Cocos Island, Costa Rica. Is it worth the detour?

[sailingforfun]

Anyone been to the Cocos islands some 300 miles of Costa Rica? Just wondering if it would be worth the detour. Are there any good anchorages etc. Thanks.

[donradcliffe]

The anchorage is rolly and it has become very expensive to go there. You have to go to Costa Rica first.

http://www.noonsite.com/Countries/Co...be-turned-away

[sailingforfun]

Thanks for the heads up on the permit issue. I think we should be Ok because we were planning on doing customs & immigration in Golfito anyway. We'll ask about a permit and if they say "no" we'll have saved the 300 miles trek out there.

[donradcliffe]

We went because it was not too much out of the way to the Galapagos. On the plus side, you can take a shower in a waterfall where the old whalers carved their names into the soft rock. Diving was good, and the liveaboard dive boats refilled our tanks for free.

[Emerald Sea]

Originally Posted by donradcliffe

We went because it was not too much out of the way to the Galapagos. On the plus side, you can take a shower in a waterfall where the old whalers carved their names into the soft rock. Diving was good, and the liveaboard dive boats refilled our tanks for free.

Can you clearout (immigration and customs) from Cocos? According to Noonsite you cannot which leaves the sailor having to return 300nm to CR mainland - a bit disappointing in our case as we are heading to the Gambiers.

[jipcho]

On a similar subject, what about Malpelo Island?

[philip.cat]

I was there in 1989 in my mono with my wife and two children no permit required then, the sharks were very friendly they let you stroke their backs[I never realised how rough their skin is makes good sandpaper!]we walked up through the many small waterfalls on the eastern side the bay was a little rolly but not that bad.We did all our washing had a great shower and generally had a very nice time there,very memorable.
Phil onboard Big Bandicoot in the Canarie Islands waiting to cross the pond Again.

[janaconda]

If you are a diver, its very good. The Island is beautiful with lots of waterfalls. We were in Cocos in 2011, coming from Panama. The rangers told us we could not stay there and gave us two hours to leave. The procedure is: First clear into the country, then get a permit and then go to Cocos. After visit, back to Costa Rica, clear out again to where ever you want to go. If you are diving, you MUST have a local dive master with you from the mainland. He must live on board. You feed him and pay him. There have been many boats visiting the Island without permit in the past, but now they enforce the rules. We sailed around the Island, dove and enjoy for the day where the rangers couldn't see us and then left for Costa Rica to get a permit. After several days, we gave up. Too complicated and expensive. Even with a permit, it is not allowed to go ashore. Only few anchorages.

[old pirate]

We were last there in 2001
The Rangers were very accommodating and let us stay for the requested 2 days (one night) no visas. We could have stayed longer ! This was enroute Panama Galapagos. No clearing in or out. Still got the "dolphin" stamp in the passport.
Shark diving was great. Straight off the mooring ball. Treasure hunting ashore not so successful ?
Very strange behaviour on leaving with frigates and boobies attaching our vhf antenna at mast head.
Definetly worth the detour !