Private Charter for snorkeling, swimming pigs, turtles & fishing….

The most appealing part of this Bahamas charter is the freedom to shape the day. Captain Javano takes your private group from Paradise Island on a 35-foot Donzi Marine center-console boat, and you choose the mix: snorkeling, fishing, swimming with turtles, visiting pigs, or cruising to white-sand beaches. I like the private setup and the boat’s full restroom, a useful feature on a half-day trip.

I also like that the $850 price covers the whole group, up to eight people, rather than charging each person separately. The cooler with bottled water and ice, snorkel gear, fishing equipment, and a guide are included. The main caution is that the advertised activities can bring extra costs, including a $30-per-person pig interaction fee, and one serious account reports a rough, uncomfortable high-speed return ride.

Key points to know before booking

• Captain Javano gives you a flexible private outing: You can focus on one activity or combine several during the roughly four-hour charter.
• The 35-foot Donzi has a real restroom: The bathroom inside the center console is a practical comfort on open water.
• The $850 rate covers up to eight people: That makes the trip most attractive for families or friends who can share the cost.
• Fishing capacity is listed at six anglers: The boat can carry up to eight people, but a full fishing group may need to plan around the six-angler limit.
• Pig visits may cost extra: Budget another $30 per person if you choose the pig interaction.
• The return ride deserves a safety question: Ask Captain Javano about sea conditions and the expected speed before setting out.

Leaving Paradise Island on a private Donzi

Your meeting point is the Paradise Island Ferry Terminal on Paradise Beach Drive. The activity ends at the same place, so you do not need to arrange a separate return from another dock. The location is near public transportation, which helps if you are staying around Nassau or Paradise Island.

The boat is a custom 35-foot Donzi Marine center console. That is a substantial craft for a small private group, with front bow seating and lounge space. You can sit forward for open views, or use the more protected center section when you want shade and less spray. The boat also has a multimedia system compatible with MP3 and Bluetooth, so you can bring music for the ride.

The group limit is up to eight people, but pay attention to the fishing detail. The boat is described as able to safely take up to six anglers. If your whole group wants to fish at once, six is the useful number. A party of eight can still book the charter, but the extra two people may be better suited to the sightseeing and swimming side of the day.

The private format matters here. You are not sharing the boat with a large crowd, and your group can set the day’s priorities with the captain. That works especially well when one person wants to fish, another wants to snorkel, and someone else would rather sit on a beach.

How the four-hour charter can unfold

This is a flexible half-day outing rather than a fixed sightseeing circuit. The exact order of stops depends on your choices, available time, and conditions. You can ask to combine fishing with snorkeling, or spend more time on a beach and less time moving between activities.

A typical plan might begin with a ride away from Paradise Island, followed by a water stop for snorkeling or turtle swimming. The charter can then shift to fishing, a pig visit, or a beach stop. Since the duration is only about four hours, every extra stop reduces the time available for the others.

That tradeoff is worth discussing before departure. If pigs are your main goal, say so at the start. If you want a relaxed mix of swimming, fishing, and beach time, ask Captain Javano to suggest a sensible order. The value of a private charter is not simply having the boat to yourself. It is being able to avoid spending half the trip on activities your group does not want.

The boat ride itself is part of the experience, but it can also be the least predictable part. One account describes a long ride to an island, a charge to enter that island, and a fast return that caused people to slam back into their seats, with two reported injuries. That is a serious warning, not a minor quibble. You should ask where you are going, whether any landing or entry fee applies, and how the captain plans to handle the return if the water becomes rough.

Snorkeling with the supplied equipment

Snorkeling equipment is included, which keeps the booking simple. You do not need to arrange a separate rental for masks and snorkels before reaching the dock. The supplied gear is one of the better inclusions for a mixed group, since some people may want only a short swim while others spend more time in the water.

The information provided does not promise a particular reef, fish species, or snorkeling site. That means you should not book this as a guaranteed wildlife or coral tour. Instead, think of snorkeling as one option within a private day on the water.

Ask about the planned snorkeling location before leaving. You can also ask whether the captain expects calm conditions at that stop. A private boat gives you more room to discuss comfort levels, especially if children or less confident swimmers are joining you. The guide is included, but the available information does not specify a separate marine biologist or specialist instructor.

Looking for turtles in the water

Swimming with turtles is another possible activity. It is an appealing choice because it gives the day a clear wildlife focus without requiring your group to commit to fishing or a beach visit.

Still, the wording allows you to choose turtle swimming, not to assume turtles will appear on demand. Wildlife encounters depend on location and conditions, and no specific turtle site or sighting guarantee is provided. Keep that in mind when comparing this charter with a specialist wildlife trip.

The private format lets you give turtles more attention if they are your priority. You can also switch plans if the water conditions or timing make another activity a better choice. Ask how much time you would have at the turtle stop, since a four-hour charter can feel short once boat travel is counted.

The pig interaction and its extra charge

Swimming pigs are one of the headline choices, but this part needs the clearest budget warning. The pig interaction fee is listed as an optional $30 per person, and it is not included in the $850 charter price.

For a group of eight, that adds $240. Your total would then be $1,090 before any food, drinks, or other charges. For a smaller group, calculate the fee per person before booking. A group of four would add $120, bringing the combined amount to $970.

Also ask whether the pig stop involves an island landing fee. One account reports being charged to step onto an island. The supplied details do not identify that charge or say that it applies to every trip, so get the full cost from Secret Cays before departure.

The pig visit may suit families and groups who want a memorable, playful stop. It is less attractive if you mainly want quiet beach time or fishing and do not want to pay for an extra interaction. The key is to treat it as an optional add-on, not as part of the base price.

Fishing with gear already on board

Fishing equipment is included, and the boat is described as able to safely take up to six anglers. That makes fishing a practical part of the charter rather than a vague possibility. If fishing is central to your day, tell the captain when you book and confirm how many people can fish at one time.

The information does not specify the fish species, fishing method, bait, licenses, or whether your catch can be kept. Do not assume those details. Ask what kind of fishing is planned and what is supplied beyond the basic equipment.

Fishing also changes the pace of the trip. You may spend more time in one area and less time snorkeling or visiting beaches. That can be a good fit for a group with keen anglers, but it is worth agreeing on priorities so non-fishers are not left waiting for most of the charter.

White-sand beaches and time ashore

The captain can cruise to pristine white-sand beaches, giving you another way to use the four hours. A beach stop can be the easiest choice for a mixed-age group because it does not require everyone to fish or snorkel.

The exact beach is not named, and the information does not state whether beach access is free. This is where the earlier cost warning matters. Ask if the planned beach requires an island or landing fee, and ask how long your group will have ashore.

Beach time can also be the calmest part of the day. If you are sensitive to boat motion, you may prefer a shorter ride and more time on land. On the other hand, if you want a true boat outing, spending the bulk of the charter at a beach may not be the best use of the $850 group rate.

Comfort features that matter on a half-day boat

The full bathroom inside the center console is a strong practical feature. On a four-hour trip, a private restroom means you are not forced to end the outing early or wait for the next beach stop. It is especially useful for families and anyone who prefers not to rely on facilities at an island stop.

A cooler filled with bottled water and ice is included. Food and drinks are not included unless requested, and alcoholic beverages are specifically excluded. You should arrange any desired food or additional drinks ahead of time rather than assume they will be waiting at the dock.

The bow seating and lounge space give you room to spread out. The Bluetooth and MP3-compatible system add a casual touch, although music should not distract from instructions around fishing, swimming, or moving about the boat.

Is $850 a good value for your group?

At $850 per group, the rate works out to $106.25 per person for eight people, before optional pig fees and any requested food or drinks. For six people, it is about $141.67 each. For four people, it rises to $212.50 each.

That makes group size the biggest value factor. A full group of eight gets the strongest price, though only six can be treated as anglers according to the boat description. A couple or small family may find the cost harder to justify unless privacy and flexibility matter more than a low per-person price.

You are paying for exclusive use of the boat, a captain and guide, equipment, water and ice, a restroom, and the chance to choose your stops. You are not paying for a fixed guarantee of every listed activity. Trying to fit fishing, snorkeling, turtles, pigs, and a beach into four hours could leave each stop brief.

Before paying, confirm the pig fee, any island access fee, the food and drink plan, the fishing limit, and the proposed route. Those answers will tell you much more about the real value than the base price alone.

Safety, sea conditions, and the return ride

This experience requires good weather. If poor weather forces a cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. That policy is sensible for a boat trip, but weather is not the only factor to discuss.

One account describes a fast return ride that caused passengers to be thrown against the boat and led to two injuries. You should not ignore that warning. Ask the captain to explain how the boat speed will change with sea conditions, where children and less steady passengers should sit, and what the plan is if the ride becomes rough.

Keep your hands free when the boat is moving, follow crew instructions, and use the available seating rather than standing. The bow lounge may be pleasant in calm water, but the most comfortable place can change quickly when the boat picks up speed or meets waves.

This is not a reason to reject the charter automatically. It is a reason to set expectations clearly before leaving the terminal. A private booking gives you a good chance to raise these concerns directly with Captain Javano.

Who will get the most from this charter?

I would consider this charter for a family or friend group that values privacy and wants several choices in one outing. The private rate is most attractive when seven or eight people split it. The restroom, cooler, seating, and included gear also reduce the number of arrangements you need to make.

It suits a group that can agree on priorities. If half the party wants to fish and the rest want to swim or visit a beach, the flexible format can work well. If everyone wants one highly focused activity, a specialist trip may be a better comparison.

I would be cautious if you dislike speed, are uncomfortable with boat motion, or need a guaranteed turtle, pig, or snorkeling encounter. I would also avoid assuming that every advertised option fits comfortably into four hours. Choose one main activity and one or two secondary stops, then confirm the plan with the captain.

Should you book Secret Cays?

Book this charter if you have a private group large enough to share the $850 cost, want control over the day, and like the idea of mixing fishing with water and beach stops. The Donzi, restroom, included gear, water, and flexible route give it useful advantages.

Book only after confirming the pig interaction fee and any landing charges. Most important, discuss the route and return speed with Captain Javano. If those answers are clear and the weather is good, this can be a convenient way to put several Nassau-area activities into one private half-day. If safety concerns or unpredictable extra costs bother you, choose a more structured tour with a fixed route and published inclusions.

FAQ

How much does the private charter cost?

The charter costs $850 per group, for up to eight people.

How long does the experience last?

The charter lasts approximately four hours.

Where does the boat depart and return?

The meeting point is the Paradise Island Ferry Terminal on Paradise Beach Drive in The Bahamas. The activity ends back at the same meeting point.

What activities can I choose?

You can choose snorkeling, swimming with turtles, swimming pigs, fishing, or cruising to white-sand beaches. The day is arranged around your group’s choices.

Is the pig interaction included in the price?

No. The optional pig interaction fee is $30 per person.

What is included on the boat?

Snorkeling equipment, a guide, bottled water and ice in a cooler, fishing equipment, a full bathroom inside the console, and an MP3 and Bluetooth-compatible multimedia system are included.

What happens if bad weather cancels the trip?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you are offered a different date or a full refund. Free cancellation is also available when you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time.