Cano Island Biological Reserve is a totally protected island found offshore in the southern Pacific side of Costa Rica. Home to a variety of fish and underwater creatures, you will likely be amazed by this colorful underwater world and have an experience of a lifetime. On this tour, you will explore the area by boat and have an opportunity to snorkel in two of the captain’s favorite spots.
The tour starts at Punta Uvita Beach where you will meet your friendly bilingual guides and experienced captain. They will provide life jackets, and safety instructions in order to ensure the safest and most peaceful trip to the island. You’ll be at sea for about an hour and a half with a chance to see stunning nature and wildlife on the way. While this tour is not focused on whale and dolphin watching, you may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a Humpback whale or Bottle Nosed dolphin. Bring your camera to take some gorgeous shots of your adventure on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica.
The clear turquoise waters and abundant coral reefs make this an excellent spot to go snorkeling. In fact, this area was named one of the best places to go snorkeling in the world. These reefs are the home to thousands of colorful fish like the Blue Spotted Jack, Cortez Garden Eel, Bicolor Parrotfish and the Moorish Idol. You will have a chance to stop at two different spots and be provided with high quality, clean snorkeling gear in order to enhance your experience viewing the diverse underwater terrain.
This is a full day tour so make sure to dress for being out in the sun. Don’t forget your swimsuit, hat and towel! Included in this tour are life jackets, all equipment, a delicious buffet lunch and bottled water. Transportation from your hotel to Punta Uvita beach may take up to one hour depending on lodging location.
IMPORTANT: It is important to consider that if you do not have experience traveling in small boats in the open sea where the boat is constantly moving, you may feel sickness and dizzy. This is not the responsibility of the provider and a pill will not prevent you from feeling this way, please take this into consideration before taking the activity as it is at your own responsibility.
The Cano Island Biological Reserve Tour is available from Dominical, Manuel Antonio, and Uvita
Latitude: N 8° 42' 49.44"
Longitude: W 83° 52' 44.04"
02/14/2023
Very early to get there which I understand. Had to walk to the ocean from the tour place in Uvita and back when we returned when it was very hot. I'm sure they would have given me a ride if I wanted. Our young guide tried to very helpful and was the only really English speaking one of the bunch. The others did not speak any English or very little.
Getting into the boat was a challenge for me as I am overweight, but others without that problem found it difficult due to the shortness of the ladder. I was hurt by the coral while trying to snorkel and coupled with the getting into the boat, I decided not to snorkel.
The area is wonderful for snorkeling as my husband and friend saw a lot of sea life but it would have been better with more than one guide in the water as it was difficult to keep the group together.
The staff provided us with a snack of cookies, half a sandwich, and juices. When we returned we were also provided a lovely lunch which was very flavourful! Our ride was there waiting for us.
And there is NO bathroom on the boat.
08/04/2019
Not the best snorkeling place in the world. Beautifull beachs at cano island and ballena park.
Did see some wales and dolphins.
07/28/2019
Great day!!
07/07/2019
Really great guide (Anner Cordero). Just a great guy who really looked out for us. Quite a lot of travel involved but fun experience.
12/09/2018
The boat ride is fun, but its a long time to be bracing from the bouncing off the waves. Some of the time the boat came down on the waves hard enough to actually hurt. The boat was not full, so the roughness may be because there wasn't enough weight, but its a long trip to be jounced so much. The snorkeling was great, and the food was pretty good (homemade by a relative). Overall, we'd probably do it again, but the best part for me is the snorkeling, and we did not do that for very long compared to the rest of the day, and the rough ride was a bit long. The Reserve is beautiful and I'm glad I saw it...
04/21/2017
Good tour!
01/28/2015
would have been nice if there were restrooms on the boat, would like to have spent more time snokeling.