Cano Island Marine Tours
Cano Island Snorkeling Tour (With Hike to Archeological Site & Picnic Beach Buffet) Start with a scenic boat ride along the shores of Drake Bay and through the turquoise pacific waters to Cano Island located 9 kilometres off shore. Said to have been a trading post in the Middle Ages and rumoured site of Sir Frances Drake’s hidden golden treasures There is an excellent chance of sighting countless marine treasures like playful spotted, spinning or bottlenose dolphins, whales, turtles , large schools of fish and turtles to name a few! It’s not hard to imagine why they named Costa Rica “rich coast” as you beach land onto these white sand beaches Full Day $85 Adult-Children $55 Wild Whale & Dolphin Encounters Full Day $110- Half Day $75 Local tours have been filmed and featured on Animal Planet, Travel Channel, BBC with Steve Backshall, Discovery Channel, Jeff Corwin Experience, Destination Wildlife and more. Drake Bay, Costa Rica offers some of the best opportunities in the world to see dolphins and whales and other marine life in their natural habitat. We have the longest season of Humpback Whales in the world, as we get humpbacks coming here from both North and South America. This makes for some of the best whale watching to be found anywhere! Over twenty five species of dolphins and whales are either resident or pass through the area on migration. There's absolutely nothing that compares to the experience of seeing these fascinating animals in the wild. Every dolphin and whale watching tour is different and interesting. There are days that we encounter dolphins close to shore, and other days we go far offshore to observe large pods of more than 1000 Bottlenose, Spotted, Common and/or Spinner dolphins. It is possible to witness a new Humpback whale mom teaching her baby to breach or see several Humpback males compete for female attention. Discover Costa Rica's extraordinary marine world of dolphins and whales. Immerse yourself in the phenomenal experience of observing large groups of different species come together in warm, clear tropical waters. Witness their natural behaviours in their natural habitat. Be a part of the pod as we respectfully observe feeding, socializing, traveling and playful behaviours. Hear the dolphins' and whales' clicks, whistles and singing through the on-board hydro phone. Learn about the dolphins, whales and other marine life from experienced staff of marine biologists and guides. World Class Scuba Diving Sites Full Day- $135 - 3 tank dive Departure 7:30 a.m- Return 2-3 p.m. Tropical buffet lunch is served on the beach followed by time to explore the coconut lined coast and tidal pools there Guided tour of the ancient Indian burial grounds with pre-Columbian artifacts and mysterious spheres dating back to 200-800 A.D People crossed the open ocean in dug out canoes to perform religious ceremonies and is a burial ground Dive the crystal clear turquoise waters surrounding Cano Island Biological Reserve Discover this spectacular marine wonderland with 3 tank dives Dive depths average 45-65 ft (15-20 m) Some of the popular dives include El Bajo Del Diablo (The Devil’s Pinnacle) 15-100 ft (5-35 m) On a good day, this site is by far the best site in the area and maybe the entire country. A large area with many sub sites. Towering rock pinnacles rise from a depth of over 150 ft to just under 20 ft. An incredible maze of peaks and valleys. The best visibility, overall fish life. Snappers and amberjack , swim along side great schools of barracuda, jacks, reef sharks and a large number of tropical fishes. Cueva Del Tiburon (Shark Cave) 30-50 ft (10-17 m) You don’t go into the cave but swim by to view the sharks. Lots of angels, butterfly, damsels and parrot fish. Very exciting dive! Pariaso (Paradise) 60-70 ft (20-23 m) Amazing variety of fish, large schools of blue stripped snapper, barracuda and grunts. white tip reef sharks schooling You can see both open ocean and pacific reef species, similar to Galapagos Island Discover the amazing variety of marine life inhabiting the spectacular coral reef Drake Bay’s local dive center is a member of Padi International Resort Association and the only MARES HUB center in Costa Rica Padi cards required to dive. Resort courses available on request Deep Sea Sports Fishing-Deep Sea-Offshore Fly Fishing (Half or Full Day) Excellent chance of seeing Whales and Dolphins and much more! Deep Sea or Off Shore Fishing or Fly Fishing in the Mangroves Mahi Mahi, Tuna, Swordfish, Roosterfish, Wahoo, Snapper, Dorado, Sailfish to name a few Let our experienced deep sea fishing captains take you on a 1/2 day $350 or Full Day $500
Cano Island Biological Reserve This marine and archaeological wonderland spans 200 terrestrial Ha. (494 acres) or 2,700 maritime Ha. (6,669 acres) and has been protected as a biological reserve since September 1976 as part of the Osa Conservation Area Located just nine miles offshore from Drake Bay, in the Osa Peninsula, Cano Island is a biological and archaeological reserve. Cano Island was exposed part of an underwater mountain which emerged due to the ancient collision of the two tectonic plates on either side of Costa Rica. The island protects the remains of the Diquis tribe, its Pre-Columbian inhabitants, There are several granite spheres marking an ancient cemetery. Indian remains dating from 220-800 A.D. have also been found. An alleged commercial trading post on the Pacific coast long before Christopher Columbus arrived on the scene and the fabled site of Sir Frances Drake and other pirates and buried treasures as they sought refuge near the bay from the weather of the open ocean. Cano Island has recently moved into the spotlight as one of the world’s best diving locations. The center of the island features a plateau 90 meters (295 feet) high, covered by evergreen trees reaching heights of 50 meters (164 feet). There is a single trail going up to a lookout and an archaeological site. The island is surrounded by five platforms of low coral reefs. The Cano Island coral formations offer some of the best diving and snorkeling in Costa Rica.
ACTIVITIES Tours usually include snorkeling or diving at several of the island’s approved locations, lunch on the island and a guided hike up to the archaeological site. Often whales and dolphins are sighted on the way to and from the island, and a lucky few might spot sea turtles too! With visibility of up to eighty feet visitors can experience first hand the amazing populations and variety of sea life thriving here. FACILITIES The ranger station provides visitor information outdoor fresh water showers and bathrooms. There are picnic tables on the beach front and hammocks. Reservations are required as limited amounts of visitors are permitted daily. There are no overnight facilities on the island. Camping is not permitted. TRAILS There is one trail on the island that leads to scenic platform at the crest of the island and overlooks the ocean and archaeological sites. FLORA AND FAUNA The fauna that call the island home include the four-eyed opossum, paca, boa constrictor, brown tree frog and the transparent tree frog. A few species of rats, bats, small snakes and lizards can also be seen here. There are also some popular birds to spot including the cattle egret, common black hawk, osprey, brown booby and northern phalarope. The plant life is much more extensive. The island hosts locust and wild fig, wild cocoa and rubber trees, wild strangler, cow trees, ferns, trumpet trees, plus more than 158 other plant species. Marine life consists mainly of large schools of fish like, (blackjack, barracudas, snapper, rainbow fish), white-tipped reef sharks, king angel, moorish idol, puffers, surgeonfish and barberfish. Parrotfish, damsels and a variety of eels can be found hiding around the coral-lined rock formations. Occasionally sighted are manta rays, sea turtles, jew fish, hammerhead sharks and whale sharks. BEACHES Pristine beaches and coral reefs surround the island making for amazing snorkelling and exploration of tidal pools. The only beach open to the public is the main beach in front of the ranger station. GETTING THERE Cano Island is accessible only by boat. Drake Bay Marine Tours Adventure Kayaking
Enjoy a
tranquil day of kayaking at your own pace in a lush
tropical river setting, or, plunge into the surf of the
pacific ocean for a little excitement. A spectacular
kayaking exploration, paddling through the crystal clear
tropical waters to see the abundant marine life. Price
includes guided tour with equipment. Adults full day $65
& half day $45 Rio Claro Jungle Refuge/Sanjosecito Marine Refuge-Horseback Riding/Snorkeling Explore gigantic forests teaming with wildlife and lush jungle canopy and then gallop down sandy pacific beaches for a swim in Rio Claro and a waterfall tour in canoe or kayak and then onto Sanjosecito to snorkel the coral reef in their marine cove teeming with marine life then back through the jungle to the eco lodge. FULL DAY Adults $65, kids 12 and under $45 Mangrove Swamp Tour
In these areas the fresh water from the rivers mixes with the salt water from the oceans forming agua salobre. This presents flora and fauna particular to this ecosystem. The mangrove have several adaptations worth noting a) tolerance of salt water b) elevated roots c) floating seeds d) pores so the oxygen can enter and the gases exit. In Costa Rica there is a total area of 42,314 hectares of mangrove swamp of which 99% are encountered in the pacific coast. In the pacific coast here you can find 7 species divided into 4 families: Family Specie Common Name Avicenniaceae Avicennia bicolor Salt Mangrove Avicennia germinans Salt Mangrove Combretaceae Conocarpus erectus Botton Mangrove or Black Laguncularia racemosa White Mangrove Pelliceriaceae Pelliciera rhizophorae Pinuela Mangrove Rhizophoraceae Rhizophora mangle Red or Gentleman Mangrove Rhizophora racemosa Red Mangrove Some of the most important functions of the mangrove swamp reserves are a)flooded zones for migratory and resident birds b) zone for the development, reproduction and alimentation for adult and larva species of mollusks, crustaceans and fish c) sedimentary floors within the roots providing protection in the coastal zones against the tides and storms. Join our experienced guides sight seeing in this magnificent eco system. You can see Caymans, American crocodile, 40 species of marine birds, turtles, and much more as you tour the maze of canals of the Sierpe River mangrove swamp reserve representing the largest mangrove swamp reserve in Central America measuring 36,000 hectares. Full day tour Adults $80 OTHER SPECIALIZED TOURS ALSO AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
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