If you’re looking for an unforgettable and unique experience in Costa Rica, the Bat Islands (Islas Murciélagos) offers exactly that.
This collection of islands in Santa Rosa National Park is a popular experienced scuba diving destination as it is home to an abundance of amazing marine wildlife but anyone can visit by boat to see the islands.
This is a fantastic day trip from Playas del Coco and it was undoubtedly one of the most incredible things we’ve ever done in Costa Rica.
Ready to book the Bat Island snorkel tour? Contact us to set it up!
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Location
The Bat Islands are in Santa Rosa National Park in the Guanacaste province, up in the Northwest Pacific corner of Costa Rica.
About Santa Rosa National Park
Santa Rosa National Park is the first national park established in Costa Rica back in 1971, encompassing over 387 km2 (149 sq mi) or land and water.
This national park is part of the Guanacaste Conservation Area World Heritage Site, protecting a plethora of unique flora and fauna.
There are land and marine sectors and the Bat Islands (Islas Murciélagos in Spanish) are one marine sector of Santa Rosa National Park.
One extra special thing about this national park is that even though it is open to the public, many tourists don’t visit due to the access and distance.
The marine sector is by boat only and the land sector is difficult to get to by car as the infrastructure requires a strong 4×4 and is accessible only certain times of the year.
How To Get To Bat Islands Costa Rica
The Bat Islands are boat access only. Before, it used to be mostly scuba divers who visited but now there are tours that go to the island for snorkeling.
We visited the Bat Islands on a day excursion with our friend who has a private boating company in Playas del Coco.
From Playas del Coco, the islands are 1.5 hours one way by boat. The only island with access is Isla San Jose with a ranger station, camping area, bathrooms and trail access.
** Please note that hiking on the island is no longer allowed. Tours include snorkeling and boating around.**
Contact us to book the Bat Islands snorkel tour!
National Park Fee
The Santa Rosa National Park fee is $15 USD per person, free for children under 9. The tour company should arrange the tickets for you.
When Can You Visit Bat Islands?
The Bat Islands are open for visitors only during Costa Rica’s rainy season months, May – November.
Scuba diving trips will run excursions during those months, some only until October.
We visited at the end of August. It rained a little bit in the morning and in the late afternoon but snorkeling conditions were wonderful. We got nice weather for the greater part of the day.
Video
We made a short video of our visit to Bat Islands which you can watch below.
**Hiking on the island is no longer permitted.**
Bat Islands Costa Rica Excursion
For the Bat Islands excursion, we left Coco bright and early at 7 AM and got to the islands around 830 AM or so.
As we reached the Bat Islands, it started raining a little bit so we boated around the islands for about 1 hour until the rains left and winds died down.
The wait was absolutely worth it because the skies cleared up, the sun came out and we got to see the stunning islands in their full beauty.
As we approached the main island, I couldn’t get over just how beautiful the color of the water was! It was breathtaking when the sun came out and we could see the crystal clear turquoise waters.
We couldn’t wait to snorkel and cool off in the water!
We were also the ONLY boat at the island. The scuba divers stopped at Isla San Jose for a little bit to dive nearby and left after an hour.
That made our experience that much more special because we had the entire island to ourselves the whole day.
Scuba Diving Bat Islands
The most popular dive site is the Big Scare as that is where you can see lots of bull sharks. You must be advanced and most trips are one day.
There are some scuba diving shops that offer overnight trips, where you spend the night on the boat.
Interested in diving at the Bat Islands? Contact us for more information!
Snorkeling
We went snorkeling as soon as we got to the islands and had an amazing experience. We saw two turtles, a nurse shark, manta rays and huge fish.
The water was so calm, warm and gentle and it was really nice to swim and snorkel around.
Thanks to many years of government protection, a myriad of marine creatures call the Bat Islands home and is undoubtedly one of the best scuba diving and snorkel spots in Costa Rica.
The Trail
**They no longer allow people on the island to hike the trails. Only snorkeling is allowed.**
After we finished snorkeling, we walked up to the park ranger office to check in and say hi to the two guards who stay on the island full time. At the station, there are bathrooms and sinks and is also the start of the island trail.
For the trail, we walked it in flip flops but you need to be in decent shape and be able to walk up and down ungroomed steep paths and hills.
The entire trail takes about 1 hour and goes throughout the island, starting from the guard station and ending at the beach.
You get absolutely incredible views of the islands, mountains and ocean. I couldn’t stop taking photos and running around to every viewpoint, it was so unbelievably beautiful!
After the hike, we went back to the boat to eat lunch and cool off. We watched the turtles swim around us and soaked in all the stunning views until it was time to go.
On the Way Back to Coco
We left Bat Islands around 3 PM as the sky was starting to turn dark and we wanted to get back to Coco before it started raining.
We boated along the coastline to check out Witch’s Rock and beaches in Santa Rosa National Park, Nancite and Naranjo.
These beaches experience the sea turtle “arribadas” or mass turtle nestings and are closed to the public. As we visited during sea turtle nesting season, we saw a bunch of mating turtles in the water.
It started raining a bit past Witch’s Rock, one of the most famous surf spots in Costa Rica. The waves were not huge that day but they were organized and glassy, perfect for intermediate surfers.
Thanks to the rain, we saw a rainbow over Witch’s Rock!
As we boated past Witch’s Rock, we got a really nice surprise. We were really hoping to see some humpback whales as August is peak humpback whale season in Costa Rica.
All of a sudden, Marcy started pointing to something in front of us and we saw a large fin dip into the water. It was a mom and baby humpback whale!
They swam all the way over to where we were and we watched them for about 30 minutes just swimming around.
Overall Experience at Bat Islands Costa Rica
Our trip to the Bat Islands (Islas Murciélagos) was hands down, one of the best things we’ve ever done in Costa Rica.
The combination of gorgeous views, great snorkeling, wildlife, empty beaches and breathtaking mountains made it one of the most perfect days ever, even with some rain.
We had the entire island to ourselves, we saw dolphins, turtles, fish, a shark, manta rays and humpback whales and saw some of the most pristine ocean and mountain views in all of Costa Rica.
Want to book the Bat Islands snorkeling boat tour? Contact us for a quote and more information!
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Kat Hicks says
Hello! I will be coming in May and would love to book a captian to visit these islands! Could you send me a connection to set this up? Also, it is not allowed at all to go onto the islands, or it is okay starting in May?
Thanks and let me know!
Sammi says
Hi Kat, we’ve sent you an email
Sophia Ziecik says
Hey! I’m interested in doing a snorkeling trip to Bat Islands in May! Could you send me information to get in touch with your Captain for a private tour if that is still a possibility? Thank you so much!
Sammi says
Hi Sophia, sure, we’ve sent you an emaiml
Nancy says
We will be in Costa Rica the middle of February. Is it possible to boat to the Bat Islands in February? We are interested in snorkeling and boating around the area, not diving.
Sammi says
Hi Nancy, yes if you are going only for snorkeling and boating around, it is available in February. They no longer allow anyone to go onto the islands for hiking and scuba diving season is over in February. We’ve sent you an email with more information.
Jessica says
Hello! This sounds amazing, could I also get some info? I am looking for December. Thank you!
Sammi says
Hi Jessica, sure we have sent you an email 🙂 December is outside the season as it ends in NOvember so it will really depend on how conditions are if it is OK to go.
Emma says
Hello, this trip sounds amazing! I am aware that this is an old post. I would love details of the boat trip to bat islands please if still operating. Thank you.
Sammi says
Hi Emma, it is, we just sent you an email to ask for your details to send you a quote 🙂 Please check your spam box just in case you don’t see it in your inbox
Dan says
Hello! I am visiting in October and would love the details of the boat captain who offers this trip as well if you would be happy to share please? Thank you!
Sammi says
Hello Dan, we’ve sent you an email.
NAHOMY GARCIA PEREZ says
Hello! What an amazing experience. My husband and I will be there in October for the first time. Can you share the information about the captain and the prices? Thank you!!!
Sammi says
Hi Nahomy, sure, we have emailed you with more information
Jordan says
Hi! Also interested in the contact info for a private snorkeling tour if this is still a possibility!
Thank you in advance!
yeison says
Hello Jordan,
We will be seding you an email shortly
Rob says
Hi guys, great article. I asked around some of the dive shops in Coco, and they don’t really offer a snorkeling mission out to Bat Island. Do you have a contact for your captain? Thanks!
yeison says
Hello Rob,
The boat captain we work with does offer private snorkeling tours to Isla Murcielago during the season. We already sent you an email regarding your question.
Kristen Funnell says
Hi, We will be there next week. I am having a hard time locating a dive shop. Can you recommend any?
Sammi says
There are several in Playas del COco/Hermosa/Ocotal that run dive trips to the islands.
Federico Arevalo says
My boss and his son are visiting Costa Rica the second half of June this year, and day would like to go snorkeling at the Bat Islands, could you please send me the information necessary to contact your boat captain to see if I can hire a tour with him or maybe name other companies for snorkeling, not scuba diving.
PS: The kid will be 9 years old at the time of the trip.
Sammi says
Hello Federico, we have sent you an email with more information
Tracy Keller Martin says
Hello. We are visiting in early July. Is that a good time to visit Bat Islands? If so, could I get the contact information for your Captain?
Thank you.
Sammi says
Hi Tracy, we saw you requested a normal beach hop and snorkel tour but we will be happy to assist you with Bat Islands if you let us know your information (we sent you an email).