Book the four-hour private boat charter. $1,450 for up to six guests, plus 12% government tax, so $1,624 all in for a family of four.
That is the answer for the great majority of families matching this description, and the rest of this page explains why — and the two situations where we would steer you somewhere else instead.
Why four hours and not seven
The full-day charter is better value per hour. It is also three more hours than most children under ten have in them on a boat.
What actually happens on a seven-hour trip with a six-year-old: the first four hours are wonderful, and then the sun has been on them all day, the novelty of the sandbar has gone, and you spend the last stretch managing rather than enjoying. We see it. We would rather sell you the shorter trip and have you book us again next year.
Four hours gives you a sandbar, a snorkel stop and a beach. That is a complete day out for a young family, and you are back in time for a nap and a proper dinner.
Why private and not a group tour
Three concrete reasons, none of them about luxury.
- The schedule is yours. If the four-year-old falls asleep, the boat does not have to be anywhere. If the eight-year-old will not come out of the water, you stay.
- The crew are yours. On a shared boat with thirty passengers, the crew are managing thirty passengers. On yours, there is someone free to lift your children in and out of the water all afternoon.
- Pickup is from your beach. No taxi with car seats, no marina, no waiting on a dock. We come to the sand in front of where you are staying.
For a family of four, the per-person cost is $406 before tax. A shared tour is cheaper. Whether the difference is worth it depends entirely on how your particular children handle a fixed timetable.
What the four hours look like
| Roughly | What happens |
|---|---|
| First 20 minutes | Beach pickup, out past the reef line. Children usually spend this at the bow. |
| Hour 1 | Sandbar. Waist-deep water in the middle of the ocean — the thing most children remember. |
| Hour 2 | Snorkel stop. Child-sized masks and fins are on board. Crew in the water with first-timers. |
| Hour 3 | A beach, often Little Water Cay for the rock iguanas, or a quiet stretch of sand with nobody on it. |
| Last 40 minutes | Back in, usually with at least one child asleep on a bench. |
The order moves. Wind, swell and where the other boats are all change the plan, and the captain decides on the day. That flexibility is the point.
What is included
- Captain and crew
- Snorkelling equipment, adult and child sizes
- Life jackets in child sizes — tell us ages and weights in advance
- Island rum punch, beers, sodas, juice and water
- Beach pickup from your hotel, resort or villa
Not included: the 12% government tax, and gratuity if you choose to leave one. There is a full breakdown in our guide to what a charter quote includes.
The two cases where we would recommend something else
If one of the four is a baby or a toddler
Book the half-day luxury yacht instead — $2,500. The reason is not luxury, it is the air-conditioned interior. Somewhere genuinely cool and dark to put a small child down, plus an onboard bathroom and an indoor shower, changes a four-hour trip from an endurance test into a pleasant afternoon. It also carries fourteen, so there is nothing lost.
If your children are 8, 9 and obsessed with water
Look at the catamaran with slide — $2,700 for the half day, covering up to ten guests. For a family of four that is more boat than you need on paper. But a water slide off the deck of a catamaran into open sea is, for a certain age of child, the single best thing that will happen on the holiday. Some families book it for exactly that and nothing else.
What to bring
- Rash guards, long-sleeved, for every child. More reliable than reapplying sunscreen on a wet child.
- Reef-safe sunscreen, applied before you leave the room.
- Hats with chin straps. The others blow off.
- A dry bag for phones.
- A change of clothes each and a towel per person.
- Any specific snacks your children will actually eat. Drinks are covered; fussy eaters are your department.
Common questions
Can children who cannot swim come?
Yes. Life jackets are on board in child sizes and the crew are in the water with non-swimmers. Tell us in advance who can and cannot swim.
Is the sandbar genuinely shallow?
At the right tide, yes — often waist-deep on an adult. The captain picks the stop around the tide on your day.
Is there a bathroom on the standard boat?
No. The luxury yacht and the 65ft Fairline both have one. With children under ten this is sometimes the deciding factor, so it is worth thinking about honestly before you book.
What happens if the weather is bad?
If the captain calls it off, we reschedule or refund. We will not take a family out in conditions that will frighten the children.
How far in advance should we book?
In high season, as early as you can — the boats go first on school holidays. Check availability for your dates.
