Zaptastic Tours
Race across Simpson Bay in a world-champion racer's ZapCat
Why Go
A no-cruise-ship, no-boozy-catamaran kind of boat ride — you strap in, hang on, and get thrown across the lagoon at 50 mph in an inflatable racing cat piloted by an actual ZapCat world champion. It's the closest thing to a Formula 1 lap you'll find on the water in St. Maarten, and it lives quietly behind Feestcafe on the Cole Bay side of the causeway.
The Experience
Zaptastic runs two boats out of the Feestcafe dock on Welfare Road, right where Cole Bay tips into the Simpson Bay Lagoon: the ZapCat, a low-slung inflatable racing catamaran built for pounding across chop, and the ten-seat Rocket Ride for slightly bigger groups. You check in at the bar, get a proper safety brief with weight-distribution instructions (where you sit actually matters at these speeds), zip up a life vest, and then you're out the cut and airborne. The signature 'Lightning Loop' is three high-adrenaline laps of Simpson Bay — think jet-ski intensity, but faster, drier, and with a crew that reads your face and dials the throttle to match. Sessions run about an hour door-to-door, and the drivers are genuinely elite, so the ride feels aggressive but controlled rather than reckless.
What to Try
Book the Lightning Loop on the ZapCat if you want the full racing-boat experience — it hugs the water and slams through wake harder than the Rocket. If you're rolling with kids, grandparents, or anyone nervous, ask for the Rocket Ride and tell the captain up front that you want a 'scenic' pace; they'll still open it up in flat sections but keep the jumps polite. Confident group of thrill-seekers? Say the words 'go hard' and hold on.
Insider Tip
Wear a swimsuit under quick-dry clothes, leave the phone in the car (or bring a floating waterproof case — the crew has dry storage but spray is constant), and skip the big breakfast. And time it: book the late-afternoon slot, then walk straight into Feestcafe or across to Bamboo House afterward while your legs are still buzzing. Payment is easiest in USD cash or by direct arrangement — this isn't a big Viator operation, so call or email ahead (+1 721-581-4172 / zaptastictours@gmail.com) rather than assuming walk-up availability.
The Practical Stuff
Meeting point is Unit 5, 60 Welfare Rd, at Feestcafe SXM in Cole Bay (Dutch side), a two-minute drive from the Simpson Bay bridge. Sessions run about 60 minutes, USD accepted, cash preferred. Minimum age is flexible but small children need a parent's judgment call — talk to the captain. Not recommended if you have back or neck issues, are pregnant, or get seasick easily. Sea conditions dictate everything, so if it's blowing hard the crew may reschedule rather than run a miserable ride. Book ahead in high season and confirm the day before.
Pair It With
- Bamboo House SXM Guide — Two minutes up Welfare Road in Cole Bay — sushi and Asian small plates are the perfect way to refuel and rehydrate after an hour of getting pounded across the lagoon.
- Aquarius Spa BV Guide — Over in Simpson Bay, a short drive from the dock — a massage the same evening or next morning takes the edge off the inevitable core-and-shoulder soreness from bracing on the ZapCat.
- Maho Beach Guide — Ten minutes further west, so you can chase the salt-spray adrenaline with the island's other signature rush: standing under a 737 on final approach at the end of the runway.
