The 15 Best Boat Trips in Costa Rica

1.Catamaran Ocean King Manuel Antonio

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 281 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $86Our pick

Spend about three and a half hours aboard a large, family-friendly catamaran from Quepos. You can watch for dolphins, whales, and sea turtles, swim near Manuel Antonio, use the slides, enjoy snacks and a meal, and watch the sunset. Hotel pickup is available from select Quepos and Manuel Antonio locations.

“Just relax and enjoy, let the friendly staff take care of you during the time on the boat, fresh fruit available, snacks and beverages”

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2.Blue Dolphin Catamaran Snorkeling Sunset Cruise from Tamarindo

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 97 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $99

Spend about five hours aboard the Blue Dolphin catamaran from Tamarindo, sailing or motoring to Playa Huevo for swimming and snorkeling before sunset. Lunch, snacks, kayaks, snorkel gear, and an open bar are included. The friendly crew, including Carlos on some departures, keeps the mood lively, though the boat can feel crowded and the music is often loud.

“The sailing, swimming, and food were all super good! We sailed to a private area, dropped anchor and swam for an hour. After swimming we had a yummy lunch before heading back! The water is so blue and the staff is extremely friendly. Refilling your beverages right away! Highly recommend!”

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3.Guanacaste Snorkel and Sunset Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 85 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $138

Sail the Pacific coast from Playa Hermosa on a four-hour catamaran trip with snorkeling, snacks, lunch, and an open bar. Watch for dolphins, whales, turtles, rays, and flying fish, then settle in for sunset. Boarding begins from the beach by small dinghy, so expect to wade into the water.

“The catamaran ride was fine. The snorkeling was subpar. Hardly any fish to see. And there was a long wait before we headed back. The food was definitely subpar.the sunset was nice”

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4.Catamaran Sailing & Snorkeling from Playas del Coco

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 85 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $132

Set out from Playas del Coco at 1:30 pm aboard Marlin del Rey’s spacious catamaran for swimming, snorkeling, a BBQ lunch, unlimited drinks, and a sunset sail along Costa Rica’s Gold Coast. The crew, including bartender Luis, keeps the mood easygoing. Expect a social boat ride, not a small private cruise, with room for up to 75 passengers.

“The cruise and the crew were great! The bartender was awesome and the lunch delicious! We caught a beautiful sunset as well. I didn't snorkel, but heard it was great too. Highly recommend this tour!”

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5.Damas Island Mangrove Boat Tour with Wildlife from Manuel Antonio

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 75 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $95Top rated

Cruise the mangroves of Isla Damas for about two hours with a certified naturalist guide. Guides such as Raul, Maria, Stephanie, Alvin, and Danny explain wildlife and local history while you watch for capuchin monkeys, birds, and bats. Hotel pickup, safety gear, bottled water, and a typical Costa Rican meal are included.

“What a great tour! Raul explained everything to us but there were times when we were able to just peacefully enjoy the ride. It was such a nice look into nature. Raul was able to spot animals that seemed completely hidden. The monkeys put on quite a show for us! Don’t expect an adventure tour. This is a peaceful boat ride through nature followed by a delicious typical Costa Rican breakfast.”

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6.Tortuga Island Private Full-Day Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 74 reviews · 8 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $203

Leave Jaco early with Captain Robert, Eric, or Jordan for a private speedboat ride from Herradura to Tortuga Island. Snorkel before the crowds, try the unusual subwing, look for spider monkeys, then enjoy fruit, beach chairs, SUP boards, drinks, and a choice of lunch. Ocean conditions can make the ride rough.

“Absolutely perfect day on the water with Robert! 10/10 recommend. We saw spider monkeys, javelinas, and even a whale! The whale was a very nice surprise.”

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7.Caño Negro by Boat Incl. traditional Costa Rican lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 58 reviews · 7 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $148

Travel from La Fortuna to Los Chiles, then explore Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge by motorboat, canoe, or kayak. Guide JP may share wildlife photos after the tour, while you look for monkeys, caimans, migratory birds, and freshwater sharks. A traditional Costa Rican lunch is served beside the river.

“Great trip down the river and close to Nacaragua border. Great guide and boat operator. We saw a ton of birds, caiman, monkeys etc. We were picked up from our hotel in Fortuna. I would highly recommend this trip.”

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8.Day Trip to Caño Negro Including Río Frio Boat Experience from La Fortuna

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 57 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $79

Travel from La Fortuna to Los Chiles for a 2.5-hour Río Frio boat safari in Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge. Guides such as Roy, Javier, Daevid, and Victor have helped guests spot sloths, caimans, monkeys, basilisk lizards, and dozens of bird species. Hotel transport, lunch, fruit, drinks, and bilingual guiding are included.

“Our trip was absolutely amazing! Roy was a wonderful guide and helped us see all kinds of beautiful wildlife. He was very knowledgeable about the Costa Rican agriculture and pointed out sugar cane farms, cattle auctions, bull fighting arenas, and pineapple farms along the way. The tour down the river was wonderful! Roy took amazing photos and shared them with all of us after the tour. We saw sloths, three kinds of monkey, and more birds and caymans than we could count. Amazing experience!”

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9.Boat Parasailing with Aguas Azules

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 56 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $118

Launch from a winch-equipped boat off Manuel Antonio’s Espadilla Beach, then float above the coast for 8 to 12 minutes while your group rides below. Aguas Azules supplies life jackets and harnesses, accommodates non-fliers when space allows, and returns you to the beach after roughly an hour.

“Excellent, very relaxing and I'm scared of heights! Definitely a must when in Manuel Antonio so you can take the best selfies, but bring a selfie stick!!!!”

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10.Canoe Boat Tour in Tortuguero Canal

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 56 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $35Best value

Explore Tortuguero’s rainforest canals by canoe with Sunbittern Nature Tours. Expect about three and a half hours on the water, a maximum of eight people, ponchos, life jackets, and careful wildlife spotting. Guides such as Adrian know how to ease into narrow channels and find quiet places where animals hide. The Tortuguero National Park ticket costs an extra $16.95.

“Fantastic time seeing the canals and the nature of Tortuguero! Adrian was an amazing guide. Very knowledgeable of the area and its nature and helped us to get through narrow canals to see the best nature and hidden spots. He had a great sense of humour as well. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone going to Tortuguero… ask for Adrian!”

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11.Catamaran Snorkeling at Caño Island from Drake Bay

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 55 reviews · from $128

Set out from Drake Bay at 7:00 am with guides such as Brandon or Taylor for two 45-minute snorkeling sessions near Caño Island. Watch for turtles, rays, fish, sharks, whales, and dolphins, then enjoy lunch, paddleboards, jumping platforms, a waterslide, and a catamaran ride back by about 2:00 pm.

“Overall the trip was well organized. Taylor was a great guide, always available, well prepared and giving his best trying to give us the best experience despite non favorable climate conditions.”

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12.Isla Tortuga boat tour – from Paquera

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 55 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $98

Set out from Bahía Rica near Paquera at 9 a.m. for a six-hour trip to Isla Tortuga. Captain Juan or Chato may guide you past monkey habitat, calm snorkeling spots, and Gulf of Nicoya wildlife before a beach lunch prepared by Isabella or Diana. The boat holds no more than 12 people, with gear, drinks, and food included.

“Friendly, trustworthy, highly recommend! Found online and the reviews hold up. Easy to access from Paquera, accomodated my celiac disease (gluten free diet) without a problem.”

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13.PUBLIC Pacific Lounge Catamaran – Tamarindo SUNSET experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 54 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $85

You’ll spend about five hours aboard Pacific Lounge, cruising Tamarindo Bay, stopping near wild Playa Mina for swimming, snorkeling, paddleboarding, and a traditional meal with unlimited drinks. Antonio and the crew help keep the mood friendly and inclusive. The catamaran returns to Tamarindo at sunset, with a bathroom onboard and room for up to 35 people.

“Beautiful cruise, wonderful lunch, plentiful drinks, relaxing swim and the most amazing sunset. I would highly recommend!!”

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14.PRIVATE Palo Verde Boat Safari: Wildlife + Lunch Included

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 46 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $190

From Tamarindo, you’ll take a private six-hour trip to Palo Verde National Park for a two-hour riverboat safari. Guides such as Eugene, Eliel, and Eduardo have helped guests spot crocodiles, monkeys, iguanas, herons, egrets, and owls. Lunch at a local family restaurant is included, along with park fees and hotel pickup.

“The tour was fine. The driver and guide were excellent. I encountered a problem dealing with the tour company, though. I was charged an additional $155 for hotel pick up even though the ad says free hotel pick up. When booking, the self drive button was already checked and I couldn’t remove it, so I requested hotel pick up in the paragraph below. The tour company, xplorecostarica, was unwilling to accept this explanation and charged an additional $155 to pick us up. So beware. I won’t use this tour company again.”

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15.Sunset Bioluminescence Tour by Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 45 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $50

From Playa Relleno near Santa Teresa, El Gecko Tours takes you out at 5:30 pm toward Isla Cedros. After sunset, you can swim and snorkel in glowing water for up to an hour. The boat carries water, fruit, snacks, and soft drinks. Guides such as Slater, Jairo, and Flor have received warm praise, though English support may vary.

“This was the most magical experience ever! We went out with the boat short before sunset und while we waited on the water for the dark our guide explained the area on Nicoya Peninsula and the phenomenon of the Bioluminsecence and has some fresh fruit. The guide was a real Tico with his heart deeply connected to the land and the ocean. And the when it was dark enogh we could see it!!!! We went into the water and it felt like swimming in an interactive sky full of glitzering neonblue stars. So magical!”

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