Costa Rica Marine Mammal Observation Tours

Ship out to the open ocean for a half-day spent searching for and observing impressive marine mammals, including dolphins, whales, sea turtles and manta rays. You might see a 40-ton humpback whale breaching or spot a pod of bottlenose dolphins leaping alongside your boat. In the water below, keep your eyes focused for rays or sea turtles gliding gracefully onward. Birders will be pleased as well, as a great variety of avian species can be observed along rocky coastal formations. These tours, which depart from places like Manual Antonio, Drake Bay and Uvita, are led by a bilingual guide and occasionally are a part of combination tours that can include snorkeling, hiking, and beach time.

Plan my TripPlanned with a local insider, takes just 2 minutes.
2,600+ Verified Reviews
Tours & Activities

Marine Wildlife in Costa Rica

Caño Island Snorkeling

Spend your day snorkeling and swimming in the clear waters of the Caño Island Biological Reserve.

From $201

Tortuga Island Tour

Take an adventurous, all-inclusive tour of the gorgeous coast of the Nicoya Peninsula. Along the way, you’ll have ample opportunity for spotting wildlife as well as relaxing in the natural beauty of Tortuga Island. This is an all-day tour—your boat departs at 9 AM from Montezuma and returns at 4 PM.

From $103

Caño Island Tour-

This tour leaves departs from Drake Bay at 7:00 AM and includes two dives off of Caño Island. Your guide will take you to some of the most popular dive sites in the area, where you can see a ton of pelagic fish as well as manta rays. Divers treasure this site because it’s so beautifully preserved – no one is allowed to fish or collect shells in a 3-mile radius surrounding the island.

From $122

Whale Watching Tour

Marine Mammals frequent the waters surrounding Osa Peninsula and the goal of this trip is to search for and observe animals in there natural habitat but not to disturb or disrupt them. It is common to find whales, dolphins, manta rays and sea turtles.

From $155

Marino Ballena Park Combination Tour (Whale - Dolphin combo Tour)

The Bahia Aventuras Combo Tour combines elements of some of the most popular tours - whale/dolphin watching and snorkeling - into one rip-roaring, exciting day of adventure.

From $119

Guanacaste Scuba Diving

Visit the pristine beach at Playa Ocotal for an easygoing scuba diving experience. This dive takes place just off the coast, so it won’t take long to boat to your dive site. These dives call for 1 to 3 tanks, and each immersion usually takes about 45 minutes.

From $126

Guanacaste Snorkeling

Playa Ocotal’s pristine waters are usually fairly calm, so the wildlife here gets to live a fairly peaceful existence. Because of this, Playa Ocotal has the ideal atmosphere for snorkeling.

From $78
Trips to Inspire

Costa Rica itineraries from local insiders

Explore hand-picked Costa Rica itineraries designed by local insiders who know every hidden corner. Each trip is completely flexible, customized to your pace, travel style, and budget.

9 daysFrom $1,126 per person

Pura Vida Adventure Together

We both love nature and hiking so Costa Rica is ideal for both of those. We went during what’s considered the rainy season so you need to be aware of that going in. It rained at some point almost every day we were there but we still had a very enjoyable time. We visited La Fortuna and Manuel Antonio. We enjoyed La Fortuna more. La Fortuna was more jungle whereas Manuel Antonio was more coastal and felt more touristy.

Pura Vida Adventure Together

Costa Rica

8 daysFrom $1,543 per person

Adventure Through Costa Rica's Wild Heart

Costa Rica was just magnificent. The people, food, jungles, beaches were all fantastic. Can’t wait until my next trip back.

Adventure Through Costa Rica's Wild Heart

Costa Rica

9 daysFrom $1,324 per person

Big Multi Family Group Adventure

Embark on a vibrant Costa Rican adventure that juxtaposes bustling urban energy with lush, untouched rainforests, delivering a dynamic escape from everyday routine. From San José’s lively streets you’ll head to Monteverde’s cloud‑forest canopy for sky tram rides and hikes, then dive into Rio Celeste’s turquoise waters and trek El Silencio’s volcanic paths. Friendly locals and knowledgeable guides will immerse you in coffee farms, rainforest sounds, and volcanic vistas, leaving you with lasting memories of Costa Rica’s spirited hospitality and natural wonder.

Big Multi Family Group Adventure

Costa Rica

8 daysFrom $1,077 per person

Sisters Adventure Together

Incredible tours, hotels, and communities.

Sisters Adventure Together

Costa Rica

10 daysInquire

Winter Romantic Adventure

The people are so friendly!

Winter Romantic Adventure

Costa Rica

12 daysFrom $2,556 per person

Matt and Fran’s Costa Rica holiday

Costa Rica has a diverse landscape and every area is unique and different. We easily rented a 4 wheel drive vehicle and drove from the Caribbean to the Pacific!

Matt and Fran’s Costa Rica holiday

Costa Rica

11 daysInquire

Family Time in Costa Rica

Michelle and her family embarked on a multi‑generational adventure in Costa Rica, where mist‑cloaked cloud forests meet surf‑kissed Pacific beaches, offering a vibrant contrast of cool heights and warm tides. Your journey weaves through Monteverde’s canopy zip lines and canyoning thrills, the turquoise Tenorio River’s Class III/IV rapids, and La Leona waterfall’s lush river tubing. Guided by local experts and supported by a comfortable van, your family will soak up Pura Vida hospitality, returning home with shared stories of soaring forests and surf‑side sunsets.

Family Time in Costa Rica

Costa Rica

8 daysFrom $1,406 per person

Family Adventure Through Costa Rica

Rachel and her family of four spent a week moving across Costa Rica, from Arenal to the Pacific coast, with every transfer and tour arranged door to door. In Arenal they rode the Sky Adventures aerial tram and ziplines, took on the Balsa River's Class II–III rapids, and walked the EcoGarden trails to find sloths in their actual habitat, not a roadside stop, then the falls at La Fortuna. On the coast at Manuel Antonio they hiked the national park with a local guide, snorkeled the reef, and chased the Mulguri waterfall. As Rachel said, these weren't tours with twenty other tourists trailing the buses. They were the real thing, reachable only through local connections, with the family's days handled start to finish.

Family Adventure Through Costa Rica

Costa Rica

13 daysFrom $3,994 per person

Dream Honeymoon Adventure in Costa Rica

Embark on a honeymoon that swaps city bustle for Costa Rica’s emerald rainforests and sun‑kissed beaches, where romance meets adventure in every sunrise. From Monteverde’s misty cloud forest trails to Arenal’s volcanic hot springs, then Playa Conchal’s Pacific surf and Damas Island’s mangrove kayak tours, you’ll hike, soak, and sail. Friendly local guides and vibrant community flavors will weave unforgettable memories, leaving you with a deeper connection to nature, Costa Rican warmth, and each other.

Dream Honeymoon Adventure in Costa Rica

Costa Rica

11 daysInquire

Costa Rica Off Season Adventure

We found Costa Rica to be really beautiful. I loved the flowering plants everywhere, but the wildlife is the main reason we went. We didn't see monkeys in every tree or even toucans up close, but we did see them from a distance. We also saw lots of colorful birds in the National Forests that we have never seen before.

Costa Rica Off Season Adventure

Costa Rica

Belong Anywhere

In their words