Snorkeling! & Cahuita national park Small Group Tour
Description
Dive Into Nature – Explore Coral Reefs & Coastal Rainforest in One Day! This unforgettable eco-adventure takes you to one of Costa Rica’s most biodiverse destinations: Cahuita National Park. Discover vibrant marine life while snorkeling over the coral reef, then hike along shaded jungle trails where sloths, monkeys, and colorful birds await. Perfect for couples, families, or small groups who want a relaxed and customized experience in nature. Tour Highlights: Snorkeling at Cahuita Reef (weather permitting) Explore one of the largest coral reef systems in Costa Rica Swim among tropical fish, sea fans, rays, and coral formations Certified local guide and all snorkeling gear provided Cahuita National Park Hike Easy coastal trail with a bilingual naturalist guide Spot sloths, howler monkeys, iguanas, raccoons, toucans, and more Learn about the park’s Afro-Caribbean culture and natural history
Tour Options
Itinerary
SNORKELING: This tour takes place on a boat with capacity for up to 15 people, including a certified guide and captain, and takes you around Cahuita National Park, where you’ll snorkel for approximately two hours in Costa Rica’s most important coral reef, observing up to 35 species of coral, 123 species of tropical fish, 3 species of sharks, 6 species of moray eels, 3 types of sea urchins, 140 species of mollusks, 44 types of crustaceans, 128 types of algae, as well as sea turtles, sea cucumbers, sea sponges, lobsters, shrimp, and more, full snorkeling equipment is provided, including mask and snorkel, fins, and safety gear.
HIKE: After the snorkeling experience, you’ll enjoy a refreshing fruit-based snack with a variety of seasonal tropical fruits. Next, begin the second part of the adventure: a guided nature walk along a 2 km trail from Punta Cahuita to Cahuita town. Along the way, your naturalist guide will help you spot a wide range of wildlife such as sloths, white-faced and howler monkeys, raccoons, anteaters, armadillos, and several snake species like boas and eyelash vipers. You’ll also observe colorful butterflies like the famous blue morpho, tropical birds, land and sea mollusks, and learn about native plants including medicinal species, orchids, bromeliads, ferns, and other rainforest flora.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Your tour begins inside the pier, where our guides will be waiting for you with a sign displaying your name. Look for our red shirts for easy identification. We offer pickup right inside the pier, so there’s no need to walk outside the facilities. Timing: Tours are scheduled 30 minutes after your ship docks, with the earliest tour starting at 8:00 AM. As the best local tour operator, we guarantee your return to the cruise ship
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- At time of booking, Cruise ship passengers must provide the following information at time of booking: ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time
Reviews(32)
Really disappointed with this tour. For the very high price we assumed this would be a really amazing snorkeling spot and informative nature walk. The whole thing felt very thrown together. Poor visibility, rough water and a tiny assortment of things to see. The 'nature walk' was more of a trip back to the car than an actual guided tour where you see animals. I would have been disappointed at half the price but I actually feel ripped off. :(
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We are truly sorry to hear that this experience did not meet your expectations, especially since you were looking forward to a high-quality snorkeling adventure and guided nature experience. We understand how disappointing it can be when weather and ocean conditions affect visibility and water clarity, particularly for snorkeling activities. While these natural conditions are unfortunately outside of our control, we recognize that the overall experience still should have felt organized, informative, and worthwhile. We also regret that the nature walk did not feel like the guided wildlife experience you expected. Your comments about the pacing and overall value are important to us, and we will review them carefully with our team to improve how this tour is presented and operated in the future. We sincerely appreciate your honest feedback and the opportunity to learn from your experience.
We took two tours with this company during our trip - zip lining and snorkeling. Both were fantastic. Our tour guide Catherine and driver Gigi were the best, they felt like members of our family for the day.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed both the zip lining and snorkeling tours. It’s great to know that Catherine and Gigi helped make your experience so special and that they made you feel like part of the family for the day. We truly appreciate you choosing our company during your trip and hope to welcome you back to Costa Rica for more adventures in the future! 🌿🌊
We originally booked the snorkeling and Cahuita National Park tour, but unfortunately the ocean was too rough for snorkeling that day. Instead of simply canceling, the team went above and beyond and offered to take us on a chocolate tour and a waterfall trip and honestly, we ended up loving it even more than we would have loved the snorkeling. Our guide Rich was fantastic. She was incredibly energetic, engaging, and extremely knowledgeable about the local culture and the indigenous peoples of the region. During our hike through the park, she was amazing at spotting wildlife, we saw sloths, vipers, monkeys, and so many beautiful birds that we would have completely missed without her trained eye. It made the experience feel incredibly special and authentic. Our driver Fabi was also excellent very professional, friendly, and made us feel completely safe the entire time. The whole day ran smoothly and the staff clearly cared about making sure everyone had a great experience despite the change in plans. What could have been a disappointing situation turned into one of the highlights of our trip to Costa Rica. I highly recommend this company and especially Rich and Fabi if you get the chance to tour with them!
Thank you so much for sharing such a thoughtful review of your experience with us. We truly appreciate your understanding when the ocean conditions didn’t allow for snorkeling. Safety is always our top priority, so we’re very happy to hear that the alternative plan turned into such a memorable part of your trip. It’s wonderful to know that you enjoyed the chocolate tour, the waterfall visit, and the hike through Cahuita National Park. This area is incredibly rich in wildlife, and we’re glad you were able to see sloths, monkeys, vipers, and so many beautiful birds along the way. We’re especially pleased to hear your kind words about Rich and Fabi. Rich is truly passionate about sharing the local culture and the knowledge of the indigenous communities of the region, and Fabi takes great pride in making sure every guest feels safe and comfortable throughout the journey. We will be sure to pass along your compliments to both of them—they will be thrilled to hear your feedback. Thank you again for recommending our company. It means a lot to us that what could have been a disappointing change of plans became one of the highlights of your visit to Costa Rica. We hope to welcome you back for another adventure in the future! 🌿🐒🍫🚐
The water was too rough so we were offered a change of plans and had the best day. Went to the national park and saw sloths, monkeys, lizards etc. Amazing beach and such a scenic walk. Then we went to make some chocolate which was such a great experience. Next up we hiked to some waterfalls. Such a great day with a superb driver and guide.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us! While we’re sorry that the ocean conditions didn’t allow for snorkeling that day, we’re very happy to hear that the alternative plan turned into such a wonderful adventure. It’s great to know that you enjoyed your visit to Cahuita National Park and had the chance to see sloths, monkeys, lizards, and other wildlife along the scenic coastal trail. The beautiful beach and lush rainforest there truly make it a special place to explore. We’re also glad you had fun during the chocolate-making experience and the hike to the waterfalls—both are fantastic ways to connect with the local culture and the natural beauty of the Caribbean region. Thank you as well for your kind words about our driver and guide. Our team always strives to turn unexpected changes into memorable experiences, and it means a lot to hear that you had such a great day with us. We truly appreciate your support and hope to welcome you back for another adventure in Costa Rica! 🌿🐒🍫💧
It was a wonderful day!
Vielen Dank für Ihre tolle Bewertung! Es freut uns sehr zu hören, dass Sie eine großartige Zeit im Cahuita National Park hatten. Es ist schön zu wissen, dass Katerin Ihnen so viele Tiere zeigen konnte und dass Sie den Besuch im indigenen Dorf, die Kakao-Erfahrung und die Wasserfälle genießen konnten. Diese Erlebnisse geben einen besonderen Einblick in die Natur und Kultur der Region. Auch vielen Dank für Ihre netten Worte über Fabian. Wir freuen uns, dass Sie sich während der Fahrt sicher und gut betreut gefühlt haben. Wir hoffen, Sie bald wieder zu einer weiteren Tour in Costa Rica begrüßen zu dürfen! 🌿🐒
My sister and I had a fabulous day in Costa Rica. Although the weather didnt allow the snorkeling part of the trip, we had a wonderful time in the national park and the waterfalls. Rachel was a great guide that could spot the wildlife. We really appreciate her time and our drivers timeliness- picking us up just as the rain started with umbrella in hand. Very personal- private service.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience. We’re delighted to hear that you and your sister had such a fabulous day in Costa Rica, even with the weather preventing the snorkeling portion of the tour. We’re especially glad you enjoyed the national park and waterfalls, and that the wildlife viewing exceeded expectations. Your kind words about Rachel are truly appreciated—her ability to spot wildlife and provide a meaningful, engaging experience is something we value greatly. We’re also happy to know that the driver’s punctuality and thoughtful details, like arriving right as the rain started with an umbrella ready, made the day even more comfortable. Providing a personal, private, and well-coordinated service is always our goal, and it’s wonderful to hear that this came through during your tour. Thank you again for choosing us, and we hope to welcome you back to Costa Rica in the future.
We had an amazing time snorkeling, followed by a relaxing and informative hike in the park. The reefs were beautiful. Our guide (Rosa) was knowledgeable and pleasant. Highly recommend!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience. We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed both the snorkeling and the relaxing, informative hike in the park. It’s wonderful to know the reefs made such a strong impression and that Rosa’s knowledge and pleasant guiding style enhanced your day. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back for another great adventure in Costa Rica.
Richelyn was a very knowledgeable tour guide and we enjoyed the hike through Cahuita National Park. She pointed out many animals, birds, and insects, as well as flora along the trails. The snorkel was with another company and was good. We saw lots of coral and marine life. About 15 in our group with ages ranging from 10ish-65ish. It was a great excursion. Highly recommend!
Thank you very much for taking the time to share your experience. We are pleased to hear that you enjoyed your hike through Cahuita National Park and that Richelyn’s knowledge enhanced the experience by pointing out wildlife and flora along the trails. It is also great to know that the snorkeling portion went well and that you were able to see a variety of coral and marine life. We appreciate you mentioning the group size and age range, as this is helpful for future travelers considering the excursion. Thank you for the high recommendation. It truly means a lot to our team, and we hope to have the opportunity to welcome you again on another tour in Costa Rica.
Our tour guide and driver were excellent, very prompt and very professional! Kat, our tour guide was amazing, she shared her knowledge of the history and wildlife of Cahuita National Park with such passion.
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your wonderful feedback! We’re delighted to hear that both your driver and tour guide provided prompt and professional service. Kat will be especially happy to know that her passion for the history and wildlife of Cahuita National Park made such a positive impression on your experience. It was truly a pleasure having you with us, and we hope to welcome you again on another adventure in Costa Rica in the future. 🌿😊
Where to begin? I booked this for my friend and I, based on research via trip advisor. We were on the Carnival Liberty cruise. We were met at the dock with a sign with my name on it. When we got to the van we were pleasantly surprised it was just us two. Rosa was our awesome guide. She gave us a lot of information about the area and country. The van is a very comfortable air conditioned van, with WiFi. We were driven to meet up with several small boats with other people that were staying locally. The drive was maybe 1/2 hour - 45 minutes (sorry lost track!). The snorkeling was out of this world. We saw a lot of different fish. We snorkeled for approx 3 hours, with a break between, where we were fed water and fruit. While we were eating our snacks, we were entertained by the local monkeys in the trees. One whom swipe a watermelon off the table. It was a sight to behold - quick little thief! Upon conclusion of the snorkel, the boats dropped us and our guide at the park for our hike. Along with some history, we saw some interesting wildlife and sloths. We were dropped back off at the dock to get back on our cruise. I highly recommend this tour. They are reliable. I felt safe and taken care of. This was our most favorite stop on this 14 day cruise. And cannot even begin to be compared to the excursions sold directly by Carnival. Wildlife and fish you will see is never guaranteed - but this one really worth it, whether you are on a cruise or not!
Thank you so much for taking the time to share such a detailed and thoughtful review. We are truly delighted to hear that your experience with Syl Travel exceeded expectations and became your favorite stop of your 14-day cruise. From being met at the dock to enjoying a private, comfortable, air-conditioned van with WiFi, we are glad every detail contributed to making you feel safe, well taken care of, and relaxed throughout the day. It is wonderful to know that Rosa made such a positive impression. Her knowledge, professionalism, and dedication to our guests are qualities we value greatly, and we will be sure to pass along your kind words to her. We are also very happy that you enjoyed the snorkeling experience, the abundant marine life, the refreshing snacks, and, of course, the unforgettable encounter with the local monkeys — those moments truly make the experience unique. Thank you for highlighting the reliability and quality of our service, especially in comparison to large cruise-line excursions. Your recommendation means a great deal to us, and we are honored to have been part of such a memorable day during your journey. We hope to welcome you again in Costa Rica, whether by cruise or on a future land-based visit.
