10 Breathtaking Islands in Costa Rica You Need to Explore

Imagine stepping off a small boat onto a sun-warmed shore, with a coral reef shimmering just a few feet below the surface and dense jungle rising behind you. No hotels. No crowds. Just the sound of the ocean and a whole ecosystem going about its day. That’s what the islands of Costa Rica feel like. 

Most travelers come to Costa Rica for its rainforests, volcanoes, and wildlife, and rightfully so. But what about its islands? Well, they are stunning, too. They’re a different kind of adventure entirely. With nearly 125 islands scattered across rivers, gulfs, and open ocean, each one carries its own story, its own ecosystem, and its own reason to visit. 

Whether you’re a serious diver, a curious day-tripper, or someone who simply wants to stand somewhere truly remote, here are the ten Costa Rican islands worth putting on your map. 

What Makes a Costa Rican Island Worth Exploring? 

Not every island deserves a spot on your itinerary. The ones that do tend to share a few things: exceptional marine biodiversity, rare terrestrial wildlife, meaningful history, or a combination of all three. Costa Rica’s island geography spans two very different coastlines, the Pacific and the Caribbean, each offering a distinct experience. Some islands are accessible on a day trip from the mainland; others require expedition-level planning. That contrast alone makes the country’s island landscape one of the most interesting in Central America.  

Top 10 Islands in Costa Rica Worth Visiting 

So which islands are actually worth your time? These are the ones that consistently stand out, whether you’re after marine life, history, or a slower island experience.  

Island	Location / Region	Highlights	What Makes It Unique	Best Time to Visit
Isla del Coco (Cocos Island)	550 km off Pacific Coast	Diving with hammerhead sharks, waterfalls, rainforest hikes	UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of the world’s top dive spots	Dec–Apr (dry season, calmer seas)
Isla Tortuga	Gulf of Nicoya, Pacific	White-sand beaches, snorkeling, forest trails	Day-trip island with crystal waters and coral reefs	Year-round; driest from Dec–Apr
Isla del Caño	Off Osa Peninsula	Snorkeling, coral reefs, archaeological stone spheres	Marine Biological Reserve with ancient pre-Columbian history	Jan–Apr for clear waters
Isla San Lucas	Gulf of Nicoya	Historic prison ruins, wildlife refuge	Recently reopened national park mixing history and nature	Year-round; avoid heavy rains (Sep–Oct)
Isla Chira	Gulf of Nicoya	Mangrove tours, salt pans, biking trails	Largest island in Nicoya Gulf; eco-communities and traditional fishing villages	Dec–Apr for dry weather
Islas Murciélagos (Bat Islands)	Off Guanacaste Coast	Diving with bull sharks, rugged landscapes	Remote, advanced dive destination in Santa Rosa National Park	May–Nov for marine life diversity
Isla Uvita (Isla Quiribrí)	Caribbean Coast, near Limón	Snorkeling, reef exploration, historical landmark	Christopher Columbus’s 1502 landing site; calm Caribbean waters	Sept–Oct (Caribbean dry season)
Isla Damas	Near Quepos, Central Pacific	Mangrove boat or kayak tours, birdwatching, wildlife	Unique mangrove island ecosystem home to sloths and monkeys	Year-round; best wildlife in green season
Isla Pájaros	Gulf of Nicoya	Birdwatching, boating, photography	Protected island sanctuary for frigatebirds and pelicans	Dec–Apr for bird activity
Isla Venado	Gulf of Nicoya	Kayaking, village life, local seafood	Quiet, cultural island experience with authentic community tours	Dec–Apr (dry season)

1. Isla del Coco (Cocos Island) — The Crown Jewel of the Pacific 

Location: ~550 km off the Pacific Coast 

There’s a reason serious divers plan trips around Cocos Island years in advance. Located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is considered one of the best-conserved marine environments on the planet. The national park covers nearly 500,000 acres, most of it ocean. 

Underwater, you’re likely to encounter schooling hammerhead sharks, manta rays, whale sharks, and more than 300 recorded fish species. Above water, the island is dense rainforest, fed by over 7,000 mm of rain per year. It’s wild, remote, and genuinely extraordinary. 

Getting there: Most visitors arrive via multi-day liveaboard dive trips (typically 10+ days). Permits are required, and availability is limited. So, it is advisable to book well ahead.  

Best time: December to April for calmer seas. 

2. Isla Tortuga — The Classic Day-Trip Escape 

Location: Gulf of Nicoya, Pacific Coast 

Isla Tortuga is the most accessible island on this list, and for good reason. Its white-sand beaches, clear shallow waters, and calm reef make it ideal for snorkeling, kayaking, or simply doing nothing in particular. Boat tours run regularly from Puntarenas, Montezuma, and nearby marinas. 

It’s a popular choice for families and first-time visitors. This is a low-effort, high-reward island experience that delivers exactly what it promises.  

Best time: Year-round; driest from December to April. 

3. Isla del Caño — History and Marine Life in One 

Location: Off the Osa Peninsula 

Isla del Caño is fascinating on two levels. Below the surface, its protected marine reserve hosts thriving coral platforms that support an impressive variety of tropical fish, rays, and sea turtles. Above the waterline, the island holds a mystery: ancient pre-Columbian stone spheres, perfectly round, scattered across the island by a civilization whose purpose remains debated by archaeologists. 

It’s part of the Corcovado region, one of the most biodiverse areas in the world, and visiting it feels like checking two things off the list at once.  

Best time: January to April for the clearest visibility. 

4. Isla San Lucas — Where Nature Reclaimed a Prison 

Location: Gulf of Nicoya 

For decades, Isla San Lucas was one of the most feared places in Costa Rica. The island served as a penal colony from 1873 to 1991, housing some of the country’s most notorious criminals in notoriously harsh conditions. Today, it’s a national park, and the ruins of the old prison sit quietly among vegetation that’s slowly taking the structures back. 

Wildlife has returned in force; iguanas, deer, and tropical birds now occupy what was once a place of confinement. It’s a sobering, beautiful, and genuinely unusual island to explore.  

Best time: Year-round; avoid heavy rains in September and October. 

5. Isla Chira — Slow Life in the Gulf 

Location: Gulf of Nicoya (the largest island in the gulf) 

Isla Chira doesn’t try to impress you with dramatic scenery. Its appeal is quieter, putting the spotlight on traditional fishing communities, salt pans, mangrove channels, and a pace of life that moves with the tides rather than against them. Biking through the island’s flat interior and joining a community-led mangrove tour are the highlights here. 

If you want to understand what life actually looks like in coastal Costa Rica, Isla Chira is one of the most authentic places to do it.  

Best time: December to April. 

6. Islas Murciélagos (Bat Islands) — For Advanced Divers Only 

Location: Off the Guanacaste Coast, within Santa Rosa National Park 

The Bat Islands are not for beginners. Strong currents, rugged rock formations, and a resident population of bull sharks make this one of the most challenging and rewarding dive destinations in the country. The marine life density here is exceptional, with manta rays, giant moray eels, and pelagic species passing through regularly. 

Above water, the islands look almost volcanic — stark, dramatic, and largely untouched. Getting here typically requires a multi-hour boat journey from Playas del Coco.  

Best time: May to November for peak marine activity. 

7. Isla Uvita (Isla Quiribí) — Where Columbus Made Landfall 

Location: Caribbean Coast, near Limón 

In 1502, Christopher Columbus anchored near this small, uninhabited island on his fourth voyage to the Americas. It’s one of the earliest recorded points of contact between European explorers and the Caribbean coast of what is now Costa Rica. 

Today, the island is a calm, unhurried snorkeling spot with clear Caribbean waters and reef life. The historical significance is the real draw here. It is a piece of the Americas’ colonial history sitting quietly just offshore.  

Best time: September to October (Caribbean dry season). 

8. Isla Damas — Monkeys, Sloths, and Mangroves 

Location: Near Quepos, Central Pacific Coast 

Isla Damas is less of a traditional island and more of an estuarine labyrinth. It is a series of mangrove channels and waterways that create a rich wildlife corridor between the ocean and the rainforest. Kayak or boat through the channels and you’re likely to spot howler monkeys overhead, three-toed sloths clinging to mangrove roots, American crocodiles lurking in the shallows, and dozens of bird species. 

It’s one of the best wildlife experiences on the Pacific coast, and it rarely gets the attention it deserves.  

Best time: Year-round; the green season (May–November) actually brings more active wildlife. 

9. Isla Pájaros — A Sanctuary for Seabirds 

Location: Gulf of Nicoya 

Isla Pájaros is a protected bird sanctuary and, as the name suggests, it belongs to the birds. Magnificent frigatebirds, brown pelicans, and various heron species nest here in enormous numbers. Visitors observe from boats as landing is not permitted, which keeps the ecosystem intact and the viewing genuinely spectacular, especially during nesting season.  

Best time: December to April for peak bird activity. 

10. Isla Venado — Community Tourism at Its Best 

Location: Gulf of Nicoya 

Isla Venado is a quiet island with a small permanent community that has leaned into sustainable, community-run tourism. Kayaking through mangroves, joining a local seafood lunch, and hearing about island life from the people who actually live it are the experiences on offer here. It’s an island that asks you to slow down, and it rewards visitors who do.  

Best time: December to April. 

Pacific vs. Caribbean: Understanding Costa Rica’s Island Geography 

The Pacific Coast and the Caribbean Coast offer fundamentally different island experiences. Pacific islands tend to be more dramatic with bigger marine life, stronger currents, and more remote settings. The Caribbean islands are calmer, with warmer, clearer water and a different cultural character shaped by Afro-Caribbean traditions. 

Most of the country’s islands cluster around the Gulf of Nicoya on the Pacific side, with a handful off the Osa Peninsula and a small number on the Caribbean coast. Remote outliers like Cocos Island sit far offshore and require dedicated expeditions. 

When to Visit Costa Rica’s Islands 

Dry season (December–April): Best for most Pacific islands. Visitors will get calmer seas, better visibility for diving and snorkeling, and easier boat access. 

Green season (May–November): Ideal for the Bat Islands (marine life peaks), Isla Damas (wildlife activity), and some Caribbean islands. Boat conditions can be rougher on the Pacific, but crowds drop significantly, and rates are lower. 

Caribbean dry season (September–October): The narrow window when Caribbean waters are at their clearest. It’s the best time for Isla Uvita. 

What to Know Before Visiting Costa Rica’s Islands 

Reaching Costa Rica’s islands usually takes a bit more planning than a typical beach trip. Some are easy day excursions from nearby coastal towns, while others require permits, guided tours, or multi-day expeditions. 

Most islands are accessed through organized boat tours departing from marinas and port towns such as Puntarenas, Quepos, Drake Bay, and Puerto Jiménez. Remote destinations like Cocos Island can only be visited through licensed liveaboard operators, often on trips lasting more than a week. Places like Caño Island Biological Reserve are typically explored through guided snorkeling or diving tours from the Osa Peninsula. 

It is also worth preparing differently depending on the island you visit. Reef-safe sunscreen is essential, especially in protected marine areas. Bringing your own snorkel gear can make day trips more comfortable, and waterproof bags are useful on smaller boats where sea spray is common. 

For protected reserves such as Cocos Island and Caño Island, permits and visitor access are limited, so booking ahead is strongly recommended. Weather and sea conditions can also affect departures, particularly during the green season, so flexibility in your itinerary helps. 

Why These Islands Need Careful Visitors 

Several of these islands, such as Cocos, Caño, San Lucas, and Pájaros, have formal protected status for good reason. Overfishing, coral bleaching from climate change, and irresponsible tourism have already affected reefs across the region. 

The rules aren’t complicated. Just don’t touch coral, don’t feed wildlife, follow your guide’s instructions, and use reef-safe products. Costa Rica’s island ecosystems have survived this long because enough people have treated them with care. Your visit contributes to that track record or doesn’t, it’s up to you.  

Where to Stay When Exploring Costa Rica’s Islands 

Exploring the islands of Costa Rica rarely fits into a rushed itinerary. Boat schedules, weather conditions, and travel distances naturally slow things down, which makes your choice of stay more important than it first appears. 

Many travelers base themselves in coastal areas like Jacó, Quepos, or the Nicoya Peninsula. But for longer stays or multi-stop itineraries, private, luxury properties like Villa Firenze offer a quieter, more flexible alternative to traditional resorts. 

This becomes especially relevant for travelers looking for luxury villas in Costa Rica, private stays for families or groups, or secluded properties suited for celebrations, extended vacations, and experience-led travel. 

Costa Rica’s islands create the adventure. Where you stay connects everything around it. 

Frequently Asked Questions