Malpelo and Cocos
A two-week expedition to two legendary Pacific islands — Colombia’s Malpelo and Costa Rica’s Cocos. The route combines the world’s best locations for encountering large pelagic fauna in one program. The crossing to Malpelo takes about 40 hours, between islands — 36 hours.
The program includes 4 days of diving at Malpelo and 4 days at Cocos Island, with 3–4 dives daily at depths of 15–35 meters. Both islands are known for enormous schools of hammerhead sharks, giant mantas, whale sharks, and diverse pelagics. Marine reserve entrance fees are paid separately.
What You'll See
Conditions
Season
Year-round
Visibility
15–30 meters
Water Temperature
23–27°C
Level
Advanced Open Water
Duration
13 nights
Useful Information
Best Season
June–November (rainy season, peak hammerhead and whale shark activity), December–May (calmer seas, better visibility)
Visa
Visa-free entry for up to 90 days for most nationalities; a passport valid for the whole trip and a return ticket are required
How to Get There
Fly to San José (SJO) via Madrid, Istanbul or Panama City, then 2 hours by road to the port of Puntarenas and a 30–36 hour liveaboard crossing to Cocos.
Climate
Tropical, 24–32°C, rainy season May–November
Currency
Costa Rican colón (CRC), US dollars widely accepted
Time Zone
UTC-6
