- We come to you. A tender picks you up on the beach in front of where you are staying, anywhere inside the Gulf, and takes you out to the boat. No marina, no parking lot, no drive. If you are staying south of Flamingo, we drive you to Flamingo Marina instead.
- Snorkelling over the rocks. The reefs here are volcanic rather than coral, and they hold more fish than people expect — butterflyfish, king angelfish, parrotfish, the occasional eagle ray passing underneath. Gear is aboard for everyone, including children's sizes.
- Fishing, if you feel like it. Rods and tackle are on board. This is not a fishing charter — it is light fishing, close in, the kind where somebody who has never held a rod catches the first fish of the day. And if you land something worth eating, the crew will cook it for you right there.
- Water toys. Water skis, wakeboard and tubing come standard. On the larger boats there are wave runners as well.
- Beach stops. We anchor off quiet beaches you cannot reach by road. Swim, walk, do nothing. This is usually the part people remember.
- A guide aboard, not just a captain. Every Guanadreams boat day goes out with one of our own guides alongside the crew — the same guides who lead our rainforest and birding days. Wildlife is never guaranteed, but knowing where to look changes the day.
Ocean Experience · Gulf of Papagayo
Fun at the Ocean — Private Boat Day
Some days you want a plan. This is the other kind. You get a boat, a crew and a guide for the whole day, and then you decide what the day becomes — anchor over a reef, drift while the kids jump off the bow, chase a school of jacks with a light rod, or simply stop somewhere with nobody else in sight and eat lunch with your feet in the sand. Nothing is shared. No other group, no fixed schedule, no rushing back because someone else booked the afternoon slot. The Gulf of Papagayo is calm, sheltered water, and it is big enough that we can almost always find a bay with nobody in it.
Your own boat, crew and guide for the day in the calm Gulf of Papagayo — snorkel, fish, swim, and lunch with your feet in the sand.
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Quick answer
Fun at the Ocean is a fully private boat day in the Gulf of Papagayo, Guanacaste, Costa Rica: your own boat, crew and guide, with the day shaped around you — snorkel a reef, fish with a light rod, or anchor off a quiet beach. From 4 hours to a full day with lunch on board or a beach barbecue; snorkel and fishing gear and drinks included — from $1,265 per private boat.
4 h to full dayUp to 12 guestsSnorkel + fishingBeach BBQ option
Last verified September 2026 by Miller Contreras, naturalist guide
Duration
Half / Full Day
Group
100% Private
Guide
Local Captain
Level
All Levels
Location
Gulf of Papagayo
Fleet
6 boats
What you’ll experience
What can you do on a private boat day in Papagayo?
The Beach Barbecue
On the longer days we do not eat on the boat. We set up on the sand.
Tables, chairs, shade, a cloth on the table and a proper meal cooked right there on an almost-private beach: green salad, grilled shrimp and chicken, vegetables, tenderloin, corn and dessert. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free versions are prepared on request — just tell us when you book. It takes more work than handing out sandwiches on deck, and it is the reason people send us photos a year later.
Choose Your Boat
The boat you pick sets both the price and the day. Here is what we run — tell us how many of you there are and we will tell you honestly which one fits. Light fishing gear comes aboard on any of them, and the four larger boats also carry wave runners and a fuller bar.
24 Feet · up to 8 guests
Twin 150 HP Yamaha engines on a rigid inflatable hull, with a raised tower platform, generous shade, non-slip decking, stereo and full navigation instruments. The tower is the reason people pick this one — it is the best seat on the water.
25 Feet · up to 6 guests
A 250 HP engine, comfortable seating and plenty of shade, with a marine head aboard, freshwater, rod holders and Garmin GPS. Room for surfboards and rods, stereo on deck. The nimble one — ideal for a couple or a small family who want the day to themselves without paying for deck they will not use.
30 Feet · up to 8 guests
Twin 250 HP Suzuki engines, cushioned seating, shade and freshwater aboard. Enough deck for eight without anybody sitting on top of anybody.
32 Feet · up to 8 guests
A high-performance hull on twin 300 HP Suzuki engines, with cushioned seating, shade and freshwater aboard. The quick one — less time getting there, more time in the water.
40-Foot Yacht · up to 8 guests
Twin Cummins 480 HP engines, an air-conditioned salon, a cabin and a bathroom with a shower, a full kitchen and a minibar. Somewhere cool to disappear to when the midday sun gets serious.
48-Foot Yacht · up to 12 guests
Twin Caterpillar 660 HP diesels, an air-conditioned salon, three cabins, two bathrooms with showers, a full kitchen and a minibar. The most boat we run, and the only one that takes twelve.
Your Boat, Your Group
There is no single boat. Depending on how many of you there are and how much comfort you want, the day runs on anything from a nimble open boat for a couple to a wide flybridge with an air-conditioned salon and cabins for a family of ten.
That is why the price starts at $1,265 and goes up from there — you are choosing a boat, not buying a seat. The table below shows what each option costs by length of day, and whether you want lunch on board or the barbecue on the beach.
Private Charter
From $1,265 per private group
For your whole group. Private boat for up to 12 guests depending on the vessel. Price includes taxes, card payment, snorkel and fishing gear, drinks, and your guide.
Choose your day
| Experience | Duration | From |
|---|---|---|
| Ocean day, no lunch | 4h | $1,265 |
| With lunch on board | 6–8h | $1,725 |
| With beach barbecue | 6–8h | $1,955 |
Choose your boat
| Boat | Guests | 4h day | Beach BBQ 8h |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nimble 25-ft boat | up to 6 | $1,265 | $1,955 |
| 24-ft open boat | up to 8 | $1,550 | $2,530 |
| 32-ft sport boat | up to 8 | $2,300 | $3,625 |
| 40-ft fishing yacht | up to 8 | $3,280 | $4,485 |
| 48-ft super yacht | up to 12 | $3,280 | $4,945 |
Larger vessels add a premium bar and wave runners. Ask us which boat fits your group.
See the experience
What the day looks like
Drag to explore — the boat, the snorkelling, the wave runners and the beach barbecue in the Gulf of Papagayo.
Beach Barbecue
Wave Runners
On the Bow
Under the Surface
Lunch on Board
Beach Table
Book direct with the operator
We run these tours ourselves
- We run these tours ourselves. No middleman, no reseller.
- Private from two people on most experiences — no strangers in your van.
- The price you see is the price you pay: taxes and door-to-door pickup included.
Good to know
What should you know before you book?
- Half day, six hours or full day — you choose
- Departures in the morning or early afternoon
- Everything included: your guide, crew, fuel, snorkel and fishing gear, water, soft drinks, beer and wine
- Bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, a hat and a change of clothes
- Children are welcome — life jackets in children's sizes are aboard
- Free cancellation up to seventy-two hours before pickup. The clock runs from your actual pickup time, not from the calendar day — we confirm that time with you when you book. Inside seventy-two hours there is no refund
- If we cancel for safety, you get everything back. High wind, storms, or any kind of severe weather — if the captain calls it off, your refund is 100%. We would rather lose the booking than take you out on a day the sea does not allow
- Prices include taxes, card payment and your guide
Frequently asked
Private boat day questions
Yes — only your group aboard. Your own captain, your own guide, your own pace. You're never combined with strangers.
Right on your beach, anywhere in the Gulf of Papagayo — a small boat runs out to bring you to your vessel. From Tamarindo, Playa Grande or Hacienda Pinilla we drive you to Flamingo Marina to board.
Lunch on board is served as you cruise. The beach barbecue is the signature day — we land on a quiet beach, set up in the shade, and grill a full meal on the sand.
Yes — vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options with advance notice.
Humpbacks pass the Gulf December through April. Dolphins and sea turtles appear most of the year. Your captain navigates toward the wildlife the day is showing.
We adjust the route and stops to keep the day safe and smooth. In case of genuine force majeure we reschedule or refund.
Seventy-two hours before your tour begins, counted from the start time and not the day. Cancel before that and your deposit comes back in full.
“
★★★★★ 5.0
Grilled fish, chicken and plantains cooked and served right on the beach separated this boat excursion from any other that I have been on.
PViatorVerified review
Paula_SPaula_S · Viator
ViatorVerified reviewDesign your ocean day
Design Your Ocean Day
Tell us what you love and we'll craft a private day around it. More than 300 five-star reviews on Tripadvisor. Our guides’ eBird lists are public — you can read them before you write.
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By the Guanadreams team, led by Miller Contreras — naturalist guide, born and raised in Guanacaste.