WATER & COASTAL EXCURSIONS

Puerto Viejo Snorkeling, Surf and Paddleboard Tours

A Puerto Viejo snorkeling tour, in practice, usually means the coral reef inside Cahuita National Park, generally described as the largest on Costa Rica's Caribbean coast and a short trip from Casa Del Soul, our private retreat home in Cahuita about 20 minutes north of Puerto Viejo. Add surf sessions on the beach breaks south of town, paddleboarding in the calmer bays and a sunset boat experience, and you have the water side of a retreat here. Scheduled retreats include three excursions; which of these you can choose depends on your package.

Water excursions available to guests

Four options run through the water side of a stay: snorkelling on the reef, a surf session, paddleboarding, and a sunset boat experience. On scheduled retreats, the beach experience is a Signature and Premier choice and the sunset boat is a premium Premier option. Celebration, couples and hosted groups add any of them to their proposal. Local operators run the tours; we coordinate the logistics for excursions included in your retreat.

Bring reef-safe sunscreen and a rash guard; the reef is small and well visited. For the trail walk through the park itself, see the Cahuita National Park tours page.

Snorkelling the Cahuita reef

The reef wraps the point at Punta Cahuita inside the national park: brain coral, sea fans, parrotfish, angelfish, rays and, in season, sea turtles. Snorkelling inside the park's marine area is typically allowed only with a licensed guide and boat, which is why it is booked as a guided tour rather than a swim from the beach. Equipment is normally included, and the boat stays close.

Conditions change with rain and swell, so the guide usually decides in the morning whether the reef is worth visiting that day. Our guide to snorkelling in Cahuita goes into the seasons in more detail.

Surf sessions near Puerto Viejo

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is known among surfers for Salsa Brava, a powerful reef break that is emphatically not for beginners. The beaches south of town, Playa Cocles in particular, have sand-bottom breaks that local instructors use for lessons, and most first-timers manage to stand up within a session.

Surf sessions are an optional experience available to all groups and part of the beach experience option on Signature and Premier packages. Mornings are usually calmer before the wind picks up. Boards and instruction come from the operator; you bring swimwear and a rash guard.

Paddleboarding in the calm bays

South of Puerto Viejo the coast curves into sheltered bays, and Punta Uva in particular is known for calm water, a river mouth that runs into the jungle and a point you can paddle around. A guided paddleboard morning covers the bay and a stretch of river where sloths and kingfishers are often seen, with time for a swim.

No experience is needed, which makes paddleboarding the best water option for mixed-ability groups and anyone who would rather not snorkel in open water. Couples on our couples retreats often take it as a slow morning together.

Sunset boat experience

A boat along the coast in the late afternoon, past the beaches south of Puerto Viejo, with a swim stop and the sun going down behind the Talamanca mountains on the way back. Dolphins are seen fairly often from boats on this coast, and sea turtles pass through in nesting season. It is the obvious choice for a last evening.

The sunset boat experience is a premium option on the Premier package ($3,500 per guest), alongside the couples massage, and can be added to any celebration or hosted retreat proposal. Compare the retreat packages to see how it fits the week.

FAQ

Snorkel and surf questions, answered

Can you snorkel in Cahuita?

Yes. The coral reef at Punta Cahuita, inside Cahuita National Park, is generally described as the largest on Costa Rica's Caribbean coast. Snorkelling inside the park's marine area is typically allowed only with a licensed guide and boat, so it is booked as a guided tour with equipment included. Conditions depend on rain and swell.
Is there good snorkeling in Puerto Viejo?

The best snorkelling near Puerto Viejo is in Cahuita National Park, about 20 minutes north, where the reef is protected. South of town, Punta Uva and Manzanillo have smaller areas of coral that people swim to from the beach on calm days. Puerto Viejo itself is better known for surf.
Can beginners surf in Puerto Viejo?

Yes, on the sand-bottom beach breaks south of town such as Playa Cocles, with a local instructor, rather than at Salsa Brava, which is a powerful reef break for experienced surfers. Mornings are usually calmer. Surf sessions are part of the beach experience choice on Signature and Premier packages.
Do I need to be a strong swimmer for the reef tour?

You should be comfortable in open water with a mask and fins for an extended period; the boat stays close and operators normally carry flotation. If that does not sound like you, paddleboarding in the calm bays or the sunset boat experience are better choices and still get you on the water.
What should I bring for water excursions?

Swimwear, a rash guard or T-shirt for sun protection, reef-safe mineral sunscreen, a towel, water shoes for river and rocky entries, and a dry bag for phones. Snorkel gear, boards and paddleboards are provided by the operators. A light rain layer is sensible in any month on the Caribbean coast.