Public Pacific Lounge Catamaran - Tamarindo Sunset Experience

Horrible experience, boat not clean, amenities promised were not provided - towels, paddle boards, and fishing poles, the crew’s behavior was uncomfortable and unprofessional they were drinking while on duty, sexual harassment to one of our group and the police were called, lack of safety, no directions given when going snorkeling, toilets not working. I have been on many of these excursions and would never recommend this company.

⚠️⚠️⚠️Pacific Lounge has a reputation for deleting bad reviews on other websites so I’m hoping this one will not get removed like the others. Please take this seriously as the company and staff tends to be very dismissive of an experience this disgusting. I never write reviews but I am writing this one for your safety. A woman on our boat was sexually assaulted by two staff members with witnesses involved. The captain refused to take us back to shore as other staff were blaming the woman for being “too drunk” (two shots) This was also after handing the guests many shots without them being requested. The staff members were also taking multiple shots throughout the whole ride which felt very unprofessional. The way the assault was executed so smoothly makes me believe this was not the first time. After another guest on the boat came in contact with the police, the captain finally made his way back to shore. The crew and company owner was very dismissive of the whole situation. I heard one of the the abusers apologize to another guest on the boat for the inconvenience and never apologized to the victim. (the guest who was apologized to was very supportive of the victim and although he did not know her, stuck around her to make her feel safe for the rest of the 2 hours or so that we were stuck on the water). We were told that all of us would receive a refund from the company but have yet to hear back from them. For obvious reasons, I don’t have many photos from the experience, but I attached a photo of the police awaiting our arrival before arresting one of the men involved. The other abuser could not be identified so he was let off the hook with no punishment. Hopefully he no longer works for the company, but based on the owner’s reaction to the situation, I would not be surprised if not much action was taken (not yet confirmed). We were also told there would be lifejackets, snorkeling instructions, and paddle boards when none of this was provided. The “private island” we were taken to was also shared by 3(?) other boats. Our “dinner” was a small salad bar that was gone within 10 minutes (with lettuce flying everywhere as we were driving on the water). I am not only furious with the poor service, lack of promised experiences/amenities, and the obvious attack on another guest on the boat, but feeling especially furious with how the situation was handled and how it was treated as “not a big deal”. Apparently by having 2 shots, she was “too drunk” to understand what was happening. Despite there being MULTIPLE witnesses of the attack and new scratches all over her body, the staff treated it as if she made the whole story up. As mentioned above, Pacific Lounge seems to delete a lot of negative comments, so I’m hoping this will reach as much people possible while they are still in business. I will keep an eye out to ensure this review stays up. Do not book this company if you care about your safety or the safety of your friends/family.

I am writing this to protect others. What was advertised as a relaxing snorkeling tour was a series of safety failures, false advertising, and criminal staff conduct. Safety failures were pervasive. No life jackets, no safety instructions before departure, and no snorkeling briefing before guests entered the open ocean. We were given pool noodles instead of life jackets for ocean snorkeling. A passenger was injured when staff failed to manage a dinghy alongside the catamaran — her hand was pinched between the two boats. Staff showed no weather awareness and waited until a storm was upon us to head back. No headcounts or manifests were done when we departed early. The boat was overcrowded with insufficient seating, leaving passengers on the top deck through a storm. A staff member sexually assaulted a member of our group. He pressured her to drink more than she wanted, then verbally pressured her into the water after she repeatedly said no. Once in the water, he entered with her and assaulted her. Two witnesses were present and did not intervene. This was reported to police. He was arrested, jailed, and added to the sex offender registry. Legal proceedings are ongoing. Staff were drinking on duty and serving alcohol to guests who had not requested it. Advertised amenities were not provided. Towels, paddle boards, and fishing rods were never available. The "hidden beach" was shared with three other tour boats, anchored too far from shore to reach. Snacks were a single fruit tray gone in 10 minutes of a 4-hour tour. Lunch was offered but after the assault, our group no longer felt safe consuming anything provided by staff. The toilet was broken and overflowed with waste. This company failed its guests in safety, honesty, and basic human decency. Legal proceedings are ongoing. Do not book this tour.

Our group chose this catamaran tour expecting a fun and safe experience, but unfortunately that was not what we encountered. Before boarding, a passenger’s hand was injured when it was caught between the transport boat and the catamaran after crew members failed to provide basic safety instructions during docking. Once onboard, there was no visible safety briefing, no clear information about life jackets, and restroom facilities became unsanitary during the trip. The most serious concern involved a member of our group reporting inappropriate conduct by a crew member. The situation became serious enough that law enforcement became involved and a crew member was taken to the police station for questioning. There were two witnesses from another group that was on our same tour (a 14 year old and a 26 year old). The company said they would have the police at the beach and I actually contact some local friends who went to make sure they were there. They weren’t there so my friends had to persuade them to come. When management boarded the boat they were somewhat dismissive. At one point the captain was laughing while the victim was recounting events. When I pointed it out management told me to “Focus on the Positive”. While the company focuses on disputing details of that incident, it does not change the fact that many guests felt unsafe, and several of us were deeply concerned by how the situation was handled. I was also intimidated by a crew member while attempting to speak with management about our concerns. A female crew member had asked me to come with her talk to management on the phone and he was telling her not to let me speak to her. We were promised a refund and then it was declined. I contacted Viator whom we booked with and after looking at evidence refunded our money. In addition, crew members were drinking with guests, drinks were pushed on passengers throughout the tour, and several advertised amenities—including paddle boards, fishing rods, and towels—were not available. Two crew members were swimming and the captain stayed on board. Management told us that the crew was busy keeping things safe and that is why they were dismissive, when really they were texting, looking at each other’s phones. I have evidence that I’m really to share if needed. I’m glad it was a woman who go could fight someone off of her and not a little girl. My review is based on my personal observations and experience. Regardless of differing accounts of the incident, the combination of safety issues, professionalism concerns, missing amenities, and the overall handling of guest concerns left me unable to recommend this company.

Staff needs to better trained to communicate with customers on the boat. This was my birthday trip to Costa Rica and we were all very excited. Gustavo refused to say my name right (kept saying Ashley) and after correcting him multiple times he said “same thing”. He was being very pushy about me not going into the water. I’m not sure why staff is pushy when I’m paying for this experience and do not feel like going. I was feeling very queasy. Another friend of mine was sea sick and the other staff member helped her and made conversation. She explained that it’s never happened to her and she’s been bloated on the trip. He immediately said that he thought “she looked pregnant and was expecting”. Similar comments were made until she had a stern comment that got him to stop. A different friend got stung by a jellyfish and the staff member had nothing to say besides “you’ll be fine, do you want a margarita?”. I brought my first aid with me and was able to wipe her arm down and at least apply ointment to aide the stinging.

great experience, lots of drinks, not many people compared to other catamarans that were there which made it more peaceful and relaxing

I would strongly caution anyone considering this catamaran cruise. From the moment we boarded, safety did not appear to be a priority. There was no visible safety briefing and no discussion of emergency procedures. We did not see life jackets made available or pointed out to passengers before departure, which was concerning given that we were out on open water. Even before boarding the catamaran, there was a serious safety incident. As our boat approached the catamaran, one crew member appeared distracted while flirting with a passenger and failed to instruct guests to keep their hands inside the boat during docking. As a result, one passenger’s hand was smashed between the boat and the catamaran. This incident could have resulted in a much more serious injury and highlighted the lack of attention to basic safety procedures. The most serious issue occurred when a member of our group was sexually assaulted by two crew members. The crew’s response was unprofessional and inadequate. We had to contact friends on shore ourselves to ensure that law enforcement would be waiting when we returned to port. As a result, one was arrested, and we were told he was fired on the spot. However, we later observed that same individual working was back on the catamaran the following Sunday. He is on the sex offender’s registry. While speaking with the manager by phone about these concerns, another crew member stood nearby and told a fellow crew member in Spanish not to let me speak with the manager, apparently unaware that I understood Spanish. When I confronted him, he moved closer and became physically intimidating. I had to hold out my hand and repeatedly tell him to stop and move away from me. No customer should ever be treated this way when attempting to report serious safety concerns. There were also significant concerns regarding alcohol service and overall professionalism. Drinks were repeatedly handed out without being requested, and crew members were drinking alongside guests. The restroom facilities were overflowing and unsanitary during the trip. To make matters worse, several of the amenities that were advertised were not available. There were no paddle boards, no fishing rods, and no towels provided despite these being promoted as part of the experience. The combination of poor safety practices, a passenger injury, the handling of a reported sexual assault, intimidation by crew members, unsanitary conditions, and the failure to provide advertised amenities made this one of the most concerning travel experiences I have ever had. Passenger safety and accountability should be the highest priorities for any tour operator, and based on our experience, they were not.

ALL WOMEN BEWARE!!! I cannot recommend this excursion company under any circumstances. What should have been an enjoyable experience became one of the worst experiences of my life. During the excursion, I was sexually assaulted by two staff members. I felt unsafe, violated, and completely unsupported. No customer should ever have to experience this kind of behavior from employees entrusted with guests' safety and well-being. The incident has had a lasting impact on me, and it fundamentally changed my view of this company. Based on my experience, I would strongly advise others to think carefully before booking with them. Safety, professionalism, and respect should be the minimum standard for any tour operator. My experience fell far below those standards

Fun. We didn't snorkle but kayaked and swam in the cove. Boat was nice and meal was good. Eric and Yasser were great.

Such a great experience!! The staff was wonderful and attentive, the sunset we watched was the best I’ve ever seen. Bring your own towel and sunscreen!

We went on the open bar cruise and had a blast. There was group of Costa Ricans celebrating a birthday on the boat and it was really fun mingling with the locals. Lots of dancing and drinking. Lots of shade too, and it wasn't too crowded.

Pacific lounge catamaran was amazing and absolutely worth the money!! Open bar with STRONG drinks, delicious food, and overall so much fun. They stopped at a private beach for snorkeling before lunch. Taka, yessir, and junior made it such a fun experience!! This particular experience was majority young college students but there were people of all ages and everyone had fun. This was the highlight of our trip, can’t recommend enough!!!

Small-ish catamaran, not what I was expecting. There was quite a bit of waiting to get started. Limited seating. Crew was friendly and competent…worked well together as a team!

If you like to drink alcohol you might like this, otherwise not worth it. There is a lot of people, you might not get proper seat. The music is really loud so you have to almost scream if you want to talk with your companion. Other notes about weather conditions: We had also quite strong wind so our food flew out of the plate by the wind. There were quite big waves so I got someones puke on my feet. So make sure that it is calm weather.

The team leading this cruise is phenomenal! Had so much fun. They take care of all your needs. Great music, drinks and swimming in the ocean. Can't say enough good things. Highly recommended!

The catamaran was large and comfortable with a nice top deck to catch the breezes. The late lunch was delicious and there was a plentiful selection at the open bar. The captain and first mate were very helpful with the transition from the tender to the boat and then into and out of the water for our free time.

Captain Jasser and Pablo were amazing! It was an incredible day on the water. Captain decided to take a little detour into the open water and we got to see dolphins and whales!! The service was top notch. I highly recommend this boat!

We had a private tour and the experience was perfect. From whale and sea turtle sightings to the water fun, everything was perfect. The crew was absolutely amazing and catered to all of our requests!

We spent several glorious hours on the boat with the Pacific Lounge crew and I can honestly say it was one of the best days I’ve ever had. Truly magical. We got unbelievably close to a mom and baby whale and our entire party boat stood in silence watching them magestically glide through the water. The experience was a mix of luxury pampering, stunning and awe-inspiring scenery, and delightful water frolicking. The staff were top notch. 10/10, no notes.

Super fun and the crew was amazing. They made everyone have a fun time! And the sunset was breathtaking. Pura vida!

An unforgettable experience! The vibe on board was amazing, with great music and a fantastic crew. We were lucky enough to spot a turtle, some rays, and even whales — pure magic! The snorkeling visibility was excellent, and everyone absolutely loved it. And the sunset from the boat… simply breathtaking. Everything was perfectly organized — huge thanks to the staff for such an incredible outing. Highly recommended!

Magnificent cruise, great crew and good food. Modern and spacious boat. Superb experience with several fun activities on offer.

It was the highlight of our vacations. What we really liked was the luxury feeling of the boat, the service, the food and obviously the drinks 😆. Thank you to all of you.

Family friendly experience for all ages. Finding the pick up location and guide can be challenging, so give yourself plenty of time. There are multiple catamarans leaving from the same pick up spot, so know the name of which one you're on. The crew is fun and friendly.

Incredible boat ride! The crew were so nice and helpful and everything was seamlessly organized. Really enjoyed the entire experience and would recommend to anyone!

We had a wonderful time! The staff was so friendly and the food was delicious. We got to go to a private beach and the boat has shade. Definitely would recommend!

What an Amazing experience. We were lucky enough to have a boat load of really fun people that made the trip fun. The crew made the trip so much fun and engaging ~ they were Awesome!!! I wish I would have asked how to spell their name so I could give them a huge shout out. Rebecca (she was fun, fun, fun and made great drinks) the bartender knows who the captain and mate were.....the camaraderie between them all was a delight. Pura Vida!!!!

The crew was so kind, fun, and cared for each person’s safety. They made sure each person felt welcomed and had a great experience. The views were also incredible. I enjoyed the food and drink they offered. This was by far my favorite activity I did while in Costa Rica!

Zero stars. We took a taxi to get there waited for over an hour and a half only for you to no-show. All the other two are operators got their people in a timely manner and got them to their boats. You never notified us pulled a no-show and then made it difficult to even try to get our money back. What a scam I hope you go out of business Our whole trip was ruined because maybe we spent the whole day dealing with this instead of enjoying our expensive vacation No one book this apparently they just like to no-show if they don’t have enough people and aren’t gonna make enough money

It was an amazing experience! The catamaran was very clean and the captain made sure safety and house rules were very clear. It would have been nice to soak for a little longer in the ocean 40mins were too short. The food was okay but the drinks were fantastic. The music was good when I took over as the DJ which is limited to sportify but the surround sound of speakers were very soft. The captain was a little impatient at times but the bartendar was a great host and really serve the board guest well. He was friendly and very entertaining. Great job Franco! Overall great experience.

What a nice and beautiful day we had!! We saw the most beautiful sunset ever. Captain and team were friendly. The Pacific Lounge is made for you to relax and enjoy la pura vida! The patio offers a great view where you can get some nice cocktails. The team lends you material to snorkel or paddle. They have everything on board. Kids jumped from the boat and had a blast! It was a great moment that I would highly recommend to anyone visiting Tamarindo!

Super fun ways to spend an afternoon with friends. The crew is outstanding. Drinks and food top notch. Floating in a beautiful cove was icing on the cake!

We had an amazing trip. The boat is lovely. Lots of room. Good seating and plenty of shade. The crew was outstanding!! They took such great care of us. Constantly checked to see if we needed anything. The bartender was great and the food was delicious. I would recommend this trip without hesitation.

We had a wonderful sunset catamaran trip with Juan and Laura! Booking was easy and the departure timely. The boat was very clean and well kept. A beautiful fresh fruit platter was out when we arrived and the meal was fantastic. Captain Juan and Laura were helpful, informative, kind, and funny! We enjoyed reeling in a big fish, exploring the private beach destination, and watching the sunset from the boat. Thank you so much for a perfect day!

Wonderful experience! Beautiful cruise, relaxing swim, delicious lunch, and of course, the remarkable sunset. Perfection!

Wendy, Juan, and a third crew member (Adrian?) took great care of everyone on the boat! The boat is beautiful and clean, and it has a large covered seating area that provided plenty of shade. We arrived at a beautiful cove to swim and snorkel, which was really fun. The drinks were plentiful, the food was delicious, and the music was fun. We were lucky to experience a wonderful sunset that evening, which made the excursion extra special.

Beautiful cruise, wonderful lunch, plentiful drinks, relaxing swim and the most amazing sunset. I would highly recommend!!

Awesome experience, staff is perfect the sunset on the boat was breathtaking. I strongly recommend. The price is also very fair considering that everything was open bar. Food is very good as well, only good things to say about pacific lounge.

What a great boat trip! Beautiful views!!! We had a great time !! The Boat wa big and nice and clean!! Sunset gorgeous!! Food was good!! Wendy and Juan took very good care of us!!!

This was a fantastic tour. The beach we visited was amazing and the water was crystal clear. Captain Juan and Wendy were friendly, engaging and funny. Would highly recommend Pacific Lounge.

worst service ever, unfriendly staff. The food was not delicious. here’s lots of different companies offering the same service, I’d choose one of them instead.

Our Tamarindo Beach sunset sailing was pure fun! On a sunny day, we cruised to a white sand beach, and the 5-hour trip was a blast. Antonio and the crew were incredibly helpful, especially with my 73-year-old husband. They made sure he enjoyed the sea, the beach, and the boat. The food was a hit; the chicken was so yummy that a 7-year-old asked for seconds. We loved jumping into the clear water from the boat and savored a breathtaking sunset on our way back. In short, our Tamarindo Beach sailing was a fantastic adventure. Don't miss it for sun, sea, delicious food, and endless fun!

We had the best time during the Sunset catamaran trip. The crew was super friendly and enthusiastic, the food and drinks were delicious and the surroundings were beautiful. We saw a lot of beautiful fish during snorkeling, swam to a beautiful beach and had fun on the paddle boards and jumping from the boat. Highly recommend it!

superb day on this spacious boat with admirable service on board. The staff is attentive to customers and very friendly. A swim on the beach, far from civilization. Drinks and food at will. Really great.

Incredible experience. The catamaran was amazing, the team extremely experienced and we had a wonderful time. I can only encourage anyone to have such experience and create unforgettable memories. A must in Tamarindo.

If you want to have a really good time and stunning sunset, call them they are the best in town. The boat is brand new, confortable and have also lots of shade. Every member of the crue is lovely, caring and fun. Foods and drinks are really good. I would recommend this tour to everyone.

Amazing new boat, the crew and captain were really professional. Fun time with drinks and food, can’t ask for anything more. I highly recommend them, great snorkeling and beautiful beaches , ending with the most beautiful sunset in Tamarindo.

We had such a great time on the Pacific Lounge, the crew, the drinks and the food were excellent, what an amazing trip and unforgettable memories!!!

We love this part of Costa Rica and playa Langosta . If you are visiting Tamarindo this is a must go . Very new , unique experience for new or experienced boaters . The upstairs lounge is fab place for groups .great way to see the area from the ocean .