How to book your Coiba tour: deposit, payments and weather — explained step by step

Most tour sites hide the payment details until the last screen. We'd rather you know everything before you message us: what the deposit is, how you get your total, what happens if the weather turns, and exactly what you'll pay on tour day. Five minutes here saves ten questions later.

Step 1 — Message us on WhatsApp

Tell us your date, group size and which tour you want (group $70 per person, private boat from $550, or a whale option in July–October). We answer in under an hour during the day and confirm availability. Requesting a booking is free — nothing is charged yet. We reply with the total for your trip, so you know the exact amount before you pay anything.

Step 2 — Hold your spot with the deposit

Wait for our confirmation before sending anything — that way nobody pays for a seat that isn't free. Once we confirm availability, you secure your seats with a deposit per person (we send you the amount with the confirmation), by PayPal (we send you the payment link) or Wise at wise.com/pay/me/andresfranciscoe. Send us the receipt on WhatsApp and your seats are locked in. The deposit comes off your total; it isn't an extra. Spots are limited by park permits, so unpaid requests can't hold a seat in high season.

Step 3 — Pay the balance on tour day

The rest is settled the morning of the tour: Wise, credit card, Yappy or cash — whichever suits you (PayPal is for the deposit only). The park entrance fee ($20 foreigners / $5 Panamanians and residents, under-12s free) is paid in cash separately, because it goes to the park. Bring that in exact-ish bills and you're set.

How you get your total

The tour is $70 per person, and the park entrance is added to that: $20 per foreign visitor, $5 per Panamanian or resident. When you write to us with your date and group size, we reply with the total for your trip — tour, park entrance and any extras — so you know the exact amount before you pay anything. When comparing prices between operators, it's worth checking whether park fees are already included, since they aren't always shown the same way.

The weather policy, in plain words

Our captains check the sea every day. If conditions are dangerous on your date, we don't go — we contact you in advance and you choose a free date change or a full refund of your deposit. That is the only case where the deposit is refunded; cancelling for any other reason, or not showing up, forfeits it, because your seat was held for you. Full details in our policies Privacy.

Step 4 — Show up at 8:00 am

Meeting point is our rancho in Santa Catalina at 8:00 am; the boat leaves 8:30 sharp. Bring swimwear, sunscreen, the park fee in cash and nothing else — gear, vests, lunch and water are on us. Need help getting to town? Here's how to reach Santa Catalina, and we'll happily match shuttle times to your tour date.