A Guide to Chartering in Costa Rica
A living Eden of volcanoes, wildlife, and tropical coastlines made for exploration by sea
Discover Costa Rica: Central America’s Wild Coast Yacht Charter
Cruising Costa Rica by yacht is like stepping into a living Eden. Though it covers just 0.03% of Earth’s surface, this small nation shelters nearly 5% of the planet’s biodiversity. Along the Nicoya Peninsula, scarlet macaws flash across the sky, capuchin monkeys call from the treetops, and dolphins ride the Pacific swells. Anchorages here are carved into wilderness—bays guarded by jungle peaks, beaches reached only by tender, and reefs alive with manta rays and sea turtles.
The Pacific side delivers some of the most extraordinary encounters. The Osa Peninsula and Golfo Dulce lead into Corcovado National Park, dubbed by National Geographic as “the most biologically intense place on Earth.” Offshore, Cocos Island—an isolated UNESCO World Heritage Site—beckons divers with schools of hammerhead sharks, whale sharks, and giant mantas. On the Caribbean, Tortuguero reveals turtle nesting beaches and jungle canals, while Puerto Viejo offers a blend of Afro-Caribbean rhythms and coral reef snorkeling just steps from the shore.
Days unfold in harmony with nature. Wake to howler monkeys echoing through the canopy, dive Isla del Caño’s crystalline reefs, surf Tamarindo’s golden breaks, or dine on freshly grilled seafood under a sky dense with equatorial stars. Here, pura vida is not just a phrase—it’s a way of life, lived in rhythm with the land and sea.
What are the must-see destinations in Costa Rica?
Cocos Island National Park
More fortress than island, Cocos rises from the Pacific some 530 kilometers offshore. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the planet’s great dive theaters — schools of hammerheads circling in the blue, whale sharks drifting by, dolphins slicing through the surface. It isn’t a casual detour but an expedition stop, and those who make the journey never forget it.
Osa Peninsula & Golfo Dulce
National Geographic once called Corcovado National Park “the most biologically intense place on Earth.” The Osa Peninsula earns that title daily. Scarlet macaws flash above the canopy, jaguars still prowl the shadows, and the nearby Golfo Dulce, a rare tropical fjord, shelters humpbacks with their calves. For a yacht, this is wilderness at its most immediate, with bays edged in rainforest, water alive with dolphins, and nights filled with the sound of the jungle.
Área de Conservación Guanacaste
This UNESCO World Heritage Site spans volcanic mountains, tropical dry forests, and Pacific shoreline, protecting jaguars, tapirs, and thousands of species of flora and fauna UNESCO. For yachts, it opens into coastal zones with pristine beaches and offshore dive sites, linking land-based volcano hikes with cruising along Guanacaste’s bays.
Tortuguero National Park
On the Caribbean side, Tortuguero feels like another country altogether. It is a labyrinth of canals and lagoons, nicknamed the “Amazon of Costa Rica,” and remains one of the most important nesting grounds for green sea turtles in the world. You arrive only by boat or small plane, which means even by yacht there is an edge of remoteness that makes every encounter, from a turtle crawl at night to a boat ride through mangroves, all the more magical.
Manuel Antonio National Park
Tiny on the map, huge in reputation. Manuel Antonio is where rainforest trails tumble onto white sand beaches, sloths cling to the treetops, and capuchins practically escort you to the surf. Its accessibility does not dull its beauty. If anything, it makes it one of the most rewarding and easy-to-add stops to a charter along Costa Rica’s Pacific coast.
What’s next:
Ready to embrace Costa Rica’s wild coastlines? This is where rainforest collides with the ocean, volcanoes rise from volcanic plains, and wildlife flourishes in staggering diversity. From the remote waters of Cocos Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famed for schooling hammerheads, to the canals of Tortuguero, alive with nesting sea turtles, Costa Rica offers a yacht charter canvas unlike anywhere else.
With Opal Superyachts, every itinerary is designed to showcase the country’s living theatre of land and sea — explore the Osa Peninsula and Golfo Dulce, gateway to Corcovado National Park; step ashore at Manuel Antonio where rainforest meets white-sand coves; or venture into the Área de Conservación Guanacaste. Each day brings another side of Costa Rica’s astonishing natural wealth.
Discover why Costa Rica is more than a destination — it is a voyage into biodiversity itself. Let Opal Superyachts craft your Costa Rica yacht charter and uncover anchorages where ocean and jungle write the story together, the very essence of pura vida.
What’s the weather like in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica moves to the rhythm of two seasons, and each shapes a different kind of charter.
- The dry season, December through April, is the country at its most reliable. Skies stay clear, seas are calm, and the reef visibility peaks for diving. Morning sails feel effortless with steady breezes from the Pacific, while afternoons invite you ashore for rainforest hikes or surf breaks. Wildlife gathers around rivers and coastlines during this stretch, so spotting monkeys, sloths, and scarlet macaws becomes almost inevitable.
It is the season when Opal Superyachts charters lean into longer passages, remote anchorages, and water sports that thrive in the sun.
- From May through November the green season takes over, and Costa Rica transforms. Afternoon rains refresh the forests, waterfalls roar back to life, and fewer visitors crowd the beaches. Mornings remain bright, making them ideal for setting out early by yacht or tender before clouds build.
The green season favors quieter charters, secluded lagoons, and wildlife spectacles like turtle nesting on the Caribbean side or humpback whales off the Pacific coast. For many, this season feels more intimate and more alive.
