Coiba National Park Tour 2027: What to Know Before You Book
The high season starts in December. These are the twelve things our guests ask us most, answered before you pay anything.
Is Coiba Island Worth Visiting?
If you love the sea, yes. Coiba is the largest island in the Pacific of Central America, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005, and for 85 years it was a prison island, which is exactly why its forest and reefs are still so full of life. What you won’t find: hotels, shops, crowds or a phone signal on most beaches. For many of our guests, that is the point.
12 Things to Know Before You Book
You visit by boat, and only with an authorized operator
There is no ferry, bridge or airport on Coiba. Every visit is a boat trip with an operator allowed to work in the park. How to get to Coiba explains the road part.
There are no hotels on Coiba
You sleep on the mainland the night before, in Santa Catalina or Santiago, or you take the 2-day tour and spend the night just outside the park. See hotels in Santa Catalina and Santiago.
The price is per boat, not per person
Our private tour is $950 per boat for 1 to 6 people. Six friends pay about $158 each, and nobody else gets on your boat. Every figure is in our Coiba prices guide.
The park fee is separate
Every visitor needs a Coiba National Park permit from MiAmbiente, paid online. It is not ours and we explain it once, with current rates, in the park fee section.
Bring your original passport or ID
Rangers check it at the station together with your permit. A photo on your phone is not enough. Keep it in a waterproof pouch.
Choose your dock: Santa Catalina or El Bongo
From Santa Catalina the ride is about 1 h 15 min; from our home dock in El Bongo, near Santiago, about 2 h 15 min. The tour and the price are the same from both.
Start early
Departures are usually around 7:30 am from Santa Catalina and 6:30 am from El Bongo. The morning sea is the calmest, and the time is yours to adjust, because the boat is private.
The weather decides the route, not the plan
Your captain picks the reefs and beaches each morning according to tide, current and wind. In the rainy season, mornings are usually sunny and showers come in the afternoon. See the best time to visit Coiba.
Food is made to order
Tell us before the trip what you want on board, from light snacks to a barbecue on an empty beach, and we load it. There are no restaurants in the park.
Kids are welcome
We carry children’s life jackets, and kids snorkel next to their parents in calm spots. How we keep families safe is in our guide on how to choose a Coiba tour.
Bring cash, sunscreen and a dry bag
No ATMs, no shops, little signal. Our what to bring to Coiba list covers the rest.
High season fills first
We work with a few private mini yachts, not a big ship. From December to April and on Panamanian holidays, write as soon as you know your dates and we hold your boat.
What Is Included in a Private Coiba Tour?
| Included | Not included |
|---|---|
| Private boat for up to 6 people | MiAmbiente park fee (paid online) |
| Licensed captain and local guide | Food on board, made to your order |
| Snorkel gear and Deepboards for everyone | Hotel the night before |
| Life jackets for adults and children, water and ice | Tips |
| SUP boards if you ask | Transport to the dock |
Can You Stay on Coiba Island?
Not as a tourist. The island is a protected national park with no hotels. On our Coiba 2-day tour you spend the night at Bahia Honda, a fishing village just outside the park, or on Isla Simca, a private island about 25 minutes from Coiba, and you are back on the reef first thing in the morning.
Travel Coiba is operated by Pacific Adventure Tours, Inc., registered with the Panama Tourism Authority (ATP 0520-22051) and running private boat tours on the Veraguas coast since February 2007. See our credentials, boats and safety gear.
Check your date on WhatsApp See the Coiba tour
Private boat for up to 6 people: $950 per boat for one day in Coiba, $1,700 per boat for two.
Want the full story of the park, island by island? Read the Coiba National Park guide by Pacific Adventure Tours, the team behind Travel Coiba.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you visit Coiba National Park?
Yes, by boat with an authorized operator. There are no ferries or hotels on the island, and every visitor needs the MiAmbiente park permit and an original passport or ID.
How much does a Coiba tour cost?
Our private Coiba tour costs $950 per boat for 1 to 6 people, and the 2-day tour $1,700 per boat. The MiAmbiente park fee is paid separately.
Is Coiba Island worth visiting?
Yes, if you love the sea. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with healthy reefs, sea turtles, dolphins, whales from July to October and empty beaches, with no crowds or hotels.
Can you stay on Coiba Island?
Not as a tourist. On the 2-day tour you spend the night just outside the park, at Bahia Honda or on Isla Simca.
How far in advance should I book a Coiba tour?
For December to April and Panamanian holidays, as soon as you know your dates. Private boats are limited for each day.
