Sailing in Playas del Coco – Sea Bird Sailing Excursions Review
Sailing in Playas del Coco is one of the most memorable ways to experience Costa Rica’s stunning Pacific coastline. Boat day trips in Playas del Coco are one of the most popular activities for visitors to Coco Beach and there’s no shortage of options when it comes to boat tours in Coco…unless, that is, you want to go on a sailboat and actually sail.
While there are a few boats that claim to offer sailing tours in Playas del Coco, in my experience, few of them actually sail. They offer a fun day on the water, sure, but for those looking for a sailing day trip in Playas del Coco, there is one option that stands out above the rest – Sea Bird Sailing Excursions.
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The Best Sailing Day Trip in Playas del Coco
The Seabird Sailing Excursions offer both private and open group tours. For open tours, there are two options – the Morning Sail & Snorkel and the Sunset Sail. Both tours include an open bar (with plenty of juice, water and other non-alcoholic beverages for kids!) and snacks, with the morning snorkel tour also including a guided snorkel session. These tours can also be made private and they also offer an all day beach BBQ sailing excursion.
I joined a Morning Sail & Snorkel Tour in April. The one thing that immediately surprised me was that even though it was an open group tour, the tour was still kept small. On that particular morning, it was just me and a family of four. Though the boat could have held several more people, the small group ensured a nice and relaxing morning, even with two kids on board, and I think the small group made the snorkeling session even better.
The tour begins onshore with Seabird owners Wendy and Dave, who give guests a rundown of what to expect onboard – including a very impressive list of beverages and snacks – and their suggestions for making the most of the morning, like hanging out in one of the hammocks on the boat. (Which I also highly recommend, it was my favorite spot!)
From there, the crew comes to shore with the dinghy and it’s off to the boat to meet the captain.
Fun Playas del Coco Snorkeling Tour
The crew aboard the Sea Bird is fantastic. The captain, Sebastian, speaks great English and immediately began chatting with the kids onboard, making everyone feel comfortable and ready to go. The rest of the crew was attentive to the needs of everyone, offering fresh fruit, snacks and drinks right away.
The ride to the snorkel location was beautiful and relaxing. It’s fairly common to see marine life during this part of the trip, including whales and sea turtles during appropriate seasons, though we only saw a few birds.
Reaching the snorkel location took an hour or so. We were provided with the appropriate gear and then a member of the crew jumped in the water with his GoPro to lead us to the best spots. For both myself and one of the kids, it was our very first time snorkeling so it was a bit of an exciting moment and having the photos afterward was definitely a nice touch!
During the time we spent in the water, we spotted lots of fish and our guide was even able to point out a sleeping shark.
The kids weren’t completely comfortable in the water and the staff was extremely accommodating when they were ready to come back to the boat early and also provided them with noodles to float, making this a great snorkeling tour for families in Playas del Coco.
Sailing In Playas del Coco
As fun as snorkeling was, the absolute highlight of this boat day trip was actually sailing back to Playas del Coco. Sitting at the front of the boat and just truly relaxing in the beauty of the ocean was absolutely incredible.
If you’re planning a trip to Guanacaste, sailing in Playas del Coco is an unforgettable experience that combines beautiful scenery, wildlife encounters, and a relaxing day on the water.
What To Bring
Don’t forget to pack these essentials for your Playas del Coco sailing tour:
Sunscreen (We recommend Stream2Sea‘s coral-friendly sunscreen. Use code ExpCoco for 10% discount!)
Beach towel (I love this quick drying beach towel for boat trips!)
Camera or phone for taking photos (and a dry pouch for your phone!)
Shoes that are easy to remove, like flip-flops
I recommend packing everything inside a dry bag
No need to pack any snacks or drinks as they’re included on the tour.
Book Your Seabird Sailing Excursions Tour
Seabird Sailing Excursions offer both private and open tours, with the open tours starting at just $85 per person with an open bar. To book your Playas del Coco sailing tour, click here.
