Tortuga Island Day Trip: Catamaran Cruise & Beach Lunch

4.95

(1572 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

Ever wonder if the water really is that clear around Tortuga Island? I did too—until we left Los Sueños Marina early (well, early for me) and drifted out into the Gulf of Nicoya. The catamaran was bigger than I expected—air-conditioned inside, but I kept sneaking outside for that salty wind. Someone handed me coffee as we passed Jaco’s coast. Not fancy coffee, just strong and hot enough to wake up my brain while pelicans skimmed by. Our guide, Carlos, joked about “Costa Rican time” when we asked how long it’d take—he said 45 minutes if we didn’t stop for dolphins. We didn’t see any dolphins, but he pointed out a tiny island shaped like a turtle’s head. I squinted; maybe if you’ve had a margarita or two.

The moment we hit Tortuga Island, everything smelled like sunscreen and grilled chicken. There was music coming from somewhere behind the palms—reggaeton mixed with birdsong. My friend Ana went straight for the snorkeling gear (included), but I hesitated because honestly, I’m not great with fins. The water was so clear you could see your toes wiggle under the surface though, so I gave it a shot. Fish everywhere—yellow stripes darting between rocks—and someone shouted they saw a pufferfish. Afterward we tried the banana boat ride (I fell off first turn; everyone laughed except maybe me), then wandered up the eco hike trail where Carlos pointed out some tree whose name I forgot but whose bark smelled weirdly sweet.

Lunch was served under these big umbrellas right on the sand—grilled chicken, rice with little veggies in it, potatoes that tasted like they’d been cooked over fire. They poured us rum punch and margaritas if you wanted them (I did). There were families from San José next to us sharing jokes in Spanish; one kid kept feeding iguanas bits of lettuce until his dad caught him. The whole thing felt relaxed—nobody rushing you back to the boat or anything. At some point I just lay back in a beach chair and watched clouds drift over the hills behind Tortuga Island, trying not to think about work emails waiting back in Jaco.

I still think about how quiet it got after lunch—the kind of silence you only get when everyone’s full and happy and half-asleep in the sun. If you’re looking for a day trip from Jaco or Los Sueños that isn’t all rush-rush-tourist-herding, this Tortuga Island tour is probably it. Just don’t expect to keep your hair dry on that banana boat.