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People on rocks beside breaking waves at sunset in Santa Teresa.

Costa Rica · Nosara & Santa Teresa

Boat and island trips

Trips out to sea from Sámara, Garza, Montezuma and Curú.

5 places

  1. Isla Tortuga day trip1

    Photo: Johan Guatemala, CC BY-SA 3.0

    WaterOpen

    Isla Tortuga day trip

    Departures from Montezuma, Curú, Puntarenas and Herradura (Jacó)56.4 km from the centre

    Entry
    from $78
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    Boat trip to an undeveloped island in the Gulf of Nicoya with a white-sand beach, snorkelling, a trail to a viewpoint and lunch.

    Source: Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Tortuga Island catamaran · 2026 · +2

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    From Montezuma: from $78 plus VAT (September 2025). By catamaran from Herradura: $145 plus tax per adult (September 2026).
    Time needed
    From Montezuma the boat takes about 1 hour; the catamaran from Herradura takes about 8.5 hours.

    Nearby: Bioluminescence night kayak (3.6 km) · Curú Wildlife Refuge (3.8 km) · Playa Tambor (14.7 km)

    Sources: Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Tortuga Island catamaran · Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Montezuma · Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Curú National Wildlife Refuge

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  2. 2

    WildlifeOpen

    Dolphin watching and snorkel in Sámara

    Departs from the south end of Playa Sámara14.5 km from the centre

    Entry
    From $58
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    Boat trip from Playa Sámara to look for bottlenose dolphins and snorkel at a reef known as The Hole.

    Source: Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Dolphin watching and snorkeling in Sámara · 2026 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    From $58 per adult in a group (September 2026).
    Time needed
    About 4 hours.

    Tip: Dolphins are seen all year; whales from January to March and July to October.

    Nearby: Playa Sámara (0 km) · Isla Chora kayak and snorkel (1.4 km) · Playa Carrillo (1.5 km)

    Sources: Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Dolphin watching and snorkeling in Sámara · Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Things to do in Sámara

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  3. 3

    WaterOpen

    Isla Chora kayak and snorkel

    Off the southern end of Playa Sámara14 km from the centre

    Entry
    From $57
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    A kayak or SUP paddle from Sámara to Isla Chora islet, a wildlife refuge with a small white beach, plus snorkelling on the reef.

    Source: Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Things to do in Sámara · 2026 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    From $57 plus VAT (September 2026).

    Nearby: Playa Sámara (1.4 km) · Dolphin watching and snorkel in Sámara (1.4 km) · Playa Carrillo (1.9 km)

    Sources: Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Things to do in Sámara · Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Sámara

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  4. 4

    WaterOpen

    Bioluminescence night kayak

    Curú and Tambor53.2 km from the centre

    Entry
    Not stated
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    A night paddle in the Curú or Tambor bay to see bioluminescent plankton glowing in the water.

    Source: Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Curú National Wildlife Refuge · 2025 · +1

    Practical details and sources

    Tip: It runs all year; the glow is best on moonless nights.

    Nearby: Curú Wildlife Refuge (0.2 km) · Isla Tortuga day trip (3.6 km) · Playa Tambor (12.9 km)

    Sources: Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Curú National Wildlife Refuge · Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Tambor

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  5. 5

    BeachOpen

    Playa Garza

    Between Nosara and Sámara27.9 km from the centre

    Entry
    Free
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    A fishing-village bay south of Nosara where sportfishing boats depart.

    Source: Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Nosara trip planning · 2025

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Full-day sportfishing: $400 to $1,400 per boat (September 2025).

    Nearby: Guiones Beach (3.9 km) · Surf schools in Nosara (5.4 km) · Yoga in Nosara and Santa Teresa (5.4 km)

    Sources: Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Nosara trip planning

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