Bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the West and the Caribbean Sea on the East, Costa Rica boast some of the world’s most biologically diverse habitats – above and below the surface. The two coasts have two distinct ecosystems (rocky in the Pacific, and fringed by coral reefs in the Caribbean), meaning that the fish species you may spot on each sides are totally different. With colorful underwater sightings, both sides offer great snorkeling spots, but underwater visibility is often an issue everywhere in the country.
There are hundreds of snorkeling spots in Costa Rica’s coastal waters, including rocky creeks and islets, small coral reefs, mangroves and more remote, pristine islands. These are the places to find the best snorkeling in Costa Rica.
The seaside resorts of the North Pacific coast of Costa Rica, nestled on a rugged rocky coast, offer some of the most accessible snorkeling in the country.
The Playas del Coco area is a must-visit area for Costa Rica snorkeling enthusiasts. If you want to explore rocky reefs with colorful sea life, you’ll be spoiled for choice. You will find decent shore snorkeling in Playas del Coco and Playa Hermosa, but some other nearby locations are also worth the detour. Head for example to Playa Ocotal, Playa Buena, Bahia Pez Vela Beach Resort, or Playa Bonita, all filled with abundant sea life.
The small creeks nestled in Punta Cacique, the small peninsula separating Playas del Coco and Playa Hermosa, also offer great snorkeling, especially in Calzon de Pobre and Playa Penca. A few minutes by boat from the coast, the Islas Pelonas, surrounded by coral reefs, are frequently visited by hawksbill turtles and Pacific seahorses. You can reach the islands with snorkeling tours from the beaches.
A little further north, you can also snorkel on the Papagayo Peninsula, for example around Nacascolo and Punta Huevos. If you like snorkeling off the beaten track and that you have your own vehicle, then Playa Bassey, north of Santa Rosa National Park, should be your top pick.
Some 25 kilometers south of Playas del Coco, Playa Flamingo is one of Costa Rica’s favorite vacation destinations for both visitors and locals. Two locations, Playa Conchal (opposite the Westin Reserva Conchal) and Playa Danta (at the foot of Las Catalinas resort), are considered to be among the best places for snorkeling in the area.
20 kilometers further south is Tamarindo, a prime tourist spot in the country. It marks the border of the Nicoya Peninsula, the largest in Costa Rica, renowned for its remote and pristine beaches.
The coast has numerous small coves lying amid rock points which can be snorkeled when the sea is calm and the underwater visibility is fine. Try Playa Samara, Playa Carillo, Playa Nosara, Playa Lagarto or Playa San Juanillo.
The central and southern Pacific coasts of Costa Rica mainly feature long sand beaches, separated by a few rocky areas. This is where the best snorkeling is found, although the underwater visibility is more variable than in the north.
In Jacó region, Playa Blanca, Playa Mantas and Playa Caletillas are among the best options. Near Herradura, you can also explore the rocky coves nestled in Punta Conejo, 1.5 kilometers west of the marina.
Coconut trees, turquoise water and white sand… Isla Tortuga, in the Gulf of Nicoya, is a dream tropical island. However, the visibility is very bad there most of the year. If you want to try your chance, most boat tours to the island depart from Puntarenas jetty.
Much further south of the country, do not miss Manuel Antonio National Park, near Quepos, considered one of the most beautiful wilderness areas in Central America. The Park shelters several beached fringed by a rainforest where sloths, coatis and raccoons live. Playa Manuel Antonio, where you can explore shallow rocky beds with colorful fish, is the most accessible.
However, to discover one of the most spectacular Costa Rican snorkeling spots, reach Uvita, Sierpe or Drake Bay to embark on a boat and spend a snorkeling day at Isla del Caño. This small biological reserve, located off Corcovado National Park, is loaded with hawksbill sea turtles, whitetip reef sharks and colorful reef fish.
Isla del Coco, located about 550 kilometers from the mainland, is undoubtedly a must for snorkeling in Costa Rica. Protected by a National Park and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997, this small island renowned for its shark population is a marine biodiversity sanctuary. It can only be visited and snorkeled during naturalist cruises.
The coastline on the Caribbean Sea is over 200 km but a considerable length of this is comprised of sandy beaches and estuaries fringed by jungle, where the underwater visibility is nearly zero.
Only the southern part of the coastline, on the small stretch of coast of about twenty kilometers running between Cahuita and Manzanillo, can be snorkeled when there is not too much sediment floating in the water.
Cahuita Coral Reef, located in Cahuita National Park and only accessible by boat with a guide, is the main snorkeling location in the area. Puerto Viejo rock pools, Punta Uva reef, and Playa Manzanillo also include areas that are interesting to snorkel over, featuring Caribbean corals and fish. A few kilometers further south is the border to Panama and Bocas del Toro archipelago.
The Pacific and Caribbean shorelines of Costa Rica feature very different marine environments.
On the Pacific coast, you’ll snorkel over mineral underwater landscapes and rare hard coral reefs, not very colorful. The marine life here is typical of the ecosystems of the East Pacific and shares many species with the Sea of Cortez and the Galápagos Islands.
Common sightings in the Pacific shallows include butterflyfish, two species of angelfish (the Cortez angelfish and the king angelfish), several kinds of pufferfish and porcupinefish, damselfish and moray eels. The Galápagos blue sea star and the chocolate starfish are also frequent in the shore waters.
The east coast of Costa Rica features Caribbean reef ecosystems, where about 120 species of fish and 40 species of invertebrates can be seen at snorkeling depths. Among the most abundant are the blue tang, the bluehead wrasse and the banded butterflyfish. Stingrays and nurse sharks are also frequently encountered at the reef, especially in Cahuita.
If you are planning a trip to Costa Rica and want to take a fish ID guide with you, we recommend the excellent Reef Fish Identification – Florida Caribbean Bahamas (also available in ebook) for the Caribbean Coast, and Reef Fish Identification – Baja to Panama (available in ebook too) for the Pacific Coast. These two books are the reference guides to ID the fish you will encounter snorkeling in the country.
The climate in Costa Rica is tropical, and marked by two distinct seasons: the dry season, from the end of December to mid-April, and the rainy season (known as the “green” season) from May to mid-December, with lower rainfall from July to September. However, the climate is quite different for the Caribbean coast, where shower rains occur year-round.
On the Pacific coast, the maximum temperatures are around 90°F/32°C all through the year, compared with about 86°F/30°C (but with much greater humidity) on the Caribbean coast. The water temperature never falls below 73°F/23°C (but you should take a rash guard with you, especially on the Pacific coast), and gets up to around 86°F/30°C during the warmest months.
The sea conditions and underwater visibility are highly unpredictable in Costa Rica. Tropical rains, driving loads of sediments into the oceans, frequently drop visibility to nearly zero. Even during the dry seasons, the water can be pretty cloudy, with much sediment floating around. The get the best chances of good underwater visibility, choose the dry season (from the end of December to mid-April) on the Pacific coast and September and October on the Caribbean coast.
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Easily spotted at Isla del Caño. Occasional encounters on the continental Pacific Coast, for example in Playa Ocotal and Playa Buena.
Easily sighted along the Pacific coast, especially at Calzon de Pobre, Playa Ocotal, Playa Penca and Playa Bonita
Found only on the Pacific coast; frequently observed at Calzon de Pobre and Playa Penca
Found on every snorkeling spot of the Caribbean coast; a very similar species (Abudefduf troschelii) occur on the Pacific side
On all spots of the Pacific coast, in rocky areas
Common at Playa Danta, rare elsewhere
On all spots of the Pacific coast
On all spots of the Caribbean coast
Biological reserve with sharks, turtles and reef fish
Level:
Small rocky and sandy bay with colorful fish
Level: Free shore access
Small islands bordered by reefs with turtles, sea horses and colorful fish
Rock and coral reef with colorful fish, rays and turtles
Level: Free shore access Resort nearby
Secluded rocky bay with colorful fish
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