Clear Water and Snorkeling in Papagayo on November 9, 2026

Captain Log · Monday, November 9, 2026

Hello everybody, Captain Marcy here from MarSea Tours! Today, November 9, I had the same couple back on board after our trip yesterday, and we headed out for another morning of beach hopping, snorkeling and a little fishing in the Gulf of Papagayo.

We picked them up at Playa Hermosa with a calm ocean, clear water and plenty of sunshine. They wanted another tour with us, and this morning gave us some beautiful conditions for getting back out along the coast.

Back on the water from Playa Hermosa

It was nice to have familiar faces on the boat again, with another morning ahead to enjoy the water. Our plan was to troll from Playa Hermosa toward Monkey Head, continue to Matapalo for snorkeling, and then fish a little more on the way to Nacascolito.

That gave us a good mix for the morning, with time looking out from the boat and time looking below the surface. Fishing was part of the ride between places, so we could enjoy it without making the whole trip about catching fish.

A little fishing toward Monkey Head

We started with the lines out as we made our way toward Monkey Head. If you have never tried trolling, the simple idea is that we fish while the boat is moving, with the lines trailing behind us.

On a trip like this, that makes the journey between stops interesting too. We caught a couple of bonitos during the outing, adding a little fishing action to a morning that also had two snorkeling stops ahead.

Monkey Head is one of the rocky landmarks around Papagayo, named for its resemblance to a monkey’s head. Today it was part of our fishing route, while Matapalo and Nacascolito were the places in our plan for getting into the water.

Clear water at Matapalo

From Monkey Head, we headed to Matapalo for our first snorkeling stop. The water was looking very clear, which was exactly what we were hoping for when we put this morning’s plan together.

For this trip, the reason to stop at Matapalo was simple, we had good water for snorkeling that day. A beach name alone does not tell you what a swim will be like, so the conditions we find when we get there matter more than following a fixed list of stops.

This was a good morning to combine the two activities, with calm water for the boat ride and clear water for the snorkeling. We could enjoy the coast from above, then put on the masks and see another part of the same place.

Another stop at Nacascolito

After Matapalo, we trolled again as we headed toward Nacascolito Beach for our second snorkeling stop. That was the rhythm of our morning, a little fishing along the way, then another chance to enjoy the water.

Having two snorkeling stops gave the couple more than one place to explore during their return trip. We did not need to spend the whole morning in a single spot, and the ride between them was part of the outing too.

The photos show another part of what made the day so nice, with green hills behind the beaches and sunshine over the water. There was plenty to enjoy from the boat as well as during the snorkeling stops.

Dolphins, turtles and rays

We also saw dolphins along the way, and our wildlife sightings for the morning included sea turtles, a couple of stingrays and spotted eagle rays. Between those encounters and the bonitos we caught, we had a nice variety of marine life during the trip.

The turtle photo is a good reminder to look at the surface too, because everything does not happen down below with a snorkel mask on. You can see the turtle just under the water, with the green reflections around it.

I cannot promise that same list of animals for another trip, because they are wild and every morning is different. Today we were lucky to have those sightings along with such lovely water, and that is what I get to share in this log.

Back to Hermosa for lunch

We made it back to Playa Hermosa on time, with happy guests and sunshine throughout our outing. After the fishing, two snorkeling stops and all that wildlife, the timing was just right for lunch.

It was a beautiful second morning with this couple, and a nice way to spend more time exploring Papagayo together. Calm water, clear snorkeling and a little fishing between beaches made a very good combination today.

Plan your own morning on the gulf

If this sounds like your kind of day, have a look at our private boat tour options and tell us you would like to combine snorkeling, beach hopping and fishing. Let us know where you are staying and which activities interest you most, so we can help you choose a trip that fits.

Today’s route shows one way to put those activities together, with pickup at Playa Hermosa and different stops along the coast. The exact plan for your day will depend on the conditions, so treat this log as a look at one lovely morning with us.