Cano Island Biological Reserve Tours & Attractions

CANO ISLAND BIOLOGICAL RESERVE TOURS AND ATTRACTIONS   

Disneynature and Galatee Films spent over 200 hours collecting footage just off  Cano Island and Drake Bay for their movie,  "Oceans 2010", and caught the best global populations of spinner dolphins.   The had scoured the planet and finally found spinner dolphin groups big enough to fill an IMAX screen.  Set to be released Earth Day 2010 we invite you to a prelude of some of the magic recorded by their crews.                              

http://www.costacetacea.com/oceansmovie.html

SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION ABOUT CANO ISLAND

 This marine and archaeological wonderland spans 200 terrestrial Ha. (494 acres) or 2,700 maritime Ha. (6,669 acres) and has been protected as a biological reserve since September 1976 as part of the Osa Conservation Area Located just nine miles offshore from Drake Bay, in the Osa Peninsula, Cano Island is a biological and archaeological reserve.

Cano Island was exposed part of an underwater mountain which emerged due to the ancient collision of the two tectonic

plates on either side of Costa Rica. The island protects the remains of the Diquis tribe, its Pre-Columbian inhabitants, There are several granite spheres marking an ancient cemetery. Indian remains dating from 220-800 A.D. have also been found. An alleged commercial trading post on the Pacific coast long before Christopher Columbus arrived on the scene and the fabled site of Sir Frances Drake and other pirates and buried treasures as they sought refuge near the bay from the weather of the open ocean.                                                                                   

Cano Island has recently moved into the spotlight as one of the world’s best diving locations. The center of the island features a plateau 90 meters (295 feet) high, covered by evergreen trees reaching heights of 50 meters (164 feet). There is a single trail going up to a lookout and an archaeological site. The island is surrounded by five platforms of low coral reefs. The Cano Island coral formations offer some of the best diving and snorkeling in Costa Rica.                                                                                                     

ACTIVITIES                                                                                                                                       

Tours usually include snorkeling or diving at several of the island’s approved locations, picnic buffet lunch on the island and a guided hike up to the archaeological site. Often whales and dolphins are sighted on the way to and from the island, and a lucky few might spot sea turtles too! With visibility of up to eighty feet visitors can experience first hand the amazing populations and variety of sea life thriving here.                                                      

FACILITIES    

The ranger station provides visitor information outdoor fresh water showers and bathrooms. There are picnic tables on the beach front and hammocks. Reservations are required as limited amounts of visitors are permitted daily. There are no overnight facilities on the island. Camping is not permitted.                                   

TRAILS

There is one trail on the island that leads to scenic platform at the crest of the island and overlooks the ocean and archaeological sites.                                                                                                             

 FLORA & FAUNA  

The fauna that call the island home include the four-eyed opossum, paca, boa constrictor, brown tree frog and the transparent tree frog. A few species of rats, bats, small snakes and lizards can also be seen here. There are also some popular birds to spot including the cattle egret, common black hawk, osprey, brown booby and northern phalarope. The plant life is much more extensive. The island hosts locust and wild fig, wild cocoa and rubber trees, wild strangler, cow trees, ferns, trumpet trees, plus more than 158 other plant species. Marine life consists mainly of large schools of fish like, (blackjack, barracudas, snapper, rainbow fish), white-tipped reef sharks, king angel, moorish idol, puffers, surgeonfish and barberfish. Parrotfish, damsels and a variety of eels can be found hiding around the coral-lined rock formations. Occasionally sighted are manta rays, sea turtles, jew fish, hammerhead sharks and whale sharks.                                                                                                                   

BEACHES

 Pristine beaches and coral reefs surround the island making for amazing snorkelling and exploration of tidal pools. The only beach open to the public is the main beach in front of the ranger station.                                

GETTING THERE

Cano Island is accessible only by boat.                                                                                

CANO ISLAND TOURS

CANO ISLAND SNORKELING TOUR WITH BEACH BUFFET AND HIKE TO ARCHEOLOGICAL SITE                                                                                                                                                             Cano Island Snorkeling Tour - Full Day $85 Adult-Child $55 /Departure 7:30 am- Return 2-3

Start with a scenic boat ride along the shores of Drake Bay and through the turquoise pacific waters to Cano Island located 9 kilometres off shore. Said to have been a trading post in the Middle Ages and rumoured site of Sir Frances Drake’s hidden golden treasures There is an excellent chance of sighting countless marine treasures like playful spotted, spinning or bottlenose dolphins, whales, turtles , large schools of fish and turtles to name a few! Even though it's a pacific island it's spilling with fresh water creating waterfalls along the islands beaches.      It’s not hard to imagine why they named Costa Rica “rich coast” as you beach land onto these white sand beaches!                                    

WORLD CLASS SCUBA DIVING                                                                                                                

$135 Full Day- 3 tank dive/Departure 7:30 a.m- Return 2-3 

Tropical buffet lunch is served on the beach followed by time to explore the coconut lined coast and tidal pools there Guided tour of the ancient Indian burial grounds with pre-Columbian artefacts and mysterious spheres dating back to 200-800 A.D People crossed the open ocean in dug out canoes to perform religious ceremonies and is a burial ground Dive the crystal clear turquoise waters surrounding Cano Island Biological Reserve Discover this spectacular marine wonderland with 3 tank dives Dive depths average 45-65 ft (15-20m) Some of the popular dives include El Bajo Del Biable (The Devil’s Pinnacle) 15-100ft (5-35m) On a good day, this site is by far the best site in the area and maybe the entire country. A lare area with many sub sites. Towering rock pinnacles rise from a depth of over 150ft to just under 20 ft. An incredible maze of peaks and valleys. The best visibility, overall fish life. Snappers and amberjack , swim along side great schools of barracuda, jacks, reef sharks and a large number of tropical fishes. Cueva Del Tiburon (Shark Cave) 30-50ft (10-17m) You don’t go into the cave but swim by to view the sharks. Lots of angels, butterfly, damsels and parrot fish. Very exciting dive! Pariaso (Paradise) 60-70ft (20-23m) Amazing variety of fish, large schools of blue stripped snapper, barracuda and grunts. white tip reef sharks schooling You can see both open ocean and pacific reef species, similar to Galapagos Island Discover the amazing variety of marine life inhabiting the spectacular coral reef Drake Bay’s local dive center is a member of Padi International Resort Association and the only MARES HUB center in Costa Rica Padi cards required to dive. Resort courses available on request                                                                                                                                                  

WILD WHALE & DOLPHIN ENCOUNTERS                                                                                                        

Costa Rica offers some of the best opportunities in the world to see dolphins and whales and other marine life in their natural habitat. We have the longest season of Humpback Whales in the world, as we get humpbacks coming here from both North and South America. This makes for some of the best whale watching to be found anywhere! Over twenty five species of dolphins and whales are either resident or pass through the area on migration. There's absolutely nothing that compares to the experience of seeing these fascinating animals in the wild. The wild dolphin and whale tours are both fun and educational. The goal is to create a protected marine refuge. When you join the dolphin and whale tours, you are helping to support this goal and actually supporting and contributing to the conservation and protection of the area you are visiting! Every dolphin and whale watching tour is different and interesting. There are days that we encounter dolphins close to shore, and other days we go far offshore to observe large pods of more than 1000 Bottlenose, Spotted, Common and/or Spinner dolphins. It is possible to witness a new Humpback whale mom teaching her baby to breach or see several Humpback males compete for female attention.                                                                                         

WILD WHALE & DOLPHIN TOURS                                                                                                       

Drake Bay's marine life has recently been filmed by Disney for their new Oceans 2010 movie.  Here they have found the best populations of spinner dolphins along with year round whales and many other species of dolphin.  This is truly a marine wonderland.  Discover Costa Rica's extraordinary marine world of dolphins and whales. Immerse yourself in the phenomenal experience of observing large groups of different species come together in warm, clear tropical waters. Witness their natural behaviours in their natural habitat. Be a part of the pod as we respectfully observe feeding, socializing, traveling and playful behaviours. Learn about the dolphins, whales and other marine life from experienced staff of marine biologists and guides. Your participation in this tour directly contributes to creating a protected Marine Sanctuary in the Drake Bay area. Adult Full Day $110- Child $65                                             

SPORTS FISHING-DEEP SEA-OFF SHORE-FLY FISHING- FULL DAY- $500

HALF DAY $350                                                   

Excellent chance of seeing Whales and Dolphins and much more! Deep Sea or Off Shore Fishing or Fly Fishing in the Mangroves Mahi Mahi, Tuna, Swordfish, Roosterfish, Wahoo, Snapper, Dorado, Sailfish to name a few Let our experienced deep sea fishing captains take you on a 1/2 day $350 or Full Day $500

CANO ISLAND PRICES INCLUDE ALL PARK ENTRANCES-EQUIPMENT RENTALS-AND RETURN MARINE AND LAND TRANSFERS FROM CORCOVADO JUNGLE ECO LODGE