The Catalina Islands are the family snorkel destination of Costa Rica
I took Hana (6) and Yusuf (4) and Marwa to the Catalina Islands in February 2024. We were already in Costa Rica for ten days for a family holiday based out of Playas del Coco on the Guanacaste coast. The Catalinas are 30-40 minutes by boat from the coco beach area. We did a day trip. The kids loved it. Trust me, this works for families.
[IMAGE: https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1582967788606-a171c1080cb0?w=1600&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop | A small boat anchored over the turquoise water of the Catalina Islands]
With kids in tow — what to know first
The Catalinas are a cluster of about 20 small uninhabited volcanic islets off the northwest Pacific coast of Costa Rica, about 8 km offshore from Playas del Coco. They sit inside the Catalinas Marine Protected Area, designated in 2008. Water is calm and clear for most of the dry season (December through April). The snorkel sites are mostly 3–8 metres deep with reef fish, sea turtles, rays, and depending on luck the famous mantas that pass through.
Most kids 6+ can comfortably snorkel here if they're used to the water. The trick is picking the calm-water dry-season window. We went in February. The conditions were textbook — calm, clear, warm (28°C water, 33°C air).
How we did it
Booked a private boat charter from Coco Beach Marina. About 350 USD for a half-day for the four of us, including snorkel gear, sandwiches, drinks, and our captain Roberto who has been running these trips for twenty years. The trick was booking private rather than joining a group boat — with the kids, we wanted to set our own pace, stop when they got cold, head back when Yusuf's attention span ran out.
For larger group budgets, the day trip operators (Summer Salt, Pacific Coast Dive Center, El Velero) run group boats from Coco and Playa Hermosa for around 90 USD per person. Children's rates are usually a third less. Slightly less flexible but perfectly fine.
The boat ride out is 35-45 minutes. The kids loved spotting flying fish and frigatebirds on the way. We saw a small pod of dolphins on the return trip. Roberto knew to slow the boat for them.
What you actually see underwater
The main snorkel sites.
Punta del Hacha — large rock formation just offshore. Schools of king angelfish, parrotfish, the occasional moray. Easy snorkel for new snorkellers. About 3-5 metres deep on the sandy side.
Catalinas Big Rock — the headline site. A vertical rock that drops to about 18m but is fine for snorkelling on the shallow side. Big schools of jacks, plus this is where the manta rays pass through October-March. We didn't see mantas but saw two green sea turtles which the kids preferred anyway. The trick is to wait at the surface and let the turtle come up for air — they're not bothered by snorkellers, they just need to breathe and they will come right past you.
Sombrero Rock — small islet with a famous arch you can swim through. Easier for older kids than for the little ones. We watched from the surface.
Black Rock — deeper site, mostly for certified divers, not really snorkel territory. Skip with kids.
The marine life density at the Catalinas isn't quite the level of the Galápagos or even Cocos Island (which is two days' boat ride away further south), but for an accessible day trip with kids, it's superb. We saw turtles, dozens of schooling species, two stingrays, one octopus, and Hana spotted a small reef shark from the boat which I still can't verify because I was helping Yusuf with his mask.
Practical bits
Sea-sickness — the swell can be moderate on the boat ride out, especially in the November-December window. Bring kids' motion-sickness tablets if they're prone. Marwa took one for Hana as a precaution; she was fine without it but the dose is forgiving.
Sun protection — equatorial sun is brutal. Reef-safe sunscreen (Costa Rica bans chemical sunscreens in protected marine areas — bring zinc-based mineral sunscreen, NOT oxybenzone or octinoxate). Long-sleeve rash vests for the kids. Hats on the boat. The reflected glare off the water during the 40-minute return trip burned my forearms.
Snorkel gear — the boat provides masks and snorkels but kid-sized gear is sometimes patchy. We brought our own kids' masks from home and they fit so much better than the rentals. Worth the suitcase space.
Lunch — Roberto's boat included sandwiches and tropical fruit. Most charter boats do this; group boats usually have a basic buffet at the second-stop anchorage. Snacks for the kids in your dry bag for the return trip.
What to bring — passports/IDs (no entrance check but operators sometimes ask), cash for tips (10-15% of the trip cost goes to the captain and crew), camera in a dry bag, light layers for the boat ride home when the sea air cools you down.
When to go
December-April is the dry season — calm seas, sun, no rain. Peak snorkel/dive conditions. We went mid-February, conditions perfect.
May-October is the green season — afternoon thunderstorms, rougher seas, less visibility. The boats still run but I wouldn't bring small kids. Adults-only trips in shoulder season can find good days.
October-March is manta ray season. Best chance is January-February. We didn't get lucky but plenty of trips do.
Where to stay with kids
Playas del Coco itself is the most family-friendly base. Apartment-style hotels with kitchens (we love being able to cook breakfast with the kids rather than buffeting it every morning). Casa Conde and Hotel Coco Palms are the reliable mid-range options. Around 150-220 USD per night for a 2-bed apartment.
Playa Hermosa is the quieter, slightly more upmarket nearby alternative — easier evening with kids because there are no nightclubs. Hotel Bosque del Mar.
For families with babies/toddlers, Coco's flat beach with calm water (a different snorkel area, but easy paddle for little ones) is genuinely useful. The kids can play in the shallows for an hour while one parent watches.
Avoid the all-inclusive Papagayo Peninsula resorts unless you specifically want the resort-bubble experience. The beach area itself has more character.
Beyond the day trip
If you're in the area for a week.
Rincón de la Vieja national park — active volcano with mud pots and hot springs. Half-day from Coco. Hana was thrilled by the bubbling mud, Yusuf less so.
Tamarindo Beach — about an hour south. The famous surf-and-yoga town. Crowded but worth a day for the food.
Palo Verde national park — boat tour of the Tempisque river. Crocodiles, howler monkeys, hundreds of bird species. Two-hour drive from Coco — better as an overnight if doing with kids.
Arenal volcano — three-hour drive inland but worth it. Hot springs at the foot of the volcano, kid-friendly walking trails, a different climate (cool, misty). Three days minimum.
Combining the trip
Costa Rica pairs naturally with neighbouring Caribbean destinations — flights to Panama or Nicaragua are short. Or extend into Pacific Costa Rica for surf country at Nosara/Santa Teresa. The Costa Rica country guide covers the routes month by month, and for other family-friendly snorkel destinations, the Akumal Bay sea-turtle area in Mexico is a comparable trip with similar logistics.
For tours in Costa Rica, the listings have several Guanacaste-anchored multi-day options that include the Catalinas day.
Official sources
Visit Costa Rica, the official tourism site, has practical visitor info, current ferry/boat operator licensing, and the marine protected area rules. The SINAC marine conservation pages cover the protected area's rules in detail.
Final note
Catalina Islands is the right size of adventure for a family with primary-school-age kids. Not too long a boat ride. Calm water in the right season. Marine life dense enough to impress kids who are still learning to snorkel. Costa Rica is one of the easier Latin American countries to travel in with children — infrastructure works, healthcare is excellent, the locals are warm with kids, food is mild enough for the picky ones.
We're going back in 2026. Hana is asking about it now. Trust me on this one — for the right family in the right month, this is a beautiful introduction to tropical reef snorkelling, and the kids talk about it months later. The trick is the right month. Alhamdulillah for the right month.
A small extra for parents
A practical thing nobody told me, and which I would have wanted to know: small kids snorkel better with a full-face mask than with a traditional mask-and-snorkel set. The full-face design covers the whole face, the snorkel sticks up from the top, and the child can breathe through their mouth OR nose. For a 4-year-old like Yusuf, this was the difference between a frustrating mask-leaking ten minutes and a happy hour in the water. Cressi and SeaSky make decent ones for around 40 USD. Bring one from home. Worth it.
The other tip — practice in the bathtub or a swimming pool at home before the trip. The first time a child puts on a mask should not be over a coral reef in open ocean from a swaying boat. Half an hour of practice in shallow water at home and the trip is twice as enjoyable.