Average Cost of Costa Rica Fishing Charters (Complete Guide)
Costa Rica is hugely popular for fishing as it provides anglers with easy access to all major fishing spots in the region. Analyze fishing charter costs before going fishing in Costa Rica.
The average cost of Costa Rica fishing charter trips that last 4 hours is $598, 6 hours is $1087, 8 hours is $1242, 10 hours is $1866, and 12 hours is $1900.
Anglers can experience both inshore and offshore fishing in the region. It’s possible to fish in bays, grass flats, near reefs, on beaches, and in deep waters. This guide will provide anglers with information on charter costs to help them plan their Costa Rica fishing trips.
Costa Rica Fishing Charter Costs by Trip Length
4-hour trips
Based on 13 charters, you can find 4-hour trips in Costa Rica for an average of $598, with the highest cost being $900 and the lowest being $450. Most 4-hour trips will focus on catching snapper, snook, or other inshore species.
A 4-hour trip can give you some great fishing without taking up your whole day. With 4-hour trips, you will stay close to shore and fish inshore bays and wrecks and usually won’t have to deal with huge waves, making it a much more relaxing trip.
Travel time is usually only about 30 minutes to an hour, leaving you with plenty of time to fish. 4 hour trips are also great for family trips. A perk of a 4-hour trip other than price is that you can research the tide and decide if you want your trip in the morning, afternoon, or even evening with some charters.
This can help you plan your trip around the best times of the day. Most of the time, you will be targeting inshore species such as speckled trout and redfish.
6-hour trips
6 hour trips are also great for not taking up your whole day, but they give you some extra time to track down fish. The average cost for a 6-hour trip based on 13 charters was $1087, with the highest costing trip being $2640 and the lowest costing trip being $600.
6-hour trips can be good for group trips, but also work great for solo trips as well. 6-hour trips will generally have an hour to an hour and a half travel time, leaving you with at least 4.5 hours to fish.
These trips will stick pretty close to shore, the shoreline will be well in view, and usually, you won’t need to deal with huge waves. Some of the most popular species targeted on 6-hour trips are snapper, roosterfish, and dorado.
8-hour trips
Based on 19 charters, the average cost was $1242, with the cheapest being $850, and the most expensive being $1900.
8-hour trips are considered full-day trips. Most 8-hour trips in Costa Rica will be offshore, mainly because most of the species in the area are mainly found either at offshore reefs or in offshore open water. 8-hour trips allow you enough time to target bigger fish that are tougher to catch such as tuna, marlin, dorado, and sailfish.
You can still choose to do an 8-hour inshore trip as well. 8-hour trips are generally better for trips with one or two people rather than a group or family.
These trips are for more hardcore fishermen who are willing to put up with the elements all day to catch some fish. You can expect an hour or two dedicated to travel, leaving you with at least 6 hours of fishing.
10-hour trips
The average cost out of 6 charters for 10-hour trips was $1866, the cheapest costing trip was $1600, and the most expensive trip was $2200, based on 10 charters.
10-hour trips can be intense and are not recommended for families or those that fish more so for leisure. You should bring at least two meals and plenty of water. 10-hour trips are almost always offshore, usually, you won’t be able to see the shoreline.
You can expect around 2 hours of travel time leaving you with around 8 hours dedicated to fishing. The majority of fish in Costa Rica live in offshore wrecks or reefs, so 10-hour trips are more common here than in other places.
12-hour trips
The average cost for a 12-hour trip in Costa Rica is $1900, the most expensive is $3200, and the cheapest is $2460, based on 8 charters.
12-hour trips are generally the longest trip a charter will offer. These trips can be exhausting and intense, so it’s important to come prepared with enough food, water, and protection from the sun. These trips will normally be offshore, targeting species like tuna and marlin.
These trips are also more likely to be canceled or rescheduled due to weather. When you go that far offshore, bad weather can be extremely dangerous, and charter captains prefer to avoid it. Travel times can go up to 3 hours for these trips, leaving you with plenty of time to fish, but a lot more time traveling than other length charters.
Recommended Fishing Guides/Charters in Costa Rica
These Costa Rica-based charters have earned great reviews from anglers and will offer you a tremendous service. The captains are knowledgeable, friendly, and are sure to put you on fish. By clicking the links below, you will be taken to the charter’s respective profile on Fishing Booker where you can read reviews, learn more about the charter, view photos, and book online at the best rate.
| Recommended Fishing Charters | Location |
| Sea Breeze Fishing & Adventures | Tamarindo, Costa Rica |
| Snook Sportfishing | Herradura, Costa Rica |
| Jackpot Sport Fishing | Quepos, Costa Rica |
| Bucket List Sportfishing | Quepos, Costa Rica |
| Soleil Sport Fishing | Quepos, Costa Rica |
| Capullo Sportfishing/Rainbow Runner | Tamarindo, Costa Rica |
| Luminare Sport Fishing | Herradura, Costa Rica |
| Fishing Lake Arenal | La Fortuna, Costa Rica |
| Sport Fishing El Gato III | Playa Flamingo, Costa Rica |
| Allin Sportfishing – 28’ Mako | Jacó, Costa Rica |
| Pacific Boat Rentals – Mad Marlin | Herradura, Costa Rica |
| 35′ Cabo Express – Tamarindo Beach | Tamarindo, Costa Rica |
| Capullo Sportfishing | Tamarindo, Costa Rica |
Costa Rica Seasonal Trip Cost Breakdowns
Spring
Springtime is a very popular fishing time in Costa Rica. Some of the area’s most sought-after species are in season during the spring, including marlin, roosterfish, and dorado (mahi-mahi). Fishing will be all throughout spring, bringing in more business for charters.
Spring will usually have no extra charges due to the season. Guides in the area will be busy, so it’s a good plan to book ahead if possible. Springtime weather will be warmer than what most are used to but should be manageable for most to make it through a day on the water.
Springtime may bring more tourists than usual, but they shouldn’t make too much of an impact on your day on the water as recreational things on the water stick closer to shore.
Summer
As with spring, there are a lot of species whose peak season is in the summer. There will be high demand for charters in the summer, so make sure to book in advance. There may be competition from other boats during the summer at the same spot that you are at, but there are plenty of fish to go around, so don’t worry about that too much.
Some of the most popular species to catch during the summer include roosterfish, dorado, and sailfish. Summertime offers great fishing but will be much warmer than what most are used to, so you should coordinate with your guide or charter on what to bring in terms of hydration and protection from the sun. The heat can also make longer trips a bit tougher, so 4 and 6-hour trips are a popular option for summertime fishing in Costa Rica.
Fall
Fall in Costa Rica is usually when fishing starts to cool down a bit. You can still catch plenty of fish during the fall, but there are fewer species that will be biting. Snapper, roosterfish, and in some areas tarpon and snook are the main fish that can be caught during the fall.
Charters won’t be too busy during the fall, but it’s still smart to book ahead if you can. The weather starts to cool down a little bit during the fall as well, which can make full-day trips much less exhausting than full-day trips in the summer.
Winter
Winter is a great time to fish in Costa Rica in some areas. Charters will be busy during this time because of all of the people traveling to escape the cold, but you should be able to find availability if you book early enough.
Dorado, wahoo, and roosterfish are the main targets of anglers heading to Costa Rica in the winter. The weather in Costa Rica during the winter is comparable to summer or spring weather in most of the U.S.
Winter fishing is probably the most popular time to fish in Costa Rica, so you may have some competition from other boats while you’re out on the water, but most charters know to keep a good distance from other boats, so you shouldn’t have to worry about that.
Better Value if You Fish with Group
The cost of these kinds of charters varies depending on the length, type, and location of the trip. Most trips will have a flat rate for a certain amount of people, which can be split among the group, and have an additional cost for each person after that.
Generally, the cost per person after the flat rate is around $100. You will generally save money by going this route, the split cost for a group is usually much cheaper than a flat rate for one or two people. With group trips, you pick the group that you want to go out with and can split the cost the way you see fit.
Having a great group out on the water can make the day much more enjoyable and create long-lasting memories with friends.
Factors that May Impact Charter Costs
Some of the main factors that can impact charter costs are the busyness of the season, time of the week, and gas and bait prices. If every fish in the area is in its peak season, charters may increase their price to match the demand for their trips.
Prices may also increase due to an increase in the cost of gas and bait. This is straightforward, if the charters are spending more on bait and gas due to something like supply chain issues, they may increase their prices to match that cost.
Some charters will increase their prices for a weekend trip, but not many, and it’s usually a small jump in price. Another thing to remember when thinking about pricing, you are also paying for the experience and knowledge of your captain, meaning that sometimes you get what you pay for.
Additional Costs with Charter Fishing
Some other costs that can go into the price of a charter depend on what the charter supplies and what you have to bring to the trip. They may add extra costs for food and drink, or they may make you supply those things yourself.
Some other things to think about are protection from the sun, rain gear, and any other things you may want to bring out on the boat for the day. Tips are customary in this business as well. A standard tip would be 15-20% of the cost. Tips are important for charters as most of the tips will go to a first mate or anyone else who is helping with the trip.
For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Costa Rica, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the costs of fishing charters in Pensacola, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the costs of fishing charters in Marathon, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the fishing charter costs in Cancun, please check out this guide. For a complete breakdown of the fishing charter costs in Corpus Christi, please check out this guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to catch sailfish in Costa Rica, check out this article.
