Fees · Country Guide
Costa Rica
Two oceans, wild Pacific islands and reefs beside the rainforest
Fees And Permits
Confirm these fees before you book so your operator plan and day budget match what you will pay onsite.
Fees You Can't Skip
- Cahuita National Park, Playa Blanca entrance - Voluntary cash contribution
- Cahuita National Park, Puerto Vargas nonresident adult - USD $5.65, VAT included
- Typical payment pattern: There is no single national dive ticket.
What people usually pay
There is no single national dive ticket. Fees vary by protected area, resident status, vessel, activity and operator package; many marine tours bundle the official entry amount but this must be verified. The national international air departure tax is normally included in a flight fare. All listed tariffs are research snapshots as of November 2026, not live checkout prices. Check current SINAC park tariffs, local permissions and taxes before paying.
| Fee | Amount | Applies to | Where to pay | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cahuita National Park, Playa Blanca entrance | Voluntary cash contribution For the permitted park entry | topside; snorkel | At the Playa Blanca entrance, Cahuita | SINAC describes community-supported voluntary entrance at this sector. A donation does not replace a booked, authorized marine snorkel guide. |
| Cahuita National Park, Puerto Vargas nonresident adult | USD $5.65, VAT included Per qualifying park admission | topside | Official Puerto Vargas park entrance | SINAC posts this nonresident rate. Use the current park schedule and confirm whether any marine outing is separately charged. |
| Cano Island Biological Reserve, nonresident adult | USD $16.95, VAT included Date-specific booked admission | scuba; snorkel | SINAC reservation office via the registered guide/operator | The official reserve guide requires advance reservation and prepayment with a registered guide. This is not the complete boat excursion price. |
| Cano Island Biological Reserve, posted scuba fee | USD $4.52 Scuba charge; assessment basis must be confirmed | scuba | SINAC reserve office or bundled operator invoice | The SINAC tariff lists a separate Buceo item but its publicly rendered billing unit is unclear. Ask whether the operator has included it and how it is assessed. |
| Cocos National Park, foreign visitor entrance | USD $50 per day Per approved day in the park | scuba; snorkel; freedive; topside | Through the authorized liveaboard and ACMC permit process | SINAC publishes this base entrance amount. Expedition operators may invoice a bundled multi-day park package with other mandatory charges. |
| Cocos National Park, national or resident entrance | USD $25 per day Per approved day in the park | scuba; snorkel; freedive; topside | Through the authorized liveaboard and ACMC permit process | Official published rate, subject to eligibility documentation; distinct from daily scuba rights. |
| Cocos National Park, recreational scuba right | USD $20 per day Per day of authorized scuba | scuba | Through the approved operator and park billing process | Published park scuba-right tariff. Do not extend this amount to apnea, snorkeling or other permits without official confirmation. |
| Marino Ballena National Park, nonresident adult | USD $6.78, VAT included One day, during the relevant sector opening hours | topside; snorkel | At official park sales points; card payment per SINAC | SINAC lists separate Uvita, Colonia, Ballena and Pinuela sectors. Whale Tail foot access requires low tide; guided whale boat tours are extra. |
| Corcovado National Park, nonresident adult | USD $16.95, VAT included Separate park sector admission | topside | SINAC or authorized Corcovado excursion organizer | Illustrative entry charge only; registered guiding, transport, overnight services and reservations are not included. |
| Costa Rica international air departure tax | USD $29, only if not already included in ticket Once per applicable international air departure | general | Normally airline fare; otherwise authorized airport payment desk | The Costa Rica Tourism Board says most airline tickets include this departure tax. Check ticket tax line before paying twice. |
Fee
Cahuita National Park, Playa Blanca entrance
For the permitted park entry
- Amount
- Voluntary cash contribution
- Applies to
- topside; snorkel
- Where to pay
- At the Playa Blanca entrance, Cahuita
- Notes
SINAC describes community-supported voluntary entrance at this sector. A donation does not replace a booked, authorized marine snorkel guide.
Cahuita National Park, Puerto Vargas nonresident adult
Per qualifying park admission
- Amount
- USD $5.65, VAT included
- Applies to
- topside
- Where to pay
- Official Puerto Vargas park entrance
- Notes
SINAC posts this nonresident rate. Use the current park schedule and confirm whether any marine outing is separately charged.
Cano Island Biological Reserve, nonresident adult
Date-specific booked admission
- Amount
- USD $16.95, VAT included
- Applies to
- scuba; snorkel
- Where to pay
- SINAC reservation office via the registered guide/operator
- Notes
The official reserve guide requires advance reservation and prepayment with a registered guide. This is not the complete boat excursion price.
Cano Island Biological Reserve, posted scuba fee
Scuba charge; assessment basis must be confirmed
- Amount
- USD $4.52
- Applies to
- scuba
- Where to pay
- SINAC reserve office or bundled operator invoice
- Notes
The SINAC tariff lists a separate Buceo item but its publicly rendered billing unit is unclear. Ask whether the operator has included it and how it is assessed.
Cocos National Park, foreign visitor entrance
Per approved day in the park
- Amount
- USD $50 per day
- Applies to
- scuba; snorkel; freedive; topside
- Where to pay
- Through the authorized liveaboard and ACMC permit process
- Notes
SINAC publishes this base entrance amount. Expedition operators may invoice a bundled multi-day park package with other mandatory charges.
Cocos National Park, national or resident entrance
Per approved day in the park
- Amount
- USD $25 per day
- Applies to
- scuba; snorkel; freedive; topside
- Where to pay
- Through the authorized liveaboard and ACMC permit process
- Notes
Official published rate, subject to eligibility documentation; distinct from daily scuba rights.
Cocos National Park, recreational scuba right
Per day of authorized scuba
- Amount
- USD $20 per day
- Applies to
- scuba
- Where to pay
- Through the approved operator and park billing process
- Notes
Published park scuba-right tariff. Do not extend this amount to apnea, snorkeling or other permits without official confirmation.
Marino Ballena National Park, nonresident adult
One day, during the relevant sector opening hours
- Amount
- USD $6.78, VAT included
- Applies to
- topside; snorkel
- Where to pay
- At official park sales points; card payment per SINAC
- Notes
SINAC lists separate Uvita, Colonia, Ballena and Pinuela sectors. Whale Tail foot access requires low tide; guided whale boat tours are extra.
Corcovado National Park, nonresident adult
Separate park sector admission
- Amount
- USD $16.95, VAT included
- Applies to
- topside
- Where to pay
- SINAC or authorized Corcovado excursion organizer
- Notes
Illustrative entry charge only; registered guiding, transport, overnight services and reservations are not included.
Costa Rica international air departure tax
Once per applicable international air departure
- Amount
- USD $29, only if not already included in ticket
- Applies to
- general
- Where to pay
- Normally airline fare; otherwise authorized airport payment desk
- Notes
The Costa Rica Tourism Board says most airline tickets include this departure tax. Check ticket tax line before paying twice.