Top Ocean Boat Trips In Costa Rica

One of the most incredible ways to spend an afternoon on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica is by embarking on a catamaran or sailboat excursion. The Pacific Ocean is bursting with wildlife, including whales, dolphins, stingrays, and turtles. It’s lined with pristine beaches and protected coves, and is also the ideal spot to watch one of Costa Rica’s world-famous sunsets. Boat trips are ideal for couples, friend groups, and families. Spend the afternoon on board one of these boats for an unforgettably fun experience.

Serendipity Charters

Set sail on a 50-foot (15-meter) Beneteau Oceanis (featured on the cover of Sail Magazine) for a private or semi-private tour with Serendipity Charters, based in Playa Flamingo. You will spend the afternoon being wined and dined while cruising the afternoon away and into the sunset. This luxurious tour includes an open bar and gourmet appetizers and lunch. Guests also have access to snorkeling and fishing gear. It is likely that you will spot dolphins, whales, sea turtles, and jumping sting rays, on top of having a wide-open view of the pristine and dramatic coastline.

Serendipity Charters, Flamingo Marina, +506 85101691

Antares, based in Playa Tamarindo, offers several different sailing tours, including a daily half-day trip, a full-moon outing once a month, and private overnight sailing trips. Once aboard, you will be treated to top-notch service, an open bar, live music, comfortable beanbag chairs and an intimate setting, as well as a six-plate gourmet spread using organic produce and a variety of superfoods. The 80-foot (24-meter) mono haul leaves from Playa Tamarindo and sets sail to Playa Huevo, where you will have the opportunity to go snorkeling and float in the ocean, before setting off into the sunset with a perfectly crafted cocktail in hand.

Antares, Playa Tamarindo, +506 85873095

Marlin del Rey

The Marlin del Rey operates in both Playa Tamarindo and Playas del Coco. This catamaran is so fun that even the locals book a trip every once in a while! The Marlin del Rey is an all-inclusive half-day sailing tour. The price includes an open bar, snacks, lunch, snorkel equipment, and an afternoon that you won’t soon forget. You will sail out to a protected cove where you will have time to snorkel, paddle board, or kayak to the beach, or just float on a noodle with a drink in hand. After lunch, you will set sail again and stay out until the sun sets. Whale, stingray, and sea turtle sightings are very common.

Marlin del Rey, Playa Tamarindo and Playas del Coco, +506 26531212

Lazy Lizard

The Lazy Lizard is based in Portero, near Playa Flamingo in Guanacaste, and offers morning, sunset, and private sailing tours. The sunset catamaran tour is their most popular trip. All the tours are all-inclusive and include drinks, snacks, a picnic-style lunch, snorkeling equipment, and other water-fun equipment. The morning sailing tour tends to be a bit more kid-friendly, while the sunset tour can be a bit boozy. The private tour is perfect for big groups and celebrations.

Lazy Lizard, Portero +506 26545900

Calypso Island Cruise

Calypso Island Cruise is the original Tortuga Island cruise that first set off to the island with passengers in 1975. Nearly a million people have enjoyed this island tour since then. Tortuga Island is a jaw-dropping and breathtakingly beautiful island off the coast of the Nicoya Peninsula. Your day will feature a cruise through the Gulf of Nicoya, five hours on the white-sand beaches of Tortuga Island, snorkeling, a banana boat ride, a four-course gourmet lunch, unlimited non-alcoholic beverages, reasonably priced cocktails, live music, and hammocks set up beneath palm trees.

Calypso Island Cruise, Puntarenas, +506 22562727

Trimaran Sunset Sailing Tour

The Trimaran Sunset Sailing Tour was founded 20 years ago and is a family-operated business that prides itself on providing guests with an exceptional and unforgettable sailing excursion. They offer free transportation to guests staying in Manuel Antonio and Quepos. Your day at sea includes a tour of several islands in the area, a tropical fish snorkeling experience, dolphin watching, snacks and drinks, and a perfect setting for a sunset.

Sunset Sails Tours, Marina Pez Vela, Quepos, +506 84681545

Manuel Antonio Catamaran Adventures

Manuel Antonio Catamaran Adventures offer a full-day tour to Manuel Antonio and transportation for those staying in San Jose, Herradura, Jaco, Dominical, and Esterillos. The tour includes a buffet breakfast on the way to Manuel Antonio, two hours of free play time on Playa Manuel Antonio, lunch at a restaurant with captivating views of Manuel Antonio, and then a four-hour catamaran cruise abroad the Ocean King. Once aboard the boat, there will be unlimited snacks and non-alcoholic beverages and up to eight alcoholic beverages. You will also enjoy a snorkeling tour, a dolphin watching tour, amazing views of the sunset out at sea, and a fantastic dinner before returning to your home base.

Manuel Antonio Catamaran Adventures, Manuel Antonio, +506 71090464

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.