All charters to Caño Island are 8 days/7 nights and includes 6 days of diving. Of the 6 days of diving; 3 dives per day will be offered with one day 2 dives being offered plus a land tour to Corcovado National Park (San Pedrillo Station or Sirena Station), Sierpe River Mangroves, or Caño Island or Drakes Bay Hiking Tour (see details below). During the week 3 night dives are offered. The Wind Dancer and Okeanos Aggressor depart from the port town of Puntarenas.

Getting There, Passport & Visa Documentation:
Guests fly to San Jose, Costa Rica, overnight, then depart for a two-hour air-conditioned bus ride to Puntarenas, which showcases some of Costa Rica’s most beautiful views. The cruise to Caños Island is approximately 12 hours.
Most major airlines fly into San Jose, Costa Rica: American, Iberia, United, Delta, Lacsa, Taca and US Airways. An overnight stay in San Jose is usually required prior to the trip due to airline schedules. Recommended hotels are the host hotels, Holiday Inn Escazu and Indigo Hotel in San Jose where group transfers are provided from.

Visitors must have a current passport, adequate funds to support themselves, and a return airline ticket. US citizens require a passport that must be valid for 6 months from date of entry. It is the travelers’ responsibility to ensure they have the proper visa to travel into each country on his or her itinerary as well as for re-entry and return to their country. Since regulations vary by country, contact your consulate or embassy of your country for the requirement.

Arrival/Boarding/Departure:
Guests will be met by a representative in uniform at the Holiday Inn Escazu and Indigo Hotel (host hotels) on the day of departure at a pre-set time for our group transfer. The pick-up and boarding time schedule is available in our “Know Before You Go” document. Boarding depends on the tide schedule. Immediately after boarding the yacht, she departs to Caño Island. After six days of diving, the yacht returns back to Puntarenas, Costa Rica. Check-out is at 7 am. Transportation is provided back to the host hotels or San Jose (SJO) airport from the yacht at the end of the charter. It is recommended to book flights after 12:30 pm.

Taxes & Fees:
USD $174 Park Fee and Diving Fee; non-divers $150; cash only, traveler’s checks are not accepted. The Costa Rican government implemented the park fee to maintain El Caño Island and preserve its natural habitat. In addition there is a $29 airport departure tax (cash only).

Insurance
Dive accident insurance is mandatory prior to traveling on the Okeanos Aggressor and Wind Dancer. Proof is required prior to diving.

Complimentary Land Tours
During the week, guests will be offered a complimentary day tour to one of these amazing bio-diverse parks where the scenery is spectacular. Guests will be taken by dinghy to one of these amazing parks; the tour will depend on the tide and weather conditions:

1) Sierpe River Mangrove Tour: The mangroves in the Terraba and Sierpe Rivers are part of the Sierpe-Terraba Wetland Reserve that protects over 22.000 hectares of pristine mangrove forests. It is a very important ecosystem that includes swamps, lagoons , estuaries and coral reefs merging the rivers and the ocean. It is one of the biggest mangrove ecosystems in the American Pacific. Residents include a huge variety of species of birds, reptiles, fish, and mammals along its waters. Birds include herons, parrots, toucans, hummingbirds and red macaws. Reptiles include alligators and caimans as well as various kinds of snakes like boas and the fer-de-lance. Mammals include 4 types of monkeys, raccoons, and various species of cats, sloths, wild boars, tapirs, squirrels, coatis and others.

2) Corcovado National Park Hike, San Pedrillo Station: This station is the nearest to Drakes Bay; it contains spectacular biodiversity. You can watch four types of monkeys; coatis, sloths, anteaters, and many more. A huge variety of birds can be seen including kingfishers, red macaws, tanagers, and toucans. Reptiles include snakes, turtles and lizards. The hike level is easy and ends in a beautiful waterfall where you can refresh yourself.