The 9 Best Catamaran & Sunset Cruises in Costa Rica

1.Tortuga Island Full Day Tour from San José with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 589 reviews · 12 to 18 hours (approx.) · from $115Our pick

Leave San José before dawn for Puntarenas, then take a scenic boat to Tortuga Island. You’ll look for dolphins, snorkel for about 45 minutes, enjoy lunch, and have five hours on the beach. Guides such as Memo, Percy, and Roy are praised for friendly help, though the long day, early pickup, and choppy return boat ride require preparation.

“Tortunga Island – Beautiful Experience with a Few Surprises My visit to Tortunga Island was overall pretty good—the views were beautiful and the vibe was relaxing. However, there were a few things that didn’t quite match the pictures or expectations. First, the water didn’t look like the photos advertised, which was disappointing. They also charge $1 every time you use the bathroom, which felt unnecessary and a bit inconvenient. On top of that, the $4 Wi-Fi really wasn’t worth it since the connection was weak. Another unexpected moment was transportation. They mentioned dropping me off somewhere different from where they picked me up, which was confusing. Thankfully, they did end…”

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2.Catamaran Ocean King Manuel Antonio

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

Spend about three and a half hours aboard a large, family-friendly catamaran from Marina Pez Vela. Expect Manuel Antonio coastline views, music, snacks, drinks, a fish dinner, wildlife watching, swimming, snorkeling, jacuzzis, and water slides. Hotel pickup is available from select Quepos and Manuel Antonio locations.

“We were able to get transportation from our hotel room to the catamaran. It was easy communication and we had no issues. We stayed on the top deck, which was relaxing. The workers were very friendly and funny. Wasn’t much seating but with everybody dancing and mingling, it was fine. You get four alcoholic drinks and all you can drink soda. The Alcoholic drinks were good and they gave you a good amount of serving. Jumping from the top deck was thrilling. They give you pool noodles so you can hang in the water. If you aren’t a great swimmer then no worries!! It was beautiful seeing the sunset. Would…”

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3.Full Day Tour to Tortuga Island from Jaco

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 108 reviews · 12 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $146

Spend a long day aboard Bay Island Cruises, traveling from Jaco to Puntarenas and onward to Tortuga Island. Expect breakfast, lunch, drinks, rum punch, snorkeling gear, island time, live music, and a lively catamaran atmosphere. Guides such as Rau, Mary, Antonio, and DJ Chapo have been praised for keeping the day moving, though pickup details need careful checking.

“Fantastic tour and team of professionals. Every detail was great. Rau, main guide was kind and funny. The team took drone videos which they shared with us of the whales we saw breaching and the banana boat ride. Edwardo was an excellent captain spotting the water wildlife, DJ Chapo was excellent, and his sax performance during lunch was extraordinary. All the supporting staff were friendly and helpful. Great day, even when the weather wasn’t perfect.”

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4.Blue Dolphin Catamaran Snorkeling Sunset Cruise from Tamarindo

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

Set out from El Chiringuito at 12:45 pm for a five-hour Blue Dolphin catamaran trip along Guanacaste’s coast. You’ll have snorkel gear, kayaks, swimming time, snacks, lunch, and an open bar. The crew, often led by Carlos, keeps the mood lively as you head back toward Tamarindo for sunset.

“We saw three impressive, humpback whales blowing and surfacing very near our boat during our return trip. Fantastic experience. Being an avid sailor, I was disappointed that this was primarily a motor launch experience rather than a wind powered sailing adventure. With some persuasion, the captain did unfurl the jib sale for the last 30 or 40 minutes of the ride home, but continued using engine power as well. Our catamaran did not even have a main sail and the captain said has not had one for several years. If we had truly sailed, I’d have rated 5-stars. The captain and crew were very pleasant and helpful in serving our…”

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5.Full Day Tour to Tortuga Island from San José

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 92 reviews · 10 to 12 hours (approx.) · from $128

Start early from San José and travel to Puntarenas for a catamaran ride across the Gulf of Nicoya to Tortuga Island. Expect views of Islas Negritos and Isla San Lucas, meals, drinks, music, beach time, and optional snorkeling. Guides such as Jordan and Eric are known for keeping the day organized and upbeat.

“Had a great time, staff were super friendly. They were super clean and had everything prepared for us. I can tell they always have a 100% customer service.”

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6.Guanacaste Snorkel and Sunset Cruise

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

From Playa Hermosa, board a small dinghy from the beach to a catamaran, then cruise Costa Rica’s Pacific coast for wildlife, snorkeling, lunch, an open bar, and sunset views. The crew may spot whales, dolphins, turtles, rays, and flying fish. Expect a lively, social outing rather than a quiet luxury sail.

“It was a wonderful experience. My group had a great time. The food. The drinks. The jumping off the boat.”

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7.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 a spacious Marlin del Rey catamaran. Swim and snorkel in a sheltered bay, enjoy a BBQ lunch and unlimited drinks, then sail back beneath a Costa Rican sunset. The boat holds up to 75 people, so expect a social cruise rather than a private sailing trip.

“Fun experience. Everything went smoothly and staff were friendly and helpful. Saw a humpback whale and dolphins!”

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8.Visit Tortuga Island with Lunch from San José

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 77 reviews · 12 to 15 hours (approx.) · from $115

Leave San José before dawn for Puntarenas, stopping in Orotina for breakfast before boarding a motorboat to Tortuga Island. Look for dolphins, turtles, whales, and other islands along the way. On the island, you get snorkeling, lunch, fruit, and about five hours of beach time. Guides such as Percy, Diana, Gaia, and Hector are known for attentive service.

“The tour leaves VERY early but I think we were the second group to arrive at the island out of many, which was nice to have plenty of chairs to choose from and some time to swim before it got busy. The bus was the nicest bus I’ve ever been in which made the 2 hour ride comfortable. We stopped at a really nice place for breakfast (you pay) that offered many options and a huge souvenir store. When we got closer to Puntarenas our guide told us more about the area including local agriculture. The boat to the island was one of the nicer ones of all the tour…”

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9.Tortuga Island Private Full-Day Boat Tour

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

Leave Jaco early for a private speedboat trip to Tortuga Island with Captain Robert, Eric, or Jordan. Expect snorkeling, a Subwing ride, possible spider monkeys, fruit, drinks, beach chairs, SUP boards, and a fish, chicken, or vegetarian lunch. The Pacific crossing can be rough, but the private boat lets your group set the pace.

“Robert is an excellent communicator and does a great job of making guests feel welcome right away. This tour is a great choice for groups with a mix of experienced snorkelers/divers and older kids/first timers. Great job finding spots that balanced the current, visibility, and things to see. Robert went out of his way to stay close to the kids added safety when the current pushed their limits. Great way to experience Tortuga Island for lunch as well. Robert and his crew have the whole process dialed in. There were only 4 of us but paying for the 5 person minimum was well worth it for amenities that were organized…”

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