have your heart set on a particular beach. The crew decides what works best for the conditions on the day.

Meads Bay: an easy final beach stop

Meads Bay is the final listed stop and one of Anguilla’s best-known beaches. Expect white, soft sand and clear water, with about an hour to swim or relax.

After snorkeling and moving between several locations, Meads Bay works as a simple closing stop. You can enjoy one more swim without needing to organize anything. The shorter schedule also keeps the last beach from turning into a long, slow wait before the return trip.

The tradeoff is time. An hour passes quickly once the boat anchors, people gather their gear, and you get into the water. If you prefer long beach stays, the four-stop plan may feel busy. If you like variety and want to see more of Anguilla in one day, the changing scenery keeps the outing from feeling repetitive.

Lunch, cocktails, and what is really included

The food is a major part of the value. Lunch is served onboard and includes Jamaican jerk and curry chicken skewers, garlic shrimp skewers, Greek pasta salad with feta and a zesty dressing, baguette, and garlic bread. Tropical fruit, including pineapple and watermelon, is also provided.

This is more than a basic sandwich lunch, and it matters because you are away from shore for most of the day. You do not need to find a restaurant between swim stops, and there is enough variety for a substantial midday meal. The food has received some of the strongest praise, with particular appreciation for both flavor and portions.

The open bar includes beer, liquor, sodas, juices, and water. Hand-shaken cocktails are part of the boat’s character. Bartenders keep the drinks moving, and the music helps create a party feel.

You should be honest with yourself about the drinking element. If you want a quiet nature cruise focused on marine life, the music and bar may feel like a distraction. If you want a sociable Caribbean day where you can swim, eat, listen to music, and order a cocktail without reaching for your wallet each time, this setup is useful.

Alcohol is included, but the $25 Anguilla port and immigration fee is not. That fee is charged per person and must be paid in cash. At $179 per person, your practical cost is $204 before any other personal spending. For an eight-hour trip with transportation by boat, four stops, lunch, open bar, snorkeling equipment, paddleboards, floaties, life jackets, snacks, and a restroom, the price is reasonable for a full-service day. It is less attractive if you plan to skip the bar, eat little, and spend most of your time on one beach.

Crew, safety, and the boat setup

The crew receives especially strong praise for being friendly, professional, attentive, and fun. The captain keeps people informed about the stops, while the bartenders handle drinks and the water equipment. First mate Angelo once went back into the water to search for a passenger’s sunglasses, a small act that says something about the hands-on service style.

Safety is treated as part of the experience, not an afterthought. Adult and child life jackets are supplied, and the crew can assist with getting into the water. One family traveling with a toddler under two found that the available life jacket did not fit the child, so the crew used the tender to bring the child and parent to shore instead. If you have a very young child, contact the operator before booking to discuss equipment.

The catamaran is clean and functional, but it is not a luxury yacht. With a maximum of 55 people, space can feel tight at full capacity. Some outings have felt comfortable, while others have felt crowded. Indoor and outdoor seating help, but you should expect a shared boat rather than personal space.

Bring a towel, since none are provided. Wear a swimsuit, use a waterproof bag for phones and valuables, and assume that items near the swim platforms may get wet. There is no Wi-Fi onboard, which is either a drawback or a welcome excuse to put your phone away.

Who will enjoy this Anguilla day most

I would recommend this trip to you if you want a full island day with plenty of structure. It suits couples, families with older children, groups of friends, and teenagers who want a mix of swimming, snorkeling, beach time, music, food, and drinks.

It is also a good choice if you are staying in St. Maarten and want to see Anguilla without booking several separate arrangements. The boat handles the route, equipment, lunch, and drinks in one package.

I would hesitate if you want luxury, privacy, a quiet boat, or long snorkeling sessions at one reef. The snorkeling can be enjoyable, and turtle sightings are possible, but this is not presented as a specialist snorkeling expedition. You may see one turtle, several turtles, or none. The strength of the day is the overall mix.

The tour is not suitable for cruise ship passengers, and you need to provide passport information and complete an online form by email before booking is finalized. Most people can participate, but anyone with mobility, swimming, or very young child concerns should ask specific questions first.

Should you book Boomerang’s Anguilla catamaran?

Book it if your ideal day is four beautiful stops, a lively catamaran, good food, a full bar, and plenty of time in the water. The route gives you more range than a single beach visit, and the included gear keeps extra costs down.

Skip it if you want a private charter, a luxury standard, or guaranteed turtles and calm water. Also skip it if you dislike group outings or do not want to pay the additional $25 cash fee.

For most people looking for an easy, social Anguilla day from St. Maarten, I think the package offers solid value. Just arrive ready to get wet, carry cash, bring a towel, and accept that weather may change the route.

FAQ

How long is the Boomerang Anguilla tour?

The outing lasts approximately eight hours and begins at 8:30 a.m. It ends back at the Sint Maarten Police Station in Simpson Bay.

Where does the tour start?

You meet at the Sint Maarten Police Station, located at 34 Simpson Bay Road in Simpson Bay, Sint Maarten.

What is the extra Anguilla fee?

You must pay a $25 per-person Anguilla port and immigration fee. This fee is not included and must be paid in cash.

Are meals and drinks included?

Yes. The tour includes an onboard BBQ lunch, tropical fruit, and an open bar with beer, liquor, sodas, juices, and water.

What food is served?

Lunch includes Jamaican jerk and curry chicken skewers, garlic shrimp skewers, Greek pasta salad with feta and zesty dressing, baguette, and garlic bread.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment, paddleboards, life jackets in adult and child sizes, noodles, and a floating lily pad mat are included.

Are towels provided?

No. You need to bring your own towel.

Is Wi-Fi available on the boat?

No. Wi-Fi is not available onboard.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund. Poor weather or failure to meet the minimum number of participants may lead to a different date or a full refund.