Jacó · Catamaran tour
Adventure Tours Costa Rica
Tortuga catamaran days and Los Sueños fishing
Adventure Tours Costa Rica is a Jacó-based tour company whose water trips are a full-day catamaran run to Tortuga Island and private sportfishing charters from Los Sueños Marina. It suits families and groups staying around Jacó and Herradura, and anglers who want a choice of boats.
What they offer
Adventure Tours Costa Rica is a tour company with an office in Jacó that sells and runs a long menu of trips around Jacó and Los Sueños. Much of it happens on land (ATVs, ziplines, rafting, horseback rides, surf lessons and day trips to Manuel Antonio), but 2 parts matter for anyone who wants to be on the water: a day-long catamaran trip to Tortuga Island and private sportfishing charters out of Los Sueños Marina. They also publish regular Los Sueños fishing reports on their site, which is a handy way to see what's biting before you book.
The trips
Tortuga Island catamaran. You check in at Los Sueños Marina around 7:15 and leave at 7:45 on a twin-hull catamaran that carries up to 70 passengers, with open deck seating plus an air-conditioned cabin. The whole day runs about 8 hours. Breakfast, fruit and drinks (including rum punch) are served on the way out. On the island you get a buffet lunch on the beach, beach chairs and umbrellas, a guided snorkel, a banana boat ride and a short hike into the forest. Kayaks, paddleboards and wave runners are there to rent if you want more. On the crossing, dolphins are common, and in season humpback whales sometimes show up.
Sportfishing. The company lists a fleet of private boats based at Los Sueños, from a 28-foot express up to a 52-foot Hatteras, with room for 4 to 8 anglers depending on the boat. Offshore trips target sailfish, marlin, yellowfin tuna, mahi-mahi and wahoo. Inshore days go after roosterfish, snapper, grouper and jacks. Charters are listed as full-day private trips, and they also package multi-day fishing stays.
Where you leave from
Both water trips start at Los Sueños Marina in Herradura, about 15 minutes north of Jacó. Local transport from Jacó and Los Sueños is included on the Tortuga trip. If you're staying farther away, ask about pickup when you book.
Who it suits
The Tortuga catamaran is a classic family day: easy, social and well organized, with very little effort on your part. It's a group trip on a big boat, so it's not the pick if you want a quiet sail. The fishing side suits anyone from a first-timer who wants an inshore morning to serious billfish anglers comparing boats. Having lots of land tours under one roof also makes it simple to plan a whole week from one booking desk.
Good to know before you book
- Los Sueños is a well-known billfish port, and sailfish are caught off the Central Pacific for much of the year, with the main run usually from about December to April.
- The Pacific dry season runs roughly December to April; in the green season, early starts usually mean calmer seas.
- Most offshore billfishing in Costa Rica is catch-and-release.
- The catamaran trip has a fixed early departure, so plan breakfast and transport the night before.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the Tortuga Island catamaran leave from?
From Los Sueños Marina in Herradura, with check-in around 7:15 and departure at 7:45.
How long is the Tortuga trip?
About 8 hours, including transport from Jacó or Los Sueños.
What can you catch on a Los Sueños fishing charter?
Offshore: sailfish, marlin, tuna, mahi-mahi and wahoo. Inshore: roosterfish, snapper, grouper and jacks.
How many people fit on a fishing boat?
Between 4 and 8 anglers, depending on the boat you choose.
Do they only do water trips?
No. Most of their tours are on land, including ATVs, ziplines, rafting and surf lessons.
