Surfari del Mar

Tourism Service in Playa Potrero, Guanacaste, Costa Rica.

Surfari del Mar runs private sailing charters and sunset snorkeling tours from Playa Potrero, a low-key beach town on Guanacaste's Pacific coast just north of Playa Flamingo. The company is woman-led and locally owned, and it keeps groups small so families and friends get an all-inclusive day on a classic sailboat rather than a crowded catamaran circuit.

Private charters on Potrero Bay

The coastline here is a chain of bays—Potrero, Flamingo, and the smaller coves that open toward the Papagayo winds. Surfari del Mar sails this stretch with local guides who talk through marine ecology, wildlife, and conservation while you are underway. The outing is a private charter, so the pace belongs to your group: sailing, swimming, or watching the dry hills from the deck.

The boat is a 42-foot Morgan Classic monohull built in 1972 and later renovated, with room on deck for a small party and an interior that includes a bathroom, galley, and refrigerator. You are on a working sailboat, and the crew is set up for personalized service and a light, local sense of humor.

Sunset sailing, snorkeling, and time in the water

Sunset sailing with snorkeling is the core trip. Snorkeling equipment is provided, and the aim is clear water over coral and fish when the sea allows. Four-hour private sunset sails with an open bar run through the Potrero and Flamingo bays.

On the water, the mix can also include paddleboarding, a floating water mat, and fishing with two rods and gear. An open bar is part of the all-inclusive setup. Food is served on board; Caribbean chicken tacos are the usual plate, and vegetarian or gluten-free meals can be arranged if you mention them when you book. A floating tiki bar is available for a celebration or as a last stop after the sail.

Wildlife is woven into the day. Dolphins, sea turtles, and rays use these bays; whales with calves are associated with July and August. Sightings are luck. When the Pacific is too rough for a snorkel, swimming and extra time under sail are the usual substitutes on this coast.

Choosing a sailboat in Potrero and Flamingo

This corner of Guanacaste has no shortage of boats. Large catamarans leave Flamingo and Playas del Coco with set snorkel-and-sunset scripts. Fishing skiffs work the same reefs. Private monohulls sit in the middle: fewer people, actual sailing, and a crew you can talk to.

Match the boat to the day you want. A private sailboat suits couples, families, and friend groups who care about wind, quiet, and a meal on deck. A big catamaran suits travelers who want a social open bar and a predictable stop list. If you are traveling with children or older relatives, a smaller passenger load and a bathroom on board are practical reasons to pick a monohull charter.

Worth settling before you pay: how many people will share the boat, whether the trip is fully private, where you meet, what is included for food and drink, whether fins and masks are aboard, and what happens when wind or rain changes the water. Woman-led local ownership is a real filter if you want the coast explained by people who live in Potrero.

Getting to Las Brisas and timing the day

Operations sit at Restaurante Las Brisas on Playa Potrero, in Santa Cruz canton. You meet on the beach in front of the restaurant, not at a marina gate. Potrero is a short hop from Flamingo, Brasilito, and the hotels around the bay. Liberia's international airport is the usual arrival point; the drive to Potrero typically runs about an hour to ninety minutes.

This is a charter, not a ticket window with fixed daily hours. Set the start time when you reserve. The phone number is +506 8730 6175. Sunset trips need a late-afternoon departure with enough light for a snorkel and the evening sky. Mornings are cooler. In the dry season, Papagayo winds often strengthen after midday and can put chop on the bay. From May through November, showers are brief but can cloud the water.

A four-hour sail is a half-day, not a full itinerary. Pair it with a slow Potrero morning—beach walk, breakfast in town—or a Flamingo dinner after you step off. It sits poorly beside Rincón de la Vieja, Palo Verde, or a same-day airport run, because those inland days eat the light you need for sunset.

Taxis and hotel cars are the easy way to Las Brisas if you are not driving. Give yourself extra minutes for beach parking so you are not rushing the meeting time.

What to bring on a Guanacaste sail

Pack a swimsuit, a rash guard or light shirt, a hat that stays on in wind, polarized sunglasses, and reef-safe sunscreen put on before you board. A dry bag, a phone leash, and a light layer for the ride back after sunset cover the rest. Soft soles or bare feet belong on deck; leave hard luggage at the hotel.

If you get seasick, take your usual remedy before leaving the sand. Mention allergies and vegetarian or gluten-free needs at booking so the galley can plan. Life on board is simple: shade, an open bar, a meal, and time in the water.

High season along this coast is late December through Easter, plus July and August. Private sunset slots go early then. May, June, September, and early December are quieter on the water and still warm.

A full day around Potrero

Start on Playa Potrero or neighboring Playa Penca while the sand is empty. Late morning is for shade, a swim, and lunch in town. Board in the afternoon for sailing, a snorkel if the water is kind, paddle time, and sunset on the way home. Step off at Las Brisas for dinner, or continue a few minutes south to Flamingo's marina restaurants if you want more lights and a longer menu.

The next day can stay coastal—another beach, a walk to Flamingo, or nothing at all—or you can spend it inland. The sail works because it uses the bay you are already sleeping beside: one focused stretch of Pacific, a small crew, and the rest of Guanacaste still waiting.

Location

Phone: +506 8730 6175