Cano Island Day Tours
Our private day tours to Caño Island for snorkeling or diving* will enable you and your family to truly experience the raw beauty of this area. We can depart at your desire** from Sierpe and enjoy the day at an unrushed pace exploring all along the way, including the mangroves and a remote 'Jurrasic Park' like beach for lunch and afternoon swimming and hiking. The day is at your desire.
About Caño Island: Twelve nautical miles off the coast from Drake Bay, Cano Island is a playground for divers and snorkelers alike. Beneath the crystal blue waters, you can see a variety of marine life including: sea turtles, large schools of fish, reef sharks, manta rays, eels and numerous tropical fish including king angle fish, puffer fish, Moorish idles, surgeon fish, barracuda (in HUGE schools), barber fish, damsels, parrotfish, a variety of eels and much more.
The calm waters surrounding the island are also a breeding ground for humpback whales and home to resident and migratory pods of dolphins (Killer whales, pilot whales, sei whales and beaked whales, bottlenose, spinner, rough-tooth, rhissos and spotted dolphins). During the months of the whale migrations (December to April (northern migration) and July to November (southern migration)) you may be lucky enough to spot humpback whales or dolphins frolicking in the ocean on your way to the Island!
Please note that the trail on Caño Island is closed to hiking but you can land on the island for short periods of time.
The Island is home to artifacts such as perfectly round stone spheres that were once part of several ceremonial and burial sites of the indigenous Diquis tribe who inhabited the Golfo Dulce area until the arrival of the Spanish. Some of these items are on display at the ranger station on the island.
Diving: We can accommodate divers by meeting up at the island with a reputable and certified dive company out of Drake Bay. In this way not everyone in your party has to dive. Divers will hop onto the dive boat once you are at Caño Island and separate from the snorkelers for a few hours in the morning while diving and then meet back up with the group for the duration of the day. We can also accommodate dive only tours with a private divemaster as well and leave a bit later.
*The diving part ONLY is a shared (group) experience with other divers and a divemaster, the rest of the day is private.
**Diving requires an early departure around 6am from Sierpe
Dive Staff: All boat dives are guided by a certified PADI instructor or dive master. All dive staff are Medic 1st Aid and Oxygen Provider certified.
Average dive time: 45 minutes - 1 hour
Average dive Depths: 60 - 100 ft.
Read More about Caño Island in general and the dive sites.
What's Included?
Round-trip boat transportation from Sierpe (private boat, guide and captain)
Entrance fees
Snorkeling gear (mask, snorkel, and fins)and at least 2 snorkeling opportunities or diving gear (2 dive immersions)
Bilingual certified naturalist guide
Homemade Picnic Lunch - order from a menu ahead of time (we can accommodate most diet requests). Breakfast menu also available at additional cost of $13pp (you order from a menu ahead of time and everything is made from scratch and single-use plastic free).
Ready to Book??? Inquire for more info! Please send us an email!
Schedule: This Cano Island day tour departs from Sierpe but we can coordinate transportation (additional cost) from Quepos / Manuel Antonio, Dominical, Uvita or Ojochal. Please inquire with us for pricing.
Schedule: Departs from Sierpe between 6:00 and 9am (the earlier the better), full day tour (returns at your request). Diving requires an early departure around 6am from Sierpe.
Rough Itinerary:
Depart Sierpe and travel 45 minutes thru the calm river and canals of the Sierpe Terraba Wetland reserve and then out into the ocean (passing through the rivermouth or Boca Sierpe which can be rough at times), and then another 45 minutes to 1 hour to Caño Island, depending on the ocean (stopping along the way if dolphins whales or turtles are spotted).
Snorkel at Island (snorkel as long as you want). Brilliant tropical fish shimmer about the rock formations as you near the island, as if to welcome your arrival to this sacred area. You can take a break on the island (but no picnicking is allowed). You may choose to snorkel once again at a slightly different spot. Then once you are done...
Head to one of two remote beaches: either a mainland island beach ('Caletas de Isla Violin') or Playa Blanca at the Sierpe River mouth for picnic lunch (included), afternoon swimming and hiking. Restrooms are available at both locations.
At your desire, make your way back to Sierpe. We pass through the heart of the mangrove forest along the way back. Return anytime before dark. It's up to you.
What to Wear:
Bathing suit, flip flops or water shoes, sunscreen already applied in the morning. Please try to resist applying sunscreen immediately before hopping into the water as it quickly just washes off and damages delicate coral and marine life.
What to Bring:
Sunscreen (PLEASE wear a long sleeve shirt instead because the chemicals in sunscreen damage coral and other sensitive marine life. If you must use it, please apply it ONE hour before swimming so that it is well absorbed into your skin), rain gear (poncho or jacket for the boat), waterproof bag for cell phones and cameras - ALWAYS be prepared for rain - hat, sunglasses, bathing suit, towel, sea-sickness medicine, bottle of water, camera (with protective plastic bag), flip flops, sandals or water shoes, light hiking shoes if you plan to hike and anything else you might need for your free time at the beach (beach towel, book, magazine, etc).
What to Expect:
A 2hr boat ride (45min in the calm river, 15 minutes entering the ocean through the Boca Sierpe (rivermouth), about 1 hr or less to Caño Island)
To snorkel at 1 or 2 different locations until you are done
Visibility can vary from day to the next.
A wet landing on the beach at the lunch spot (barefoot OK, but sand can be HOT in the afternoon so flip flops are recommended)
Possibility of rain (this IS the RAINforest), Always be prepared for rain. We do NOT cancel tours because of rain!
Homemade Picnic lunch free of single use plastic
Professional service from start to finish (boat, captain, guides and lunches)
Eco Tips ~ Caño Island:
It is a biological reserve! Please respect the law and do not collect or take anything from the island, including shells. Please take home with you what you bring including all trash and plastic bottles. Leave only footprints and take nothing but pictures.
Do not touch any coral or marine life
If you are not an expert diver, please keep your distance from underwater rock and coral formations. They are very delicate.
You must have a life vest with you at all times when snorkeling even if it's just attached to your wrist.
Reserve Now!
