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Looking for the best way to experience Costa Rica’s stunning Tortuga Island?
I don’t blame you. With its pristine beaches and amazing snorkeling, it truly is a must-visit! However, since it’s a pretty remote island, you’ll need a tour to get here, so we’ve rounded up our top picks for you.
We never get tired of visiting Tortuga Island so believe me when I say that we have tried every tour going. We’ve rounded up our top picks here to help you decide on the best option for you and to make sure that you have the best experience possible. Who knows, maybe we’ll even see you there!
Quick Pick: Our Favorite Tour
Don’t have time to read the full article?
Our personal FAVORITE tour is this full-day tour from Jaco! Including food, drinks, wildlife spotting, snorkeling, and even riding on a banana boat, this tour is jam-packed with fun.
Check out the 1,400+ 5-star reviews and book your spot HERE!
Tip: This tour is likely to sell out – reserve your spot now and access FREE cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour departs.
1. Tortuga Island Tour from Jaco
- Price: $160 USD
- Duration: 8 hours
- Time: 7:15 am
- Highlights: banana boat ride, guided hike, snorkeling, catamaran cruise, spotting whales and dolphins, super friendly crew
- Inclusions: breakfast, lunch, coffee and tea, cocktails, activities, snorkel equipment, hotel pickup and drop-off, all transport
- Pickup from: Jaco or Herradura – other areas available for an additional cost
- Rating: 5 Stars (check 1,400+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: yes
If you’re looking for a tour with the wow factor, then book this full-day Tortuga Island tour ASAP!
This tour is a winner from start to finish. It starts with a complimentary breakfast on an air-conditioned catamaran cruise through the Gulf of Nicoya, spotting whales and dolphins as you go. I’d say that’s a pretty good note to start on, wouldn’t you?
But things only get better from there, with snorkeling and a banana boat ride that’s an absolute blast. You’ve also got the option to check out some of the island’s most hidden wildlife with a nature hike. I highly recommend doing this, as we saw baby wild pigs – how cute!
And don’t worry, there’s also plenty of time to relax on the pristine beach while the crew keeps the drinks coming. We’re talking rum punch and margaritas – yum! And honestly, I cannot say enough good things about the crew. They really do make everyone feel like a VIP. You won’t find better hosts anywhere!
We also had the option to rent paddle boards or even jet skis, but honestly, the pre-arranged activities are more than enough. I am so impressed by how much is included in this tour. It offers incredible value for money.
The word is well and truly out, though, and this tour almost always sells out. So if you’re going to be staying in Jaco, grab your spot now because you really don’t want to miss this adventure!
Related Read: Looking for more unique outdoors while in Jaco? Check out the 3 best birdwatching tours in Jaco here!
2. Tortuga Island Full-Day Tour from San José with Lunch
- Price: $115 USD
- Duration: 12 – 18 hours
- Time: between 4 am and 6 am
- Highlights: dolphin watching, guided snorkeling, relaxing on the beach, delicious lunch on the island
- Inclusions: all transport to and from the island, hotel pickup and drop-off, lunch, snorkel equipment, guide, coffee and tea, cold drinks, fruit snacks
- Pickup from: San José
- Rating: 4.5 (check 325+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: yes
If you’re staying in San José, there isn’t anything better than being whisked away to a tropical island for the day. I don’t know about you, but I’m always happy to trade cityscapes for white sand, clear water, and amazing marine life.
Speaking of which, booking this full-day tour actually means that you’re pretty likely to see dolphins (and maybe even crocodiles) on the boat ride through the Gulf of Nicoya! And once you arrive, there’s even more incredible marine life on offer with the guided snorkeling session. We saw turtles, manta rays, puffer fish, and even a reef shark when we went snorkeling here. Don’t worry, reef sharks aren’t dangerous, but they are wonderful to see.
I also love the fact that you get five hours to relax and do as you please on the island, whether that’s swimming, more snorkeling, grabbing drinks at the bar, or venturing into the forest to see if you can spot any deer or wild pigs.
This tour strikes a fantastic balance between relaxation and adventure. It’s hands down the best way to visit Isla Tortuga from San José, and you absolutely cannot pass up the opportunity to enjoy it!
Book this tour with hundreds of positive reviews here!
3. Tortuga Island Private Full-Day Boat Tour from Jaco
- Price: $160 – $180 USD per person
- Duration: 8.5 hours
- Time: 7:30 am
- Highlights: flying subwings underwater, snorkeling, paddleboarding, seeing spider monkeys on a remote island, private beach visit, delicious lunch, fantastic hosts
- Inclusions: breakfast, lunch, all water sports equipment, Bluetooth speaker, soft and alcoholic drinks, beach chairs, hotel pickup and drop-off
- Pickup from: Jaco
- Rating: 5 Stars (check reviews here!)
- Free cancellation: yes
If you ask me, visiting Tortuga Island on a private speedboat is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. So if you’re going to be in Jaco with a group of 5-10 people, I really don’t think that it gets better than this private charter.
Seriously. For one thing, you get to use subwings to fly underwater which is a blast and a half. And of course, this experience is even more magical when you’re surrounded by all of Isla Tortuga’s insane marine life! And with paddleboarding and snorkeling on offer as well, I think it’s safe to say that this tour truly offers a day to remember.
I also love the fact that this tour visits a secret island to see spider monkeys! Spider monkeys fascinate me because they’re so intelligent, and it’s not often you get to see them on a gorgeous remote beach.
In addition to visiting the main beaches on Tortuga Island, the crew can take you to a hidden private beach for some relaxation if you prefer, or you can relax out at sea. Hey, your day, your way!
I really think that this is an incredible way to make memories with friends or family. While it’s one of the pricier tours in this blog, it offers incredible value for money. Since this is a private tour, spots are limited, so if you want to enjoy Tortuga Island in the most comfortable and luxurious way possible, I strongly suggest that you book now!
Check availability and reserve this private Tortuga Island tour here.
Why We Book Tours with Viator
Viator is a trusted online booking system for tours around the world! We almost always book our tours using Viator for a couple of reasons:
- Free cancellation on most tours – Most of the tours on Viator allow you to cancel and get a full refund up to 24 hours in advance. This is handy in case plans change, or if booking an outdoor activity, the weather forecast is looking grim.
- Reserve now and pay later – You can secure your spot on some of the most popular tours well in advance and not pay until closer to the day of the tour.
- Lowest price guarantee – If you happen to find the same tour at a lower price elsewhere, Viator will refund you the price difference.
- Pay in your chosen currency – Avoid costly international transaction fees by choosing to pay in your home currency.
- Peace of mind – When booking with tour operators you find in person on the street or in small booking offices, you are often promised one thing and given another. This online platform holds tour operators accountable with a written description of inclusions as well as the opportunity for customers to leave reviews.
Check out the Viator website here! Or, for more info, read our detailed review about Viator here.
4. Isla Tortuga Snorkeling Tour from Paquera
- Price: $89 USD
- Duration: 6 hours
- Time: 9 am
- Highlights: snorkeling, seeing the spider monkeys, lots of beach time, volleyball
- Inclusions: snorkel equipment, guide, lunch, hot and cold drinks
- Pickup from: self-drive
- Rating: 5 Stars (check reviews here!)
- Free cancellation: yes
Paquera is one of the easiest places to visit Tortuga Island, so don’t miss out on this epic boat tour if you’re going to be staying in the area. At just $89 USD per person, it’s a steal, so budget travelers will definitely want to snag their place quickly!
This tour can also be booked for just one person, which is not always the case with tours in Costa Rica. It’s ideal for solo travelers, although we went as a couple and had an amazing time!
One of my favorite things about this tour is that we stopped at a nearby island on the way to Isla Tortuga and got to see spider monkeys on a secluded beach. The monkeys were so adorable and I just loved seeing them swinging through the trees.
When we arrived on the island, our guides took us snorkeling, and let me tell you, I was just blown away. We saw so many different creatures, including reef sharks, manta rays, seahorses, angel fish, and turtles. Yup, the whole cast of Finding Nemo was there – and then some!
We also had lots of time to relax and our group even played volleyball together. The included lunch was just delicious, too. We went for the shellfish, which was freshly caught that day.
We would do this tour again in a heartbeat – in fact, we’re planning to the next time we’re in Paquera! It’s a fantastic adventure and I really don’t see how it could have been any better. Plus, there’s very little travel time involved when you visit Isla Tortuga from Paquera, so make sure to book this tour if you’re going to be spending time in this beautiful beach town.
Access FREE cancellation options when you book this tour in advance here!
5. Private Isla Tortuga Full Day Tour from Puntarenas
- Price: $115 – $210 USD
- Duration: 7 hours
- Time: 8:30 am
- Highlights: dolphin spotting, snorkeling, seeing spider monkeys, relaxing on the pristine beach
- Inclusions: transportation, private parking if necessary, lunch, snorkeling equipment, all activities
- Pickup from: cruise port
- Rating: 4.5 Stars (check 80+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: yes
Tortuga Island is one of Costa Rica’s most beautiful island jewels and you really can’t miss the chance to explore it. Whether you’re visiting Puntarenas on a shore excursion and only have a day here, or are spending a few days in the city, this private full-day tour is one of the best ways to visit!
This tour meets at the cruise port in Puntarenas and whisks you away to the tropical island paradise – but the journey there is actually half the fun. We got to see tons of dolphins as we cruised through the Gulf of Nicoya and we got to stop off at Negritos Island Biological Reserve, where we saw tons of spider monkeys frolicking around in their natural habitat. It was so cool!
And once you arrive, the snorkeling on Isla Tortuga is second to none. We saw everything from turtles and seahorses to reef sharks – don’t worry, they’re not dangerous. It was so much fun, and then we got to relax on the white sand beaches and enjoy lunch on the island. There were a few different options available but we just had to go for the fresh ceviche.
This tour was a winner from start to finish, and we love that it offers travelers a lot of flexibility. If you’re a solo traveler, couple, or small group, you can join the small group tour. There’s a maximum group size of 12, so things don’t get crowded. Meanwhile, groups of 5 or more have the option to go private – how cool is that?
We think that this tour is hands down the best way to spend a day in Puntarenas. It usually sells out at least a few days in advance (or a few weeks during peak season), so we recommend booking your spot now to avoid disappointment!
Check availability and book this top-rated tour in advance here!
Related Read: Be sure to check out our guide to visiting Tortuga Island here, before you take off!
Getting Around Costa Rica
How you choose to get around Costa Rica is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make when planning your holiday here! How you do it depends on your budget, travel style, and comfort level.
Renting a Car
Without a doubt, the number one way to explore Costa Rica is in a rental car. We book rental cars on the Discover Cars website as we have had good experiences with them in the past.
One of the things you need to watch for when renting a car in Costa Rica is the mandatory insurance that the government requires you to have. There are a lot of very cheap rentals that don’t include this mandatory insurance (TPL) in the original booking price, but there are also ones that do. To avoid additional surprise charges when you pick up your rental car, be sure to rent a car that includes the mandatory insurance when you book.
Thankfully, on Discover Cars it’s easy to tell apart the companies that include the mandatory insurance and those that don’t. The trick is you can’t pick any car on their website. In the picture below, you can see this rental car, with pick up in Jaco, includes the TPL. That means the mandatory insurance is included in the price. Any cover you get above that is extra.
Of course, I still suggest getting the full coverage offered by Discover Cars, which covers you even more.
You can browse cars on Discover Cars here.
Book Shuttles
If renting a car isn’t in your budget, you don’t feel comfortable driving in Costa Rica, or you just don’t like driving, shuttles are the next best option. There are hundreds of shuttle routes available all over the country, and they are very affordable.
Shuttles in Costa Rica are specifically for tourists and often include pick up and drop off at your selected hotels and airports. The drivers also speak some English, and the vehicles have air conditioning. You’ll also be guaranteed a seat when you book a shuttle (which isn’t the case with the public bus system.)
To get the best price, use the website Bookaway. They compare all the offers and prices of shuttle companies in Costa Rica so you get the best price! Honestly, we have saved so much money using Bookaway!
You can search for shuttles online on Bookaway here.
Public Bus
Lastly, you can use the public bus system. On short journeys, such as from San Jose to La Fortuna or Uvita to Manuel Antonio, this system is great. However, the longer the journey the more hassle and time spent on a bus. It’s undoubtedly best to save the public bus in Costa Rica for short and straightforward trips!
The public buses are definitely the cheapest way to get around Costa Rica, but they are not always very reliable and schedules often change without notice and delays are to be expected. The buses can also be very crowded and hot – so just be prepared!
It’s also good to speak some Spanish if you plan on riding the public bus since most drivers and ticket booth operators don’t speak English.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance!
If you’re looking to save money on travel insurance, we currently use and recommend SafetyWing. We’ve been using their coverage since 2018 and they’ve had our backs when we needed emergency flights and got sick overseas.
SafetyWing is one of the cheapest providers out there and covers everything from medical costs to lost luggage, travel delays, and emergency flights. A huge difference we’ve found between them and other companies is that they let you take out a policy AFTER leaving your home country. We’ve also found it handy that it’s a monthly payment rather than a lump sum, and you can get a refund for unused time.
SafetyWing has helped us out in some scary situations before and their affordable coverage has given us peace of mind.
Pura Vida!
Tortuga Island is one of those places that is so beautiful, it’s hard to believe it’s real! Taking a tour here is a must while you’re in Costa Rica, and luckily you have a lot of options. Hopefully, this blog was helpful, we did all the research for you, and now you can simply book and go!
If you need more travel tips and resources, be sure to explore our other Costa Rica blogs. After traveling all around the country and living in various parts, we have collected a lot of intel on the best places to explore. Here are a few more articles that I think will be helpful!
COMPLETE Guide to Visiting Paquera, Costa Rica +11 Fun Things to Do!