# Isla del Caño: Diving and Snorkeling off the Osa Peninsula > Isla del Caño is a small island and biological reserve 16 km off the Osa Peninsula, with some of the best coral reefs on Costa Rica's Pacific coast. Visits are by licensed boat from Drake Bay, Sierpe or Uvita, with a registered guide and a prepaid reservation, and fishing is banned. It's one of the country's top day trips for snorkelers and divers. Source: https://sportfishing-costarica.com/isla-del-cano/ Last checked: 2026-11-14 Where: 16 km northwest of the Osa Peninsula Protected since: 1978, as a biological reserve (SINAC) Boats from: Drake Bay, Sierpe and Uvita Open: 8 am to 3 pm, by prepaid reservation only Activities: Snorkeling and diving; landing has been closed Rules: No fishing, no single-use plastic, drones only with a civil aviation license ## The island Isla del Caño is a small, forested island sitting on the continental shelf 16 km northwest of the Osa Peninsula, in Costa Rica's far south. It's been protected since 1978 as the Isla del Caño Biological Reserve, run by SINAC, the national parks service, through its Osa conservation area. The reserve covers about 320 hectares of land and 5,800 hectares of sea. What makes it special is underwater. SINAC describes the island's coral reefs as among the largest and best preserved on Costa Rica's Pacific coast, with 5 separate coral platforms. The waters are also an important nursery for humpback whales from both the northern and southern hemispheres, and resident dolphins are common. On land, the island holds remains of the stone spheres made by pre-Columbian peoples, and archaeologists believe it was used as a burial ground. Its interior is undisturbed tropical forest. ## A note for anglers Fishing of any kind, commercial, small-scale or sport, is banned inside the reserve. Anglers fishing from Drake Bay or Puerto Jiménez work the waters outside it, and the reserve's reefs help keep those fisheries healthy. If you want to fish the area, see our guide to [fishing from Puerto Jiménez](/puerto-jimenez-sportfishing-adventures/). ## What you can do there Isla del Caño is a snorkeling and diving trip. When we checked SINAC's page in November 2026, it said tourists can't land on the beach, the ranger station or the trails, and that only the marine part of the reserve is open, for diving and snorkeling. That rule dates from the pandemic, so ask your tour operator whether landings have reopened, but plan on spending your day in and on the water. **Snorkeling.** Boats anchor over shallow reef where the water is often clear and full of fish. Expect reef fish in big schools, and often turtles, rays and white-tip reef sharks. **Diving.** Dive sites around the island range from shallow reefs to deeper rocky pinnacles with schooling jacks and barracuda, white-tip reef sharks, rays and turtles. Divers need to be certified, or to go on a supervised try-dive with a dive shop. **Whales and dolphins.** The boat ride itself is often the highlight, with dolphins most days and humpback whales in season. ## How to visit You can only reach the island by boat, and you can't go on your own. SINAC's rules: - **Boats** leave from Drake Bay, Sierpe and Uvita. Drake Bay is the closest, and most trips from there take under an hour each way. - **Reservations** must be made and paid in advance, through SINAC's reservation office, no more than 8 days before the visit. In practice, tour operators and lodges handle this for you. - **Guides.** Every group must enter with a local guide or certified dive guide registered with the Osa conservation area's sustainable tourism office. Without one, you'll be turned away. - **Hours.** Visits run from 8 am to 3 pm. - **Fees.** There's a per-person entry fee, plus a diving fee and an anchoring fee for boats. Most tour prices include them, but check. ## Rules to know SINAC lists clear rules for the reserve. No single-use plastic may be brought in. Don't throw anything in the water or on land, smoke, drink alcohol or light fires, and don't feed, touch or chase any animal. Nobody may stay overnight. Drones are allowed only with a license from Costa Rica's civil aviation authority. There's no drinking water, so bring your own in a reusable bottle, plus sunscreen, a hat and a dry bag. ## When to go The island can be visited all year. Caño has no real dry season, but SINAC lists January to April as the drier months, and calmer seas then usually mean easier crossings and clearer water. Humpback whales are seen at different times of year because both northern and southern populations use the area. ## Learn more Our sister site [scuba.cr](https://scuba.cr/cano-island-costa-rica/) covers Caño's dive sites in more detail, and our guide to [snorkeling in Costa Rica](/snorkeling-in-costa-rica/) compares it with other spots. ## Frequently asked questions ### Can you fish at Isla del Caño? No. Commercial, small-scale and sport fishing are all banned inside the biological reserve. ### Can you land on Isla del Caño? SINAC's page said in November 2026 that landings on the beach, ranger station and trails were closed, with only diving and snorkeling allowed. Ask your operator before you book. ### Where do boats leave from? Drake Bay, Sierpe and Uvita. Drake Bay is the closest. ### Do I need a guide? Yes. Every group must enter with a guide registered with the Osa conservation area, and the visit must be booked and paid in advance.