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Before your charter

What to expect on your Punta Cana yacht charter

Everything we wish every guest knew before they boarded — what to bring, what’s included, how the day flows, and the small details that make a charter actually feel like a vacation.

Locally owned and operated since 2008. Direct booking — no middlemen, no commissions, no surprises.
Private yacht charter off the coast of Punta Cana

We’ve been chartering boats out of Punta Cana for 18 years, and the questions guests ask before their trip are almost always the same. This page answers them — in the order they actually come up. Your booking agent is also one reply away if anything else is on your mind.

How the day flows

It’s your day — we build it around you

Every charter is 100% custom. We are not a tour operator running a fixed itinerary for hundreds of strangers. One group wants dembow at 100 dB and unlimited rum. Another wants Christopher Cross on low and fruit punch for the kids. Some groups want to snorkel on a reef; others can’t swim and would rather spend the day on a quiet beach. All of that is fine. Your agent will work through the details with you before charter day — music, food, bar, stops, route — and the crew delivers it.

Within that, charters fall into two formats. Your hotel location does not decide which one you pick — guests from every resort do both.

Format 1

Half-day charter along the Punta Cana / Bávaro coast

Half-day charters run 3–4 hours and stay along the Bávaro coast, which sits inside a long coral reef. Inside the reef the water is shallow, turquoise, and almost always flat — no swells, no chop, no real waves. Think of a lagoon or a lake.

What you do on the water is up to you. Common requests: snorkeling on the reef, a stop at the natural pool (a shallow sandbar in the middle of the sea where the water is waist-deep), open bar, music, swim time. Also common: skipping the snorkeling entirely and spending the day at a quiet beach. Party-oriented groups and family-oriented groups both come here — the boat adjusts to the group.

Boarding is from the beach. In most cases a smaller tender boat brings you out from the sand to the main yacht anchored offshore; in some cases you board the yacht directly from the beach. Your driver drops you at the boarding point and the crew takes it from there.

Format 2

Full-day Saona Island charter (from Bayahibe)

Every boat that visits Saona Island leaves from a different town called Bayahibe — roughly an hour’s drive from Punta Cana or Bávaro, depending on your hotel. This is true regardless of where you are staying. Transportation is fully included: we pick you up at your hotel lobby around 7:30–8:00 AM and return you late afternoon.

From Bayahibe beach you board the yacht, usually by tender. From there it is open sea — you are outside any reef, in deeper water. There can be real swells depending on the day. The catamarans we use handle it comfortably and seasickness is rare (the fishing charter, a monohull, is the one exception — see the FAQ).

The day itself is still custom: natural pool stop, time on Saona beach, food, open bar, music — all shaped around what your group wants, not a fixed itinerary.

Either way

What we always take care of

The point of booking with us is that you never have to worry about the logistics. Every charter, without exception, includes round-trip transportation from your hotel. Depending on group size we send a taxi, a minivan, a small bus, or a 52-passenger coach. Your only job on charter day is to show up, get on the boat, and enjoy yourself.

Bring

Pack light, pack smart

  • Swimsuit (wear it under your clothes)
  • Sunscreen — the sun is stronger on the water
  • Sunglasses and a hat
  • A towel
  • Phone or camera
  • A small dry bag if you want to keep things dry on board
  • A cover-up for the ride home
  • Cash if you want to tip
Leave at the hotel

Best left behind

  • Jewelry and watches
  • Anything you’d hate to lose overboard
  • Large amounts of cash

Common questions

What should I bring on a yacht charter?
Bring a swimsuit (wear it under your clothes), sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, a towel, and your phone or camera. If you want to keep your phone or valuables dry on board, bring a small dry bag — we do not provide dry storage. A cover-up for the ride home is nice. Leave jewelry and anything irreplaceable at the hotel.
What is included in the price?
Always included, on every charter: captain, crew, fuel, taxes, and round-trip transportation from your hotel. Open bar, food, and snorkeling gear are commonly included but vary by boat and by what your group wants — your quote will spell out exactly what is on your boat. We do not provide floats, tubes, or dry storage. If you want any of those, bring them.
Should I tip the crew?
The Dominican Republic is not a tipping culture the way the United States is. Tipping is never expected and the crew does not count on it. If the day went well and you want to thank them, cash (USD or Dominican pesos) handed directly to the captain at the end is the easiest way — there is no standard percentage. If you would rather not tip, that is completely fine.
What if the weather is bad?
Safety is always the call. If conditions are unsafe — strong winds, lightning, heavy seas — we will reach out the day before or morning-of to reschedule to another day during your trip. If no other date works, your deposit is fully refunded. Light rain alone is not a cancellation; the Caribbean is warm and the boats have shaded areas. We monitor conditions closely and will never put you on the water in something that isn't fun and safe.
How do I get to the boat?
We handle all transportation — always, on every charter. You never have to figure out how to get to the boat or back to your hotel. Depending on group size we send a taxi, a minivan, a small bus, or a 52-passenger coach. Your driver meets you at your hotel lobby at the agreed time and takes you to the boarding point. There is no marina or pier — boarding is from the beach, usually via a smaller tender that brings you out to the yacht.
What time do we leave and come back?
Half-day charters run 3–4 hours and usually depart late morning or early afternoon. Full-day Saona charters start with a hotel pickup around 7:30–8:00 AM and return you to your hotel in the late afternoon. We confirm exact timing the day before.
How does payment work?
A 20% deposit secures your date, paid online by credit card through Stripe. The balance is paid by card before charter day — we do not accept cash and we do not collect payment at the boat. Once your balance is paid, your only job on charter day is to show up.
What is the cancellation policy?
Deposits are fully refundable up to 7 days before the charter date for any reason. Within 7 days, deposits can be applied to a future charter subject to availability. Weather cancellations on our end are always fully refundable or rescheduled at no cost.
Do you speak English? What about the crew?
Yes. Our office team, captains, and crew all speak working English. Language will not be an issue on any of our boats.
Can kids come? Do you have life jackets for them?
Absolutely. Many of our charters are families with kids of all ages, including toddlers. We carry life jackets in adult, child, and infant sizes, and the crew adjusts the route for families — shorter snorkeling stops, more time at the natural pool where the water is shallow. The specific food and drinks on your boat (including non-alcoholic options for kids) will be spelled out in your quote.
Will I get seasick?
Almost never. Bávaro half-day charters stay inside a coral reef — the water is flat and lake-like. Our catamarans handle the open water on the Saona trip comfortably, and seasickness is extremely rare. The one exception is our deep-sea fishing charter, which is a monohull in open sea — guests who are not used to offshore boats (often a spouse or kids accompanying an experienced fisherman) sometimes get sick on it. If you are booking the fishing charter and you know you are sensitive to motion, take Dramamine or Bonine 30 minutes before boarding.
Is it really a private charter?
Yes — every booking is 100% private to your group. You will not share the boat with strangers. This is not a shared excursion or a group tour disguised as private. The boat, the crew, the route, and the music are yours for the day.

Still have questions?

Reply to your inquiry email, send us a WhatsApp, or call. We answer fast — usually within an hour during the day.

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