Diving expeditions
The only way to visit is a live-aboard dive trip of about ten days, for experienced divers. The crossing is long and the sea can be rough.
Pacific Ocean · about 550 km from Costa Rica
Cocos Island National Park
A UNESCO island 550 km out in the Pacific, visited only on dive expeditions, with hammerhead sharks and clouds of marine life.
- UNESCO World Heritage, 1997
- About 24 sq km of land
- About 36 hours by boat
- Dive expeditions only
About the site
Cocos Island lies about 550 km south-west of the Costa Rican coast and is one of the best places in the world to dive with sharks. The island is a national park and a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1997, covered with rainforest, with no hotels and no permanent residents apart from the rangers.
Visitors reach it on live-aboard dive boats, with a crossing of about 36 hours each way, and spend several days diving at sites such as Bajo Alcyone and Dirty Rock, where hammerhead sharks, white-tip reef sharks, manta rays, whale sharks and large schools of fish are seen. Landing on the island is limited and controlled by the park rangers.
- Hammerhead sharks in large groups
- Manta rays, whale sharks and big schools of fish
- A pristine island covered with rainforest
- A UNESCO World Heritage site
Wildlife
Scalloped hammerhead sharkWhite-tip reef sharkManta rayWhale sharkDolphinsBird colonies
Visiting the island
Landing
Landing is restricted and controlled by the park rangers; it is allowed in specific places with authorisation.
Plan your visit
- Access
- Visits are only by authorised live-aboard boats that leave from the Pacific coast. The boats are booked well in advance.
- Divers
- Advanced diving certification and a recent log of dives are usually required, and the currents can be strong.
- Best time
- Sharks are present all year; the rainy season from June to November is the usual time for hammerheads in large numbers.
- Cost
- An expedition is a high-priced, multi-day trip; we ask you for your dates and prepare a quote with a boat operator.
Dates, areas and conditions are approximate and based on published information from SINAC and UNESCO; hours, fees and rules can change. We confirm the current conditions when you book.
Getting there
By live-aboard boat
The boats leave from Puntarenas and the Pacific coast and take about 36 hours to reach the island.
Tours
Frequently asked questions
Can I visit without diving?
In practice no. Access is on dive expeditions, and landing is restricted.
Is it for beginners?
No, it is for experienced divers because of the currents and depths.
Are there hotels on the island?
No. There are no hotels; you live on the boat.
Do you offer other dives?
Yes. We offer diving and snorkelling at Caño Island, which is easier to reach.