Coco Island National Park

Coco Island National Park is a remote island in the Pacific Ocean, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognized worldwide as one of the best diving destinations on the planet (with hammerhead sharks in schools, among others). It is by far the most difficult and expensive national park to visit in Costa Rica — its logistics are incomparable to the other parks in this knowledge base.

Access: only by sea. There is no accommodation on the island except for park rangers — there is no option to visit on your own or to make a short trip.

In practice, most visitors arrive via a liveaboard diving operator (a vessel where you sleep for several days), such as Undersea Hunter or Aggressor Adventures. It is also possible to obtain a permit for a private vessel, but it involves very high costs.

Cost:

• Liveaboard trip: between $5,000 and $8,000 USD per person, depending on duration and cabin type (typical itineraries of 8 to 11 days, since the outbound voyage already takes about 36 hours).
• Park entry fee (in addition to the liveaboard cost): $50 per day for non‑resident visitors, $25 per day for nationals.

Note: given the cost and logistics involved, this information sheet is purely informational — it is not a procedure that most people will undertake. Confirm availability, dates, and exact prices directly with an authorized liveaboard operator or at sinac.go.cr.