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.
Duration
Half / Full Day
Group
100% Private
Guide
Local Captain
Level
All Levels
What You'll Experience
- 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.
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.
See the Experience
Good to Know
- 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 72 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 72 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
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.
25 Feet · up to 6 guests
A 250 HP engine, comfortable seating and plenty of shade. Room for surfboards and rods, stereo and GPS aboard. 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.
Two Levels · up to 8 guests
Twin 140 HP engines and a two-level layout, with an onboard bathroom, generous shade, rod holders, non-slip decking, stereo and full navigation instruments. The upper deck is why people pick this one.
28 Feet · up to 8 guests
Twin 250 HP Suzuki engines. Cushioned seating, shade, freshwater aboard, Garmin GPS, radar, fish finder, outriggers and a live well. Tournament-grade fishing gear as standard.
32 Feet · up to 8 guests
A high-performance hull with twin 300 HP Suzuki engines. Cushioned seating, shade, freshwater, GPS, radar, fish finder, outriggers, dredges and a live well. Quick out to the fishing grounds and quick back.
40-Foot Yacht · up to 8 guests
Twin Cummins 480 HP engines, air-conditioned salon, a cabin and a bathroom with shower, full kitchen, minibar and ice maker. Garmin GPS, radar, depth sounder, outriggers, dredges and a live well, with tournament-grade gear aboard.
48-Foot Yacht · up to 10 guests
Twin Caterpillar 660 HP diesels, air-conditioned salon, three cabins, two bathrooms with showers, full kitchen, minibar and ice maker. Radar, depth sounder, outriggers, dredges, electric teaser reels and tournament-grade equipment. The most boat we run.
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.
Fun at the Ocean — Pricing
From $1,265 — 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.
Before You Book
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.
Design Your Ocean Day
Tell us what you love and we’ll craft a private day around it.