Renting a boat in Turks and Caicos: your own boat and captain, or the handlebars yourself

Best for: families and groups who want the day to themselves

A private charter is the closest thing to owning a boat for the day. It’s yours alone, you choose the stops, and a licensed captain handles the channels, the anchoring and the reef, so everyone on board is off duty. Our boats run from a 22ft sport boat for six to a 70ft schooner for 50, and every one comes with its captain.

Do I need a boating license to charter a boat?

No. Your captain holds the license and does the driving, so you need no license and no experience. You plan the route together at the dock, and the tide and the weather have the final say.

Best for: couples, teens and anyone who wants to drive

If you want your hands on the controls, a guided jet ski tour is the way to do it. You drive, a local guide leads the way through the shallows, and each jet ski takes up to two riders. Everyone gets safety gear and a briefing before setting off, and no driver’s license is needed.

How old do you have to be to drive a jet ski?

On our group tours, 16 to drive solo, and younger riders can drive with a guardian seated behind them; passengers ride from age 3. Tours leave Heaving Down Rock Marina in Leeward and run from one hour out to the La Famille Express shipwreck to three hours on the south coast, with lunch at Noah’s Ark.

Best for: wakeboarders, wakesurfers and families who want to try

Want to be the one carving the water? The Luxury Watersports Charter is a purpose-built wake boat for up to ten. You wakesurf, wakefoil, wakeboard or tube behind it with expert instruction for every skill level, while your captain drives and the sound system keeps the beat.

Can beginners try wakeboarding in Turks and Caicos?

Yes. Instruction is included for every skill level, and the calm, clear water inside the reef is a friendly place to stand up for the first time. Charters run from one hour to six, with snorkeling, shipwrecks and secluded cays mixed in on the longer ones.

Best for: couples and small groups who want a boat of their own

Small boats feel the most like your own. The 26ft Regal’s three-hour charter is priced for two, the 22ft Sports Cruiser includes six on every option, and the 28ft Luxury Boat has one price for up to six, with a sun pad, a premium sound system and bottomless rum punch.

Can a boat pick us up from our villa?

Many can, for an extra fee and when conditions allow, arranged after booking, so the day starts at your door. The 26ft Regal and the 22ft Sports Cruiser even run a free shuttle from central Grace Bay and Long Bay resorts.

• The route: your captain knows which sandbar is showing at that tide and where the turtles tend to feed.
• The anchoring: anchors go down on sand, never on coral or seagrass, so the reef stays perfect for your snorkel.
• The floating bar: most powerboats tie up right alongside Noah’s Ark.
• The photos: on many boats the crew plays your music and takes your photos.
• The gear: snorkel masks, fins and life jackets come on every boat.

Rent a boat or take a jet ski tour?

Book a private boat charter if you want a boat of your own for the day: the captain, the crew and the local knowledge come with it. Book a jet ski tour if what you really want is to drive. Plenty of groups do both. For more, see how safe boat charters are, jet ski rental or guided tour and what happens on a private charter. Pick your boat below.

• Taxes included. The price you see is the price you pay.
• A deposit secures the boat. Every listing shows its free-cancellation window.
• Fast answers. Requests are confirmed within a few hours, nearly always the same day.