Costa Rica is truly an oceangoing enthusiast’s dream come true. It is bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west and provides plenty of marine variety. Costa Rica gets high winds due to it’s location within the intertropical convergence zone, and there are also many ocean currents that converge here. There is a series of lush coral reefs, volcanic tunnels, caves, massifs, and deep waters.

There are also several beautiful islands off the coast. Cocos Island, not to be confused with the Cocos Islands south of Sumatra, is extremely attractive to the more adventurous of divers. This island is home to many large marine species such as hammerhead sharks, white tips, whale sharks, rays, different types of sea turtles, and dolphins. It is a mountainous volcanic island with rich acidic soil. The island is covered by rainforest and dotted with natural streams, pools, and rainforests.

Calero Island is the largest island in Costa Rica and is very similar to Cocos Island. It is more heavily populated and is home to several large luxury resorts. This, and other areas of Costa Rica, is home to a variety of protected areas both on land and in the sea. You can find many parks, waterfalls, whitewater streams, rainforests, reefs, and open water that looks like it has been virtually untouched by man.

One of Costa Rica’s main attractions is the legendary surfing conditions. With locations like Boca Barranca, Caldera, Playa Jaco and Playa Hermosa it is easy to see why the area is celebrated as one of the best surfing spots in the world. Who wouldn’t want to visit the famed pink beaches and cerulean waters, surfing or otherwise?

The yachting itinerary here is much more active than the pleasure cruise that some are associated with. In Costa Rica, most companies offer a variety of sports like surfing, diving, snorkeling, fishing, kayaking or rafting rivers and whitewater rapids, wakeboarding, ecotours, etc. Very unique to Costa Rica are the “learn to surf” charters. Guests cruise around to different famous surfing spots and get surfing lessons from your Captain or other onboard surfing expert. Also, for the nature enthusiasts among us, Cost Rica possesses the greatest density of species in the world.

Costa Rica was the world’s first country to abolish its army. The country is ranked 48^th in the Human Development Index and 5^th In the Environmental Performance Index and strives to be carbon neutral. Costa Rica is one of the safest Latin American countries and is currently the least impoverished Spanish speaking countries.