Cocos Island Costa Rica Hotels

Declared as National Marine Park by the Costa Rican Government in 1978 and a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 1997, Cocos island is one of the few places on Earth where management and conservation policies are strictly implemented and designed to preserve the outstanding state of natural resources the island holds. One of the policies being implemented in the island is the total prohibition of any human establishment that could possibly alter the natural state during its construction and operational process.

“Sorry, we could not find any hotels near Cocos Island“

If you are insistent and want to make your own search for hotels in Cocos island, or any establishment for that matter, what will appear on the web are travel reviews, tips and information. The closest that you will get are hotels that are based in mainland Costa Rica, where if you click on their site, you will see the words that are stated in this particular subheading.

Living Out at Sea

Now that the total ban for any human settlement in the island is a public knowledge yet the demand to explore the underwater habitats of Cocos island is increasing, tour companies are developing a way that they tend to the needs of the guest without violating any provisions of the Marine park policies. And there is only one thing to do this: live-out at sea onboard a ship. Commonly called as liveaboard dive boats, these vessels are custom built to accommodate small group of divers where you can stay in spacious air-conditioned rooms called cabins that has its own private bathroom and cabinets where you can place your things. Food onboard is not a problem where you will always enjoy a gastronomic feast from their sumptuous meals prepared by their in-house chef.

While some have expected that life onboard will be pretty much boring, but in reality, it is not. There are lots of activities being offered onboard especially during the crossing over or when your vessel travels from the mainland port of Costa Rica going to Cocos island and vice versa.

But you may wonder: of all people, why divers?

Premiere Dive Spots

Most, if not all, of the people who come and visit Cocos island are certified scuba divers who are willing to take time off, sleep out at see and experience world-class diving in Cocos island. Considered as one of the Best Scuba Diving Destinations in the planet, diver’s have always been amazed by the immensity of marine life this offshore island have. And it’s not just ordinary marine life, Cocos island is known for big pelagic fish where your underwater adventures will never end without seeing one of the big boys of the deep.

Yes, you can see a variety of shark species where they often swarm in great numbers. But what really stands out in Cocos island are the hammerhead sharks where you can interact with them in almost every dive. As far as interaction with hammerheads is concerned, you may see them in a submissive behavior at a cleaning station where they present themselves for a quick clean by barberfish or see them in the deep blue sea where they often patrol the open water environment.

Massive school of bigeye trevally is another reason why divers are so amazed with Cocos island. Although bigeye trevally can be a common feature in every popular dive spot, what sets it aside in Cocos island is their sheer quantity where its tornado formation often dwarfs your presence.

It’s not just about wildlife that makes Cocos island a sought-after diving destination. The underwater landscape is another factor that makes diving more amazing. Here you can explore offshore seamounts like the ones you see in Bajo Alcyone, the double rocky protrusions of Dos Amigos and the massive reefs of Punta Maria.

You can still Visit the Island

Yes, you can set foot on the island. Remember, that the only prohibited act is the establishment of any human settlement. Once you arrive at shore, you will see stone carvings made by pirates and voyagers who once set sail on this beautiful offshore Costa Rican island. Stepping further on dry land allows you to visit the ranger stations in Chatham and Wafer Bay where park rangers will be very happy to welcome your presence in the island as they seldom have guest. In fact, they are very much willing to take you to a guided rainforest tour where you will usually end this trip by dipping in a natural pool with a scenic view of a magnificent waterfalls.

Reference

Undersea Hunter Group: www.underseahunter.com

Costa Rican Vacations: www.vacationscostarica.com

Dive Zone: www.divezone.net