Half-Day Private Tour
A relaxed morning or afternoon on the Gulf of Papagayo. Swim, snorkel and cruise the coast with only your group on board.
Rates on requestBook Now
Private charters · Gulf of Papagayo, Guanacaste
Your day in paradise on Costa Rica's Pacific Coast
Private sport fishing and boat tours from Marina Papagayo, with pickup from the beach. One boat, your group, your pace.
Plan your day
Check availability
Choose a charter, pickup point, date and group size. We confirm availability by email or WhatsApp.
Popular:
Licensed and insuredAll required permits, insured with INS.
Beach pickupOur tender collects you from the sand.
Professional captainA crew that knows these waters like home.
Flexible booking20% deposit and one free date change.
Best sellers
Which charter is right for you?
Fishing Tour
Private sport fishing aboard the Plautus for tuna, mahi-mahi, sailfish and more. Half, three-quarter and full days.
From $3,185 + taxesBook Now
Private Party
Birthdays, bachelor and bachelorette groups and anniversaries, with drinks and snacks on board.
Rates on requestBook Now
Our boat
Meet the Plautus
There are fishing boats, and then there are boats with a story.
A Gamefisherman 40 hand-built in Costa Rica in 1986, cold-molded in wood and fully restored in 2020. Four decades later, she still fishes the waters where she was born.
1986Built in CR
40 ftIdeal size
WoodCold-molded
2020Restored
Sport Fishing
Half, three-quarter and full-day charters aboard the Plautus, a classic Gamefisherman 40.
Private Tours
A private boat on the Gulf of Papagayo with swim and snorkel stops.
Sunset & Snorkel
Sunset cruises, snorkeling and beach hopping along the coast.
Private Parties
Birthdays, bachelor and bachelorette groups and anniversaries.
1986Hand-built Plautus
PapagayoMarina departures
About us
We plan and book your perfect day on the water
Costa Rica Charter Tours runs private charters in the Gulf of Papagayo from Marina Papagayo. Our tender picks you up from the beach, our captain takes you to the fish, and the day is built around your group.
- Private sport fishing, inshore and offshore
- Sunset, snorkeling and beach-hopping tours
- Fully licensed, permitted and insured with INS
Top target species
What you can catch in Costa Rica
Yellowfin Tuna
Offshore. Hard-fighting and one of the best fish to eat.
Keep where permittedMahi-Mahi (Dorado)
Offshore. Fast, acrobatic and brightly coloured.
Keep where permittedSailfish
Offshore. The billfish the Plautus's trolling wake is known for raising.
Catch and releaseMarlin
Offshore. The big-game prize of the Pacific.
Catch and releaseRoosterfish
Inshore. Known for its tall comb and hard runs near the coast.
Catch and releaseWahoo
Offshore. One of the fastest fish in the ocean.
Captain's guidanceRed Snapper
Inshore. A regular catch, and great on the table.
Keep where permittedPlan your trip
Species depend on season and fishing conditions. Ask us what is running for your dates.
Book NowAmazing destinations
Where we fish and pick you up
We depart from Marina Papagayo and collect guests by tender from beaches across the Gulf of Papagayo.
Papagayo Peninsula
Home of Marina Papagayo, where the Plautus is based. The peninsula wraps the northern side of the Gulf of Papagayo, with green headlands and sheltered bays on the way out to the fishing grounds.
Marina Papagayo
Our departure marina for every charter. Prefer to start from the sand? Our dinghy tender can collect you from a nearby beach instead.
Playas del Coco
The town painted on the Plautus's transom. Guests staying in Coco can be picked up from the beach by tender and step straight aboard.
Playa Panamá
A bay on the Gulf of Papagayo, close to the marina. We collect guests right from the sand, so there is no drive to the marina.
Playa Hermosa
Staying in Playa Hermosa? Our tender picks you up from the beach and brings you out to the Plautus.
Flamingo
A name in local fishing history. In 1990, one of the first Gamefisherman 40 hulls, the same model as the Plautus, released more than 1,330 billfish in 190 days fishing out of Flamingo.
Playa Zapotal
Part of our service area, with beach pickup by tender so you can step aboard from the sand.
Catalinas
The Catalinas are part of the area we serve along the Guanacaste coast. Ask us about including them in your day.
Gulf of Papagayo
Our home waters. Sailfish, dorado and tuna are a short run from the beach, with inshore and offshore fishing depending on your package and sea conditions.
Questions
Before you book
Where do the charters depart from?
All charters depart from Marina Papagayo. Our dinghy tender can also pick you up from Playa Panamá, Playa Hermosa, Playas del Coco, Playa Zapotal, Flamingo, Potrero and nearby beaches.
Are the charters private?
Yes. Every charter is booked by one group, so you will not share the boat with other guests.
How do I reserve?
A 20% deposit confirms your reservation. The balance is due on the day of the tour. We accept credit cards, cash, bank transfer and payment links. Prices are in USD, plus taxes.
What if the weather is bad?
The captain makes the final call on safety. If we cancel because of unsafe weather or sea conditions, you can choose a full refund or reschedule at no extra cost.