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Juan Santamaria International Airport
Logistics · Destination Guide
Remote Pacific liveaboard diving where hammerheads gather around volcanic pinnacles
Use this travel brief to set arrival flow, local transit, and gear movement before you lock your itinerary.
Fly into Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) for San Jose. Arrive at least a day before the cruise and stay at your designated pickup hotel. Sea Hunter and the Aggressor vessels depart from the mainland seaport of Puntarenas; a typical operator transfer from San Jose is about 3 hours. Board the liveaboard and cross open Pacific waters for about 32-36 hours each way before reaching Cocos. There is no casual same-day boat transfer, public island hotel, adjacent airport, or local shore-based dive operator at Cocos. Departures depend on vessel, tide, sea state and park permits.
Juan Santamaria International Airport
SJO • MROC
Approximately 3 hours by the operator ground transfer from San Jose to Puntarenas, plus about 32-36 hours offshore to Cocos.
Preferred international gateway for published Cocos expedition operators. The airport is a mainland transfer point, not an island dive base.
Transport: Pre-arranged liveaboard operator coach from an approved San Jose host hotel, Privately arranged transfer to Puntarenas if coordinated with vessel operator
There are no roads, rental vehicles, airport shuttles or resort taxis on Cocos Island. Visitors live aboard their permitted vessel, use its skiffs for assigned dive or snorkel activity, and step ashore only at approved access points with the required escort. Chatham and Wafer are regulated anchorages. Return transfer arrangements differ by vessel, and delays at sea are possible.
A passport valid for the legally applicable period, an applicable visa where required, sufficient funds and an onward or return ticket are Costa Rican tourist entry requirements. Permitted stay varies by nationality and immigration decision; do not rely on an old blanket 90-day rule. Verify yellow-fever certificate rules based on origin and transit countries. Separately, Cocos park authorization is required for the vessel, visitors and specific activities. Under 2026 Decree 45744, regular operators must submit definitive entry paperwork at least 15 business days beforehand, including verified dive qualifications and tariff payment. Operator guest-data deadlines may be earlier. An international visa does not grant park access. Costa Rica entry guidance.
Bring dive certification proof, current dive-specific insurance, a computer, SMB, exposure suit and personally fitted equipment; confirm rental stock and adapters before travel. Sea Hunter supplies tanks/weights and says Nitrox fills are included; Aggressor provides tanks but lists Nitrox as an additional charge. Pack a 5mm suit as a useful starting point for 24°C to 29°C water, with occasional colder thermoclines; adjust for individual tolerance. Limit luggage to soft bags if possible. Carry vital medication, anti-seasickness supplies, safe charging adapters, a dry bag and an offline contact plan. Satellite communications differ by vessel.
Costa Rican Colon (CRC)
Costa Rica's national currency is the colon (CRC). Published Cocos expedition rates, park packages and many onboard purchases are quoted in USD. Undersea Hunter accepts US dollars and major cards aboard, while Aggressor has vessel-specific rules for paying park fees. Do not rely on an old online exchange-rate statement; verify accepted payment methods and carry appropriately small cash reserves.
Use banks or ATMs in San Jose or Puntarenas before the ship sails. There is no tourist ATM, bank, currency exchange desk or practical shopping access on Cocos Island.
110V onboard Sea Hunter cabins and Okeanos Aggressor II; Cocos Island Aggressor lists 220V with combination 110V/220V outlets • Check ship equipment; no verified common vessel-wide frequency specification • A, B
Sea Hunter describes 110V cabins plus some European sockets elsewhere aboard. Aggressor lists 110V Type A/B for Okeanos Aggressor II and combination outlets on Cocos Island Aggressor. Do not assume every plug type is available in every cabin. Bring appropriately rated universal adapters and confirm camera-battery charging sockets before travel.
Communications
Ordinary terrestrial mobile coverage at Cocos is not a reliable communications plan. Sea Hunter advertises Starlink with included access for direct bookings and a USD $50 charge for agent bookings as described in its FAQ, with limited data allowances during crossings. Aggressor advertises purchasable onboard internet, and vessel-to-shore communications may use satellite/radio. Internet service and emergency connectivity differ by ship and conditions; take offline records and leave your sailing and operator contact with family.
Language
Spanish is Costa Rica's official language. English is widely used by international Cocos liveaboard crews and marine tourism teams, but staff language provision varies. Know basic Spanish for shore transfers and medical communication.
Insurance
Dive-specific accident insurance is mandatory on reviewed Sea Hunter and Aggressor Cocos itineraries; Sea Hunter explicitly asks for DAN cover, and Aggressor asks for proof of dive accident insurance before diving. Confirm that the purchased policy covers your exact certification, maximum depth, remote location, boat trip, evacuation and potential hyperbaric care. Normal health insurance or generic travel insurance alone may not satisfy operator requirements. Consider trip interruption and delay cover for long ocean crossings, and retain proof offline.
Packing list
Pack a 5mm full wetsuit as a useful starting point, plus a dive computer, SMB/reel, mask, fins, regulator/BCD or reserved rentals, camera dry-storage, compatible plugs and equipment adapters, dive credentials and insurance evidence. Add soft luggage, warm layer, rain shell, closed grippy hiking shoes, sun protection, medication, anti-seasickness supplies and a refillable water bottle. Give the vessel your medical and dietary requirements ahead of time. Pack out all waste; no bait, fishing tackle or unauthorized drone activity.