- We come to you. A tender picks you up on the beach in front of where you are staying, anywhere inside the Gulf. No marina, no drive. South of Flamingo, we drive you to Flamingo Marina instead.
- Snorkelling from the swim platform. You step off the back of the boat straight into the water. Volcanic reef rather than coral, and busier than most people expect — butterflyfish, king angelfish, parrotfish, rays passing underneath. Gear aboard for everyone, including children's sizes.
- Everything that floats. Paddle boards and light fishing gear come on every trip. On the Premium day, add the water slide, wave runners, wakeboard, water skis and tubing.
- Secluded beaches and coves. We anchor off stretches of coast you cannot reach by road. Swim, walk the sand, or stay aboard — the boat is yours and so is the pace.
- Room to do nothing. This is the real argument for a catamaran. There is deck to spread out on, shade to retreat to, and enough space that six people are not sitting on top of each other. Nobody has to take a turn.
Ocean Experience · Gulf of Papagayo
Private Catamaran Experience
A catamaran does something no other boat does: it stops moving. Two hulls instead of one means the deck stays flat when you anchor, so lunch stays on the table, nobody feels seasick, and the children can run around while you actually relax. It is the difference between a boat ride and a day on the water. Yours is a private charter — your group, your pace, nobody else aboard. Forty-two feet of deck, sun when you want it, shade when you don't, and a crew that handles everything while you decide how the day goes.
A private 42-foot catamaran in the Gulf of Papagayo — sea caves, snorkelling, secluded coves, and only your group aboard.
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Quick answer
The Private Catamaran Experience is a half or full day in the Gulf of Papagayo, Guanacaste, Costa Rica, aboard a 42-foot catamaran with only your group — priced for up to 7 guests. The flat, stable deck makes it easy for families to snorkel, swim off quiet beaches and eat on board. Crew, snorkel gear and open bar included — from $2,250 per private charter, with a private-chef option.
Half or full dayUp to 7 guests42-ft catamaranPrivate chef option
Last verified September 2026 by Miller Contreras, naturalist guide and wildlife photographer
Duration
Half / Full Day
Group
100% Private
Guide
Local Captain
Level
All Levels
Location
Gulf of Papagayo
Boat
42-foot catamaran
What you’ll experience
A day on the water
Where can the catamaran take you?
The sea caves. Cut into the volcanic headlands by a few million years of swell, and reachable only from the water. We go in when the sea allows it — some days it does not, and we will tell you honestly before you get your hopes up.
Monkey Head Rock. A formation off the coast that earned its name the obvious way. It is also a seabird roost, which is the part most visitors miss until someone points it out.
The mangroves. Where the coast turns to mangrove, everything changes within a few hundred metres. The water goes still and green, the birdlife shifts completely, and this is where it pays to look closely — herons, kingfishers, and howler monkeys carrying across the water from the dry forest behind. We go in when the tide allows it — it is not possible at every hour of every day, and we will let you know before you get your hopes up.
Dolphins and sea turtles show up on almost every trip, and the crew knows these waters and where to look.
Private Charter
From $2,250 per private charter
For up to 7 guests. Private 42-foot catamaran. Price includes taxes, card payment and snorkel gear.
| Package | Duration | From |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Half day | $2,250 |
| Standard | Full day | $3,800 |
| Premium (private chef) | Half day | $3,700 |
| Premium (private chef) | Full day | $5,750 |
Larger groups quoted on request. Ask us which package fits your day.
Two Ways to Sail
The same boat, two levels of day.
Standard is the full experience without the extras: transport both ways, snacks and fresh fruit, an open bar of beer and wine, snorkelling, paddle boards, fishing, the caves and the mangroves.
Premium adds the things that turn a good day into the one people talk about: a private chef cooking aboard, a premium open bar, fresh ceviche made on the boat, and the wave runners, wakeboard, water skis and tubing.
Both come as half day or full day. The table below shows all four combinations. Prices cover seven guests; the boat itself carries up to twenty, so tell us how many of you there are and we will quote it.
See the experience
What the day looks like
Drag to explore — the deck, the snorkelling, the coves and the caves of the Gulf of Papagayo.
Wave Runners
Chef on Board
Guests on Deck
Kids Swimming
A/C Salon
Table for Lunch
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 aboard.
- The price you see is the price you pay: taxes and pickup included.
At a glance
Your private catamaran, in one look
| Duration | Half day or full day · morning or afternoon departures |
|---|---|
| Price | From $2,250 per private charter for up to 7 guests, taxes included · Premium with private chef from $3,700 |
| The day | Snorkel from the swim platform · paddle boards and light fishing · secluded beaches · sea caves and mangroves when the sea and tide allow |
| Sea life | Dolphins and sea turtles on almost every trip, plus reef fish and rays |
| Included | Crew, fuel, snacks and fresh fruit, snorkel and fishing gear, and an open bar of beer and wine (premium bar on Premium) |
| Not included | Wave runners, wakeboard, water skis and tubing (Premium only), and gratuities |
| Difficulty | Easy · all ages; the flat, stable deck is why families choose it |
| Style | 100% private · the boat carries up to 20 guests · English or Spanish |
| Pickup | A tender collects you from the beach in front of your hotel, anywhere in the Gulf of Papagayo · south of Flamingo, we drive you to Flamingo Marina |
| Cancellation | Full refund if you cancel at least 72 hours before pickup · 100% back if the captain calls it off for weather Travelling between December 15 and January 15, during Holy Week or Thanksgiving week? Peak dates are paid in full and have longer cancellation windows — see our booking terms. |
Last verified September 2026 by Miller Contreras, naturalist guide and wildlife photographerGood to know
What should you know before you book?
- Half day or full day — you choose
- Morning or afternoon departures
- Prices cover seven guests; the boat carries up to twenty. More of you? Tell us and we will quote it
- Suitable for all ages — the flat deck is the reason families choose this over a monohull
- Bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses and a change of clothes
- Everything included: crew, fuel, snorkel and fishing gear, and the open bar for your level
- Prices include taxes and card payment
- 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
Frequently asked
Catamaran questions
Standard is open bar, snacks and the core water activities. Premium adds a private chef cooking on board, a premium bar, a full hour on two WaveRunners, and wakeboard, water ski, tubing and subwing.
Yes — the whole catamaran is yours. Your group, your crew, your pace. Wondering if it is worth the price? Read our honest guide to whether a private catamaran in Papagayo is worth it.
Very. Paddleboards and snorkeling keep kids busy, and the Premium day adds the deck slide and WaveRunners (ages 7+); the water is calm and the crew is used to families.
Reef fish and rays on every snorkel, and dolphins and sea turtles on almost every trip. Your captain picks the snorkel stops for the day's visibility.
Right on your beach anywhere in the Gulf of Papagayo; from Tamarindo, Playa Grande or Hacienda Pinilla we drive you to Flamingo Marina.
We adjust the route to keep the day smooth. If we cancel for safety or force majeure, you get a full refund, or we reschedule if you prefer.
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.
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★★★★★ 5.0
This trip was beyond our expectations! The captain grilled delicious chicken and fish for our lunch. Cold drinks were provided throughout the trip.
N
ViatorVerified review
NoraT_LNoraT_L · Viator
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By the Guanadreams team, led by Miller Contreras — naturalist guide and wildlife photographer, born and raised in Guanacaste.