The park looks different from the water. A catamaran sail out of Marina Pez Vela in Quepos takes you along the coast of the national park, past the rocky islets and green headlands, with a naturalist on board to point out the sights. The outing runs three to four hours with about two hours at the park and a stop of about forty-five minutes at Biesanz Bay for swimming and snorkeling, with equipment provided. Lunch is included, with tropical fruit, pasta salad and grilled fish skewers, along with juices, water and rum or vodka drinks, so it is easy to spend the day with nothing to organise. Dolphins and whales are sometimes seen, along with turtles, flying fish and seabirds, though no sightings are guaranteed, and reviewers say snorkeling conditions vary with the weather and visibility. A maximum of seventy-five travellers can join, which makes it a social, lively cruise rather than an intimate one, and the free cancellation up to twenty-four hours ahead, plus a rebooking option if bad weather cancels the sail, takes the risk out of planning. Hotel pickup is offered in the Manuel Antonio area, and you need to give your hotel name at least twelve hours ahead.
What to expect on board
The catamaran has shade and open deck, music, and a crew that handles the food, drinks and snorkel gear. You sail for a while along the coast, drop anchor in a sheltered bay, swim and snorkel, eat, and return. Children are welcome when accompanied by an adult, the boat is not wheelchair accessible but works with strollers, and the minimum age for alcohol is eighteen. Towels are not included, so bring your own, and beer and fizzy drinks cost extra.
Making the most of it
This is a good first-day or recovery-day activity, because it asks little of you. Morning departures give calmer seas and better visibility, and the green season from May to November can bring afternoon showers and some swell, so choose a morning sailing if you can.
Take motion-sickness tablets if you are prone, wear a swimsuit under your clothes, and bring reef-safe sunscreen, a hat and a light cover-up, because the sun on the water is strong. Snorkeling visibility is variable here, so treat it as a pleasant swim with fish rather than a reef dive.
Alternatives and pairings
If you prefer an evening outing, the sunset cruise from the same marina is covered separately. If you want fewer people, look for the smaller-boat options on the booking site. The cruise pairs nicely with a land day in the park the next morning, since you will already have seen the coast from the sea, and with Tuesday, when the park is closed, as a perfect on-the-water alternative. Check the pickup arrangements before you go, as the operator has a short wait time for hotel pickups.
What to expect
The experience
A catamaran sail from Marina Pez Vela along the national park coast, with a stop at Biesanz Bay to swim and snorkel and a grilled lunch with drinks included.
Best time
Morning sailings for calmer seas and better visibility, especially in the green season when afternoon showers are common.
How long
About three to four hours on the water, plus hotel pickup and return.
Tips
Bring a towel, reef-safe sunscreen and a hat, take motion-sickness tablets if needed and give your hotel name at least twelve hours ahead for pickup.
Quick picks
- Best for
- A relaxed, low-effort day on the water with food, drinks and a swim included.
- Families
- Good for families with a supervising adult, with stroller access but a lively, large-group atmosphere.
- Couples
- Relaxed and social, with time to swim, eat and watch the coast slide by.
- Pair with
- A land day in the national park, a beach afternoon or a night walk.
- Time needed
- Half a day.
Good questions
What is included in the catamaran cruise?+
The cruise includes snorkel equipment, lunch with fruit, pasta salad and grilled fish skewers, juices, water and some spirits, a naturalist guide and hotel pickup in the Manuel Antonio area.
Will I see dolphins or whales?+
Sometimes, but sightings are never guaranteed. Reviewers also mention turtles, flying fish and seabirds along the coast.
How good is the snorkeling?+
It is a pleasant swim with fish rather than a reef dive. Reviewers report that visibility changes with the weather, so lower your expectations after rain.
What if the weather is bad?+
You can choose another date if weather cancels the tour, and you get a full refund if the company cancels. Free cancellation applies up to twenty-four hours before.
Is it suitable for children?+
Yes, with an accompanying adult. It is not wheelchair accessible but it is stroller accessible, and the group can be large.
