Some of the best photos in Puerto Rico aren’t on a road at all — they’re a 15 to 60-minute boat ride off the coast of Fajardo. Two of the islands below are boat-only, with no ferry or dock of any kind. The other two also have a public ferry, but a private charter gets you to the spots — and the light — the ferry schedule doesn’t.
Cayo Icacos — The Sandbar Shot Everyone Wants
Cayo Icacos is a small, uninhabited island about 15–20 minutes by boat from Marina Puerto del Rey. It’s famous for a glass-clear, shallow sandbar — the kind of water you can stand in a quarter-mile from shore, with your boat anchored behind you in the frame. There’s no ferry, dock, or land access at all — a boat is the only way in.
Palomino Island — Calm Water, Wide Open Sky
A few minutes from Icacos, Palomino has calm, shallow water that photographs beautifully from above and reads as pure open horizon from the water. Like Icacos, it’s uninhabited with no buildings, shops, or facilities — and only reachable by private or chartered boat. Many charters visit both islands in the same day.
For the clearest sandbar shots at Icacos or Palomino, ask your captain for a mid-morning stop — the sun is high enough to light up the turquoise water without the harsh glare of midday.
Culebra's Flamenco Beach & Culebrita's Tidal Pools
Culebra is about an hour by private charter from Fajardo and is home to Flamenco Beach, ranked the #1 beach in the US by multiple travel publications — powder-white sand and calm turquoise water. A public ferry also reaches Culebra, but a boat charter can add Carlos Rosario reef for snorkeling and Culebrita’s tidal pools and 1886 lighthouse in the same trip, without a ferry reservation or parking to plan around.
Vieques — Wild Horses on the Beach and a Bay That Glows
Vieques is also reachable by public ferry or a short flight, but it holds two of the most photographed things in Puerto Rico: wild Paso Fino horses that roam freely across the island — including along several beaches — and Mosquito Bay, certified by Guinness World Records as the brightest bioluminescent bay on Earth. Boating Puerto Rico runs a private overnight charter to Vieques that includes a night tour of Mosquito Bay directly from the boat, on a dark, moonless night when the glow is strongest.
Boat-Only vs. Ferry-Accessible — What's the Difference
Icacos and Palomino have no ferry, dock, or land access of any kind — a boat charter is the only way to get the shot at all. Culebra and Vieques both have a public ferry, so a private charter there is less about access and more about combining stops, skipping the ferry logistics, and timing the light exactly when you want it.
Want to see these islands for yourself? Send us your date and group size and we’ll recommend the best route for your crew.
Book on WhatsAppFAQ
Which Puerto Rico islands can only be reached by boat? Cayo Icacos and Palomino Island are boat-only — both are uninhabited with no ferry, dock, or public transportation. A private boat charter from Marina Puerto del Rey in Fajardo is the standard way to visit either one, about 15–20 minutes each way.
Can you visit Culebra and Vieques by boat instead of the ferry? Yes. Both islands also have a public ferry, but a private charter from Fajardo skips the reservation and parking logistics and can combine stops — for example Culebra's Flamenco Beach with Carlos Rosario reef and Culebrita's tidal pools in the same day.
Can I see the Vieques bioluminescent bay from a private boat charter? Yes — Boating Puerto Rico offers a private overnight charter to Vieques that includes a night tour of Mosquito Bay, recognized by Guinness World Records as the brightest bioluminescent bay in the world.