San Andres: Private Boat Trip with Tiki Bar & Rose Cay Stops

The best San Andrés parties float offshore. This private three-hour boat trip gives your group its own skipper, cooler with ice, and room to play your music while visiting Rose Cay, Haynes Cay, El Palito, and White Watta. I especially like the freedom of a private boat and the chance to combine quiet mangrove scenery with lively floating bars. The main catch is that food, drinks, docking tax, and hotel transport cost extra.

I also like the group pricing. At $366 for up to 12 people, the cost can be sensible for a full boat, especially if you are traveling with family or friends. Still, three hours passes quickly, and the route depends on weather and sea conditions. If you want a long, slow beach day, this is not it. If you want a compact outing with swimming, music, views, and several memorable stops, it fits well.

Key points at a glance

• Private boat for up to 12 people: You get an outing designed for your own group rather than sharing space with strangers.
• El Palito’s floating tiki bar: Stop for a cocktail and enjoy it from the water, with drinks purchased separately.
• Rose Cay and Haynes Cay: These calm, scenic spots offer photo opportunities and a chance to see stingrays, colorful fish, and sharks.
• Mangrove entry near San Andrés Bay: The trip begins with a look at a protected mangrove setting, including birds and fish.
• Music and a cooler included: Bring your favorite playlist, keep drinks cold, and use the supplied waterproof phone bag.
• White Watta and famous floating bars: Finish near Ibiza and Franz, where entry costs extra if you decide to go in.

Why this private San Andrés cruise works for groups

The main appeal is control. Your group has the boat to itself, so you can play music, talk, take photos, and set the mood without adjusting to a larger excursion group. That matters on a short trip. Three hours is not enough time for a long list of stops if every minute is spent waiting for other people.

The boat leaves from the main entrance of Muelle de la Policia, at the bay of San Andrés. You are responsible for getting to the pier, since hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. The meeting point is simple, but allow enough time to find the main entrance and board without rushing.

The skipper handles the boat while the host or greeter can communicate in English or Spanish. You also get a cooler with ice, useful if you bring drinks or snacks, plus a waterproof bag for your phone. That last item is practical rather than flashy. On a boat day, a secure phone is worth more than one extra photo.

The private format also changes the value of the $366 price. For one or two people, it is expensive compared with a shared boat ride. For a group of 10 to 12, the price works out to about $31 to $37 per person before the docking tax, food, and drinks. A smaller group still may prefer it for the privacy, but you should compare the total cost with shared alternatives before booking.

Leaving Muelle de la Policia and entering the mangrove

The boat starts at Muelle de la Policia and heads out across the San Andrés water. Early in the route, you enter the mangrove area, giving you a change from open sea views to a quieter natural setting.

This part gives the outing some variety. You are not simply riding from one bar to the next. The mangrove provides a chance to look for birds and fish and to see a different side of the island’s coastal environment. Bring your phone, but keep it protected until the boat slows and the skipper indicates a good moment for photos.

The mangrove portion is also a reminder that this is a sightseeing ride as much as a party boat. If your group enjoys watching wildlife and taking pictures, it adds interest. If you want nonstop swimming and loud music, it may feel like a slower opening.

Keep the cooler organized from the start. Drinks and food are not included, and the cooler with ice is provided for your use. You can also buy drinks at some stops, but relying only on purchases at the water stops may cost more and gives you less control over what is available.

El Palito and the floating tiki bar

The first bathing stop is El Palito, a distinctive place with a floating tiki bar. The idea is wonderfully simple: buy a cocktail, get into the water, and enjoy it while floating near the bar.

Drinks are not included in the tour price, so bring payment for purchases. The supplied information does not specify the payment method or drink prices, so you should be prepared for a stop where the cost is separate. The cooler remains useful for anything your group brings along.

El Palito is likely to be one of the most social parts of the trip. You can swim, take photos, and enjoy the unusual setting without giving up the private boat experience. The stop is listed as lasting about an hour, though the exact timing may shift with weather, sea conditions, and the day’s route.

This is a good place for a group that wants a relaxed party atmosphere rather than a formal sightseeing tour. The drawback is that floating bars can add up quickly when everyone orders a drink. Set a spending limit before boarding if you are traveling with children or a large group.

Rose Cay, Haynes Cay, and the water around them

Rose Cay and Haynes Cay are the central scenic stops. The water is described as tranquil, with opportunities to see stingrays and colorful fish. The route also includes shark viewing, although wildlife sightings are never something you should treat as guaranteed.

You will have time for photos and a chance to get into the water. Rose Cay is listed with around 1.5 hours for the visit and photo stop, making it the longest named stop in the schedule. That gives you more breathing room than a quick ten-minute photo break.

Haynes Cay is a useful place to pause for lunch. Food is not included, but you can buy lunch in the area if you wish. This flexibility suits different groups. One person can eat while another takes photos, and you do not have to pay for a meal that you do not want.

The views across San Andrés are part of the appeal. From the cays, you can look back toward the island and enjoy a broad view that you would not get from the pier. The private boat lets your group share the moment at its own pace, though the skipper still needs to keep the overall three-hour schedule moving.

Bring swimwear, sun protection, and a towel, but the supplied details do not specify whether towels or snorkeling gear are provided. Do not assume equipment is included. The confirmed inclusions are the boat, skipper, cooler with ice, and waterproof phone bag.

White Watta and the floating bars Ibiza and Franz

The final bathing stop is White Watta, near well-known floating bars including Ibiza and Franz. These bars can be entered for an extra fee at the door, so the boat trip does not include admission.

This stop gives you a choice. You can remain near the boat and enjoy the water, or pay the extra charge to enter one of the floating bars. That makes White Watta easy to adapt to your group’s mood and budget.

The extra admission is important to remember when calculating the real cost. The headline price covers the private boat experience, not a full package of drinks, meals, bar entries, and port charges. If your group plans to visit a bar, eat lunch, and order cocktails, set aside money beyond the booking price.

After White Watta, you reboard and ride back to the pier. The return is intended to be a calm end to the outing, giving you time to enjoy the views and cool down after the swimming stops.

What the three-hour schedule really means

Three hours sounds generous until you count boarding, movement between locations, swimming, lunch, and the ride back. The route covers several places, so you should expect a lively schedule rather than long stretches at one beach.

The listed timing gives Rose Cay about 1.5 hours and El Palito about an hour, but the full experience also includes the mangrove, Haynes Cay, White Watta, and the return to Muelle de la Policia. This means the schedule may be adjusted during the day.

Weather matters. The trip is subject to weather conditions, and sea conditions can affect the route, timing, or comfort. A private boat does not make rough water disappear. If you are prone to seasickness, prepare accordingly, though no specific seasickness service is included.

I would book this early in your San Andrés stay rather than on your final day. That gives you some flexibility if weather requires a change. The booking terms allow free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms help when your island schedule is still taking shape.

What is included, and what you still pay for

The included items are straightforward:

• Private boat trip
• Skipper
• Cooler with ice
• Waterproof phone bag

The following are not included:

• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• Food
• Drinks
• Docking tax
• Entry fees for floating bars such as Ibiza and Franz

The docking tax is paid by you on the day. Because the amount is not provided, ask about the current charge before departure so you are not caught short at the pier.

Food and drinks deserve some planning. You can buy drinks at El Palito, and you can buy lunch around Haynes Cay. Still, bringing suitable supplies for your group may be more convenient, provided the operator allows them. The cooler and ice are already part of the boat setup, so use them.

The waterproof phone bag is especially useful for a private group. You can keep your phone close for music and photos without leaving it exposed on the boat. Use your own judgment around water, since a bag is protection, not a promise that every phone will stay dry.

Who will enjoy this boat trip most

This experience fits friends, families, and small groups who want a private outing with music and swimming. It is also a good choice for a birthday, reunion, or relaxed afternoon when the group wants something more personal than a standard shared boat ride.

You will probably enjoy it most if you like:

• Swimming at several different locations
• Buying a drink at a floating bar
• Taking photos from the water
• Choosing your own music
• Sharing a boat with only your own group
• Mixing nature, scenic views, and a party atmosphere

It is less suitable if you want a quiet nature excursion with no extra spending. The tiki bar, floating bars, music, and optional lunch make this a social activity. It may also disappoint anyone expecting a full-day cruise, since the duration is only three hours.

Families should decide in advance how much bar time and swimming time suits their group. The private setting offers flexibility, but the route still includes water stops and floating venues. Ask the operator any safety or age questions before booking if those details matter to you, since they are not specified here.

Is $366 a good value?

The answer depends heavily on group size. At the full capacity of 12 people, $366 is a reasonable way to reserve a private boat for three hours. The approximate base cost is $30.50 per person, before the docking tax and personal spending.

At six people, the base price is about $61 per person. At four people, it is about $91.50 per person. Those figures make clear why this experience works best for a full family or friend group.

You are paying for privacy, not just transportation. The ability to play your own music, keep your own schedule within the route, and avoid sharing the boat has real value. On the other hand, drinks, lunch, bar entry, and the docking tax can turn a moderate boat price into a more expensive afternoon.

I would compare the cost against your priorities. If you care about private space and a festive setting, the price can make sense. If your main goal is simply to see Rose Cay and Haynes Cay at the lowest cost, a shared excursion may be more efficient.

Practical advice before you board

Wear swimwear under your clothes and bring sun protection. The outing includes multiple bathing opportunities, and the open water offers little reason to stay fully dressed for long.

Keep valuables to a minimum. The operator provides a waterproof phone bag, but the safest item is the one you leave at your accommodation. Bring only what you need for the boat, lunch, drinks, and the docking tax.

Plan your music before you arrive. Since playing your favorite tunes is part of the experience, a ready playlist saves time. Keep the volume at a level that lets your group communicate with the skipper.

Finally, leave room in your schedule. The tour returns to Muelle de la Policia, but weather and sea conditions can affect the day. A relaxed afternoon plan is better than booking a tight connection immediately afterward.

Should you book this San Andrés boat tour?

Book it if you have a group large enough to share the price and want a private day on the water with music, swimming, scenic cays, and floating bars. Rose Cay, Haynes Cay, El Palito, and White Watta give the short outing plenty of variety.

Skip it if you are traveling alone, dislike optional bar spending, or want a long beach visit without a fixed three-hour route. The best value comes with 8 to 12 people, careful planning for food and drinks, and a willingness to let weather shape the schedule.

For the right group, this is a lively and flexible way to see San Andrés from the water, with enough nature and wildlife to keep it from feeling like a simple bar crawl.

FAQ

Where does the boat trip start?

You board at the main entrance of Muelle de la Policia in San Andrés.

How long does the private boat trip last?

The experience lasts three hours.

How many people can join the private boat?

The private group price covers up to 12 people.

Are food and drinks included?

No. Food and drinks are not included. You can purchase drinks at El Palito and lunch around Haynes Cay if you wish.

Is the docking tax included?

No. You must pay the docking tax yourself on the day of the trip.

What locations does the boat visit?

The route includes the San Andrés mangrove area, El Palito, Rose Cay, Haynes Cay, and White Watta. The trip returns to Muelle de la Policia.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The tour is subject to weather conditions. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and the booking allows you to reserve now and pay later.