girl snorkeling in Costa Rica spotting sea turtle
Selfie snorkeling with a sea turtle
San Josecito beach birds eye view
Whitetip reef shark in costa rica
Sea turtle in cano island
flowery flounder costa rica
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Cano Island snorkeling

Costa Rica's best snorkel from Drake Bay

(6 reviews)
Drake Bay
1 day
English & Spanish
Starts: From Drake Bay meeting point at 7:15 a.m.
Ends: To Drake Bay meeting point at 2:00 p.m.
Flexible cancellation policy

Briefing

Discover the marine life in Costa Rica's most extensive and best-preserved coral reefs during the Cano Island Snorkeling tour from Drake Bay in a small group. Sail to the island, take two dives in different areas, with a visibility of more than 24 meters and where you can see more than 60 species of marine fauna. After snorkeling time, relax on the beach of San Josecito and enjoy a traditional lunch.

Tour details

Included

  • Boat roundtrip Drake Bay - Cano Island
  • Snorkelling equipment (mask + snorkel + fins)
  • Certified guide
  • Cano Island entrance fee
  • Lunch
  • Snacks

Not included

  • Alcoholic drinks during lunch

Important information

Cano Island biological reserve is the best place in Costa Rica for snorkelling. It is a very protected area and the number of visitors is regulated, so only 100 people can visit it each day. We know you are a conscious traveler, anyway, we would like to remind you that it is strictly forbidden to alter the environment and take any form of marine life (including corals).

After snorkeling, if weather and schedule allow it, we will have a 40 minute stop at San Josecito beach, in our opinion the best beach in the area.

Cancellation policy

If you cancel at least 72 hours before the start of the tour, you will receive 50% of the amount paid. After this time, or in case of no-show, no refunds will be made.

Tour itinerary

CANO ISLAND SNORKELING

Difficulty: Easy. Suitable for all travelers
7:15 am

Meet at Drake Bay

At 7:15 am, the whole group will meet and we will take the boat to Cano Island. If we are lucky, during the 45-minute sailing trip, we may see dolphins. In addition, if we take the tour from June to September or from December to April, we may even see humpback whales. The guide will give the necessary indications to enjoy snorkeling in this paradise, ensuring that even the most novice divers feel safe and use the equipment correctly to have the most fun.

Travelers getting into the boat to Cano Island
8:30 am

Let's go diving!

Fins, snorkel and mask, everything ready, let's start! 🤿 To make diving easier you can use the lifejacket, so you will float effortlessly while discovering all the marine life. There are 9 dive sites on the island, of which the guide will choose the most suitable for snorkelling, with the shallowest depth and best visibility. Did you know that the waters are so clear that there are up to 24 metres of visibility? That means that you will be able to see even the animals that live on the seabed. After 45 minutes, we will go out to rest on the beach of Isla del Cano, the team will have prepared tropical fruits, fresh water and some snacks for you to recover your energy before the second dive. Back in the water to enjoy the best snorkelling in Costa Rica, you'll see seahorses, starfish, schools of fish, octopus...the list is long!

woman jumpiung from boat to Cano island water
11:30 am

San Josecito beach and Drake Bay

If the weather is good and the schedule allows it, we will stop at Playa San Josecito to relax, sunbathe and enjoy one of the best beaches in Drake Bay. We will take the boat again to return to Agujitas de Drake, where we will have lunch together and put an end to this wonderful experience around 1:30 pm.

travelers snorkeling near cano island

What to bring to Cano Island snorkeling tour

  • Daypack
  • Swimsuit
  • Towel
  • Sunglasses
  • Sunscreen
  • Insect repellent
  • Comfortable clothing (in case you want to wear dry clothes afterwards)
  • Beach shoes (sandals or booties)
  • Reusable water bottle (single-use containers are not allowed in Costa Rica's national parks)
  • Poncho (in case we get caught in the rain during the boat ride)

Where does the tour Cano Island snorkeling start

The easiest way to get to Drake Bay is by car. This option is very common among travelers, as Costa Rica is a recommended country to rent a car and drive around freely. The road to Drake Bay is being improved with different bridges, so depending on the route you take you will have to cross some small streams or bridges. If you travel by public transport you will have to combine a bus with a taxi-boat to take you to Drake Bay.

Questions & Answers

  • Do you always visit San Josecito beach?

    Almost always, on some occasions, we have to do without this visit. This can be due to bad weather or in case the dives last longer than expected and there is no time left for the visit. In this case, we go directly from Isla del Caño to the restaurant where we all have lunch together.

  • Is it suitable for all travellers?

    Of course it is! You don't need any kind of certification or experience to enjoy it. If you are a certified diver and prefer to do scuba diving, have a look at the tour: "Cano Island diving".

  • Is the activity cancelled in case of rain or bad weather conditions?

    No, the tour can be done in the rain and is a great experience. It is only canceled in the event of adverse sea conditions, either due to poor visibility or rough seas.

  • Can you pick me up at an accommodation that is not located in Agujitas de Drake?

    Yes, we offer the option to pick you up at different locations along Drake Bay Just send us an email indicating your accommodation and we will confirm where the pickup point will be.

  • Can you pick me up at an accommodation that is not located in Agujitas de Drake?

    Yes, we offer the option to pick you up at different locations along Drake Bay Just send us an email indicating your accommodation and we will confirm where the pickup point will be.

  • Any other tips for enjoying scuba diving in Isla del Caño?

    If you tend to get seasick, or simply want more peace and quiet during the boat trip, we recommend you to sit at the back of the boat, which is where the "jumps" of the boat in the sea are less noticeable.

  • What fauna can we see during the dives?

    As it is a natural area, we cannot guarantee exactly what species you will see, but we can assure you that it is one of the best places to see all these species: common and bottlenose dolphins, sea turtles, manta rays, octopus, moray eels, barracudas, tuna, seahorses, moray eels, grunts, jacks, white-tipped reef sharks. Humpback whales and whale sharks are often seen during the boat trip (from June to September or from December to April).

Cano Island snorkeling tour reviews with Howlanders

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