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Swim with Turtles — Round the Island Catamaran
Best overall — 54ft catamaran, Tintamarre turtles, beaches and island views.
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Swim with turtles in St Maarten
I still remember the first time I swam with sea turtles at Tintamarre.
The boat had gone quiet. Just turquoise water, sunlight through the sea, and a turtle gliding slowly through the seagrass like we weren’t even there. No rush, no noise — that strange feeling of floating inside another world for a few minutes.
Years later, it’s still one of the most magical things I’ve experienced on this island. So if swimming with turtles is on your St Martin bucket list, these are the tours I’d personally look at first.
Start here
Want a quick answer? These are the tours I would book first if swimming with sea turtles is the main goal.
My recommendations
When you’re planning a Caribbean vacation, flexibility matters — weather changes, plans shift, people change their minds. That’s why I lean toward tours with instant confirmation and flexible cancellation whenever possible.
Best overall
54 feet of catamaran, no rushed schedule — just a full day cruising around some of the most beautiful water in St Martin. And most importantly? This is probably your best chance of actually swimming with sea turtles: the captain knows exactly where they feed in the seagrass around Tintamarre.
In a nutshell
→ Spacious 54-foot power catamaran
→ Open bar and BBQ lunch included
→ Paddleboards available onboard
→ Tintamarre, Creole Rock, Mullet Bay and Pinel Island route
If you want the easy, no-brainer choice for a turtle excursion in St Martin, this is the one.
“What a trip!” Awesome time onboard with the crew. The drinks were flowing, lunch was refreshing, the music kept the vibes energetic, and the captain and helper were great hosts. — Tiffany_G, Apr 2026, via Viator
Best combo tour
Same Boomerang catamaran, same relaxed atmosphere onboard — but this time you also get Anguilla. The first turtle stop usually happens around Prickly Pear Cay, where turtles glide through the shallow seagrass in incredibly clear water.
In a nutshell
→ Swim with turtles around Prickly Pear Cay
→ Discover Anguilla during the same excursion
→ Open bar included onboard
→ Cruise ship friendly tour
I recommend this one for travelers who want more than just a turtle excursion — very good chances of swimming with turtles, plus a day that feels like a real Caribbean escape.
“It was so much fun.” We saw so many turtles at the first stop, even two baby ones. Also saw a small shark and some stingrays. The water was so clear and nice. — Nicole_T, Apr 2026, via Viator
Best value
Billy Bones feels a little different from the moment you step onboard — less “party boat,” more people who genuinely know these waters. The crew has been navigating around Tintamarre and Creole Rock for years, and you can feel it: they know where turtles feed, where the water stays calm, and when to arrive before the bigger boats show up.
In a nutshell
→ Excellent value for a full-day tour
→ Open bar included throughout the day
→ Lunch stop in Grand Case
→ Great mix of snorkeling and island cruising
If you want a full-day experience that feels authentic without going full luxury pricing, this is probably one of the smartest choices.
“Great active day on the water.” Fun, informative, action-packed boat trip around St Martin. Two snorkeling sites, a beach stop on Pinel, lunch in Grand Case, and Maho Beach. — Kelly_B, Feb 2026, via Viator
Most intimate
Only 12 travelers onboard — and honestly, that changes everything. On larger boats you end up following the crowd; here the whole experience feels calmer and much more personal from the start.
In a nutshell
→ Maximum 12 travelers onboard
→ Great chances of spotting turtles and rays
→ Half-day format, so you keep the afternoon free
Not everyone wants a huge party catamaran with music and drinks flowing all day. Some people just want a peaceful morning on the water with a smaller group and a better connection to the ocean itself.
“Great experience.” Marcus and Alina were absolutely wonderful in explaining everything and keeping everyone safe — with lots of good humor as well. — Susan_L, Apr 2026, via Viator
Best French side departure
If you’re staying in Orient Bay, Grand Case or Anse Marcel, there’s no real reason to spend half your morning in traffic just to reach a Dutch-side marina. This catamaran leaves directly from Grand Case or Anse Marcel and heads toward Prickly Pear, Tintamarre and some of the best turtle spots around the island.
In a nutshell
→ Departure directly from the French side
→ Swim with turtles around Prickly Pear
→ Lunch, drinks and snorkel gear included
→ Less driving, more time on the water
If you’re staying on the French side, this is probably the most natural and effortless way to swim with turtles in St Martin.
“Fantastic!” Entire crew was fantastic, very accommodating and the boat was very clean. Lunch and snacks served were also great. — Felicia, United States, Feb 2026, via GetYourGuide
Local tips
First: the turtles are never technically guaranteed. They’re wild animals, not an aquarium attraction — but Tintamarre comes very close.
Morning tours are usually best. The sea is calmer, visibility is clearer, and the turtles stay more active in the seagrass before the afternoon wind picks up.
And please — don’t chase them. The calmer you stay in the water, the more likely the turtles are to keep swimming naturally around you instead of disappearing into deeper water.
The best encounters usually happen when people stop trying so hard.
Practical note: use reef-safe sunscreen only. The coral ecosystem around Tintamarre is fragile, and this is the turtles’ home before it is our excursion.
→ Find reef-safe sunscreen on Amazon
Where to go
The best spot on the island — an uninhabited, protected marine sanctuary. No fishing, no hotels, no noise. Just clear water and turtles that have been coming back here for longer than any of us.
Twenty minutes by catamaran, just off Anguilla. Shallow, calm, protected — one of the most beautiful turtle snorkeling settings in the region.
Right off Grand Case. Mostly fish and rays, but turtles show up. One of the easiest snorkeling spots to reach from the French side.
Accessible only by boat, tucked below the cliffs of Anguilla. The kind of place that doesn’t feel real until you’re in it.
This is exactly why most people choose a boat tour: these spots aren’t easily accessible on your own.
Out on the water, far from everything — the perfect setting to surprise someone you love.
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