Planet Dolphin

Tours & Activities in Playa Flamingo, Guanacaste, Costa Rica.

Planet Dolphin runs family catamaran days from two Pacific marinas in Costa Rica. Flamingo departures leave Flamingo Marina in Guanacaste. Manuel Antonio departures leave Marina Pez Vela in Quepos. The operation dates to 1989. The company describes more than 36 years on these waters and more than 100,000 guests guided through its Pacific trips.

Shared catamarans on each coast

The lively shared catamarans are Tom Cat and Tom Cat II. Tom Cat, used for Manuel Antonio, is listed for 150 guests. Tom Cat II, used for Flamingo, is listed for 110. Both are described as spacious for families of different sizes, with several shaded seating areas, a water slide, snorkeling equipment, and life jackets in a range of sizes.

Trampolines and sunbathing areas are also named on Tom Cat I and Tom Cat II. Crews are bilingual and described as comfortable with children. The company presents the ride as calm and stable, including for people who have not sailed before. Shaded seating in more than one area is part of that family setup on both catamarans.

Flamingo Bay is framed as coves, beaches, and sunset light, with snorkeling in protected coves. Manuel Antonio sailing is aimed at wildlife-rich water along the national park coast, with dolphins, sea turtles, and reef snorkeling. Manuel Antonio departs Quepos. Flamingo sails from Flamingo Marina.

What the family ticket covers

Shared tours are sold at one price. The company states there are no hidden fees and no surprises. The package includes a gourmet lunch or dinner made with fresh local ingredients, fresh fruit platters and snacks, and an open bar with tropical drinks, beer, cacique, rum, and vodka. Professional snorkel gear is included in adult and child sizes, along with safety equipment, instruction, and an experienced bilingual crew.

The meal described in more detail is grilled fish kabobs with pasta salad, plus pineapple, watermelon, and papaya, and cold drinks from the bar. Vegetarian meals and other dietary needs can be noted at booking. Afternoon tours are timed with sunset, which the company describes as gold, orange, and pink light over the water.

Round-trip transportation from the hotel is included on Manuel Antonio trips only. A Flamingo ticket does not include that ride, so the day starts with your own arrival at Flamingo Marina in Guanacaste.

Private catamarans and celebrations

Spanish Dancer is the catamaran named for private, intimate trips, smaller groups, and special occasions. Tom Cat I and Tom Cat II remain the catamarans for a livelier mix of nature, relaxation, and group fun, including the slides and trampolines. Private catamaran tours are offered from both Flamingo and Manuel Antonio, so a private day still follows one marina or the other.

Destination wedding charters and luxury weddings are offered as well. Shared tour descriptions do not set a guest total, a ceremony type, or a timetable for a wedding. A celebration is reserved on its own, matched to the coast and to the private or special-occasion catamaran, rather than treated as a brief addition inside the large family sailing.

Snorkeling and time on deck

Snorkeling starts after the anchor drops in a protected bay. Crew help with gear, including people snorkeling for the first time, and life jackets are available. The company describes parrotfish, schools of sergeant majors, and sea turtles in that water, with crew nearby for nervous swimmers. Children can stay in calm, shallow areas while marine life is still in view.

Manuel Antonio stops are described as rocky reefs with tropical fish near the national park coastline. Flamingo Bay stops are described as clear water and coral formations in protected coves. Experienced bilingual crew members provide safety instruction, and professional snorkeling equipment is supplied in both adult and child sizes before anyone enters the protected bay.

The slide and upper deck are part of the family catamarans. A guest note from a Quepos trip called the slide steep and fast, mentioned jumps from the second deck, and described a crowded, rolling ride with friendly staff on a sunny day. Another note from that area praised fish kabobs, swimming, and snorkeling. Those comments describe individual departures, not every sea state.

If motion is a concern, a morning departure and a seat with a clear horizon are reasonable preparations to consider. The company still describes the catamaran ride as calm and stable for first-time sailors. Using the slide is optional. Shaded seats, the meal, and the swim stop stand on their own.

Wildlife windows

The company describes dolphins as often racing alongside the catamaran and playing in the wake. Named animals include spotted and bottlenose dolphins, green and hawksbill sea turtles, manta rays, flying fish, pelicans, frigatebirds, and boobies.

Humpback whales are the seasonal part of that list. Migration windows are given as December through April and July through November. Dolphins, turtles, rays, flying fish, and seabirds are not tied to those same dates in the trip descriptions. A whale-focused plan fits those months. Other wildlife and the snorkel stop can be considered outside those months, with the same limit that an animal may not appear.

Manuel Antonio pairings and contact

Two combinations sit beside the Quepos boat day. Sea and Sand pairs the catamaran with Manuel Antonio National Park. Canopy and Catamaran pairs the boat with zip lines. Gift cards are offered as well. These are separate choices from the standard shared cruise and from a Flamingo Marina departure.

WhatsApp contact is split by coast: Flamingo at +506 6028 8250 and Manuel Antonio at +506 8417 6449. Waivers are handled separately for Flamingo and for Manuel Antonio. The company presents its work in both places as sustainable tourism. For Flamingo, plan on reaching Flamingo Marina without a listed hotel transfer. For Manuel Antonio, the departure is Marina Pez Vela in Quepos, and the hotel ride is included.

Location

Phone: +506 6028 8250