While Costa Rica is renowned for its incredible terrestrial fauna and flora, the country's waters are home to exceptional marine life. So grab your mask and snorkel and set out to discover Costa Rica's best snorkeling spots. 

Isla Caño Biological Reserve (Pacific Coast)
   

Considered by many to be Costa Rica's best snorkeling spot, the Isla Caño Biological Reserve is a marine biology reserve located on the Caño Island, 20 km from Drake Bay. 

A veritable natural aquarium, you'll spot a multitude of tropical fish (angelfish, parrotfish, surgeonfish, pufferfish, snappers...) as well as pelagic species such as sea turtles, barracudas, manta rays, reef sharks... During the boat journey, you may even catch glimpses of dolphins, humpback whales, and pilot whales.

Note: Access to the reserve is regulated and daily visits are limited, so we recommend booking your excursion in advance. 

Isla Tortuga (Pacific Coast)

 

Located off the Nicoya Peninsula, Isla Tortuga is also a must-visit snorkeling spot in Costa Rica. Accessible only by boat, the island offers the opportunity to swim in the clear waters of a volcanic reef teeming with fish. 

Within these impressive rock formations, you'll spot angelfish, trumpetfish, sergeant major fish, porcupinefish, moray eels, eagle rays, leopard rays, and with a bit of luck, turtles, reef sharks, and manta rays... 

Good to know: Isla Tortuga also attracts many scuba divers due to the presence of several wrecks in the area.

Islas Catalinas (Pacific Coast)

Located off the northwest coast of the Pacific, the Catalina Islands form an archipelago of rocky islets. The waters of the region attract divers and snorkelers from around the world due to the large population of ray species.

Among the ray species you can admire are: eagle rays, mobula rays, stingrays, electric rays, manta rays, and of course, manta rays. Besides rays, you'll also see turtles, octopuses, moray eels, and much more. 

To access them, you can choose an excursion from the beach resorts of Tamarindo, Conchal, Potrero, and Puerto Viejo.

Marino Ballena National Park (Pacific Coast)

 

Located in Puntarenas Province and on the Osa Peninsula, near the town of UvitaMarino Ballena National Park is one of Costa Rica's best snorkeling destinations. 

Famous for its whale-tail-shaped coastline (at Playa Bahia Uvita level), Marino Ballena National Park is a prime spot for observing humpback whales that come here each year (between July and December) to mate. The area is also home to several dolphin species as well as a multitude of tropical fish. 

For snorkeling, we recommend taking a boat excursion to Ballena Island (just across the way). Composed of 3 small islands called "Las Tres Hermanas", it is the largest coral reef barrier on the Pacific coast in Central America. 

Playa Conchal (Pacific Coast)

 

Renowned for its calm, crystal-clear waters, Playa Conchal is an ideal snorkeling spot for those wanting to ease into the water gently. There's no need to venture far since the seafloor here is particularly rich and diverse. Moreover, the spot is known for excellent visibility.

As you can see, its ease of access and great variety of marine fauna make it a perfect site for beginner snorkelers. We recommend wearing water shoes due to the presence of sea urchins. 

Gandoca-Manzanillo National Refuge (Caribbean Coast)

Gandoca-Manzanillo National Refuge is one of the few places where you can snorkel on the Caribbean coast. Located in Limón Province, the reserve is home to numerous coves and lagoons with a stunning 5 km coral reef, among the most pristine in the Caribbean. 

During a snorkeling session, you'll see numerous corals, tropical fish, lobsters... If you're lucky, you may even spot dolphins and manatees offshore.

Cahuita National Park (Caribbean Coast)

Cahuita National Park is also located on the southern Caribbean coast. It contains Costa Rica's largest coral reef, with more than 35 coral species, 120 fish species, and 40 crustacean species recorded.

During a snorkeling session, you'll be able to observe a wide variety of coral structures (brain corals, elkhorn corals, sea fans...), numerous reef fish, lobsters, turtles, reef sharks... 

Attention: Due to sometimes strong currents, snorkeling is not permitted throughout the park. You'll find signs indicating the zones suitable for snorkeling.