Let’s travel to one of the most remote, mysterious, and breathtaking destinations on Earth: Costa Rica’s Isla del Coco, better known internationally as Cocos Island. For adventurous travelers, marine biologists, and serious scuba divers, Cocos Island is not just a destination—it is a legend.
Getting there is part of the adventure. There are no airports, no quick transfers, and no day trips. To reach Cocos Island, you must travel by boat, embarking on a 36-hour ocean voyage across the Pacific. That long journey is precisely what has kept the island pristine, wild, and largely untouched by modern development. For those who make the effort, the reward is one of the greatest scuba diving experiences on the planet and an island steeped in centuries of pirate lore and hidden treasure myths.
Where Is Cocos Island?
Cocos Island is located approximately 365 miles (about 590 kilometers) off the west coast of Costa Rica, rising dramatically from the Pacific Ocean. The journey begins in Puntarenas, Costa Rica’s main Pacific port. From there, liveaboard vessels head southwest into open ocean, far beyond the usual tourist routes.
The island is the only visible portion of an underwater volcanic mountain range, making it a biological hotspot. Powerful ocean currents converge here, bringing nutrients that support an extraordinary concentration of marine life. This unique geography is what makes Cocos Island one of the most important marine ecosystems in the world.
A Place of Legends and Lost Treasure
Cocos Island was officially discovered in 1560, but its fame grew not from maps or navigation charts, but from legends. Over the centuries, the island became associated with pirates, privateers, and hidden treasure. Stories tell of vast riches buried somewhere in the island’s dense jungle—gold stolen from Spanish ships, secret caches hidden in caves, and fortunes never recovered.
Among the most famous legends is the Treasure of Lima, said to have been buried on Cocos Island by pirates fleeing Spanish authorities. While no verified treasure has ever been recovered, the myths persist and continue to add an irresistible sense of mystery to the island.
In 1978, Costa Rican President Rodrigo Carazo declared Cocos Island a National Park, recognizing its ecological importance. Later, its extraordinary biodiversity earned it designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 1991, the Costa Rican government prohibited all treasure hunting on the island, ensuring that its natural and historical heritage would be preserved.
An Untouched Jungle Island
Cocos Island remains virtually untouched due to its extreme isolation and strict protection. There are no hotels, no restaurants, and no permanent tourism infrastructure. Visitors arrive by liveaboard ships and must sleep onboard.
Approaching the island is an experience in itself. You do not dock at a pier; instead, visitors are transported from larger vessels to shore using small rubberized boats, often stepping into shallow water and getting their feet wet. This simple arrival reinforces the feeling that you are entering a truly wild place.
The island is covered in dense, emerald-green rainforest. Waterfalls cascade down steep cliffs, and mist often hangs in the air. Streams flow with pure, drinkable water, something increasingly rare in the modern world.
Hiking is allowed, but with limits. Reaching the island’s highest point—about 2,080 feet above sea level—is a strenuous and demanding hike suitable only for those in good physical condition. For less ambitious visitors, shorter hikes around the bays offer incredible scenery without the intense climb.
Only a small number of people live on the island, primarily park rangers, researchers, and a few volunteers. Their role is to protect the ecosystem and ensure that strict conservation rules are followed.
Isla del Coco National Marine Park: A Diver’s Dream
The greatest draw to Cocos Island is not above the surface—it lies beneath it.
The Isla del Coco National Marine Park extends 12 nautical miles around the island, forming one of the most protected and biologically rich marine reserves in the world. Because the island is exposed to multiple marine currents, it attracts an astonishing variety of large marine species.
Cocos Island is world-famous for having the largest concentration of hammerhead sharks anywhere on Earth. Divers routinely encounter massive schools of scalloped hammerheads, sometimes numbering in the hundreds. Seeing these powerful animals glide silently through the blue water is an experience few divers ever forget.
But hammerheads are only the beginning.
Other shark species commonly seen include:
- Reef sharks
- Tiger sharks
- Whale sharks—the largest fish in the ocean
And the marine life doesn’t stop there. Divers may also encounter:
- Humpback whales
- Frogfish
- Batfish
- Marble rays
- Massive schools of jacks and tuna
Every dive feels like entering a living documentary, where nature operates on a grand, untouched scale.
Who Can Dive at Cocos Island?
Scuba diving at Cocos Island is not for beginners.
Due to strong underwater currents, deep dive profiles, and challenging conditions, divers must be advanced and highly experienced. Night dives, drift dives, and deep dives are common, and conditions can change quickly.
It is strongly recommended that divers have:
- Prior experience with strong currents
- Experience with deep dives
- At least 50 logged dives, including challenging conditions
Cocos Island rewards skill, patience, and confidence. It is not a place to learn—it is a place to apply everything you already know.
Liveaboard Dive Boats: The Only Way to Visit
Because there are no accommodations on the island, nearly all visitors arrive via liveaboard dive boats. Two main operators run year-round expeditions from Puntarenas:
Okeanos Aggressor
Part of the internationally known Aggressor Fleet, Okeanos Aggressor offers high-end liveaboard experiences. Guests enjoy:
- Four dives per day
- Three buffet meals daily
- Comfortable cabins
- Evening movies and relaxation time
Website: www.aggressor.com
Price: Approximately $3,400 per person
Undersea Hunter Group
The Undersea Hunter Group is another highly respected operator, known for professionalism and deep knowledge of Cocos Island waters. Their vessels are purpose-built for long-range diving expeditions and conservation support.
Both companies operate year-round and depart from Puntarenas, weather permitting.
What If You’re Not a Scuba Diver?
Not everyone dreams of diving with sharks—but that doesn’t mean Cocos Island is completely out of reach.
I personally longed to visit Cocos Island, even though I am not a scuba diver. I discovered a remarkable alternative offered by the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS) in Costa Rica.
OTS occasionally organizes educational expeditions to Cocos Island focused on:
- Ecology
- Conservation
- Biology
- Natural history
These trips are well-organized, professional, and reasonably priced compared to dive liveaboards. The guides primarily speak Spanish but usually know some English, and educational materials can be requested in English.
My Spanish is conversational, and I have traveled with OTS on other trips within Costa Rica. I found them to be friendly, fun, educational, and deeply committed to conservation. For non-divers with a strong interest in nature and science, this is a rare and meaningful way to experience Cocos Island.
A Place Like No Other
Cocos Island is not a casual destination. It requires time, commitment, and preparation. But for those who make the journey, it offers something increasingly rare in our modern world: true wilderness.
Whether you are descending into deep blue water surrounded by hammerhead sharks, hiking through untouched rainforest, or simply watching the mist roll over volcanic cliffs, Isla del Coco leaves a lasting impression.
It is a place of legends, living ecosystems, and raw natural power—a reminder of what the planet once was, and what it can still be if protected.
For Costa Rica, Cocos Island is not just a national treasure. It is a gift to the world.