Snorkeling and Spider Monkey Boat Tour

What your day looks like

Amazing nature above and below. On this tour, you get to experience the amazing underwater life, but also a very special encounter with the acrobatic spider monkeys. The snorkeling and spider monkeys boat tour will take you to some great spots for snorkeling around the gulf islands. We have several snorkeling spots to choose from around the Negritos islands and Isla Tortuga. At high tide, some of the islands are mere rocks sticking up in the water, but on low tide, small beautiful beaches emerge. The rocky area around the islands is great for snorkeling. In addition to the snorkeling, we’ll take you on a little boat cruise around the numerous island in the area. We'll look at the diverse birdlife, scenery and if we are lucky we might spot rays, turtles, and dolphins. We’ll visit the spider monkeys at one of the nearby islands. The spider monkeys are endangered in Costa Rica and they are the largest of the 4 types of monkeys in the country. It is harder to see these monkeys in the rainy season, but in the dry season they come down to the beach almost every time and you are almost guaranteed a real close encounter with them. Monkey island – Visit endangered spider monkeys Spider monkeys are found in tropical forests, and they are one of the most agile species in Costa Rica! Their name comes from their appearance. They have very long limbs and a long tail, which makes it easy for them to roam around the forests. We actually have 4 species of monkeys; the squirrel monkey, the white-faced or capuchin monkey, the howler monkey, and the spider monkey. At Isla Nancital we find the subspecies; black-handed spider monkey. They are classified as endangered on the Red List created by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). Their group dynamics can change in the course of a day. Aside from gathering into a large group at certain times, spider monkeys often look for food independently or in small groups. When we visit the Spider monkey family that lives on Isla Nancital, we are sometimes lucky to find them all together hanging out close to the water. Over the years that we have visited Isla Nancital, we have gotten to know the monkey family well, and are excited every time we see a newborn baby. An infant spider monkey stays close to its mother for 3 months, at first carried on the stomach then riding on her side as it ages. Babies remain at least partially dependent upon their mother's milk for the first year of life. Isla Nancital is a biological reserve, so we are not allowed to go ashore there, but due to the rocky shoreline, we can bring the boat all the way up to the rocks, and be almost close enough to touch the monkeys. Snorkeling rock – like swimming in an aquarium. Put on a mask and marvel at the amazing world beneath the surface. The bottom structure consists of volcanic rocks and a few coral formations teeming with schools of vibrant tropical fish. You will snorkel among the brightly colored fish and if you’re lucky you might spot a turtle swimming around. Your snorkeling adventure starts with a briefing from our experienced guides who will check that you are comfortable with the equipment before guiding you into the beautiful ocean. Almost anyone can snorkel, you do not need to be a great swimmer, just comfortable getting into the water and ready for a great adventure. If you need a little help with buoyancy we have life jackets and floats available. Kids love to see the fish in the water, so make this one of the highlights of your family holiday here in beautiful Costa Rica. We have snorkeling gear for children and youth, and for the smallest children we have goggles. The stories they will be able to tell afterward will be great fun as they try and describe the colors, shapes, and behavior of the huge variety of fish and sea creatures that they have seen.