What to Wear Snorkeling in Jacó, Costa Rica

Snorkeling in Jacó doesn’t need special clothes or expensive gear — the water is warm, the cove is calm, and we bring the mask, snorkel, and fins. But a few smart choices will keep you comfortable and sunburn-free for the hour-plus you’ll spend floating face-down in a strong tropical sun. Here’s exactly what to wear snorkeling near Jacó Beach, Costa Rica.

The essentials

• A swimsuit — worn under your clothes so you’re ready to go at the cove. Board shorts, a one-piece, bikini, trunks — whatever you’re comfortable swimming in.
• A rash guard or sun shirt — the single most useful thing to bring. When you’re floating face-down, your back and shoulders face the sun the entire time. A light long-sleeve shirt protects you far better than sunscreen you have to keep reapplying.
• Reef-safe sunscreen for your face, neck, and the backs of your legs. Costa Rica’s sun is intense at this latitude, and reef-safe (mineral) formulas protect the marine life you came to see.

Nice to have

• A hat and sunglasses for the beach time before and after you’re in the water.
• Water shoes or sandals — optional, but handy for the short walk down to the cove.
• A towel and a dry change of clothes for the ride back to Jacó.
• A refillable water bottle — it’s warm, and you’ll want a drink afterward.

What should kids wear?

Exactly the same, just sized down: a swimsuit and a long-sleeve rash guard, which does double duty as sun protection and a little extra warmth for smaller bodies that cool off faster. We fit kids with their own mask, snorkel, and fins, and the calm, shallow water near Playa Mantas is gentle enough that most children take to it quickly. A sun hat for the beach and reef-safe sunscreen on exposed skin rounds it out. If you’re traveling with little ones, our guide on snorkeling with kids and families in Jacó covers what to expect.

What to leave at the hotel

Keep it simple. Leave jewelry, watches, and anything valuable behind — you don’t want to lose a ring in the sand or surf. You don’t need a wetsuit (the water is bath-warm; see our note on water temperature in Jacó), and you don’t need your own snorkel gear. A phone in a waterproof pouch is fine, but you don’t have to juggle it — your guide takes photos of your day for you.

Dressed and ready in one line

Swimsuit on, sun shirt over it, reef-safe sunscreen on the rest, towel in the bag. That’s it. Everything else about a Snorkel Jaco tour is handled: gear, an in-water guide, and photos, for $69 per person across tours at 8am, 10am, and noon. We’ve run more than 1,000 tours over four years — see what guests say in our reviews, or just message us on WhatsApp with any questions.