Departure Points

North Pacific (Guanacaste)

• Playas del Coco & Papagayo: many Coco boats pick you up from the beach. Marina Papagayo sits on the Papagayo Peninsula.
• Flamingo & Potrero: catamarans leave from Marina Flamingo or from Playa Flamingo.
• Tamarindo: catamarans leave straight from the beach.

Central Pacific

• Herradura & Los Sueños: Los Sueños Resort & Marina, in Herradura Bay near Jacó.
• Quepos & Marina Pez Vela: Marina Pez Vela in Quepos, near Manuel Antonio. We list one operator here.

South Pacific and the Osa

• Uvita: the operator we list leaves from the beach in Marino Ballena National Park. We list one operator here.
• Drake Bay: trips leave from the beach in the bay. Costa Rica's tourism board (ICT) says you can arrive by boat from Sierpe, by a flight of about 40 minutes from San José, or by road in about 7 to 8 hours.
• Puerto Jiménez: boats leave from piers on the Golfo Dulce. We list one operator here.
• Golfito: a gulf town with marinas. We have no charters listed here yet.

Getting to your boat

• Ask for the exact meeting spot. Many operators send it with your booking.
• Beach boarding: you may wade into shallow water or ride a small tender out to the boat. Wear shoes you can get wet, and keep your phone in a dry bag.
• Hotel pickup: some operators include transport from nearby hotels. Check which areas they cover.
• Arrive early. Boats often leave on time to catch the tide or the light.

For tips on choosing where to leave from in Guanacaste, see GuanacasteTour.com's guide to choosing the right departure point.