Costa Rica Itineraries: Day Charters and Multi-Day Routes

Costa Rica’s Pacific coast offers a cruising ground that ranges from the calm, bay-studded Gulf of Papagayo in the north to the wild, whale-rich waters of the Osa Peninsula in the south – roughly 300 nautical miles of coastline with sheltered anchorages, world-class dive sites and national-park shores at every turn. The itineraries below are designed to be combined: a guest booking the 3-day and 4-day routes can stitch them together into a comprehensive 7-day Pacific coast passage without repeating a single stop. Every itinerary is fully customisable – your Boatcrowd charter specialist and onboard captain will tailor stops, pacing and activities to your group’s interests and the conditions on the day.

Day Charter Routes

Gulf of Papagayo: Playa Hermosa, Playa del Coco and the Catalina Islands

Depart Marina Papagayo mid-morning and cruise south along the sheltered Guanacaste coast to Playa Hermosa – roughly 5 nautical miles, a gentle 20-minute run. Anchor in calm water over sand and tender ashore for a morning swim on this wide, volcanic-sand beach backed by dry tropical forest. Continue south to Playa del Coco for lunch at one of the beachfront seafood restaurants, then set course south-west for the Catalina Islands – roughly 20 nautical miles. Spend the afternoon snorkelling or diving the cleaning stations where giant Pacific manta rays glide in slow circles, eagle rays hover and white-tip reef sharks rest on the sandy bottom. Return to Marina Papagayo in the golden late-afternoon light.

Bat Islands Dive Day

Head north-west from Papagayo towards the Bat Islands – roughly 35 nautical miles, about two hours at cruising speed. This volcanic island group within the Santa Rosa National Park marine zone is famous for seasonal bull-shark encounters (May–November) and dramatic underwater topography. Spend the morning on two dives in the current-swept channels, watching bull sharks and large pelagics patrol the blue water. Your chef serves lunch on the aft deck with the Guanacaste coastline stretching south. In the afternoon, cruise back via Playa Ocotal – a small, sheltered bay ideal for a late swim and snorkel in calm water before returning to the marina.

Tortuga Island and the Gulf of Nicoya

Depart Los Sue’os Marina and cruise north-west across the Gulf of Nicoya to Tortuga Island – roughly 25 nautical miles, about 90 minutes. Anchor in the turquoise shallows off this palm-fringed island and spend the morning snorkelling the reef, paddleboarding in calm water, and exploring by tender. Your crew sets up a full beach barbecue beneath the palms while howler monkeys call from the forested hillside. After lunch, cruise back via the Nicoya coast, stopping at a quiet cove for a late-afternoon swim before returning to the marina.

Multi-Day Itineraries

3-Day Costa Rica Yacht Charter Itinerary: Papagayo and the Catalina Islands

Day 1: Marina Papagayo, Playa Hermosa and Playa del Coco

Board your yacht at Marina Papagayo by mid-morning. After a welcome briefing and a champagne toast on the flybridge, cruise south to Playa Hermosa for a late-morning swim in the calm, volcanic-sand bay. Your chef lays out lunch on the aft deck – fresh ceviche, grilled catch and a chilled Sauvignon Blanc – as the yacht repositions to Playa del Coco for an afternoon of water sports in the warm, sheltered water. As the sun drops, anchor off Playa Ocotal for sundowners and a quiet evening aboard, with the dry-forest hillsides glowing in the fading light.

Day 2: Catalina Islands and Playa Conchal

Depart early and cruise south-west to the Catalina Islands – roughly 20 nautical miles. Spend the morning diving or snorkelling the cleaning stations where giant Pacific manta rays, eagle rays and white-tip reef sharks congregate. The morning light filtering through the water creates exceptional visibility. Your chef serves lunch on the aft deck. In the afternoon, cruise east to Playa Conchal – a beach made entirely of crushed seashells, unique in Costa Rica – for a late swim and walk along the shore. Overnight at anchor in the sheltered waters off the Nicoya coast.

Day 3: Tamarindo and Return

Rise early for a morning snorkel at a quiet reef off the Nicoya coast, then cruise north to the lively beach town of Tamarindo for a mid-morning tender ashore. Browse the surf shops and caf’es, watch the surfers tackle the consistent Pacific break, and pick up local treats for the yacht. After lunch aboard, cruise back to Marina Papagayo – roughly 30 nautical miles – arriving by late afternoon. Time for a final swim in the marina’s calm waters and a farewell dinner ashore at one of Papagayo’s clifftop restaurants.

4-Day Costa Rica Yacht Charter Itinerary: Los Sue’os to Manuel Antonio and the Osa

Day 1: Los Sue’os Marina and Herradura Bay

Board your yacht at Los Sue’os Marina by mid-morning. Explore the marina’s facilities and waterfront before cruising out into Herradura Bay – a wide, protected bay ideal for water sports and paddleboarding. Your chef serves a long lunch on the aft deck while the yacht repositions south. In the afternoon, anchor off a quiet stretch of coast and snorkel the nearshore reef, keeping an eye out for sea turtles, spotted eagle rays and the occasional pod of bottlenose dolphins. Dinner aboard as the sun sets over the Pacific.

Day 2: Manuel Antonio National Park

Cruise south to Manuel Antonio – roughly 30 nautical miles from Los Sue’os, about two hours at cruising speed. Anchor in the bay and tender ashore for a guided wildlife walk through one of Costa Rica’s most celebrated national parks. Within minutes, your naturalist guide will have spotted white-faced capuchins, three-toed sloths, iguanas and colourful toucans in the canopy overhead. Return to the beach for a swim in the warm, reef-protected water. Lunch aboard, then spend the afternoon snorkelling the park’s coral reef or simply floating on the swim platform. Dinner ashore at a clifftop restaurant overlooking the bay.

Day 3: Ca’o Island and Drake Bay

Depart early and set course south for Drake Bay and Ca’o Island – roughly 65 nautical miles from Manuel Antonio, a half-day passage. Your crew serves brunch on the aft deck as the coastline transitions from resort-backed beaches to untouched jungle. Arrive at Ca’o Island by early afternoon and dive or snorkel the pinnacles – hammerheads, white-tip reef sharks, turtles and dense schools of jack and snapper in visibility that can exceed 25 metres. Cruise the short distance to Drake Bay for overnight anchorage. The bay is named after Sir Francis Drake and feels wonderfully remote – jungle to the waterline, no roads, just the sound of howler monkeys at dusk.

Day 4: Corcovado and Golfo Dulce

Rise at dawn for a guided walk into Corcovado National Park – tender ashore at San Pedrillo ranger station and follow the trails through lowland tropical rainforest alive with spider monkeys, scarlet macaws, tapirs and poison-dart frogs. Return to the yacht by late morning and cruise south into the Golfo Dulce – roughly 25 nautical miles. This tropical fjord is one of the calmest bodies of water on the Pacific coast, with humpback whales (July–November), dolphins and four species of sea turtle. Arrive at Marina Bah’a Golfito by mid-afternoon. A farewell dinner aboard in the glass-calm harbour, with the Osa Peninsula’s jungle silhouette reflected in the water.

Guests looking for a longer voyage can combine the 3-day Papagayo route with the 4-day Los Sue’os–Osa passage for a comprehensive 7-day charter covering the entire Pacific coast – from the dry-forest headlands of Guanacaste to the pristine rainforests of the Osa Peninsula – without repeating a single stop. Add an extra day to extend into Panama’s Gulf of Chiriqu’ for an 8-day cross-border adventure.

5-Day Costa Rica Yacht Charter Itinerary: The Complete Pacific Coast

Day 1: Marina Papagayo and the Gulf of Papagayo

Board your yacht at Marina Papagayo and cruise the bay-studded Gulf of Papagayo. Morning at Playa Hermosa, afternoon at Playa del Coco for a beachfront lunch and water sports, then anchor off Playa Ocotal for a sunset snorkel and dinner aboard. The dry-forest landscape, calm water and year-round sunshine set the tone for the voyage ahead.

Day 2: Catalina Islands and Nicoya Coast

Depart early for the Catalina Islands – the morning light is best for manta-ray encounters at the cleaning stations. Spend two to three hours diving or snorkelling, then cruise south along the Nicoya Peninsula. Anchor off a secluded beach for lunch, with monkeys in the trees and pelicans diving for fish just metres from the hull. Continue south to Playa S’amara or Playa Carrillo for overnight – beautiful beaches with calm water and a laid-back village atmosphere.

Day 3: Gulf of Nicoya to Los Sue’os

Cruise south through the Gulf of Nicoya, stopping at Tortuga Island for a morning of beach time, snorkelling and a crew-prepared barbecue on the sand. In the afternoon, continue to Los Sue’os Marina – roughly 35 nautical miles from Tortuga. Provision the yacht, stretch your legs in the marina village, and enjoy a dinner ashore before the next day’s southbound passage.

Day 4: Manuel Antonio and Southbound

Cruise south to Manuel Antonio for a morning wildlife walk through the national park – capuchins, sloths, toucans and iguanas within arm’s reach of the trail. Swim in the park’s reef-protected bay, lunch aboard, then continue south along the increasingly wild and jungle-draped coastline. Anchor for the night in a quiet bay between Manuel Antonio and Drake Bay, with the Pacific sunset painting the sky.

Day 5: Drake Bay, Ca’o Island and the Osa

Arrive at Ca’o Island for a morning of world-class diving – pinnacles, hammerheads and crystal-clear visibility. Cruise to Drake Bay for lunch at anchor, then tender ashore for a short guided walk into the fringes of Corcovado National Park. Return to the yacht for a farewell sundowner as the sun sets behind the Osa Peninsula’s jungle canopy. Disembark at Golfito or arrange a return passage north. Guests with more time can extend into Panama’s Coiba National Park for an 8-day cross-border voyage.