Snorkeling and Fishing in the Gulf of Papagayo on Sunday, November 8th, 2026

Captain Log · Sunday, November 8th, 2026

Hello everybody, Captain Marcy here from MarSea Tours! Today, November 8th, I had a couple from the United States joining me for a private morning boat tour in the Gulf of Papagayo, with beach hopping, snorkeling and a little fishing all mixed together.

It was cloudy when we started, with a little drizzle in the air, but the sea was very calm. I looked at those ocean conditions and thought we could still have a beautiful morning, and you know what, we did!

A little rain does not mean a bad boat day

A lot of people see clouds over Playa Hermosa or the Gulf of Papagayo and think their boat tour will be ruined. But a little drizzle by itself does not tell the whole story, because the wind, waves, visibility and safety of the sea are what I need to check.

This morning was a very good example, because the water was calm even when the sky was not completely blue. The clouds also gave us a break from the strong sunshine, which can feel pretty nice when you are spending the morning on a boat in Guanacaste.

Of course, not every rainy day is good for boating, and I will not take people out into unsafe conditions just because they have a reservation. But if the captain checks everything and the sea is behaving, some cloudy mornings can become some of the nicest days on the water.

We picked up our guests at Playa Hermosa

Our guests boarded right at Playa Hermosa, one of the beaches around the Gulf of Papagayo where we can arrange a private boat pickup. It is a convenient way to start when you are staying in this part of Guanacaste, because you do not need to go all the way to another beach to meet us.

They wanted to enjoy the coastline, get into the water for some snorkeling and try some fishing too. That is why I like these private trips, because we can combine activities instead of making everyone do only one thing all morning.

Ten bonitos almost as soon as we started trolling

As soon as we left Playa Hermosa, we put the trolling lines out and started fishing while the boat was moving. We caught around ten bonitos, and that made for some very good fun right at the beginning of the trip.

Today was about enjoying the fishing, not filling a cooler, so we practiced catch and release. When you have a couple of guests looking for a mix of activities, it is nice to let them have the excitement of a bite and then keep moving toward the snorkeling spots.

We also trolled again between our snorkeling stops and hooked a couple more fish along the way. That is one of the things I like about adding inshore fishing to a Papagayo beach hopping tour, because even the ride between places can become part of the adventure.

First snorkeling stop at Punta Gorda

Our first snorkeling stop was Punta Gorda, and we found plenty to look at under the water. There were many fish, a couple of sea turtles and even a stingray, which made this a beautiful stop for our guests.

Punta Gorda is one of the snorkeling areas I know around the Papagayo Peninsula, with rocky shoreline and marine life that can make a stop very interesting. I always have to check the water before guests get in, because the same spot can have different visibility, current and movement from one day to the next.

For a private snorkeling tour, that flexibility is important to me, and it is not only about telling people where a good spot is on a map. It is about arriving, looking at the conditions and choosing what works for the guests we have on the boat that morning.

The sun came out near Playa Guacamaya

After some more trolling, we checked another snorkeling area by Playa Guacamaya, over in Bahía Culebra. By then the sunshine had come out, and the visibility was looking better for us.

Guacamaya is one of the quieter beaches in this part of Guanacaste, with light gray sand and gentle waves in suitable conditions. The land access is rough, which is one reason coming in by boat is a nice way to see this side of the Gulf of Papagayo.

We got to enjoy many fish and another couple of sea turtles at this second stop. Remember, we had started the morning with drizzle, and here we were getting sunshine, better visibility and another lovely snorkeling experience.

That is how a morning on the Pacific coast can change, and that is part of the fun when we can adjust our stops to the conditions. The same guests who saw clouds at the start were now enjoying another beautiful side of Papagayo.

The rain came back, and we headed home

After our time snorkeling near Guacamaya, the rain started coming back, so we made our way toward Playa Hermosa. We had already enjoyed fishing, two snorkeling areas, lots of fish, turtles and a stingray, so it had been a full morning.

For me, this trip is a good reminder that a cloudy forecast does not always mean an ugly day in the Gulf of Papagayo. You can still have a wonderful experience, sometimes even with more comfortable temperatures under the clouds, as long as the sea and weather conditions are safe.

Thinking about a private Gulf of Papagayo boat tour?

If you are staying around Playa Hermosa, Playas del Coco or Papagayo and want to mix snorkeling, beach hopping and a little fishing, take a look at our private boat tour options. We can talk about the activities you enjoy, where you are staying and what the ocean is doing that day.

If you are wondering what happens when it rains, or you just have questions about snorkeling, fishing or pickup locations, send us a message and we will be happy to help. The idea is to have a fun day that fits your group, not to force the same plan on every boat trip.