What payment methods do you accept?

To secure your reservation, we require a deposit that is part of the total tour price, payable via international wire transfer (no additional fees) or PayPal (includes an 8% processing fee). The remaining balance can be paid on the day of the tour, either in cash (USD) or by wire transfer before the experience. Once your deposit is received, you'll receive a written confirmation with all the details of your tour, and your date is fully secured. With over 15 years operating in Papagayo Gulf and 25,000+ satisfied guests, you can book with complete peace of mind.

What's included in the catamaran tour?

Your premium experience includes the full private catamaran with professional crew, a private chef preparing fresh meals onboard, an open bar with premium liquor, beer, wine, and cocktails (all unlimited), snorkeling gear, water activities, and stops at the most beautiful spots in Papagayo Gulf. No hidden costs, no surprises, everything is taken care of so you only worry about enjoying.

Is this a private tour or shared with other guests?

Every catamaran tour is completely private, only your group onboard. This is what sets us apart from typical group tours: you get the boat, the crew, and the chef exclusively for your party. Your day, your pace, your experience, whether it's a romantic getaway, a family celebration, or a group of friends.

Why is the catamaran tour priced the way it is?

Our catamaran tours range from $1,950 to $6,000 because this is a fully private, all-inclusive luxury experience, not a shared boat ride. The price reflects a private catamaran, professional crew, private chef, premium open bar, water toys, and over 15 years of experience crafting flawless days at sea. When you split the cost across a group of 6 to 10 guests with absolutely everything included, our guests find it's one of the best values of their entire trip.

What if the weather is bad or I need to cancel?

Cancellations more than 5 days before the tour receive a 100% refund of the deposit. More than 48 hours before, you get a 75% refund. If we ever need to cancel due to weather or operational reasons, you receive a full 100% refund, no questions asked. Your safety and experience always come first.

How do I book and secure my date?

Dates fill up quickly, especially during peak season and for sunset tours. To lock in your preferred date, simply contact us and check availability and reserve with a deposit. Once confirmed, your date is fully secured and we handle every detail from there. We recommend booking as early as possible to guarantee your spot.

Should I book directly with you or through Viator?

You'll find us on Viator and other platforms because that's where many travelers start their search, and we want to be there. However, booking directly with us gives you the best experience: faster responses, full flexibility to customize your day, and direct communication with our team from the moment you reserve until you step off the catamaran. Either way, you're getting the same premium private experience that has earned us over 25,000 satisfied guests in 15+ years.

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Luxury Ocean Experiences Near the Four Seasons, Andaz & Papagayo Resorts

Discover the best way to experience the Gulf of Papagayo from your resort — private catamaran charters, the best activities and effortless pickup from the Four Seasons, Andaz, and Nekajui. The ultimate guide to luxury ocean days in Papagayo.

Tropical Explorers

7/1/20266 min read

Beyond the coastline, Guanacaste's interior offers some of Costa Rica's most rewarding day trips.

ATV Tours Ride through backroads, forest trails, and hidden viewpoints most visitors never see. ATV tours are a favorite for travelers wanting an active, off-the-beaten-path adventure close to the resort area.
Horseback Riding Explore Guanacaste's countryside the traditional way — along beaches, through pastures, and into the tree line, often with sweeping ocean views. A relaxed, scenic option suited to all experience levels.
Hiking From easy nature walks to more demanding trails, the region's forests and volcanic landscapes offer excellent hiking with the chance to spot wildlife along the way.

We offer land tour packages; you can find more information here:

Why Papagayo Is the Perfect Base for Adventure

Staying at one of Guanacaste's world-class resorts — the Four Seasons, Andaz Papagayo, Nekajui, or Secrets — is only half the story. Just beyond the infinity pool, the Papagayo region is one of the most adventure-rich corners of Costa Rica: rainforest volcanoes, turquoise rivers, deserted beaches, and wildlife found almost nowhere else on Earth.

Whether you have three days or three weeks, this guide covers the best land and water adventures near your resort — including a few that guests consistently call the highlight of their entire trip.

On Land: Papagayo's Best Adventure Excursions

Most travelers choose Papagayo for the beaches and the resorts — and rightly so. But few destinations pack this much variety into such a short drive. Within an hour or two of your hotel, you can be snorkeling a coral reef, hiking past bubbling volcanic mud pots, floating down a sky-blue river, or watching a sloth move through the canopy overhead. It's this combination — five-star comfort with genuine adventure minutes away — that makes Papagayo one of the most complete destinations in Central America.

Rincón de la Vieja Volcano: A Must for Nature Lovers

If there's one animal that captures the hearts of visitors — more than any other, it's the sloth. And Guanacaste happens to be one of the best places in Costa Rica to see them in the wild. Slow-moving, endlessly photogenic, and famously unbothered by the world around them, sloths can often be spotted in the region's forest canopies, mangroves, and even resort grounds.

Dedicated sloth-watching excursions — combined with birdwatching and other wildlife spotting — are a gentle, family-friendly way to spend a morning, and they consistently turn into one of the most-talked-about parts of a Costa Rica trip. If seeing a sloth up close is on your list (and for most guests, it is), Guanacaste won't disappoint.

Río Celeste: Costa Rica's Most Photographed River

About 90 minutes from the Papagayo resorts, Rincón de la Vieja Volcano National Park is one of Guanacaste's most spectacular natural areas. Visitors hike through dry tropical forest past bubbling mud pots, steaming fumaroles, and hot springs — striking evidence of the volcanic activity beneath the surface.

Many tours combine the hike with a waterfall swim or a soak in natural hot springs, making it an excellent full-day escape from resort life. For active travelers who want to see a completely different side of Guanacaste's landscape, Rincón de la Vieja consistently ranks among the top day trips in the region.

Sloth Watching: A Guanacaste Favorite

A little farther afield, near Tenorio Volcano, lies one of the most extraordinary sights in Costa Rica: Río Celeste, a river whose water appears an almost unreal turquoise-blue, the result of a natural mineral reaction where two streams converge.

The hike to the famous waterfall winds through pristine rainforest, and reaching that first glimpse of the impossibly blue water is a moment guests often describe as unforgettable — and one of the most photographed spots in the entire country. It's a longer excursion from Papagayo, but for travelers with the time, it's very often worth the journey.

Planning Your Papagayo Adventure Itinerary

The biggest challenge with adventure travel is usually logistics — arranging transportation, coordinating times, finding a trustworthy operator for each activity. For resort guests, the best approach is working with a single, established local operator who can arrange multiple experiences with reliable pickup and professional guides, rather than piecing together bookings from different companies.

Making It Effortless

With so much on offer, here's a simple way to think about your time: Half-day near the resort:

Jet skiing, snorkeling, paddleboarding, or a sunset catamaran cruise
Full ocean day: A private catamaran charter combining snorkeling, swimming, lunch, and — in season — whale watching
Full-day inland adventure: Rincón de la Vieja or an ATV/horseback riding excursion Full-day special trip: Río Celeste, for travelers with an extra day to spare
Anytime, easy addition: A sloth-watching walk, perfect for mornings or as a relaxed activity between bigger adventures

Most guests mix two or three of these across a multi-day stay, balancing resort relaxation with a couple of standout excursions.

How to Choose the Right Catamaran or Tour Operator

With so many options, here's what separates a truly great catamaran experience and tours from an average one:

Experience and reputation — Look for an established operator with years of experience and strong reviews on TripAdvisor and Google.
A professional, attentive crew — The captain and staff make or break the day. A great crew is knowledgeable, friendly, and genuinely focused on your experience.
Quality of the vessel — A well-maintained, comfortable catamaran with shade, seating, and amenities matters.
Transparent pricing — Know exactly what's included before you book, with no surprise fees.
Safety standards — Proper safety gear, insurance, and certified crew are non-negotiable.
Small groups or private options — Fewer guests means more personal attention and a better
experience.

Don't just chase the lowest price. A tour or catamaran tour is the kind of memory you'll keep for years — it's worth choosing quality.

Experience Guanacaste with Tropical Explorers Costa Rica

On the Water: Adventure Activities in the Gulf of Papagayo

The Gulf of Papagayo's calm, protected waters make it one of the best places in Costa Rica to get out on the ocean. Here's what's available right off the coast:

Jet skiing — Race across the gulf's open water, exploring coves and coastline at your own pace.
Snorkeling — Papagayo's reefs are home to tropical fish, rays, and sea turtles in warm, clear water.
Paddleboarding — A calm, easy way to explore the shoreline at sunrise or sunset.
Tubing & wakeboarding — For guests who want speed and adrenaline on the water.
Surfing & surf lessons — Guanacaste's beaches offer some of the country's most consistent breaks, with beginner-friendly lessons available for first-timers.
Sport fishing — Offshore Papagayo is world-class for marlin, sailfish, tuna, and mahi-mahi, with half and full-day charters available.

For a more immersive ocean day, a private catamaran tour brings several of these together — snorkeling, swimming, and cruising the coastline aboard a private boat with a dedicated crew, gourmet food, and an open bar. It's a wonderful complement to your resort stay, and often the moment guests remember most, especially when humpback whales surface nearby, which happens with some regularity during the region's whale season (roughly July–October and December–April).

Can you arrange pickup from our resort for these activities? Yes. We offer convenient pickup from the Four Seasons, Andaz, Nekajui, Secrets, and other resorts along the Gulf of Papagayo for our tours.

How far is Rincón de la Vieja from the Papagayo resorts? About 90 minutes by road, making it an ideal full-day excursion.

Is Río Celeste worth the longer drive? For most travelers, yes — the turquoise river and waterfall are unlike anywhere else in Costa Rica.It's best suited to guests with a full day to dedicate to the trip.

Are these activities suitable for families with kids? Many are — sloth watching, horseback riding, paddleboarding, and catamaran tours are especially family-friendly. Some activities like ATVs and surfing have age or skill considerations, so it's worth checking ahead.

What's the best way to see a sloth in the wild? A guided sloth-watching excursion significantly improves your chances, since local guides know where they tend to rest and feed.

How many activities can we realistically fit into our trip? It depends on your length of stay, but most guests comfortably combine 2–4 excursions across a week, balancing adventure days with resort relaxation.

Book your adventure with us

Land Tours

Frequently Asked Questions

At Tropical Explorers Costa Rica, we've been helping guests explore this region since 2012, welcoming over 25,000 travelers across our tours. Beyond our signature private catamaran charter aboard the Kephas, we offer a full range of Guanacaste's best adventures — including jet skiing, sport fishing, ATV tours, horseback riding, snorkeling, paddleboarding, and excursions to see Guanacaste's beloved sloths, with convenient pickup from the Four Seasons, Andaz, Nekajui, and other resorts along the gulf.

Whichever adventures make it onto your itinerary, we're happy to help you plan a trip that balances ocean, land, and everything in between.