Private Coiba Island Tour: Island Hopping and Snorkeling, $950 per Boat

$950 per boat · up to 6

Your Day in Coiba, Island by Island

Coiba is the largest island in the Pacific of Central America, and the national park around it adds 38 islands, more than 100 islets and 33 diving and snorkel sites. One day will not cover all of it, so we don’t try. Your captain reads the tide, the wind and the water clarity that morning and builds the route around your group: more reef for the snorkelers, more sand for the kids, more trail for the walkers.

Snorkel With Sea Turtles

Coiba is one of the biggest feeding grounds for hawksbill turtles in the Eastern Pacific. Float over coral gardens with reef fish, rays and, with luck, a white-tip shark resting on the sand.

Land on Empty Beaches

We almost always find a beach with nobody else on it. Swim, paddle a SUP, or do nothing at all while the boat waits for you.

Walk at the Ranger Station

Two short trails start here: Mirador Cocos and Cerro Gambute, about 45 minutes each way, through forest where capuchin monkeys and scarlet macaws live.

Go at Your Own Pace

The boat is yours for the day. Stay longer at the reef you love, skip what doesn’t interest you, and nobody calls you out of the water early.

A Typical Itinerary

Every day is planned with you, so treat this as a sketch rather than a timetable.

1. 6:30 am · El Bongo, or 7:30 am · Santa CatalinaWe meet at the dock. The ride takes about 2 h 15 min from El Bongo, crossing the Gulf of Montijo, or about 1 h 15 min from Santa Catalina. Keep watching the water: dolphins often join us, and from July to October, humpback whales.
2. Morning · First reefThe captain picks the clearest snorkel site of the day while the sea is calm.
3. Late morning · Island hoppingBeach stops and short swims between islands, with time to float, paddle and take photos.
4. Midday · Ranger station and lunchCheck in with the rangers, walk the Mirador Cocos or Cerro Gambute trail if you like, then lunch on the beach.
5. Afternoon · One more dive inA last snorkel stop, then the ride back to the dock, arriving in the late afternoon.

What’s Included

Add a Beach BBQ

Food on board is always made to order: tell us what your group likes and we pack it. For a long lunch on the sand, add one of these. Each paid option comes with a courtesy drink. Please confirm your choice at least one week before the trip.

We don’t prepare seafood on board: it is a food-safety rule on the boat.

Where We Leave From

Choose the dock that suits your trip. Our home base is the Club Náutico de Veraguas in El Bongo, 30 minutes from Santiago and 5 minutes from Puerto Mutis (map ↗). If you are already staying on the coast, we pick you up in Santa Catalina, the town closest to the park (map ↗). The price is the same from both. Road, bus and charter flight options are in our guide on how to get to Coiba.

Places You May Hear About

Coiba has a few famous names, and each has a story worth reading before you go: Tito, the crocodile of Coiba, Isla Coco, Granito de Oro and Rancheria Island. For a quick overview of the park, start with what to see in Coiba, and pack with our list of what to bring to Coiba.

Frequently Asked Questions