Cocos Island

Cocos Island is a remote Pacific island national park belonging to Costa Rica, located several hundred kilometres off the mainland. It is renowned for its marine biodiversity and is a globally recognised destination for advanced diving to see large pelagic species.

The waters around the island feature steep underwater slopes, seamounts and cleaning stations that attract schools of hammerhead sharks, manta rays and big pelagic fish; diving expeditions are the primary way to experience this rich marine life. There are no civilian settlements on the island; park rangers and researchers maintain limited facilities and control visitor access.

The island is legally protected as a national park and is also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in recognition of its ecological importance. Access is logistically demanding and typically conducted via multi-day liveaboard boats that operate under strict permitting and park regulations.

• Remoteness and access: The island lies roughly 550 kilometres off Costa Rica’s Pacific coast and is reachable only by liveaboard vessels with park permits and park-guided expeditions.
• UNESCO status and diving reputation: Cocos Island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is renowned for large aggregations of pelagic fish and sharks, making it a high-profile destination for experienced divers.

What to See#

• Diving sites: Shoreline dive sites and offshore seamounts where large pelagic species, schooling hammerhead sharks and manta rays are commonly encountered.
• Island shoreline and ranger facilities: The island’s sparse shore and interior trails used by park staff and researchers; there are no permanent civilian settlements aside from park personnel.

Boat only - Cocos Island is an offshore national park with no scheduled commercial flights. All visitor access is by sea from Puntarenas; dive operators and park-authorized liveaboard boats depart Puntarenas and make the multi-day crossing to the island.

Plan: expect a long offshore voyage (typically on the order of one to several days) and you must join an organized expedition or authorized vessel - private access requires park permits and coordination with Costa Rican authorities.

• Access is only by multi-day liveaboard from Puntarenas with authorized operators - there are no day trips; book a licensed operator and park permits well in advance.
• Plan for several days at sea: crossings are long and operators typically run trips during the calmer season, so check operator schedules and availability months ahead.
• Expect strict park biosecurity and limited or no landing opportunities for non-diving activities - most visits focus on scuba diving, and everything must be arranged through the operator and SINAC (park authority).