Kontiki Wayra: A Boutique Yacht Cruise on Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast | Travel News

Costa Rica’s Pacific coast is one of the country’s most wildlife-rich regions, where tropical forests meet nutrient-heavy waters that draw marine life close to shore. A small-ship option designed for travelers who want nature, active days, and downtime in between is the Kontiki Wayra, a boutique yacht cruise that pairs adventure and wellness with an intimate onboard setup for up to 18 guests.

Operating as a fully crewed yacht experience, Kontiki Wayra is positioned as a luxury cruise along Costa Rica’s Pacific shoreline, with an emphasis on unhurried exploration of remote beaches, ecological reserves, and lesser-visited coastal pockets. Sailings are described as adventure-and-wellness themed, with optional added-cost rendezvous diving and additional activities that can be customized when the vessel is booked as a full-boat private charter.

At a glance: Kontiki Wayra Costa Rica luxury cruise

 

• Region: Costa Rica’s Pacific coast
• Ship size: 18-guest boutique yacht
• Style: adventure and wellness themed sailings
• Water access: snorkeling, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, Jet Ski Seabobs, waterslide, floating docks
• Onboard amenities: indoor and outdoor lounge areas, bars and dining, gym, spa, Jacuzzi
• Dining approach: “farm-to-yacht” meals featuring organic, locally grown ingredients

Unlike larger cruise ships that stay offshore, this small-ship format is built around frequent time outside, with multiple ways to get on and in the water. Between excursions, the yacht’s social and relaxation spaces are designed for small groups traveling together, whether that’s friends, couples, or multigenerational families looking for a private yacht charter in Costa Rica.
 

What the onboard experience looks like

 

The Kontiki Wayra offers accommodation for up to 18 visitors through its nine automated rooms, which contain both double rooms and rooms that can switch between double beds and twin beds. The crew consists of 13 members who follow a service approach which focuses on individual attention instead of following standard procedures. The yacht received its first construction in 2011 at Varadero Maridueña before designers completely transformed it during the 2021 renovation.

The facility contains various common spaces, which include both indoor, outdoor lounges and multiple outdoor recreational areas that people can use for their daily social activities while they watch the ocean. The ship offers wellness amenities which consist of a gym and a spa and a Jacuzzi and its dining options focus on serving local produce through an onboard restaurant system.

The yacht offers water sports enthusiasts who want to explore Costa Rica a selection of "water toys" which includes snorkeling equipment, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, Jet Ski Seabobs, a waterslide and floating docks that let you swim multiple times while you can reach the ocean quickly.

People can select their own adventure days while exploring wildlife in the wilderness.

 

The Pacific coast appeals to visitors because its diverse ecosystems which exist both on land and in the ocean have become the foundation for the cruise line's business plan. The yacht offers wildlife viewing, national park visits and cultural experiences, which passengers can customize through full charter reservations. The itinerary includes an extra cost for travelers who want to join the optional rendezvous diving experience which provides them with planned dive sessions.

This Costa Rica small-ship cruise provides an active experience which lets passengers return to their floating base every day. The pitch describes a travel approach which focuses on slow journeys along coastal areas to explore hidden spots while spending time in untouched beach locations and protected shoreline zones that lack the numbers which standard cruise products typically attract.

Vessel specs for travelers comparing small yachts

 

• Vessel name: Kontiki
• Length: 39 meters
• Beam: 8.20 meters
• Draft: 1.42 meters
• Gross tonnage: 296
• Cabins: 9 automated staterooms (3 double; 6 double or twin)
• Engines: 2 x 715 hp
• Maximum speed: 18 knots
• Cruising speed: 12 knots
• Fuel consumption at cruising speed: 30 gallons per hour

For travelers prioritizing privacy and pace, Kontiki Wayra is positioned as a “floating home” concept focused on shared spaces and quiet corners, with sustainability described as part of the yacht’s operating approach. The experience is framed as comfort with a lighter footprint, pairing high-end amenities with practices intended to be mindful of marine life and coastal communities.

What’s not specified in the available details are exact departure dates, route names, cruise length, and pricing. Those are typically the deciding factors for planning, but the core product positioning is clear: a boutique Costa Rica luxury cruise on the Pacific coast that combines wildlife-forward exploration, wellness-oriented downtime, and daily access to the water in a small-guest setting.