All things guides · Central Pacific

Isla Tortuga Day Trip

Isla Tortuga is the day trip everyone ends up taking from the Gulf of Nicoya — white sand, snorkeling, and a boat day that runs like clockwork. The real question isn't the island, it's where you sleep: Paquera or somewhere with an actual dinner scene.

Good to know

  • Most day tours run from Puntarenas or the Nicoya coast — you book the operator and they handle the boat; you just show up.
  • Paquera is a transit stop, not a destination. There's little to do in town itself, so don't book extra nights there expecting a beach town.
  • Ask operators about bioluminescence night tours — on dark nights the water lights up around your kayak.
  • A typical day: morning boat out, beach time and snorkeling, lunch aboard, afternoon sail back.

Everything on the map

Tap a category above — the map and the list below filter together. Every pin is from The Costa Rica Map.

Want this tuned to your dates?

These routes are the classics, but the right stops change with the season, your pace, and who's traveling. On a 40-minute planning call we'll reshape any route around your trip — or your move.

Book a $89 planning call Open The Costa Rica Map