9 Days of Untamed Cruising Through Costa Rica and Panama

Your journey begins with arrival at Juan Santamaría International Airport, where a private transfer brings you westward through forested hills to the marina at Bahía Herradura. Often dubbed Costa Rica’s sportfishing capital, this horseshoe-shaped bay is home to the renowned Los Sueños Marina and offers calm seas backed by jungle-clad hills. Step aboard your yacht and take a moment to settle in. The crew will welcome you with fresh tropical fruits and a cold cocktail as you cast off from the dock. The first sunset drapes the coastline in gold, and by evening, you’ll already feel far from the everyday world.

Tortuga Island is the sort of place postcards can only partially capture. Arrive early to beat the day-trippers and enjoy its curved white-sand beach in near solitude. The morning is perfect for a nature walk or wildlife boat tour around the Nicoya Peninsula, where howler monkeys, scarlet macaws, and iguanas are frequently spotted. Back onboard, choose between paddleboarding, snorkelling, or simply lounging on deck with a chilled drink in hand. Underwater, volcanic rock formations house a colourful array of reef fish. It is the kind of day that invites barefoot freedom and leaves salt in your hair.

After an early morning cruise along the coast, drop anchor off Quepos, a port town that serves as the gateway to Manuel Antonio National Park. Here, dense tropical rainforest spills onto the sand, and hiking trails lead to secluded coves and panoramic viewpoints. Sloths hang like ornaments in the trees, and capuchin monkeys dart between branches with fearless curiosity. The park’s beaches are ideal for a midday swim, while the nearby mangroves offer the chance to spot crocodiles and exotic birds. Return to your yacht in the late afternoon and unwind with a gentle cruise south as the light shifts into a warm orange glow.

Approaching Isla del Caño by yacht is part of the experience, especially when spinner dolphins leap beside the hull in playful displays. This offshore biological reserve is known for its protected marine ecosystems and crystal-clear waters, which offer superb snorkelling. You might encounter reef sharks, rays, and large schools of snapper. Those eager for a land adventure can hike inland briefly to see mysterious stone spheres left behind by pre-Columbian societies. Their origin remains one of Costa Rica’s great archaeological puzzles. Back on the yacht, enjoy a relaxed afternoon with views of untouched jungle meeting the sea.

Corcovado is wild in every sense of the word. Covering less than a tenth of one percent of the planet’s surface, it contains around five percent of global biodiversity. Disembark for a guided hike into the heart of this living Eden, where the forest vibrates with the calls of toucans and the rustle of unseen animals. You may find tapir tracks in the mud, see spider monkeys swinging high above, or catch a fleeting glimpse of a jaguar’s shadow. Every sound and movement carries the thrill of possibility. Return salty and awestruck to the yacht for dinner under the stars.

Golfo Dulce is not just a bay, but one of only four tropical fjords in the world. Deep, calm, and framed by rainforest-covered mountains, it feels like a secret world. Today offers the chance to kayak quietly through mangrove channels or go ashore to walk the forest trails of Golfito National Park. The waters are often visited by pods of dolphins and, at times, migrating humpback whales. It is an excellent place for paddleboarding or a tranquil swim straight from the yacht’s swim platform. The sense of serenity here is remarkable and hard to forget.

Crossing into Panama, you arrive at Isla Parida, part of the Chiriquí Gulf National Marine Park. It is a land of volcanic cliffs, small hidden bays, and walking paths that lead through tropical forest to stunning viewpoints. Unlike more frequented destinations, this island remains uncrowded and pure. Snorkelling along its reefs reveals a flurry of fish life in shallow turquoise water. Ashore, explore shaded jungle trails, or just let time slow as you sway in a hammock by the beach. The remoteness makes it feel like a final frontier, offering peace and solitude in equal measure.

Once home to a remote prison, Coiba Island is now one of the region’s most prized natural areas. Protected as part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, its reefs and waters are famed for biodiversity. Divers and snorkellers alike will be rewarded here, with sightings of whale sharks, sea turtles, eagle rays, and reef sharks all possible in a single outing. On land, the island’s forests echo with the calls of howler monkeys and the screech of red and green macaws. Anglers may also try their luck, as the surrounding waters teem with game fish. It is a place that feels alive in every direction.

Your final morning begins at anchor near Puerto Jiménez, a small town nestled between the rainforest and the sea. It is a place where airstrips double as jungle runways and mornings begin with the buzz of cicadas. After a leisurely breakfast on deck, you’ll disembark and head to the nearby airstrip for your private charter or domestic flight back to San José. As the aircraft lifts off, the view of Costa Rica’s lush wilderness slipping beneath you is a fitting finale to a voyage through one of the most biologically rich and visually striking coastlines on the planet.