Expert Aboard: Kontiki Costa Rica Review 

The 18-passenger Kontiki Wayra is a brand-new addition to the very small, small ship fleet currently exploring the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. She is the newest addition to our lineup here at AdventureSmith Explorations, providing a platform for exploring this coastline without having to move lodge to lodge overland. So, I sailed aboard to ensure she was adventure-ready, comfortable and up to living the pura vida as advertised.

Read my Kontiki Wayra review here detailing my time aboard to find out what stood out to me while sailing aboard this ship. 

IN THIS POST – Kontiki Costa Rica Review:
Kontiki’s Cabins
My Favorite Areas Aboard  
Swimming & Sliding
Fresh Seafood Favorites
Off Ship Activities
When to Go

My Review of Kontiki’s Cabins 

I occupied one of the 5 Veranda Luxury Staterooms located on the Veranda Deck aboard Kontiki Wayra. This roomy cabin can be configured as a King or two twins, and cabins 1-4 offer interconnectivity for families. The abundance of storage space both under the bed and in the sizable (for a small ship) closet made keeping my cabin tidy and organized a breeze. 

On active warm water small ship cruises, you will find that you shower at least twice a day – sometimes three (salt water, sweat, sunscreen, bug spray, etc, etc). Consequently, the shower in your cabin takes on an outsized importance. The Kontiki shower didn’t disappoint with its large “rain shower”–type head, generous frosted window for natural light and high-end amenities. 

The “gallery” arrangement of the Veranda Deck cabins means that I had exterior access, and floor-to-ceiling glass opening onto the promenade and the ships rail. This is functionally a 360-degree viewing area, protected from both the sun and the rain. This was an easy space to just run out to whenever dolphins were spotted following in our wake, or to watch the sunrise prior to preparing myself to descend to the more trafficked common areas for breakfast. These cabins on the Veranda Deck are all comparable, though Cabin 5 at the stern does have an additional sitting area right outside the cabin door. 

The three cabins located on the Panoramic Main Deck are all accessed through an interior passageway and are slightly more compact. Cabin 8, however, offers a bow facing bank of windows giving it an airier feel than the other two cabins on this deck. 

Every cabin is stocked with a single cup coffee maker, a light snack selection – including daily refreshed homemade candies from the galley, security safe, branded bathrobe and slippers.

My Favorite Areas Aboard 

Kontiki offers an abundance of intimate-feeling outdoor areas and spaces above and below the wrap-around promenade on the Veranda Deck: 

• Just forward of the wheelhouse on the Veranda Deck is an area called the “Chill Parlor,” a full-sun space equipped with built in loungers. A great place to feel the breeze in your hair while underway, especially when the sun is low. 
• The Sun Deck offers sun and rain protection amidships, a clubby bar where appetizers and pre-dinner drinks are served, and a forward-mounted Jacuzzi with wrap-around deck and nearby outdoor shower. This area was my top choice to enjoy an cocktail, and a barbeque lunch was served here one afternoon. 
• On the fantail there is yet another intimate space under the Veranda Deck overhang. This little spot was a great place to relax in the shade after an activity in the open. 
• The Dining Room and Salon on the Panoramic Main Deck is where all meals are served, all briefings are given and most communal activities occur. This comfortably air-conditioned shared space has a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf island running down the center, allowing for more intimate spaces to develop on either side. While a group of my fellow passengers engaged in their nightly ritual of a raucous game of Jenga on one side, anyone who wanted a little quiet could happily read their bird book or journal on the other. It was impressive how different the vibe could be depending on if you were to the Jengaward or in the calm lee of this island. 

Oceanic Club: Kontiki’s Floating Playground

Kontiki has a unique floating structure they call the Oceanic Club. It’s deployed once the ship is at anchor, providing a very large, and very comfortable platform for all manner of waterborne activities. It is from here that I would take my morning and afternoon dips, easily mount a sit-on-top kayak for an exploratory paddle around the anchorage or launch one of the four Seabob electric underwater/above-water scooters. Think of the Oceanic Club as an inflatable harbor for deploying water toys. There is even a “pool” structure allowing for more contained and relaxing swimming, great for younger kids or non-swimmers (we had both aboard and they took advantage of the pool area). 

The 25-foot-high waterslide that’s deployed off of the sundeck looked gimmicky to me at first blush, but was enjoyed by all ages (including mine) at every anchorage. An exhilarating way to enter the water after the days more “serious” activities. 

A Seafood Lover’s Paradise  

The galley aboard Kontiki is impressively well appointed and unusually large for a ship of this size. This enabled the chef and galley staff to deliver an impressive spread, particularly at dinner. Each afternoon we were offered two choices for starter, two for main, and two for dessert for that night’s repast.  

I live at 6,000 feet and 200 miles from the nearest ocean, so seafood is unfortunately not a regular part of my diet. On any blue-water cruise, I bank on eating mariscos every day, and Kontiki’s Ecuadorian chef didn’t disappoint. The dinner menu always included one starter option and one main from the sea. Think lobster bisque, wahoo ceviche, ahi tuna tataki and grilled prawns in a green pea puree.  I am a particular fan of octopus, so I was delighted to see it as a menu option three times over the course of five nights—once as a rich bisque, once in a creamy rice dish alongside lobster tail, and once grilled to perfection and topped with a chillangua chimichurri. 

Uniquely, the Kontiki also offers a completely separate menu for vegetarians – meaning they were not relegated to a single option for starter and main as they are on many ships. The vegetarians in our midst were offered a full spread of two, delicious looking, meatless options for both starter and main. 

A Typical Day Off Ship in Costa Rica 

The daily off-vessel activities included a good mix of experiences—all of which were enjoyed by the entire spread of ages and experience levels: 

• A day of whitewater rafting on the Savegre River, considered one of the most pristine in Costa Rica. There were sections of this river that were fairly lively, there were also sections of calmer waters where we were able to enjoy this beautiful river basin and all the birds it harbors. 
• A day of snorkeling at Isla del Cano, one of the premier snorkeling and diving spots on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. As this biological Reserve is about 12 miles offshore, overnighting at anchor aboard Kontiki allowed us to get into the water before any day trippers from Drake Bay arrived. 
• A full day visit to Corcovado National Park on the Osa Peninsula, home to an astounding proportion of Costa Rica’s biodiversity. It was here, near the end of our circuit hike from Sirena Ranger Station, that I was able to see my very first Baird’s tapir in the open. 
• A half-day kayaking in the mangroves of the Rio Esquinas at the head of the Golfo Dulce, a stunning tropical fjord. Here we were able to ascend this easy flowing river for several miles in the motorized skiff, allowing us to kayak down with the current. 

Tips for Choosing When to Go

I traveled aboard Kontiki in June, somewhat late in her December-to-August sailing season. We were well into the rainy season in this part of the country – so mornings were typically bright and sunny, but afternoons were typically rainy enough to stop my organized activities. Note as well that the seas can get a bit rough this time of the year, until you gain the protection of the Osa Peninsula inside the wonderfully calm Golfo Dulce. 

I recommend looking at traveling December to April on this itinerary for the best shot of calmer seas and drier weather. Note however, that the wildlife is incredibly active and the jungle impossibly lush during the productive rainy season.

Who Is a Good Fit for the Kontiki?

I think the Kontiki is a perfect for charters and multigenerational family groups looking to explore the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. Aboard my departure was a family of five including a grade schooler, high schooler and college kid – and all found activities and experiences to entertain and enlighten. 

For more photos & video from this cruise, view my Facebook album on AdventureSmith Explorations’ Facebook page.