Description
Few things capture coastal life in Guanacaste quite like feeling the wind fill the sails as the sun sinks into the Pacific. This voyage departs from Playas del Coco aboard an elegant 47-foot monohull sailboat and traces the shoreline of the Gulf of Papagayo, a coast of cliffs, dry forest and beaches that can only be reached by sea.
As soon as you leave the bay, the crew raises the sails and the engine falls silent. All that remains is the sound of water against the hull. It is time to unwind on deck with a rum punch, an ice-cold local beer or a soft drink, while keeping an eye on the horizon: these waters are visited by dolphins, sea turtles, rays and, in season, humpback whales that come here to breed and calve.
The boat anchors in a sheltered cove where your guide leads a snorkel session among volcanic rocks alive with angelfish, parrotfish, silvery schools and, with luck, a turtle or a pufferfish. If you would rather stay dry, you can relax on an almost untouched beach while the crew prepares the onboard spread: fresh seasonal fruit, tortilla chips with guacamole and bean dip, and light finger sandwiches.
The morning sail offers calmer water and ideal light for snorkeling, while the afternoon sail returns under canvas as the sky turns orange and violet in one of Costa Rica's most celebrated sunsets. At the end you receive complimentary photos taken on deck and underwater, the perfect keepsake of a day on the water.
