One of the world’s most recognizable private yachts has made an appearance off Costa Rica’s Pacific coast. Koru, the giant sailing yacht tied to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, was reported in Guanacaste waters this week, drawing attention from locals, tourists, and yacht watchers tracking its route near the Gulf of Papagayo. Costa Rican coverage placed the yacht in the area and vessel-tracking data later showed Golfo de Papagayo listed as its last port before it resumed navigation.
The sighting quickly became a point of curiosity in one of our country’s best-known luxury tourism areas. Papagayo is already associated with high-end resorts, private villas, and marina traffic, but Koru’s arrival gave the coastline an extra burst of international attention. Social media posts from visitors in the area helped fuel the interest, with some sharing photos of the enormous vessel from shore and nearby marinas.
Koru is no ordinary yacht. Built by Dutch shipyard Oceanco and delivered in 2023, it measures about 125 meters, or roughly 410 feet, and is described by its builder as the largest sailing yacht in the world. The three-masted schooner has a dark blue hull, broad open deck space, a swimming pool, and three jacuzzis, combining old-world sailing lines with ultra-luxury scale. Oceanco says the yacht’s exterior design was handled by Dykstra Naval Architects, while the interior was created by Tino Zervudachi and Associates.
Industry records show Koru can host up to 18 guests with a crew of about 40, placing it among the most prominent private vessels afloat. Since entering service, it has been photographed in a string of headline-making destinations, from the Caribbean to the Mediterranean, reinforcing its status as one of the most closely watched yachts in the world.
Traveling with Koru is Abeona, a 75-meter support vessel delivered in 2023 by Damen Yachting. Abeona functions as the operational partner to the main yacht, carrying extra equipment, tenders, and support capacity that allows longer voyages with fewer port needs. Yacht industry reports describe it as featuring a helipad and hangar, with room for up to 45 people including crew, guests, and specialist staff.
For us here in Costa Rica, the sighting is mostly a curiosity rather than a major event, but it fits our country’s growing profile as a destination that attracts luxury travel alongside its more familiar eco-tourism image. Guanacaste has long marketed itself around beaches, sport fishing, and upscale hospitality, and a visit from one of the world’s best-known superyachts only adds to that reputation.
