Snorkel Trip to Cano Island

Embark upon an all-day, island-hopping adventure with Bahía Aventuras, a locally owned tour company that is dedicated to sustainable marine practices. Explore the aquamarine waters of one of the top-rated snorkeling destinations in Costa Rica — Caño Island. Professional and informed guides will help you experience the natural wonders of these preserved islands and will provide breakfast, lunch, boat transportation, and snorkel and safety gear!

Caño Island details & tips

• Tour provider: Bahía Aventuras
• Starting time: departs at 7:30 am (meet at 7:00 am at Bahía Aventuras)
• Duration: Approximately 8 hours
• Recommended for: The boat ride can be quite bumpy, so this tour is not recommended for individuals who easily get seasick, children under 6 years old, or women who are pregnant.
• What’s included: Tour with knowledgeable, bilingual guides, water, light breakfast, lunch, snorkeling gear (flippers, mask, snorkel, and life jacket), and the boat ride to and from the islands
• Price: $140.00 per adult, $85.00 per child (10 & under)
• Departs from: Bahía Aventuras office
• What to bring:
  • Required: sunscreen, bathing suit, hat
  • Recommended: refillable water bottle, t-shirt or rashguard, sunglasses, camera, towel
• Important notes:
  • The staff provides and requires the use of life jackets and waterproof bags for cell phones, cameras, and other important gear
  • Drink lots of water
  • Go to the bathroom before you leave Bahía Aventuras; this tour is not recommended for individuals with IBS or urinary incontinence because of the 4-5 hour period without access to bathrooms
  • Don’t be afraid to ask questions — guides are super knowledgable
  • Wear a t-shirt or rashguard under your life-vest while snorkeling to avoid chafing the skin
• Address: Located next to Escuela “Flor de Bahia” in Bahia Ballena

Caño Island highlights

• See and swim underwater with local wildlife in the coral reefs at Caño Island which is one of the top rated places to snorkel in Costa Rica
• Learn about this unique ecosystem from your well-informed guides
• Eat lunch and relax on a remote, island beach
• You may even see humpback whales!

Why it is “Bodhi Recommended”

This tour is a wonderful way to intimately experience this pristine part of Costa Rica located just beyond the Osa Peninsula. The tour highlights stunning protected areas, which promotes an appreciation for this underwater ecosystem. Furthermore, Bahía Aventuras is a tour company who strives to be a responsible tourism operator — something that we value greatly and want to support!

First-hand experience

Arriving at Bahía Aventuras at 7:00 am, I was happy to find a spread of fresh fruit, coffee, and pastries. Our guide, Alejandro, introduced himself in English and briefly explained the schedule of the upcoming tour. He gave us flippers and lifejackets to try on, in order to be sure that they fit, then equipped us with dry bags for our valuable items like cell phones. There was a family of five on our tour, along with my friend, Melissa, and myself. Next, we drove a few minutes to a small parking lot near the entrance of Parque Nacional Marino Ballena. The family opted to drive separately and paid $4 to park for the day. We arrived at the beach and walked a short distance to the motorboat waiting to depart from Punta Uvita. There were three guides accompanying us, Alejandro, who led the tour, Jose, who drove the boat, and Andres, who assisted with the tour. All of them were very kind, professional, and knowledgeable. They seemed experienced, and shared a lot of relevant information about the environment.

For someone like me who enjoys being on the water, the hour and a half boat ride was a fun part of the experience. The boat went fast, and the breeze and salt air felt wonderful. Depending on the surf, however, the water could be choppy, so be prepared for some bouncing around! Everyone had to wear lifejackets while onboard. There was plenty of bottled water available, but the bottles were plastic, so I recommend bringing a refillable bottle or two. The sun shelter is limited depending on where you sit, so I was glad to have a hat and sunscreen to protect my skin. We saw many birds, including pelicans and brown and red footed boobies flying overhead. We also stopped several times to see dolphins swimming and jumping next to the boat.

National Geographic recently named Bahía Ballena one of the top 10 places in the world to see whales! If the timing is right, there is a chance of seeing the migrating humpback whales that this area has become famous for protecting. In fact, National Geographic went on to describe Parque Nacional Marino Ballena as “one of the most important habitats for whales… These creatures migrate twice a year (from late December to late April and July to September) to the warm waters of the bay to mate and calve.” The National Park was developed in order to protect this important marine habitat.

Caño Island was first declared a biological reserve in 1978. As soon as we approached the islands, I could see why. The water was turquoise and transparent, and as we swam around, I noticed that several strips of coral seemed to glow with a bright, neon blue. Once in awhile, a large parrot fish would swim by, bathed in a similar glow of green, blue, and yellow. The colors were truly stunning. Alejandro shared many interesting facts with us throughout the tour, including that the parrot fish is a hermaphrodite who changes sex and color after adolescence. One of the highlights was spotting two sea turtles—one full grown and one baby— swimming only feet away from us! Several of us dove underwater with our snorkels to swim around with them.

After leaving Caño Island, we hopped back on the boat for a 30-minute ride to Violines Island, where the guides unpacked a lunch of chicken and rice, ham and cheese sandwiches, salad, potato salad, chips and bean dip, fresh fruit, and juice. The lunch was delicious and buffet-style, so it was also suitable for vegetarians. There were bathrooms for use on Violines Island. (Be aware that prior to that, there had been a 4-5 hour period of no bathrooms except for the ocean). After lunch, we had some time to explore Violines Island, where only two men live to care for the basic facilities.

The wildlife is majestic and was the highlight of the whole experience. I would recommend this tour to anyone who wants a thorough taste of the Costa Rican ecosystem. You will not be disappointed by the beauty and surprises that the guides have to offer!

Written by Sam Rose