Private Boat Rental on Cap Camarat 17ft

The best part of this Bora Bora outing is simple: you get the boat to yourself. Instead of sharing a small vessel with a crowd, your group can stretch out on the front deck, sit under the canopy, and decide how much time to spend cruising, swimming, and snorkeling. I like the easy access to the water from the rear ladder, and I like that the captain can adjust the route for conditions and your interests.

The captains also add a personal touch. Sam has helped nervous swimmers feel at ease, while Will has pointed out seahorses, sea cucumbers, reef fish, sharks, and rays. The main drawback is the price, €197.68 per person, which only makes strong value sense if you are sharing it with a group. The three-hour limit also means you need to choose your stops wisely.

Key points to know before booking

• Private 17-foot boat: Your group has the Jeanneau Cap Camarat and captain to itself, with space at the bow and shade under a canopy.
• Three-hour lagoon outing: The route can include a circle of Bora Bora, snorkeling areas, coral gardens, and places to swim with sharks and rays.
• Captain-led, not self-drive: A local captain handles the boat and offers light commentary about the island and surroundings.
• Pickup is included: Hotel and port pickup and drop-off are provided from select locations, along with water.
• Wildlife is a major draw: You might see sharks, stingrays, turtles, seahorses, sea cucumbers, and colorful tropical fish.
• Weather matters: Poor conditions can lead to a new date or a full refund, and cancellations made at least 24 hours ahead receive a full refund.

A private boat makes Bora Bora’s lagoon feel calmer

Bora Bora is famous for water views, but the experience changes when you are not packed into a shared cruise. On this outing, the boat belongs only to your party. You can sit at the front, retreat beneath the cool canopy, or move to the rear ladder when you want a swim.

That privacy is especially useful for couples, families, and small groups with different energy levels. One person can relax while another snorkels. A child can stay close to an adult. A less confident swimmer can remain near the captain instead of being pushed along with a large group.

The boat is a Jeanneau Cap Camarat 17ft. That gives you a smaller, more personal platform than a large sightseeing vessel, but it also means you should not expect a spacious yacht. The private setup is the attraction. It is a boat for getting close to the lagoon, not for carrying a full party with lots of equipment and elaborate onboard facilities.

The captain drives throughout the outing. You are not renting a boat to operate on your own. The route can follow a circle around the island, include snorkeling sites, or change with weather, water conditions, and your own curiosity.

What the three-hour route can include

The exact order of stops is flexible, which is one of the useful features of a private tour. The captain can guide you toward known snorkeling areas or respond to the places you most want to see. You should think of the outing as a compact lagoon tour with several possible highlights, not a fixed parade of stops.

Cruising around Bora Bora

The boat ride gives you a different view of Bora Bora than you get from land. The captain provides light commentary, and some guides add local history and personal knowledge of the island. Sam has been praised for his affection for his home, and Will has mixed fish spotting with local stories.

This part of the tour is not just transportation between swim sites. It gives you time to look at the shoreline, the surrounding water, and the changing views from the lagoon. Still, the cruise portion competes with snorkeling time. If swimming is your main goal, tell the captain early so the three hours are used in the way you prefer.

Snorkeling at coral gardens

The coral garden is likely to be the most rewarding stop for anyone who enjoys small reef life. Here you might see colorful tropical fish, seahorses, sea cucumbers, and other creatures among the coral. The attraction is variety rather than one large animal encounter.

One guide, Will, has swum with his group and pointed out different species in the water. That kind of help matters because many reef creatures are easy to miss when you are looking only for big fish. You will get more from the stop if you move slowly and listen to the captain’s directions.

Water conditions can change. One outing had rough swells at the first snorkeling site, so Captain Tarepa, also known as Captain Jack Sparrow, moved the group to a better location. That is exactly the sort of adjustment a private boat makes possible. The drawback is that a rough day may limit visibility or shorten time in one area.

Swimming with sharks and rays

Sharks and stingrays are a major reason people choose this tour. The lagoon can offer close encounters with both, and some outings have also included turtles. The captain can help you understand where to look and how to remain comfortable in the water.

You do not need to be a strong swimmer to take part, but you should tell the captain about your comfort level. Sam has been especially attentive to swimmers who needed reassurance, including joining them in the water and helping them reach a coral reef safely.

The operator says its approach is based on protecting marine life, including the coral, sharks, and rays, and does not include feeding the animals. That matters. You should not assume that an animal encounter means touching or feeding wildlife. Follow the captain’s instructions and treat the lagoon as a living environment, not an aquarium built for entertainment.

A swim from the rear ladder

The rear ladder makes a quick swim easy. You can cool off without waiting for a beach stop, then climb back aboard when you are ready. This is particularly handy on a warm day when you want short swims between cruising sections.

The ladder also gives you an option if you do not want to snorkel for the entire stop. You can stay close to the boat, take in the water, and return to the deck without needing a long swim. Water is included, but lunch is not, so plan your meal before or after the three-hour outing.

The captains shape the day

The boat itself is only half the story. The captain determines how safe, relaxed, and useful the outing feels. Several names appear in the feedback connected with this operation, including Niko, Sam, Will, Terry, Ruma, Taai, and Tarepa.

Niko has taken groups around the island looking for sharks, rays, turtles, and other sea life, and one outing ended with a ukulele serenade. Sam has been praised for careful support in the water and for finding quieter or less familiar areas after a group had already taken another boat trip. Ruma has led outings to three different swimming spots, while Terry handled a rainy snorkeling trip with a good sense of fun.

These details point to an important benefit of booking private: the captain can adapt to the people in your boat. You can ask for more time at the coral garden, a gentler swimming spot, or a different route if waves make the first location uncomfortable.

There is one practical caveat. A boat problem did occur on one outing, although a replacement arrived while the group continued snorkeling. Mechanical issues can happen on any small boat, and a three-hour schedule leaves little room for delay. The quick replacement was reassuring, but you should still avoid scheduling an important flight or tightly timed activity immediately afterward.

How the private format affects value

The listed price is €197.68 per person. That is a serious cost for three hours, especially since lunch is not included. The value improves when several people share the private boat and when privacy matters to you more than the lowest possible price.

You are paying for more than a ride. The price includes hotel pickup and drop-off from select locations, port transfers, a local guide, the captain, water, and a private boat. You also gain the freedom to adjust the pace instead of following a large group through every stop.

Group discounts are offered, though the exact reduction is not provided here. Check the final price for your party before booking. If you are a couple watching every euro, compare the private cost with a shared lagoon cruise. If you are a family or group that values flexibility, the private arrangement may be easier to justify.

A useful way to judge the price is to ask what you want from Bora Bora’s lagoon. If you mainly want a quick scenic ride, this is probably more than you need. If you want personal attention, room to relax, and the chance to tailor snorkeling stops, the private format offers a stronger reason to pay more.

Pickup, comfort, and what to bring

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included from select locations, as are port transfers. Confirm that your accommodation is covered when you book. Some pickups are from the resort’s main dock, and early arrival is possible, so be ready a little ahead of the scheduled time.

The boat offers a front deck and a canopy. The front is a good place to stretch out and watch the water, while the canopy gives you a break from the sun. Since this is a 17-foot boat, pack lightly and keep personal items compact.

Water is included. Lunch is not, so eat beforehand or make a plan for afterward. The information provided does not list snorkeling equipment, towels, reef shoes, or other personal gear, so ask the operator what is supplied before you go. One outing used reef shoes at a snorkeling site, which suggests they can be useful, but you should confirm whether you need to bring your own.

Children must be accompanied by an adult. Most people can participate, but you should be honest about swimming ability and comfort around marine life. The captain can make the outing easier for a nervous swimmer, but this remains a boat and water activity, not a supervised swimming lesson.

Weather, timing, and cancellation rules

The tour requires good weather. If poor conditions force a cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. That policy is helpful in Bora Bora, where wind and swells can change the quality of a snorkeling stop.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not refunded or accepted. The cutoff follows local time, so check the clock carefully if your plans change.

The three-hour duration is enough for a focused lagoon outing, but it is not a full-day charter. A typical visit may combine cruising, a shark and ray area, a coral garden, and one or more swimming stops. If you want a long lunch, extended snorkeling, or a slow circle of the entire island, ask whether a longer private charter is available rather than expecting this short tour to cover everything.

Who will enjoy this most

I would choose this tour for a small group that wants privacy and flexibility. It is particularly well suited to:

• Couples looking for a quiet boat ride with time to swim
• Families who need to set their own pace
• Strong swimmers who want several snorkeling stops
• Nervous swimmers who want a captain close by
• Repeat visitors who have already seen the standard lagoon route
• Groups willing to split the cost of a private boat

I would think twice if your budget is tight, if you do not want to enter the water, or if you need a guaranteed full-day schedule. The wildlife encounters are a major part of the appeal, so the tour makes less sense if sharks, rays, coral, and reef fish are not on your list.

Should you book the Cap Camarat outing?

Book it if you want Bora Bora’s lagoon without the crowd, and if you value a captain who can change the route around conditions and your group’s comfort. The private boat, rear swimming ladder, coral garden stops, and chance to see sharks, rays, turtles, and smaller reef creatures give the three hours plenty of substance.

The price is the main question. At €197.68 per person, it is easiest to justify when shared by a group and when personal attention matters. Confirm pickup coverage, ask what snorkeling gear is supplied, and leave room in your schedule in case weather or boat conditions alter the timing.

For a private, captain-led taste of Bora Bora’s water, this is a strong choice. For the cheapest way to see the lagoon, choose a shared cruise instead.

FAQ

How long is the private boat tour?

The tour lasts approximately three hours.

Is the boat private?

Yes. This is a private activity, and only your group participates.

What type of boat is used?

The tour uses a Jeanneau Cap Camarat 17ft boat with a captain.

Is a captain included?

Yes. The boat is always operated with a captain, who drives and provides light commentary.

What might I see in the water?

You might see sharks, stingrays, turtles, seahorses, sea cucumbers, and colorful tropical fish.

Is hotel pickup included?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included from select locations. Port pickup and drop-off are also included.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included, but water is provided.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The tour may be canceled if weather conditions are unsuitable. You will be offered a different date or a full refund.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded.