4.5-Hour Sunset Sail, Open Bar

Overview

This is a 4.5 hour afternoon sail on Marlin del Rey's 66 foot catamaran, running along Costa Rica's Gold Coast past the bays, beaches and jungle shoreline of Guanacaste. The trip is built around three things: open water wildlife watching, a swim and snorkel stop in a calm bay, and the sunset on the sail home. You board barefoot, and the crew runs an open bar for both adults and children the whole way.

After cruising the coast, the boat anchors in a quiet bay where you can snorkel with the provided equipment, swim, or walk along a white sand beach. Back on board, the crew serves a light meal of chicken or pasta salad, fruit, chips, pico de gallo, guacamole and homemade chocolate chip cookies. One reviewer noted it felt more like a lunch than a snack, and another called the buffet surprisingly good. The meal comes roughly two and a half hours after departure, so the operator advises not showing up hungry.

The final stretch is the sunset itself, with drinks from the bar and whatever the sky does that evening. Reviews repeatedly single out the crew and captain as friendly and attentive, and several travellers mention dolphins swimming alongside the boat. Snorkeling quality varies with conditions, and some reviewers reported choppy water on their day. Tours run in Spanish and English, and no hotel pickup is included.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at the departure pointMake your own way to the boat, since hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. Arrive barefoot or ready to remove all footwear, as sandals are not allowed on the catamaran.
2. Sail the Gold CoastCruise along Guanacaste's coastline past bays, white sand beaches and jungle, scanning the water for dolphins, sea turtles, flying fish and occasionally whales.
3. Anchor in a tranquil bayThe boat drops anchor for a swim, snorkeling with the provided gear, or a walk along a deserted beach.
4. Light meal on boardWhile you swim or relax, the crew prepares chicken or pasta salad, fruit, chips, pico de gallo, guacamole and chocolate chip cookies, served about two and a half hours after departure.
5. Sunset sail backOn the return leg, watch the sky change color over the Pacific with drinks from the open bar.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points shape how this trip goes, from the barefoot rule to the late-serving meal.

• Go barefoot. No footwear of any kind is allowed on the catamaran, including sandals. Plan to remove all shoes before boarding.
• Eat beforehand. The meal is served approximately two and a half hours after departure, and the operator explicitly tells guests not to arrive hungry. One reviewer called the buffet surprisingly good and another said it was more like a lunch than a snack, but the timing still matters.
• Bring the basics. Towels and sunblock are not included, so bring your own. The listing also suggests a bathing suit, a hat with a chin strap, and a prescription snorkel mask if you wear glasses.
• Wildlife is likely, not guaranteed. Several reviewers describe dolphins jumping near the boat, and some spotted manta rays while snorkeling. Others reported choppy water and fewer fish, so treat marine sightings as a bonus rather than a promise.
• Attentive crew. Reviewers frequently mention a crew that checked whether anyone needed a drink, water or soda, and one traveller mentioned meeting new friends on board. The staff and captain come up again and again as a highlight of the trip.
• Getting on board. One reviewer described being ferried from the shore to the catamaran by a smaller boat at the start.

Common issues. Snorkeling depends entirely on sea conditions: several reviewers reported water too rough or choppy for good visibility, and on at least one trip the crew substituted a swim stop instead. No hotel pickup or drop-off is included, so you must arrange your own transport to the departure point. Towels, sunblock and gratuities are also excluded. One practical quirk worth repeating is the barefoot policy, which catches some travellers off guard. Reviews otherwise run strongly positive, with complaints limited mainly to weather rather than the operation itself.

Common Questions