Snorkel With Lunch Included

Playa Uvita: Caño Island Snorkeling Tour with Lunch

★ 5.0 · 3 reviews

from $175 per person

Opens the operator's official listing with live dates. Book there; nothing is charged on this site. Free cancellation.

Duration: 6 hours
Meeting point: Ballena Aventura office by Hotel La Fiore, Bahía Ballena
Cancellation: Free cancellation
Meal: Meal included
Run by: Ballena Infocenter & Tours

Overview

Six hours in total, two snorkel stops, and lunch thrown in. This tour from Ballena Infocenter & Tours runs from Playa Uvita out to Caño Island Biological Reserve, one of Costa Rica's better-known spots for reef snorkeling, and the listing names sharks, manta rays, turtles, fish and coral as possible sightings, followed by a meal on a beach or on the boat.

The day starts at the Ballena Aventura office in Uvita. From there it is a short walk and then a speedboat run of about an hour and a half across the water toward the Osa Peninsula and Golfo Dulce area. Once at the island, guides lead a block of about three hours of touring and snorkeling, split across two different sites. What you see depends on visibility, which the listing is upfront about, but the reefs here carry a wide mix of fish, invertebrates, algae and the occasional passing dolphin or whale on the ride home.

Guides work in Spanish and English. There is no hotel pickup, so travellers make their own way to the meeting point. Safety and snorkeling equipment are part of the package.

What's Included

Included

Coffee station
Entrance to the Reserve
Parking
Boat trip to Caño Island
Snorkeling in two different places
Lunch on a nearby beach or on the boat
Opportunity to see marine life such as sharks, manta rays, turtles, fishes
Guided tour
Safety and snorkeling equipment

Not Included

Transportation to the office
Personal expenses
Towels
Sunscreen
Medicated mask

Itinerary

Meet at Ballena AventuraCheck in at the operator's office in Uvita, 50 meters west of Hotel La Fiore de Bahía.
Walk to the boatA 10 minute walk on foot from the office to the departure point.
Speedboat crossingTravel by speedboat for 1.5 hours across the Osa Peninsula and Golfo Dulce area toward Caño Island.
Guided snorkelingA block of about 3 hours of guided touring and snorkeling at two different sites around the Caño Island Biological Reserve, with sharks, manta rays, turtles, fish and coral possible depending on visibility.
LunchEat lunch either on a nearby beach or on the boat.
Return to Uvita BeachBoat back to Uvita Beach, watching for whales and dolphins along the way if you are lucky.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points make the difference between a good day and a rough one on this trip.

Getting there. Hotel pickup is not included and transportation to the office is listed as excluded. Arrive at the Ballena Aventura meeting point in Uvita with time to spare.
What to bring. The listing recommends swimwear, a hat, sunscreen, a camera, a waterproof camera, insect repellent and motion sickness prevention. Towels are not provided, so bring your own, plus a change of clothes or a rashguard.
Seasickness. The outbound boat crossing is listed at 1.5 hours, so there is real time on open water. Travellers prone to seasickness should take medicine one hour before departure, as the listing advises.
The guides. Guides are bilingual in Spanish and English. The listing highlights knowledgeable guides as a feature of the tour.
Marine life. Sightings cannot be guaranteed and visibility depends on water conditions. One reviewer reported seeing a lot of fish and turtles, but what shows up varies by day.
Respect the reef. Touching marine life, feeding animals and riding animals are all prohibited, along with drones, fishing, smoking and littering. Snorkelers are asked to keep their hands off the reef and its creatures, some of which, like lobsters and cambutes, are endangered.

Common issues. The honest caveats are mostly environmental. Visibility for snorkeling depends on the water that day, and the listing states plainly that marine life sightings cannot be guaranteed. The boat crossing alone is 1.5 hours, so anyone sensitive to motion should plan ahead. Hotel pickup is not included, and towels, sunscreen and personal expenses are excluded, so budget and pack for those yourself.

Common Questions

What is included in the price?

The tour includes the boat trip to Caño Island, snorkeling at two different sites, entrance to the reserve, parking, a coffee station, lunch on a beach or the boat, a guided tour and all safety and snorkeling equipment. Towels, sunscreen and personal expenses are not included.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is served either on a nearby beach or on the boat, depending on the operator's arrangement for the day. A coffee station is also included.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Neither hotel pickup nor transportation to the office is included. Travellers meet at Ballena Aventura in Uvita, 50 meters west of Hotel La Fiore de Bahía.

How long is the tour?

The full tour runs about 6 hours.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, per the listing.

What should I bring?

Swimwear, a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, motion sickness medicine, a towel and a waterproof camera. The listing also suggests a change of clothes or a rashguard, and seasickness medication should be taken one hour before departure.