Private Coiba island hopping tours
One boat, only your group, up to 6 people. Snorkel healthy reefs, land on beaches with nobody else on them, and walk a jungle trail on the largest island on Central America’s Pacific coast. You set the pace; the islands set the scene.
Slip below the surface
The water stays between 27 and 30 °C all year. Put your mask on and the reef is right there.
600+ hawksbills feed here
Coiba is the largest hawksbill feeding ground in the Eastern Pacific. They come to eat; you get to watch.
~800 kinds of fish, 33 diving & snorkel sites
Snapper schools, white-tip sharks resting on the sand, rays gliding past. Your captain picks the clearest reef of the day.
Pick your Coiba
Every trip is private and every itinerary flexes with the tide, the weather and what your group loves most.
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Coiba Island Hopping & Snorkel
- 2 to 3 snorkel stops on living reefs
- A private beach, ideally a whole island, for lunch
- Short jungle trail at the ranger station
- Snorkel gear and Deepboards always aboard, plus SUP boards just for the asking
- Humpback whales from July to October
$950 per boat, 1–6 people
Coiba in 2 Days
- Far islands the day trips can’t reach
- Night at Bahia Honda or Isla Simca
- Twice the chances for whales, dolphins and turtles
$1,700 per boat, 1–6 people
Coiba Fishing Day
- Up to 4 anglers, full gear and fishing mate
- Screaming reels: yellowfin tuna, wahoo, dorado and snapper
- Open Pacific, big fish and the fight of your trip
Tell us what your group loves.
Snorkel, beaches, a trail, a fishing line. We’ll shape the day around it.
Coiba is too far to spend it on someone else’s schedule
Getting here takes a real trip. Here’s what changes when the boat belongs to your group.
Split among 6, the island hopping boat works out to about $158 each.
Plan my private dayYour Coiba island hopping day, from the dock to the last swim
No two days are the same, because the boat is yours. This is the order most of our families choose.
- Leave the dock
Santa Catalina or El Bongo. Life vests on, cooler full.
- The crossing
Dolphins, turtles and, from July to October, humpback whales.
- First reef
Island hopping and snorkel with no rush. Your guide shows you what lives there.
- Your beach
A beach with nobody else on it. Beach BBQ in the shade, if you’d like one.
- Jungle trail
At the ranger station: the short walk to the Cocos lookout, or Cerro Gambute, about 45 min each way.
- Last swim
One more reef, then back with the afternoon light.
Island hopping across 33 diving and snorkel sites, on one boat that’s yours. Every morning your captain reads the tide and the wind and takes you to the clearest reefs of the day. Your park fee goes straight to the Coiba Fund, which protects these reefs.
Coiba is more than a reef
Every trip comes with the stories our guides grew up with.
An island called “far away”
When the Spanish arrived in 1510, people on the Caribbean coast used the word “Quibo” for “a far land”. The conquerors took it as a place name, it stuck, and over time Quibo became Coiba.
It is still far. That is why it is still wild.
The prison that saved the island
For 85 years Coiba was a penal colony, with up to 23 camps run from Bahía Damas. The inmates called it “Devil’s Island”. Almost nobody else could land. The jungle and the reefs grew undisturbed.
Today you can walk past what is left of the camps and hear the stories from people who knew them.
Where hawksbills come to eat
Coiba is the largest hawksbill feeding ground in the Eastern Pacific. The same turtles nest on beaches in Mariato and in Osa, Costa Rica.
On a good day you snorkel next to one while it feeds.
Coiba, as our guests saw it
Angelo takes these on every trip. You get yours in full resolution on Google Drive.
Made for your kind of group
Families with kids
Calm stops chosen for small swimmers, life vests in every size, and time on the sand. Guests have joined with children as young as 6.
Nature lovers
Reefs, monkeys, scarlet macaws and turtles, with a guide who knows the names and the stories behind them.
Adventurers
Far islands, open-water snorkel, a jungle trail and a fishing line in the water if you want one.
Hi, I’m Angelo. I’ll be on the boat with you.
I didn’t grow up by the sea. More than 15 years ago I found this coast of Veraguas and fell for it the way a teenager falls for a first love. I’ve been coming back ever since.
The fishermen and captains who have sailed these waters all their lives taught me what isn’t in any book. With them we started Pacific Adventure Tours. Travel Coiba is the same team and the same boats, made only for Coiba.
On the trip I’ll tell you what you’re seeing, look after everyone in the water, and take your photos. You get them in full resolution on Google Drive.
Angelo SolanillaFounder, Pacific Adventure Tours
What our guests say
“Snorkeling was delightful because they didn’t rush us, and Angelo gave us excellent explanations about the marine life.”Carolina Bermudez · Coiba, 3 days · Google
“My first contact with the reefs of Coiba was one of the happiest moments of my life.”Lilian Guevara · Coiba snorkel · Google
“Highly recommended for families with children.”Pau Valls · Family trip · Google
Tell us your plans
Send the form and we answer the same day on WhatsApp and by email with availability and a quote for your group.
- 1Fill in the form. It takes a minute.
- 2WhatsApp opens with your request, so we can talk right away.
- 3We confirm your date and you pay a secure deposit online.
Questions families ask
Where is Coiba National Park?
Coiba is in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Veraguas province, in western Panama. The closest towns are Santa Catalina, about 1 h 15 min away by boat, and El Bongo de Montijo, our home dock near Puerto Mutis, about 2 h 15 min away.
How do we get to Coiba from Panama City?
Drive or take the bus west on the Pan-American Highway. Santa Catalina is about 5 to 6 hours from Panama City; El Bongo, near Santiago, is about 4 hours. From either dock our boat takes you straight into the park. Tell us where you’re staying and we’ll help you plan the trip.
Is the tour really private?
Yes. The boat, the captain and the guide are only for your group of up to 6 people. The price is per boat, not per person.
Where do we leave from?
From Santa Catalina or from El Bongo de Montijo. We’ll help you choose the one that fits where you’re staying.
What can we eat on the beach?
Our grill comes along on the boat. Pick one menu for the group: Premium Beach BBQ with choice beef and pork cuts, grilled vegetables and arepas ($20 per person); a Grilled Ocean Burger ($10); AQUA skewers in pork, beef, chicken or vegetables ($10); or a fresh garden salad or grilled vegetables ($10). Each of these comes with a cold drink of your choice. Prefer your own cuts? Bring them and we’ll grill them for free, with the chef, plates, cutlery and sauces included. We don’t cook seafood, for food safety on the boat. Tell us your choice at least a week before so we can buy fresh.
Where will we snorkel?
Coiba has 33 mapped diving and snorkel sites, from shallow coral gardens that are easy for kids to reefs where white-tip sharks rest. We pick the best ones for your group and the day’s conditions.
Is it good for kids?
Yes. We choose calm stops, carry life vests in every size and keep the day flexible. Many of our guests are families.
