Tortuga Island Tours
We compared all 16 options — our verdict, the best price and who each one is really for.
4.4 16 experiences
from US$ 115
✓Free cancellation on most experiences
The verdict
Our pick
Tortuga Island: Catamaran Snorkeling & Banana Boat from Jaco★ 4.94 (1,663) · 8h
Best priceTortuga Island Day Trip from San José: Dolphins & Snorkel★ 4.45 (698) · from US$ 115
Top ratedJaco: Private Tortuga Island Boat Tour & Snorkeling★ 5.00 (6) · from US$ 265
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Tortuga Island: Catamaran Day Trip with Lunch & SnorkelingYou’ll sail from Los Suenos Marina toward Tortuga Island on a catamaran day trip filled with easygoing adventure: snorkeling in clear waters, a fresh-grilled lunch right on the sand, banana boat rides or hikes if you want them—all with a bilingual guide who keeps things light. Expect laughter, new friends, and those quiet moments that stick long after you’ve rinsed off the salt.
Tortuga Island Day Trip from San José: Boat & Beach LunchYou're picked up from your San José hotel and driven to Caldera pier, then ferried to Tortuga Island on a large boat with views of the Gulf of Nicoya and Isla San Lucas wildlife refuge. Once on the island, you spend the afternoon on a private beach with lunch (grilled fish and chicken, ceviche, salads, fruit), unlimited drinks including rum punch, and access to the water and beach facilities. The boat returns you to the pier in the late afternoon, and you're back in San José by evening. Total time is around 10–12 hours, and everything—transport, meals, drinks, and island access—is included.Is it for me?A good choice if you want a full beach day without arranging your own transport, meals, or island access—the fixed schedule and included pickup from San José mean you just show up at your hotel and the rest is handled.
Tortuga Island Day Trip from San José: Dolphins & Beach LunchYou leave San José before dawn, stop for breakfast en route, then board a boat to Tortuga Island in the Gulf of Nicoya. Five hours on a turquoise-water beach includes snorkeling, lunch, fresh fruit and coffee; dolphins appear if conditions allow. The return drive to San José takes the evening, with the whole day running roughly ten hours from pickup to drop-off.Is it for me?Right for anyone based in or near San José who wants a full beach day without arranging a boat, buying tickets separately, or figuring out the drive to the coast—the fixed itinerary and included lunch mean you show up and the rest is handled.
Tortuga Island Snorkeling & Dolphin Spotting from PuntarenasYou spend a full day on Tortuga Island in the Gulf of Nicoya, starting with a boat ride where dolphins and seasonal whales are possible sightings. Snorkeling equipment and a 30-to-40-minute guided session are included, followed by six hours of free beach time to spot wildlife or rest. A prepared lunch with drink and dessert happens on the island, and the certified bilingual guide handles the timing and navigation so you just show up at the dock.Is it for me?Book this if you want a full island day without arranging boat transport, snorkeling gear, or a meal—the fixed schedule and included guide handle all three, leaving you free to watch for dolphins on the way out and just be on the beach once you arrive.
Tortuga Island Day Trip from Puntarenas: Boat & Beach LunchYou board a boat in Puntarenas and spend the day on Tortuga Island, 12 nautical miles offshore in the Gulf of Nicoya. The itinerary includes a narrated pass by the abandoned San Lucas prison, snorkeling equipment, a full lunch with grilled fish and chicken, and unlimited drinks—coffee, rum punch, sodas and water throughout the day. The return trip includes coffee and cake. Optional activities like kayaking and banana boats are available to add on your own.Is it for me?Pick this if you want a full beach day without arranging your own boat, snorkeling gear or food—the fixed itinerary and included meals mean you arrive at the dock and everything else is handled.
Tortuga Island Snorkel & Sunset Cruise from JacóYou snorkel at Tortuga Island with all gear provided, use the boat's water slide and dive boards, and enjoy a gourmet lunch with signature drinks on the beach. The return cruise follows the sunset along the Pacific coast. The fixed schedule means no arranging transport or timing yourself — you show up at Los Sueños Marina and the day is already planned.Is it for me?Book this if you want a full island and snorkel experience in half a day without arranging your own transport or timing — the fixed schedule and included lunch mean you show up and the day unfolds on its own.
Tortuga Island Snorkeling & Beach Day from Santa TeresaYou get picked up in Santa Teresa, ride 45 minutes to Tortuga Island spotting dolphins and rays, snorkel in clear water with all gear provided, eat a BBQ lunch on the beach with two beers included, then spend the afternoon swimming, kayaking, or hiking before heading back. The whole day is handled — no arranging boat times, no renting snorkel gear separately, no figuring out where to eat.Is it for me?Pick this if you want a full snorkeling day without arranging transport, gear rental, or lunch separately — the fixed itinerary and early start are what fit everything into one afternoon back on the beach.
Tortuga Island Cruise from San José: Catamaran & Beach LunchYou're picked up from your San José hotel and driven to Puntarenas, where you board a catamaran for a 12-nautical-mile crossing to Tortuga Island. The day includes swimming in turquoise water, lunch on the beach, and time to explore the protected forest or simply rest on deck. The return drive gets you back to San José by evening.Is it for me?Right for travelers based in San José who want a full beach and water day without arranging their own boat or driving to the coast — the early pickup and long return drive are what make a remote island visit possible in one day from the city.
Tortuga Island Catamaran from San Jose: Snorkeling & Beach DayYou're picked up from your San Jose hotel at 6am, driven to Puntarenas with breakfast, then board a catamaran with live music and snacks for a 1.5-hour crossing to Tortuga Island. Spend four hours swimming and relaxing on the protected island's white-sand beach, enjoy lunch included, then return by boat and bus to your hotel in the evening. The fixed schedule means you skip the logistics of getting to the coast and timing the boats yourself.Is it for me?Pick this if you want a full beach day on a protected island without arranging your own transport to the coast or timing the boats — the early pickup and fixed schedule handle all of that, and you just show up at your hotel at 6am.
Tortuga Island Sunset & Bioluminescence Tour Santa TeresaYou board an air-conditioned boat at 4pm and ride 45 minutes out to Tortuga Island, where you snorkel with provided gear and eat fresh-cooked fish tacos as the sun sets. After dark, the ocean comes alive with bioluminescence — glowing organisms that light up when disturbed — and you watch from the boat as the water pulses with blue-green light. The whole trip takes 7 hours and includes two beers, filtered water, and a guide who knows the marine ecosystem. You're back by 11pm.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see something genuinely unusual — bioluminescent water — without spending the whole night arranging transport, timing the sunset yourself, or figuring out where to eat. The 7-hour window and fixed schedule handle all three, and the boat leaves late enough that you're not rushing your afternoon in Santa Teresa.
Tortuga Island Day Trip from San José: Snorkeling & White SandYou get hotel pickup, a 50-minute boat ride to Tortuga Island, a guided snorkeling tour of the reefs, lunch, and the afternoon free to swim, kayak, or relax on the white sand. The guide stays with you all day and handles the logistics, so you show up and the day unfolds. Return to San José by early evening.Is it for me?Book this if you want the main Tortuga Island experience—snorkeling, beach time, and lunch—without arranging your own transport or timing; the guide and fixed schedule handle all of that, leaving you free to just show up and swim.
Tortuga Island Day Trip from Jaco: Catamaran, Snorkeling & LunchYou board a catamaran in Puntarenas and spend the day on Tortuga Island's private beach, where you snorkel for 45 minutes in protected waters, eat a full lunch with wine, take a banana boat ride, and hike the island's trails while drinking unlimited margaritas and punch. Hotel pickup from Jaco and all meals are included, so you show up and the day is already arranged.Is it for me?Book this if you want a full island day without arranging transport, meals, or activities separately—the catamaran, snorkeling, food, and drinks are all locked in, so you just show up at pickup and the day unfolds on schedule.
Tortuga Island & Bioluminescent Snorkel: Spider Monkeys & 2 IslandsYou spend the morning spotting spider monkeys and snorkeling Tortuga Island's reefs, break for a grilled lunch on the beach, then return to Tambor Bay for a mangrove tour and sunset. The day ends with a night swim in bioluminescent water where plankton light up with each movement. All gear, food, and drinks are included; your group stays private with one guide and captain the entire time.Is it for me?Book this if you want to pack three distinct ecosystems and activities into one day without coordinating separate tours and timing—the private format means your group moves together, and the all-inclusive meals and gear remove the logistics from your morning.
Tortuga Island Tours — what to know before booking
This guide compares 16 bookable options for Tortuga Island Tours, with up-to-date prices and real traveler reviews. Prices start at US$ 115. The average rating is 4.4 out of 5, based on 2,990 traveler reviews.
Most options last half a day or longer. 15 of the 16 options offer free cancellation. The verdict at the top highlights the travelers' favorite, the best price and the top-rated option, updated with live data.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Tortuga Island Tours cost?
Prices start at US$ 115. There are 16 options to compare, and the final price depends on the date, group size and the option you choose.
Can I book with free cancellation?
Yes: 15 of the 16 options offer free cancellation, so you can book now and confirm your plans later.
How long do these experiences last?
Most options last half a day or longer.
Which one is the travelers' favorite?
Tortuga Island: Catamaran Snorkeling & Banana Boat from Jaco is the travelers' favorite, rated 4.9 out of 5 across 1,663 reviews.
