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Last updated on April 24, 2021
The rocky coast of Ancón Peninsula shelters the best snorkeling spots in the Trinidad area. Next to La Batea, two small spots boasting nice rocky seabeds covered with gorgonians and corals are worth a visit. Swimming in crystal-clear water, you will be able to observe a great variety of colorful fish species including butterflyfish, wrasses and damselfish.
La Batea is located close to Trinidad, along the rocky coast of Ancón Peninsula, about 3km south of Playa La Boca and 4km north of Playa Ancón. Biking is the most enjoyable way to get to La Batea from Trinidad and its surrounding beaches.
We recommend two distinct snorkel areas: La Batea Beach (zone 1 on the map below), and an alternative site located 500 m further north (zone 2 on the map), where you will find a similar environment while encountering way less people.
Whatever your choice, you will have to spend a few pesos to access the beaches (check the prices onsite).
In La Batea Beach (zone 1), a concrete stairway has been set in the rocks to help snorkelers to enter the water more easily. On zone 2, however, you will have to enter the water directly from the sometimes-sharp rocks.
Both snorkel areas have a similar profile. The rocks fringing the coast extend underwater shaping irregular slopes. Water depth sometimes drops down to 12-18ft/4-6m only 50 meters away from the shoreline. The slopes are colonized by a great variety of gorgonians, sponges, and sea fans.
Corals also dwell here, in varying degrees of health. Sea ginger, blade fire coral (Millepora complanata), brain coral and a few, rather damaged clumps of elkhorn coral can notably be observed in both spots.
An interesting diversity of fish species can be seen on the reef. Butterflyfish (foureye butterflyfish, spotfin butterflyfish) and bluehead wrasses are particularly numerous on both spots. Yellowtail damselfish and blue chromis shine bright amongst corals, while a few starfish hide in the rocky overhangs.
In the absence of a sandy beach, underwater visibility is excellent around La Batea. Water is also generally very calm, but the site gets exposed as soon as a swell enters: do not enter the water in rough sea conditions.
La Batea beach hosts one spot for food.
These spots are accessible to anyone with basic snorkeling skills, and feeling comfortable in the water and with his snorkeling gear. You will enter the water from the shore (beach, pontoon, ladder, rocks) or from a boat. The water height in the sea entrance area is reasonable, but you will not necessarily be within your depth. Moderate currents can occur in the area, even when the sea conditions are good. The distance to swim to reach the most interesting snorkeling areas of the spot does not exceed 200 meters. This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.
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Snorkeling spots are part of a wild environment and their aspect can be significantly altered by weather, seasons, sea conditions, human impact and climate events (storms, hurricanes, seawater-warming episodes…). The consequences can be an alteration of the seabed (coral bleaching, coral destruction, and invasive seagrass), a poor underwater visibility, or a decrease of the sea life present in the area. Snorkeling Report makes every effort to ensure that all the information displayed on this website is accurate and up-to-date, but no guarantee is given that the underwater visibility and seabed aspect will be exactly as described on this page the day you will snorkel the spot. If you recently snorkeled this area and noticed some changes compared to the information contained on this page, please contact us.
The data contained in this website is for general information purposes only, and is not legal advice. It is intended to provide snorkelers with the information that will enable them to engage in safe and enjoyable snorkeling, and it is not meant as a substitute for swim level, physical condition, experience, or local knowledge. Remember that all marine activities, including snorkeling, are potentially dangerous, and that you enter the water at your own risk. You must take an individual weather, sea conditions and hazards assessment before entering the water. If snorkeling conditions are degraded, postpone your snorkeling or select an alternate site. Know and obey local laws and regulations, including regulated areas, protected species, wildlife interaction and dive flag laws.
