Barbados Catamaran Tour with Snorkelling and Lunch
- DurationAbout 5 hours
- Daily
- Group
- Pickup available
- Fair, honest prices
- Real people, not bots
- Confirm, then pay
- Secure payment
Overview
This Barbados catamaran tour is a five-hour shared sailing trip from Bridgetown, Barbados, Our driver collects you from your south coast hotel, the default option on this page, and brings you to the catamaran, where the crew serve breakfast refreshments before casting off. You snorkel with sea turtles in calm water off the west coast, snorkel again over the shipwrecks of Carlisle Bay with their clouds of tropical fish, then sail up the sheltered Platinum Coast while a hot buffet lunch and drinks are served on board, with a final swim stop at a beach. Equipment and an English-speaking crew and guide are included. West coast pickup and a cruise terminal meeting point are separate options. It suits families, couples and cruise visitors.
Highlights
- Snorkel with hawksbill and green sea turtles in clear, calm water
- Second snorkel stop over the shipwrecks of Carlisle Bay with shoals of tropical fish
- Sail the sheltered west coast of Barbados on a classic catamaran with sun deck and shade
- Breakfast refreshments, hot buffet lunch and drinks served on board
- Round-trip hotel transport from the south coast included in the default option
- All snorkelling and safety equipment plus an English-speaking crew and guide
- Swim to the beach from the boat at the final stop
- West coast pickup and cruise terminal meeting point available as other options
Full Description
Bridgetown and the Careenage
Bridgetown is the capital of Barbados and the island's main port, and the historic centre with its Garrison is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its colonial streets, Parliament buildings and the inner harbour known as the Careenage, where sailing ships were once tipped on their sides to have their hulls cleaned. The catamaran boards near the waterfront, a few minutes from the cruise terminal and from the south coast hotel strip.
With the default option our driver collects you from your south coast hotel lobby up to two hours before sailing and brings you to the boat; a west coast pickup and a cruise terminal meeting point are the other options. Once on board the crew serve breakfast refreshments while you sign the passenger waiver and fit your snorkelling gear, and the catamaran then motors out of Carlisle Bay for the first stop of the Bridgetown boat tour.
Snorkelling with sea turtles
Barbados is one of the best places in the Caribbean to snorkel with turtles. Hawksbill turtles nest on its beaches in large numbers and green turtles graze the seagrass of the calm west coast, so the boat does not have to go far: a few minutes along the shore the crew drop anchor at a spot where turtles are seen almost every day, often within arm's length of swimmers. The water here is usually clear and only a few metres deep.
Our guide enters the water with the group, shows beginners how to use the mask and snorkel and keeps everyone together. Turtles are protected, so you watch rather than touch, and they tend to rise slowly to breathe right beside the boat. The stop lasts around 40 minutes and is the reason so many visitors call snorkelling with turtles in Barbados the highlight of their holiday.
The shipwrecks of Carlisle Bay
Carlisle Bay is the wide, sheltered bay beside Bridgetown, and its floor is a marine park with several shipwrecks lying in shallow water, from a tug sunk early in the twentieth century to freighters and a sailing vessel scuttled later to create a reef. They sit between 5 and 15 metres down, close enough to the surface for snorkellers to see the hulls, masts and railings clearly from above.
The wrecks are now covered in sponges and coral and surrounded by thousands of fish: sergeant majors, blue tangs, trumpetfish, parrotfish and sometimes a seahorse on the mooring lines. This Barbados shipwreck snorkelling stop also lasts around 40 minutes, and because the bay is protected the water is calm even for nervous swimmers. Flotation vests are available for anyone who wants extra support.
Sailing the west coast and lunch on board
After the second snorkel the crew raise the sails and the catamaran runs north along the west coast of Barbados, the Caribbean side of the island known as the Platinum Coast for its calm turquoise water and golden sand. From the deck you look across to the beaches of Paynes Bay and Holetown, where the first English settlers landed in 1627, and to the villas and gardens above them, while flying fish skip across the bow.
During the sail the crew serve a hot buffet lunch of Bajan dishes with salads and sides, and drinks are served throughout the trip. The catamaran has an open sun deck at the bow and ample shade under the canopy, so you can dry off in the sun or relax out of it. For many guests this Barbados west coast cruise, with lunch and the sea breeze, is as memorable as the snorkelling.
Beach swim stop and the return to Bridgetown
The last stop of the day is at one of the west coast beaches, where the catamaran anchors a short distance offshore and you can swim or float to the sand for a walk on the beach, or stay on board and enjoy music on deck. The west coast beaches are public in Barbados, and the water is warm all year, usually between 26 and 29 degrees.
The catamaran then sails back to Bridgetown, arriving about five hours after departure, and our driver takes you back to your south coast hotel. Guests who chose the cruise terminal option are returned to the terminal in good time for their ship. Bring your own towel, as towels are not provided, and keep a dry set of clothes for the ride back.
Itinerary
- Hotel pickup on the south coastOur driver collects you from your hotel lobby up to two hours before sailing; west coast pickup and a cruise terminal meeting point are separate options.
- Boarding in BridgetownSign the waiver, fit your snorkelling gear and enjoy breakfast refreshments as the catamaran leaves Carlisle Bay.
- Sea turtle snorkelling stopAbout 40 minutes in the water with the guide watching hawksbill and green turtles.
- Shipwreck snorkelling in Carlisle BayAbout 40 minutes snorkelling over the shallow wrecks of the marine park and their tropical fish.
- Sail up the west coast with lunchThe crew raise the sails and serve a hot buffet lunch and drinks as the boat cruises the Platinum Coast.
- Beach swim stopSwim to a west coast beach from the anchored catamaran or relax on deck with music.
- Return to Bridgetown and hotel drop-offBack in Bridgetown about five hours after departure, followed by the drive to your hotel.
What's included
- 5-hour catamaran cruise along the west coast of Barbados
- Snorkelling with sea turtles
- Snorkelling over shipwrecks with tropical fish
- Snorkelling and safety equipment
- Breakfast refreshments and hot buffet lunch
- Unlimited drinks on board
- English-speaking crew and guide
- Round-trip hotel transport from the south coast
Not included
- Towels
- Tips
Is this right for you?
Great for
- Travellers without a car — hotel pickup is included
- Food lovers
- Anyone who wants to see it from the water
- Travellers who want a proven choice — rated 4.8/5 by past travellers
Think twice if
- You want a private tour — this one is shared with other travellers
- You get seasick easily
Meeting point
With the default option our driver picks you up at your hotel on the south coast of Barbados; please wait in the hotel lobby from the pickup time we confirm, which can be up to two hours before sailing, and the driver will ask for the name on the booking. Pickup is from hotels and nearby landmarks, not private residences. West coast hotel pickup and a meeting point at the Bridgetown cruise terminal are available as separate options.
Important information
- Bring swimwear, a towel, reef-safe sunscreen, a hat and a change of clothes; towels are not provided
- You must complete a passenger waiver form before boarding the catamaran
- Wait in your hotel lobby from the confirmed pickup time; the driver will confirm the name on the reservation
- Pickup is from hotels and known landmarks only, not private residences
- Children aged 3 to 11 travel on a child rate; flotation vests are available for children and weaker swimmers
- Breakfast refreshments, a hot buffet lunch and drinks are served on board; tell us about dietary requirements when booking
- Tips for the crew are not included
- Turtles are protected: watch them but do not touch or chase them
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to what travellers ask us most, before they book.
Is this a shared or a private experience?
It is a shared catamaran cruise with other guests, an English-speaking crew and a snorkelling guide. Hotel transport is also shared with other guests from the same coast.
How long does the Barbados catamaran tour take?
About five hours on the water, with two snorkelling stops of around 40 minutes each, the sail along the west coast with lunch and a beach swim stop. Add the hotel transfer time at each end.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes with the default option, which includes round-trip transport from south coast hotels. West coast hotel pickup is a separate option, and cruise visitors can choose the meeting point at the Bridgetown cruise terminal.
What is included?
The five-hour catamaran cruise, snorkelling with sea turtles and over the Carlisle Bay shipwrecks, all snorkelling and safety equipment, breakfast refreshments, a hot buffet lunch, drinks on board, the crew and guide, and round-trip hotel transport from the south coast. Towels and tips are not included.
Is the price per person or per group?
Per person, with adult and child rates. The booking panel on this page shows the current price of each pickup option.
Is it suitable for children and for reduced mobility?
Children from age 3 are welcome, and the calm bays and flotation vests make the snorkelling easy for beginners. Boarding involves steps and the snorkel stops require entering the water from the boat, so guests with reduced mobility should contact us first.
What should I bring?
Swimwear under your clothes, a towel, reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, a waterproof phone case and dry clothes for the drive back. Snorkelling gear is provided.
Will I definitely see turtles?
Turtles are wild, but the west coast of Barbados has resident hawksbill and green turtles and the crew visit spots where they are seen almost every day, so sightings are very likely.
When is the best time of year for snorkelling in Barbados?
The water is warm all year. December to May is the dry season with the calmest seas and clearest visibility; summer is quieter and still good, with occasional afternoon showers.
What happens in bad weather?
The catamaran does not sail in rough seas or storms. If the crew cancel for weather we move your booking to another day or time, and our team keeps you informed on WhatsApp.
Can cruise passengers join the tour?
Yes. Choose the cruise terminal option and meet the transfer at the Bridgetown cruise terminal; the tour returns to the terminal with time to spare before most ships sail.
How do I book and confirm?
Choose your date, pickup option and number of guests in the booking panel and send the request. Our team confirms your booking on WhatsApp within minutes with your pickup time and hotel details.