Beginner snorkeling and dolphins in Papagayo on Wednesday, September 30th, 2026

Captain Log · Wednesday, September 30th, 2026

Today I picked up two couples at a resort in Peninsula Papagayo for a half day Beach Hopping and Snorkel Tour.

They were beginner snorkelers in their 50s, so my plan was to keep the snorkeling easy, enjoy the good conditions and explore different parts of the Papagayo coastline.

I started at Playa Jícaro for easy snorkeling

Because the guests were beginners, I chose Playa Jícaro for our first snorkel because it is one of the easy spots I like to use when the conditions are good.

From the resort it took us about 15 minutes to get there, so we were in the water quickly and the clear conditions made it a very nice place to start.

Turtles, eagle rays and lots of fish

The snorkeling at Playa Jícaro turned out very well and we saw sea turtles, a couple of eagle rays and a lot of fish.

For beginner snorkelers this is exactly the kind of start I like because people can get comfortable in the water while still having the chance to see plenty of marine life.

About 10 dolphins on the way north

After our first snorkel I headed toward the north side of Peninsula Papagayo, and on the way we found a group of around 10 dolphins.

Wildlife is never guaranteed on a boat tour, so finding dolphins between our snorkeling and beach hopping made an already beautiful morning even better.

Cruising the coast and looking for secluded beaches

After the snorkeling we spent the rest of our time cruising close to the coast, exploring quiet beaches and enjoying the scenery around the Papagayo Peninsula.

This is one of my favorite parts of a private tour because I can adjust the route to the guests, the sea conditions and what we are finding during the morning instead of following one fixed itinerary.

More turtles on the way back

As we headed back to the resort we saw more sea turtles, and the guests were very happy with everything we had been able to see in only half a day.

The water stayed clear, the sea conditions were very good and it was another beautiful morning in the Gulf of Papagayo.

A good Papagayo morning for beginner snorkelers

September 30th gave us an easy snorkeling stop at Playa Jícaro, clear water, dolphins, turtles, eagle rays, many fish and time to explore secluded beaches along the Papagayo coast.

Every day is different out here, but days like this are a good example of why I like adjusting each private tour to the people on the boat and the conditions I find that morning.

Thank God for another amazing morning in paradise.