We have one boat available, called the Don Manuel. It’s a center console panga that comes with plenty of shade and cushioned seats. The boat is equipped with a 250 h.p. Yamaha 4-stroke single engine and has a fighting chair. Our crew is knowledgeable and committed to ensuring your safety.

If you’re not familiar with a panga, which is a typical boat in Costa Rica, we recommend that you watch our videos on YouTube and read about us on Trip Advisor. If you prefer a larger boat for deep-sea fishing, we can arrange that for you as well. We work with all the boats in the area and would be happy to make the necessary arrangements.

To keep our prices at a minimum, North Pacific Tours has decided to stop accepting credit cards for payment due to the increased fees. However, you can still make a deposit via PayPal. The remaining balance must be paid in cash on the day of your charter. I appreciate your understanding.

While we cannot guarantee the success of the fishing trip, we assure you that our crew will make every effort to help you catch fish. Our experienced Captains will do their utmost to locate the best fishing spots and maximize the catch. However, the number of fish caught may vary depending on the season and location.

Please note that we do not offer a discount or refund if you do not catch any fish during your trip with us. Unfortunately, we cannot control the behavior of the ocean or the fish, so catching fish is not guaranteed. However, we assure you that our crew is dedicated to making your trip enjoyable. They are passionate about fishing and excited to have you on board!

We only accept PayPal deposits. The remaining balance must be paid in cash unless you prefer to pay the balance via PayPal with a 12% tax and fee charge.

Our fishing charters include all the necessary fishing gear, a cooler with ice to keep your catch fresh, a skilled Captain, and an English-speaking mate. We also offer a separate cooler filled with beverages like beer, water, soda, iced tea, juice, and fruit. If you’re interested in snorkeling, we can arrange that as well. For full-day trips, we provide lunch and snacks.

If you have any dietary restrictions, such as being a vegetarian or not drinking alcohol, please let us know ahead of time, and we will make the necessary substitutions to accommodate your needs.

As per Costa Rican Law, it is mandatory to obtain an individual fishing license, which costs $15 plus tax, for eight days or can be purchased yearly. Please note that our boat fishing license does not cover individual anglers. Therefore, you must obtain a separate license. You can buy the license online by visiting the “Charter Rates” page and clicking on the link at the bottom. You will also receive a link to INCOPESCA in your introductory and confirmation emails.

Certainly! We always advise our fishing customers to bring their own fishing rods and tackle. If you’re unsure of what to bring, feel free to send us an email and we’ll provide you with a list of necessary gear.

Maintaining a boat in Costa Rica can be an expensive affair. To operate a boat legally, it must have a documented Costa Rican flag, registration, license, insurance, and other legal fees and taxes. Additionally, all parts and tackle needed for charter operations go through customs and have duty added on. This makes it even more expensive to buy, keep, operate, and maintain a boat and gear in Costa Rica.

Most marine/boat items purchased here cost 2 to 3 times more than you would pay in the USA; gas and diesel are nearly $4 per gallon than in the states, and we use much of it. We also supply food and beverages, which most charters in the USA do not.

Ballyhoo cost $15.00 each, and we usually carry 2 bags. If you are bottom fishing, a kilo of sardines is $30.00.

I can assure you that you do not want to fish with a budget operation that skimps on tackle, bait, food, maintenance, safety gear, fuel, and ice.

Many booking operators offering discounts often lure beachgoers with big promises and seemingly lower prices. These operators are content with having a one-time customer and may offer poorly maintained and equipped boats with crew members who lack skill, professionalism, and bilingual proficiency. These boats generally stay within a few miles of the shore and may not use enough fuel to take you to where the best fishing spots are.

We strive to provide a premium fishing experience aboard our boat, and if you’d like to spend a bit more money, I can help you with that as well.

After you catch a fish, you can keep it if it’s one of the following types: tuna, dorado (mahi-mahi), wahoo, snapper, or grouper. The mate will fillet and pack it for you on your way back to shore. You can have most restaurants in the area cook it for you for a small fee.

It’s customary to offer each captain and mate a bag of fish if there are any extras. If you have any unwanted fish, the crew knows plenty of people who will gladly take it, as they often come from large families.

It is possible to freeze and pack your fish in your suitcase/small cooler. If you bring fish on the plane, it must be frozen and iced. Dry ice is not allowed, nor is any other chemical refrigerant.

Our clients in the past have frozen their catch, wrapped it in newspaper, and carried it in a small lunch box or cooler back with them. If you were going to ship it back, it would be costly, more than if you were going to purchase it in the U.S., and probably not worth the trouble.

North Pacific Tours can take you out fly fishing but you will need to bring with you your own fly gear. The crew is knowledgeable of the waters and can take you to the best spots to fish. If you need assistance in which flies to bring down, we have a list we can share with you.

Half Day Coastal Fishing $450
7:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
5-hour tour
5 to 10 miles offshore
Cooler with beer, water, soda, iced tea, pineapple

3/4 Day Coastal Fishing $600
7:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
6-hour tour
10 to 12 miles offshore
Cooler with beer, water, soda, iced tea, pineapple, snacks

Full Day Coastal Fishing $700
7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
8-hour tour
15 to 30 miles offshore
Cooler with beer, water, soda, iced tea, pineapple, snacks and lunch

Costa Rica law requires that we release sail and marlin, and in addition, we release needle and roosterfish.

Any other fish caught will be cleaned and bagged for you to return to your hotel, where they can prepare it for you at a small cost. The crew will be happy to take any fish you do not want with them as they have large families, and the fish will not go to waste.

North Pacific Tours requires a $100/day deposit to reserve the boat. All deposits are made via Pay Pal, which will be forwarded to you as an invoice and will complete the reservation process. You can pay your remaining balance on the day of your tour to the captain. We are no longer accepting credit cards now, but if you want to pay the balance via PayPal, there is an additional 12% due to taxes and fees.

While we will do everything we can to accommodate you, there are times when you must cancel, and we hope you understand our reasons for needing to charge cancellation fees. We are a small operation with our tours being put together around what you and your family would like to do.

Please provide notice of cancellation either by email, [email protected], or call (011 506) 2670 1564 or 8398-8129.

We return your deposit if you cancel within 24 hours of your charter. If you cancel during Christmas week, New Year’s week, or Easter and we can not fill the boat, your deposit will not be returned.

The Don Manuel does not have a bathroom on the boat, but the crew is very respectful, so if you’d like to take a quick swim in the beautiful Pacific Ocean, there will not be any problems taking a break. There is a ladder on board, and we can also include snorkeling gear at no extra charge; send me your foot sizes before the tour.

It is recommended to focus on one particular type of fishing to obtain the best results. However, if you prefer one or all types, please inform us in advance so we can make the necessary arrangements. If you don’t have any casting experience, please let the crew know beforehand. They will teach you the proper technique to avoid getting injured or damaging equipment.

Bottom fishing is best during Dec through March, but if the fishing is slow, the crew will switch fishing tactics to get you fish. Our goal is that you have a great day out with us and catch as many fish as possible.

When it comes to tipping our crew, we recommend a gratuity of 20% of the daily charter rate for fishing, surfing, and snorkeling tours. However, we suggest that you base the tip on the crew’s professionalism and efforts. We assure you that our crew will work hard to earn every cent of it and will be extremely grateful for your generosity. Please note that all tips are divided equally between the captain and mate, and it plays a crucial role in their income.

It’s important to understand that some external factors such as moon, tide, and weather can affect fishing and make it slower, despite our crew’s best efforts. Unfortunately, we cannot offer refunds or discounts on trips if the fish aren’t biting.

North Pacific Tours operates out of Playa del Coco in the province of Guanacaste. We pick up at all the surrounding hotels and the beaches of Playa Hermosa, Playa Ocotal, Matapalo, and Playa Panama. We are only a 25-minute drive from Liberia International Airport.

Sea sickness does not warrant a refund of any portion of your charter. If the boat returns early due to seasickness, you must still pay for the trip. If you are prone to becoming seasick, we recommend taking a Dramamine one hour before your trip.

• Fishing licenses
• Rash guards
• Towels
• Sunscreen
• Gratuities to the crew, which is at your discretion

Yes, we do – who doesn’t want to save money?

Please give Lisa plenty of notice, and she will make a note in the reservation book. The more time she has, the better, as it can be challenging to find other surfers/snorkelers/fishermen who want to fish the same day as you do. We recommend you ask around your hotel and find others looking to share a charter.

This all depends on the time of the year and where the fish are biting, but normally, half-day trips will take 20-30 minutes, and on our full day, it may take up to an hour. If it is windy, it will take longer.

North Pacific Tours will pick up our clients at all the immediate surrounding hotels in the area, but if you are staying at the Conchal Westin in Flamingo, there is a gas surcharge due to the distance to pick-up at these hotels. We have had many clients who had rental cars and will drive to Playas del Coco and spend the afternoon in our little fishing village.

All tours will go out during rainy, windy, or choppy conditions, and it is up to the captain to decide if a trip should be canceled. It is very rare for us to cancel a trip, but we will monitor the weather and contact you via email.