Catamaran & Snorkeling Trips

When the heat builds and you want the water rather than a dusty trail, the catamaran fleet is the relaxed half of the Puerto Plata excursion scene. The north shore is sheltered enough that the sea here is calmer than the open Atlantic farther west, so even nervous swimmers find the snorkel stop easy, and the boats double as floating bars for the cruise back. A catamaran trip is the easiest way to turn a port day into a beach day without ever leaving the coast.

The standard run leaves from Maimon or Sosua, sails along the cliffs to the protected reef inside Sosua bay and anchors for an hour of snorkelling over coral heads and shoals of reef fish. The crew hands out gear, then fires up the onboard BBQ and opens the rum punch bar for the sail home. These shared catamaran cruises carry twenty to forty guests, last three to four hours and cost roughly USD 79 to USD 119 per person with food, drinks and snorkel kit included. The party boat versions swap the calm cruise for music, games and a livelier crowd.

For groups, Puerto Plata also has a strong private charter market out of the Taino Bay marina, where you can book a wide beam catamaran with an onboard jacuzzi for up to fifteen people, crewed by a captain and sometimes a chef. Private charters run two to six hours and often beat the per person rate once a family splits the cost. Whatever boat you choose, take the morning departure if you are prone to seasickness, since the trade wind and swell build through the afternoon, and cruise passengers should pick the shorter trips so the Sosua run plus transfer leaves room before all aboard.