Top 15 Cruises & Boat Tours 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 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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2.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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3.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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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 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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5.Damas Island Mangrove Boat Tour with Wildlife from Manuel Antonio

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

Travel from Manuel Antonio or Quepos to Isla Damas for a quiet two-hour boat ride through one of Central America’s largest mangrove ecosystems. Guides such as Stephanie, Alvin, Raul, Maria, and Danny point out monkeys, birds, bats, and local history. Transport, safety gear, bottled water, and a typical Costa Rican meal are included.

“This tour is a wonderful and relaxing experience. Stephanie and Alvin were absolutely the best guides well informed and on top of everything in order to make this an unforgettable experience!”

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

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

Leave La Fortuna at 7:30 a.m. for Los Chiles and a boat ride through Caño Negro’s wetlands. Watch for caimans, monkeys, sloths, birds, fish, and freshwater sharks, then stop for a traditional Costa Rican lunch. Guide JP is known for sharing excellent wildlife photos. Canoe and kayak options are available by request.

“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

Leave La Fortuna at 8:00 a.m. for Los Chiles and a 2.5-hour Río Frio boat safari through Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge. Guides such as Roy, Javier, Xavier, and Daevid are praised for spotting monkeys, caimans, sloths, birds, and reptiles. Expect a long but comfortable drive, a Costa Rican lunch, and a small group of up to 20 people.

“Knowledgeable guides, lots to see, shared his photos with us. Did not see sugar cane/cocoa farm other trip saw.”

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9.Boat Parasailing with Aguas Azules

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

From Espadilla Beach, Aguas Azules lifts you from a platform boat with a winch system for an 8 to 12 minute parasail flight. You can stay dry or dip your feet, enjoy views of Manuel Antonio, and return by boat to the beach. Non-fliers may ride along if space allows.

“Awesome experience and great customer service. The Aguas Azules team went out of their way to ensure my family had an amazing parasailing experience. Highly recommend!!”

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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 with Sunbittern Nature Tours in a group of no more than eight. Your guide helps you spot camouflaged wildlife, reach narrow waterways, and understand the forest’s sounds and species. Adrian is a guide worth requesting if available. The tour lasts about three and a half hours and costs $35, plus the $16.95 national park ticket.

“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

Leave Drake Bay at 7:00 am for Caño Island aboard a catamaran with a bilingual guide such as Taylor or Brandon. You’ll enjoy two 45-minute snorkeling sessions, a beach stop, buffet lunch, paddleboards, a waterslide, jumping platforms, and lounge nets. The trip returns around 2:00 pm.

“Übertraf alle unsere Erwartungen. Delphine, Wale, Schildkröten, Rochen, Haie und dutzende weitere Fischarten.”

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12.Isla Tortuga boat tour – from Paquera

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

Leave Bahia Rica near Paquera at 9 a.m. for a small-group boat trip to Isla Tortuga. Captain Juan or Chato may guide you past Monkey Island, point out turtles and other wildlife, and lead snorkeling near volcanic rocks. Lunch, drinks, water, and gear are included, with time for the white-sand beach.

“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

Spend about five hours aboard Pacific Lounge, a medium-sized catamaran sailing from Tamarindo at 12:45 pm. Cruise Tamarindo Bay, stop near Playa Mina for swimming, snorkeling, paddleboarding, and a traditional meal, then return at sunset. Antonio is one of the crew members praised for helping passengers enjoy the boat and beach.

“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 spend about six hours exploring Palo Verde National Park with your own group, a local guide, and a two-hour riverboat safari. Guides such as Eugene, Eliel, and Eduardo focus on crocodiles, monkeys, iguanas, and birds. Lunch at a family-run home or restaurant is included, along with park fees and hotel pickup.

“I would highly recommend this tour! Our guide Eugene was fantastic and so knowledgeable. He made sure we had close up views of monkeys, crocodiles, and many birds. Lunch was also delicious. Thank you Eugene for such a great tour!!!”

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15.Sunset Bioluminescence Tour by Boat

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

Leave El Gecko Tours at 5:30 pm for a sunset boat ride to Isla Cedros. Once darkness settles, you can swim and snorkel among glowing plankton for up to an hour. The boat carries water, soft drinks, and snacks. Some outings feature Captain Slater, Jairo, or Flor, though guide language may vary.

“Nice folks Beautiful area. Nice hanks for the boat ride. The boat is a good way to see the area Thanks”

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