Six ways to reach Tortuga Island from Jacó, from all-inclusive catamarans out of Los Sueños to a private speedboat and cheaper trips that drive you to Puntarenas first, with how long each day really takes.
What You Should Know
- A full-day boat trip from the Jacó area to Tortuga Island in the Gulf of Nicoya, with a white-sand beach, snorkeling, lunch and drinks; most trips run 8 to 12 hours door to door.
- Where the boat leaves matters most: Los Sueños, 20 minutes from Jacó, is about 45 minutes from the island; the cheaper 'from Jacó' trips drive 1.5 hours or more to Puntarenas first.
- Shared trips cost $105 to $173.85 per adult. Costa Cat's all-inclusive catamaran is $173.85; trips via Puntarenas run $115 with transport, and a private speedboat is $155 to $200 each.
- The island itself is busy with several operators. Groups with their own beach area and chairs have the easier day; on some trips guests pay for chairs and toilets.
Tortuga Island from Jacó: What You're Booking
A Tortuga Island tour from Jacó is a full-day boat trip to Isla Tortuga, a small protected island in the Gulf of Nicoya with a white-sand beach, calm turquoise water and forested hills. The day follows the same pattern on every tour: a boat crossing with a chance of dolphins, a short snorkel stop at the rocky islets off the island, a long beach stay with lunch, and optional extras like a banana boat ride or a short hike to a viewpoint. This is where tours differ: not on the island, but on where the boat leaves from and what you pay for once you're there.
Los Sueños or Puntarenas? Costa Cat Cruises and Subwing Costa Rica leave from the Los Sueños marina and Herradura Beach, about 11 km (20 minutes) from Jacó, and the crossing takes about 45 minutes. The cheaper trips sold as "from Jacó" pick you up in town and drive about 73 km to Puntarenas, roughly 85 minutes without traffic, before the boat leaves. Guests who did not realize this are behind most of the low ratings for those trips.
Which one should I book?
| If you want | Book |
|---|---|
| The easiest all-inclusive day, close to Jacó | Costa Cat Cruises: full-day catamaran, $173.85 |
| A shorter afternoon trip that ends at sunset | Costa Cat Cruises: snorkel and sunset cruise, $123 |
| A boat for your group only (5 to 10 people) | Subwing Costa Rica: private speedboat, $155 to $200 each |
| Wildlife on the way and a small group | Turismo Marítimo del Pacífico: $115 plus $20 transfer, 4 adults minimum |
| The lowest price, and you have a car | Turismo Marítimo del Pacífico: Isla Tortuga Premium from Puntarenas, $105 |
Below we compare six trips on price, departure point, length of day and what's included. Prices are live per-person rates, checked on 20 October 2026. Want a shorter boat trip closer to town? Our guide to Jacó boat tours covers Playa Fantasia snorkeling and sunset catamarans.
Costa Cat Cruises: Tortuga Island Tour
The shortest trip to the island from Jacó, leaving Los Sueños for a 45-minute crossing, with its own beach area, chairs and toilets on Tortuga, and breakfast, lunch and drinks all included; 1,611 of 1,668 reviews are five stars.
Book Now6 Tortuga Island Tours from Jacó Compared
| Tour | Operator | Price | Online Rating | Leaves From | Duration | Group | Includes | Good to Know |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Our Pick Tortuga Island Tour with Costa Cat Check availability |
Costa Cat Cruises | $173.85; $142 ages 4 to 13; under 4 free | ⭐ 4.9 (1,668 reviews) Read Reviews |
Los Sueños marina, 20 min from Jacó | 8 hrs; daily, 07:15 check-in | Shared catamaran; up to 30 per booking | Breakfast, lunch, open bar, snorkeling, banana boat, eco-hike | Pickup in Jacó, Herradura or Los Sueños on request 48 hrs ahead |
| Tortuga Island Snorkel and Sunset Cruise from Jacó Check availability |
Costa Cat Cruises | $123; $103 ages 4 to 13 | ⭐ 4.9 (29 reviews) Read Reviews |
Los Sueños marina public dock | 5¾ hrs; Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat at 12:00 | Shared catamaran; up to 6 per booking | Snorkeling, water slide, eco-hike, sandwiches, drinks | No pickup; few open dates, mostly in December |
| Tortuga Island Private Boat Tour from Jaco Check availability |
Subwing Costa Rica | $200 each for 5 or 6; $155 each for 10 | ⭐ 5.0 (85 reviews) Read Reviews |
Herradura Beach, or pickup in Jacó at 07:15 | 8.5 hrs; daily, 07:30 | Private speedboat; 5 to 10 people | Breakfast, lunch, drinks, Subwings, paddleboard, beach chairs | Minimum 5 people |
| Isla Tortuga VIP from Jaco Check availability |
Turismo Marítimo del Pacífico | $115; $90.78 ages 3 to 11; plus $20 round-trip transfer | ⭐ 4.6 (149 reviews) Read Reviews |
Puntarenas, via transfer from Jacó | 7 to 10 hrs; daily, 07:00 | Small boat; up to 15 | Lunch, snacks, soft drinks, snorkeling, monkey and dolphin stops | Minimum 4 adults per booking; no alcohol |
| Isla Tortuga from Jacó with Lunch and Transportation Check availability |
Inside Tours Costa Rica | $115 each for 2+ ($125 solo); $95 ages 4 to 11 | ⭐ 4.1 (126 reviews) Read Reviews |
Puntarenas, bus from Jacó included | 10 to 12 hrs; daily, 06:00 | Shared boat; up to 15 per booking | Transport, lunch, fruit, coffee, snorkeling and dolphins if weather allows | Chairs and toilets cost extra on the island |
| Isla Tortuga Premium: Snorkeling, Monkeys & Private Beach Spot Check availability |
Turismo Marítimo del Pacífico | $105; $90 ages 5 to 10; under 5 free | ⭐ 4.9 (66 reviews) Read Reviews |
Puntarenas; you drive there | 8 hrs; daily, 08:30 | Small boat; up to 15 per booking | Lunch, snacks, soft drinks, snorkeling, monkey stop, private beach spot | No transport; about 85 min drive from Jacó |
ℹ️ We checked the live price, departure times, ages, inclusions, cancellation policy and review data for every tour on 20 October 2026. All six offer a full refund up to 24 hours before departure. Prices are per person in US dollars and exclude tips. Always confirm the price at checkout before booking.
What to Expect on a Tortuga Island Tour from Jacó
About eight hours from the Los Sueños marina and back.
- 0107:15
Board at Los Sueños
Check in at the marina or take the shuttle from Jacó; fruit, muffins and coffee are served as you leave.
- 02
Cross the gulf
About 45 minutes across the Gulf of Nicoya, with dolphins or sea turtles on many crossings.
- 03
Settle on the beach
Your group's chairs and umbrellas are set up in Costa Cat's area, and the drinks start.
- 0409:30
Snorkel
Small boats take you to the rocky islets for 20 to 30 minutes with a mask, snorkel and life vest.
- 0511:15
Lunch
A buffet lunch on the island, with seconds; guests describe chicken, rice and salads.
- 06
Banana boat, hike, return
A banana boat ride or a short climb to a viewpoint, more swimming, then the boat back to Los Sueños.
- 01
Board at Los Sueños
Check in at the marina or take the shuttle from Jacó; fruit, muffins and coffee are served as you leave.
07:15 - 02
Cross the gulf
About 45 minutes across the Gulf of Nicoya, with dolphins or sea turtles on many crossings.
- 03
Settle on the beach
Your group's chairs and umbrellas are set up in Costa Cat's area, and the drinks start.
- 09:3004
Snorkel
Small boats take you to the rocky islets for 20 to 30 minutes with a mask, snorkel and life vest.
- 05
Lunch
A buffet lunch on the island, with seconds; guests describe chicken, rice and salads.
11:15 - 06
Banana boat, hike, return
A banana boat ride or a short climb to a viewpoint, more swimming, then the boat back to Los Sueños.
This follows Costa Cat's full-day catamaran from Los Sueños. Trips via Puntarenas add a drive of 85 minutes or more each way and often a breakfast stop on the road.
Our take (snorkeling): Treat the snorkel stop as a bonus, not the main event. On Costa Cat it lasts 20 to 30 minutes at the rocky islets off the island, and visibility in the Gulf of Nicoya varies: some guests see plenty of fish, others found the water cloudy. The beach and the swimming are what people remember.
Every Tortuga Island Tour from Jacó, Reviewed
First the two trips from Los Sueños and Herradura, closest to Jacó, then the trips that go through Puntarenas. Prices are per adult unless noted.
Costa Cat Cruises: Tortuga Island Tour
$173.85 · 4.9 from 1,668 reviews · 8 hrs · daily
A 55-foot catamaran leaves the Los Sueños marina after a 07:15 check-in, serving fruit, muffins and coffee on the way out. On the island, each group finds its own chairs and umbrellas waiting in Costa Cat's private beach area, with free toilets, and the crew brings drinks all day. Recent guests describe snorkeling at about 09:30, lunch around 11:15, then the banana boat and a short hike to a viewpoint.
It costs about $60 more than the trips via Puntarenas, but we think the gap is worth it: you skip about two hours of extra driving and don't pay for chairs or toilets once you're there. Guests who want front-row chairs recommend the first boat. The crossing can get choppy, so take motion sickness tablets if you need them. It is also the easiest trip here for older travelers: seniors in recent reviews managed it comfortably, and the catamaran has an air-conditioned cabin.
Costa Cat Cruises: Snorkel and Sunset Cruise
$123 · 4.9 from 29 reviews · 5¾ hrs · Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat
The same company's afternoon trip on its Costa Cat III, leaving Los Sueños at noon. You snorkel straight from the boat, use the water slide and dive boards, have sandwiches and drinks on the island and cruise back at sunset, sometimes with dolphins.
We'd book this if a full day on the island sounds like too much, but check dates first: on 20 October 2026 only a handful of dates were open, mostly in December. Several guests found the snorkeling water cloudy.
Subwing Costa Rica: Private Tortuga Speedboat
$200 each for 5 or 6, falling to $155 each for 10 · 5.0 from 85 reviews · 8.5 hrs
Your own speedboat for the day, with pickup in Jacó at 07:15 or a meeting point at Herradura Beach. Breakfast, a hot lunch and drinks are included. Guests tow behind the boat on Subwings to "fly" underwater, stop to watch spider monkeys on the rocks, and several saw humpback whales on the crossing. The boat is small and fast, and guests describe reaching the snorkel spots before the bigger boats.
For a group of eight or more we'd choose this over the catamaran: it costs about the same per person and you plan your own day. The tradeoff of a speedboat is a wetter, bumpier ride: one guest described about an hour each way and getting soaked by the waves. The other complaint we see is the crowd on Tortuga's main beach, and one guest describes feeding the monkeys and fish, which Costa Rica's wildlife law prohibits without authorization, so ask the crew not to. Our Jacó private tours guide compares it with the other private boats and guides.
Turismo Marítimo del Pacífico: Isla Tortuga VIP
$115 plus $20 transfer · 4.6 from 149 reviews · 7 to 10 hrs · 4 adults minimum
A family-run small-boat trip from Puntarenas. With the transfer you stop at the Tárcoles River bridge to see crocodiles, then the boat visits the islands where spider monkeys come down to the shore, with dolphins often seen on the way. Guests praise the guides and the lunch at the company's own spot on the island.
The drawback is reliability: the booking needs four adults, and several guests had the trip cancelled the night before for low numbers or weather. We'd only book it with a back-up day, and not if anyone in your group gets carsick.
Inside Tours Costa Rica: Isla Tortuga from Jacó
$115 · 4.1 from 126 reviews · 10 to 12 hrs · daily
Bus transport from Jacó to Puntarenas, a boat with snorkeling and dolphin watching when conditions allow, four to five hours on the beach, and lunch. Many guests enjoyed the island and saw dolphins and monkeys on the way.
This is the trip with the most complaints on the page: about 28% of ratings are three stars or lower. Guests mention long waits on the way to Puntarenas, snorkeling without fins and paying for chairs and toilets on the island. We'd only choose it if price matters most and you know it is a long day.
Turismo Marítimo del Pacífico: Isla Tortuga Premium
$105 · 4.9 from 66 reviews · 8 hrs · daily at 08:30
The same company's trip from Puntarenas without the Jacó transfer: dolphins and spider monkeys on the way, about five hours on a private beach spot, an hour of snorkeling and lunch. With no four-adult minimum, it suits couples with a rental car.
It is the lowest price here, but you drive about 85 minutes each way. One recent guest had the trip cancelled the night before and was moved to another company's party boat on a different day, so confirm by WhatsApp the day before.
Staying near San José instead? Our Costa Rica day tours from San José guide covers a Tortuga Island trip from the capital.
Where Do Tortuga Island Tours Leave From?
Tortuga Island tours sold in Jacó leave from one of two places, and that decides how long your day is.
| Departure | From Jacó by road | Boat to the island | Tours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Sueños marina and Herradura Beach | About 11 km, around 20 minutes | About 45 minutes | Costa Cat Cruises and Subwing Costa Rica |
| Puntarenas | About 73 km, around 85 minutes without traffic | Under an hour on a speedboat; guests on larger boats report up to two hours | Turismo Marítimo del Pacífico and Inside Tours Costa Rica |
Tortuga Island lies about 28 km across the water from Los Sueños and about 24 km from Puntarenas, so the crossing itself is similar. The difference is the drive. What typically happens is that shared vans to Puntarenas also stop to collect other guests, and reviewers report one to two hours on the road each way. Distances are our calculation from Mapbox driving routes, without traffic.
The boats differ too. The smaller boats from Puntarenas can't always pull up to the beach, so guests describe transferring to a water taxi offshore and climbing a short ladder back aboard after snorkeling, which some older guests found hard. If anyone in your group has limited mobility, we'd lean toward the Los Sueños catamaran.
How Much Does a Tortuga Island Tour from Jacó Cost?
Shared Tortuga Island trips from Jacó cost $105 to $173.85 per adult, and a private speedboat costs $155 to $200 each. What matters more than the headline price is what's left to pay: Costa Cat includes drinks and its own chairs and toilets, while guests on the trips via Puntarenas describe paying for chairs, toilets and drinks on the island. Turismo Marítimo also adds $20 per person for the Jacó transfer.
Turismo Marítimo Premium if you drive ($210), Inside Tours with transport ($230), or Costa Cat's all-inclusive catamaran ($347.70).
Two adults and two children aged 4 to 11 on Inside Tours ($420), or on Costa Cat ($631.70, children 4 to 13 at $142).
Subwing Costa Rica's private speedboat at $170 each for eight, with pickup, meals and drinks included.
Bring cash for tips and island extras: guests on the trips via Puntarenas paid separately for chairs, toilets and drinks.
Our Take
The pattern we keep seeing is that reviews split on the departure point, not the island: guests leaving from Los Sueños describe a 45-minute crossing and chairs waiting for them, while most complaints about the cheaper 'from Jacó' trips are about the long van ride to Puntarenas and paying for extras once there.
Tips for a Tortuga Island Tour from Jacó
- Check where the boat leaves. If the listing says Puntarenas, plan on a day of 10 to 12 hours from Jacó.
- Take the first boat for the best chairs. Costa Cat guests who want front-row chairs recommend the early departure; one guest was moved to a later boat that got back after dark.
- Arrange pickup early. Costa Cat needs 48 hours' notice for Jacó pickup; one recent guest paid $5 each for the shuttle.
- Take motion sickness tablets if you need them. The crossing can be choppy, especially on the smaller boats from Puntarenas.
- Bring water shoes, sunscreen and a towel. Guests on almost every tour here mention sharp rocks and shells in the shallows; the beach mixes sand with coral pieces, and the afternoon is hot.
- Keep the hike short. The walk to the viewpoint is short, but the longer trail starts with steep stairs, and two recent guests found it too hot for the full loop after lunch.
- Carry cash. For tips, and on some trips for chairs, toilets and drinks on the island.
- Have a back-up day. Smaller operators cancel for low numbers or rough weather, sometimes the night before.
- Visiting in January? Our Jacó in January guide covers the dry-season seas that make this the trip's busiest month, how often guests see whales on the crossing, and the New Year hotel spike.
- Visiting in May? Our Jacó in May guide covers green-season mornings, why the 07:15 departure suits the weather pattern, and the Playa Fantasia restart in mid-May.
- Visiting in July? Our Jacó in July guide covers why July crossings are the calmest in guest reviews, the first humpback whales of the southern season and how to avoid early-July prices.
- Want crocodiles too? Turismo Marítimo's transfer stops at the Tárcoles bridge, but our Tárcoles River crocodile tour guide covers boat trips on the river itself.
- Planning the rest of your trip? Our best things to do in Jacó guide ranks the top nine experiences and covers the free ones, from the beach to the crocodile bridge. Travelling with kids? Our best things to do in Jacó for families guide adds minimum ages and prices for a family of four.
- Stay near the marina. The catamaran checks in at the Los Sueños marina at 07:15; our best hotels in Jacó guide covers Paradise Bay and the Los Sueños Marriott, both close by.
How We Selected These Tours
The Costa Rica Day Trip team searched every Tortuga Island tour offered from Jacó, Los Sueños, Herradura and Puntarenas and checked each listing live on 20 October 2026: price by age and group size, departure point, times, inclusions, cancellation terms and the full star breakdown. We required a guest review in the last six months and enough reviews to judge each tour. We left out Bay Island Cruises' Tortuga trip from Jacó (3.7 stars from 113 reviews, with recent complaints about 16-hour days), Subwing's second private listing (six reviews) and a half-day Los Sueños trip with one review. Vista Los Sueños Adventure Park sells the same Costa Cat catamaran at the same price but with no refunds, so we list Costa Cat's own booking instead. Puntarenas trips with no Jacó pickup are included only where the operator also runs from Jacó. We then read the most recent reviews for all six tours, plus their most recent one- to three-star reviews, with close attention to how long the day really took and what guests paid for on the island.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Tortuga Island from Jacó?+
Boats from Los Sueños, about 20 minutes' drive from Jacó, take about 45 minutes to reach Tortuga Island. Trips that leave from Puntarenas add a drive of about 73 km, around 85 minutes without traffic, before the boat.
How much is a Tortuga Island tour from Jacó?+
Shared trips cost $105 to $173.85 per adult, based on prices checked in October 2026. Costa Cat's all-inclusive catamaran from Los Sueños is $173.85, trips via Puntarenas with transport from Jacó are $115, and a private speedboat costs $155 to $200 each.
Which Tortuga Island tour from Jacó is best?+
For most visitors, Costa Cat Cruises' full-day catamaran from Los Sueños: it is the shortest trip from Jacó, rated 4.9 from 1,668 reviews, and includes meals, drinks and its own beach area. Groups of eight or more get similar value from Subwing Costa Rica's private speedboat.
How long is a Tortuga Island tour from Jacó?+
Full-day trips from Los Sueños take about eight hours. Trips via Puntarenas take 10 to 12 hours from Jacó because of the drive. Costa Cat's afternoon snorkel and sunset cruise is the shortest at about five and three-quarter hours.
Is food and drink included on Tortuga Island tours?+
Lunch is included on all five full-day tours compared here; Costa Cat's afternoon cruise serves sandwiches instead. Costa Cat and Subwing Costa Rica include alcoholic drinks; Turismo Marítimo and Inside Tours include soft drinks or coffee but not alcohol.
Is Tortuga Island good for snorkeling?+
It is fine but not the highlight. Snorkeling is at rocky islets off the island, 20 to 30 minutes on Costa Cat and up to an hour on Turismo Marítimo's Premium trip, and visibility varies; some guests see plenty of fish while others found the water cloudy. The beach and swimming are the main draw.
Can kids go on a Tortuga Island tour from Jacó?+
Yes. Costa Cat welcomes children, with ages 4 to 13 at $142 and under 4 free, and families describe it as a favorite day. The trips via Puntarenas are harder with young children because of the long drive.
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