Manuel Antonio: Coastline Boat Tour, Snorkeling & Lunch

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/8

Duration3h 30m

GroupUp to 36

LanguagesEN · ES

PickupAt your hotel

Snorkel Biesanz Bay watch for dolphins enjoy fresh lunch onboard

You’ll ride out from Quepos with a local crew searching for dolphins or turtles along Manuel Antonio’s coast before anchoring at Biesanz Bay for snorkeling. Enjoy a home-cooked lunch on deck as sea breezes drift by and end your trip feeling sun-warmed and connected to this easygoing place.

3h 30m

Step-by-step itinerary

Coastal tour and snorkeling experience

Start tour at 9:00am or 2:00pm
Look for dolphins, turtles, stingrays, whales
Anchor at jungle bay
Snorkel for 30 to 45 minutes
Enjoy meal on the boat
Return to Marina Pez Vela

The Experience

“Sometimes the dolphins show up right away,” our captain Marco grinned, steering us out of Marina Pez Vela as if he’d been doing it since birth. The morning sun was already warm on my arms but not too much — just that gentle Costa Rican kind of heat. I could smell salt and sunscreen, and someone’s coffee drifting from the back deck. We all leaned over the side when Marco pointed at something in the water (it was just a log this time), but everyone laughed anyway. I didn’t expect to feel so relaxed so quickly — maybe it was the sound of the waves or maybe just being out there with people who seemed to know every inch of this coast.

The main reason I booked this Manuel Antonio boat tour was honestly for a chance to see dolphins or turtles (I’m still chasing my first wild whale). We cruised along slowly, scanning for movement — sometimes it’s quiet out there, but then you hear someone shout “look!” and everyone rushes to one side. No guarantees, Marco kept reminding us — which somehow made it more exciting when we did spot a few fins slicing through the water. The air tasted different out at sea, like minerals and sun mixed together. When we anchored at Biesanz Bay, I slipped into the water with my mask (life jackets required — they’re strict about that) and floated above rocks where little fish darted around. It wasn’t crystal clear but good enough to see flashes of blue and yellow under me.

I think my favorite part might’ve been lunch — weirdly enough? While we dried off on deck, Marco’s family cooked up plates of rice with fish and veggies right there on the boat. The smell drifted everywhere; even people who said they weren’t hungry changed their minds fast. There’s something about eating hot food in the middle of the ocean that makes everything taste better. We talked about where everyone was from (someone from Quebec tried to order another beer in French; didn’t work). On the way back toward Quepos, I stretched out in the sun and let myself just listen to everyone chatting in two languages at once. Still think about that view sometimes — you know?

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Quepos or Manuel Antonio, all snorkeling equipment (with life jackets), unlimited drinks from an open bar, snacks plus a freshly prepared lunch onboard—all led by a bilingual local guide before returning comfortably to Marina Pez Vela.

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Sunset Sails Tours