Where Jungle Meets Sea: A Luxury Yacht Journey Through Panama & Costa Rica

Published 12 November 2025

Director of Yachting

With over a decade of experience in charter brokerage and management, Gayle brings deep expertise and global perspective to the world of superyachting. Passionate about marine conservation and luxury travel, she combines strategic insight with first-hand knowledge to craft extraordinary experiences for ultra-high-net-worth clients.

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Tracing the Pacific coastline of Panama and Costa Rica by yacht revealed a side of Central America that remains largely beyond reach, raw landscapes, remote anchorages and encounters shaped by access few ever experience. Travelling by private yacht opened doors unreachable by land, from the UNESCO-protected reefs of Coiba National Park and the calm, wildlife-rich waters of Golfo Dulce, to the remote rainforests of Corcovado National Park and the quiet shores of Drake Bay.

Blending expedition-style cruising with refined onboard living, the journey moved seamlessly between jungle, reef, and open ocean. Days unfolded through wildlife encounters, snorkelling and diving in protected marine reserves, and time ashore in places that remain largely unchanged. It is a Pacific voyage defined by remoteness, ecological significance, and the freedom that only a yacht charter can offer.

Costa Rica by Private Yacht Panama by Private Yacht

The Base of the Journey

KONTIKI WAYRA

From 140,000 USD • 40M • 18 Guests

Day 1 – Islas Secas & Coiba National Park, Panama

Snorkelling from luxury yacht in Coiba National Park, Panama

Our journey began with a warm welcome aboard, champagne in hand, the yacht revealing itself as both sanctuary and launchpad. A leisurely breakfast buffet accompanied our first glimpse of the receding coastline as we set out along Panama’s Pacific edge.

By mid-morning, tenders carried us toward the Islas Secas, where crystalline waters and jungle-clad islands set the tone for a quiet morning of exploration. We moved between sheltered coves, pausing over clear shallows while tropical birds called from the canopy.

The afternoon unfolded in the Gulf of Chiriquí, home to Coiba National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important marine reserves in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. Snorkelling here felt otherworldly: expansive coral systems, schools of fish moving in unison, and a sense of true isolation rarely found elsewhere.

Lunch was served al fresco on the sundeck, the ocean stretching endlessly in every direction. A passing tropical shower added drama, misting the jungle horizon before clearing just as quickly.

As dusk fell, we gathered onboard for a lovely dinner, an intimate celebration of Panamanian cuisine, sustainably sourced and elevated with care.

Private yacht charter experience along Costa Rica’s Pacific coast

Luxury yacht anchored at Islas Secas, Panama Pacific coast

Day 2 – Coiba National Park Yacht Exploration

“Corcovado National Park accessed by luxury yacht, Costa Rica”

Sunrise painted the horizon in soft gold as the yacht rested quietly at anchor. After breakfast, we set out for Canal de Afuera, one of Coiba’s most pristine areas. Powder-white sand met water alive with movement, revealing an underwater world teeming with reef fish and pelagic life. Diving here felt like entering a living cathedral, vast, colourful, and profoundly alive.

Later, we stepped onto Coiba Island itself, the largest uninhabited island in Central America. Volcanic shores gave way to dense jungle, home to over 1,400 plant species and rare endemic wildlife. Crabs scuttled across the sand while unseen creatures stirred in the undergrowth.

After lunch back onboard, we explored the famed Monkey Trail, winding through wild almond trees, coconut palms, and towering ceiba giants. Our naturalist guide explained how resident capuchin monkeys use stones to crack coconuts and crabs, behaviour observed nowhere else on earth. High above, howler monkeys announced their presence through the forest, their calls echoing through the canopy.

As the sun dipped low, we returned to the yacht for an aperitif and a rum tasting led by André. With each pour came stories of Panama, its culture, and its coastline, distilled into amber glass.

Day 3 – From the Pacific Coast to Panama’s Highlands

Leaving the Pacific behind, we travelled inland toward the cool, mist-draped highlands of Boquete, a region defined by volcanic soil, cloud forest, and world-renowned coffee.

At Lamastus Estate, one of Panama’s most prestigious coffee producers, we explored the slopes by 4x4, winding through rows of coffee plants at different stages of growth. Here, at elevations nearing 1,900 metres, the celebrated Geisha coffee flourishes, considered the most sought-after and expensive coffee in the world.

Inside the roastery, the journey from bean to cup unfolded during a traditional cata tasting. Slurping spoonfuls to aerate the coffee revealed layers of flavour as complex as fine wine, each cup a reflection of altitude, soil, and meticulous craft.

Lunch followed at T’ach, the acclaimed restaurant by chef Charlie Collins, where Panamanian ingredients met refined international technique. The afternoon brought lighter moments: a butterfly farm alive with colour, a honey tasting of more than 35 varieties, and a gentle stroll through Boquete’s relaxed mountain streets.

By evening, we returned to the coast, crossing the border into Costa Rica and rejoining the yacht at Marina Bahía Golfito.

Day 4 – Golfo Dulce & Costa Rica’s Wild Shores

Dawn broke as the yacht entered Golfo Dulce, one of Costa Rica’s most biologically rich marine environments. Sheltered, calm, and teeming with life, the gulf is known for whales, dolphins, and its mangrove-lined shores.

Our morning began by kayak, paddling quietly through the mangroves of the Río Esquinas. Arching roots rose like cathedral columns while kingfishers and herons flashed through the canopy. Here, freshwater and saltwater merge, creating a living, breathing ecosystem alive with hidden movement.

A barefoot beach barbecue followed, freshly grilled seafood enjoyed right on the sand. The afternoon was left intentionally open: seabobs carving paths through the bay, paddleboarding, swimming, or simply retreating to the sundeck as the jungle hummed in the background.

As evening fell, we visited Playa Cativo Lodge, a rainforest-immersed retreat where sunset painted the sky in gold and crimson. Anchored offshore that night, sleep came easily to the rhythm of gentle swells and tropical air.

Day 5 – Corcovado National Park & Drake Bay Yacht Cruise

Drake Bay coastline viewed from expedition yacht

We departed early by speedboat toward Corcovado National Park, widely regarded as one of the most biodiverse places on Earth. The Osa Peninsula appeared raw and untouched, dense rainforest running straight into the sea.

On foot, the forest revealed itself in motion: monkeys moving through the canopy, scarlet macaws calling overhead, and a tapir resting quietly beside the trail. Every step brought new life into view, a reminder of how intact this ecosystem remains.

Later, we returned to the yacht and cruised north to Drake Bay, a quiet, understated stretch of coastline far removed from Costa Rica’s busier regions. Before sunset, we walked along Playa Cocalito, scanning the trees for sloths and enjoying the rare luxury of having the beach entirely to ourselves.

Back onboard, oysters and champagne awaited in the main salon, followed by a final dinner under the stars.

Departure via Quepos & Marina Pez Vela

The following morning began at Marina Pez Vela, where we disembarked the yacht after our final night along Costa Rica’s Pacific coast. From here, an early transfer took us to Quepos Airport, where a ten-seat Cessna was waiting to return us to Panama City. Leaving the rainforest behind felt like closing one chapter and opening another.

Nearby, Marina Pez Vela stands as one of Costa Rica’s premier yachting hubs. Located on the Pacific coast near Manuel Antonio National Park, it offers world-class facilities, sportfishing, and access to whale-watching grounds. Known for hosting the Offshore World Championship, the marina blends luxury infrastructure with immediate access to some of the country’s most dramatic natural landscapes.