Costa Rica Snorkeling Tours

Nearly 20 percent of Costa Rica's territory is comprised of National Parks or ecological reserves, including Cocos Island National Park, a United Nations World Heritage Site with its bio-diverse marine ecosystem. However, the coastal waters surrounding Costa Rica are not ideal for snorkeling, according to Frommer's Travel Guides, nonetheless there is no shortage of adventure companies that offer snorkeling tours.

Oceans Unlimited

Oceans Unlimited offers a Snorkel and Coastal Adventure Tour, departing from Quepos port, which gives you the opportunity to dive at two different sites. These outfitters are great for beginners, since they offer instruction and provide an in-water guide to help you spot and identify the wide variety of tropical fish found in the coastal waters of Costa Rica. The four-hour tour includes transportation to and from your hotel in Quepos or Manuel Antonio. All snorkeling equipment is provided, including a snorkeling vest to keep you afloat. Snacks such as fruit, cookies, juice and water are also included.

Oceans Unlimited
P.O. Box 452-6350
Quepos
Costa Rica
011 (+506) 2777 3171
oceansunlimitedcr.com

Mystic Dive Center

Mystic Dive Center offers dive and snorkeling excursions to Cano Island, which they state is one of Costa Rica's best dive and snorkel locations since it has five marine platforms and low coral reefs. A 90-minute boat trip takes you to the island, where you can snorkel at your leisure. Numerous species can be seen here, including king angel fish, puffers, surgeon, snapper, barracuda, eels, turtles, rays and reef sharks.

Mystic Dive Center
Centro Comercial Ventanas
Apartado 30-8153 Costa Rica
011 (+506) 2786 5217
mysticdivecenter.com

Diving Safaris de Costa Rica

Diving Safaris de Costa Rica is recommended by Frommer's Travel Guides as the "largest and most professional, and best-established dive operation" in Costa Rica. The company, which is located at the Sol Playa Hermosa Hotel in Playa Hermosa, also offers snorkel trips for single snorkelers or large groups, as well as private charters for large groups. Locations include the Papagayo Gulf, Catalina Islands, Bat Islands.

Diving Safaris de Costa Rica
Playa Hermosa, Guanacaste
Costa Rica
011 (+506) 2672 1259
costaricadiving.net

Resources

Article Written By Kandra Sperling

Kandra Sperling is a freelance writer and photojournalist with more than 30 years' experience. She has worked as a community news editor, writer and photographer for the "Morning News of Northwest Arkansas." She has received three awards from the National Press Women's Association and numerous state awards. Sperling earned a bachelor's degree in English and journalism from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.

Editor's Pick

5 Top North American Wildflower Hikes

Springtime brings a sense of new beginnings and new life as flowers begin to bloom and fill the air with their sweet and pleasant fragrance. Luckily we can see wildflowers all summer long, since spring hits at different times throughout North America. See flowering cactu...
More National Parks...
Popular Article

National Park Substitutes: Great Spots Without the Crowds

Coping with crowds at national parks can get tiresome, especially during the peak tourist season. If you want to escape from the herd, or just take a breather from the bustle of bigger attractions, the United States has plenty of less-visited but still worthwhile spots t...
More National Parks...
Featured Destination

Prevent Yourself from Getting Lost While Hiking

When you're hiking you're going to want to make sure you stay found. What I mean by that is that you've put an itinerary in the car, you know the area that you're hiking to, you know the route and the trail you plan on being on, you know what the trail markers are going ...
More Camping Basics...