Jeff Bezos arrived in Costa Rica with a private jet, helicopter and a $500,000,000 yacht but the marina was too small to fit it
Published on Apr 01, 2026 at 8:01 PM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Apr 01, 2026 at 5:50 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
When Jeff Bezos stopped over in Costa Rica, it was anything but a small trip with his $500 million yacht.
And that’s in addition to his private jet and helicopter.
The Amazon CEO takes the ‘Go big or go home’ approach when it comes to his vacations, it would seem.
Unfortunately, the marina was too small to accommodate the boat.
Jeff Bezos paid a visit to Costa Rica in his $500 million superyacht, but it didn’t go to plan
Few men command a reputation for wealth and opulence quite like Jeff Bezos.
You wouldn’t expect anything less from the CEO of one of the world’s most profitable companies.
And nothing exemplifies his success more than Koru, his $500 million superyacht.
Spanning 416 feet and capable of 7,000 nautical miles of range, this vessel is all about the spectacle.
Boasting amenities like two swimming pools, several lounges, and a cinema, it’s no wonder that Koru has attracted big names like Leonardo DiCaprio and Katy Perry.
And it’s no surprise that at one point, Bezos and Lauren Sánchez were once rumored to be getting married on board – it’s a total love-boat.
But for all of its wonderful attributes, Koru has one big downfall – if you’ll pardon the pun.
It’s just too big for many docks and marinas.
When Bezos and Sánchez arrived in the South American country for their vacation, they were anything but understated.
Landing at Daniel Oduber Airport in a Gulfstream G650ER, they were flown out to Koru.
Footage has since been shared online of Koru sitting offshore, making for a striking outline on the Costa Rica coastline.
But that’s raised the question – why isn’t it docked?
Well, Marina Papagayo can only accommodate yachts that measure up to 250 feet.
With Koru coming out at 416 feet, it is simply far too big to fit.
Marcos, a self-described yacht lover, caught footage of the Koru sitting off the coast of Costa Rica.
“I was so excited, but I always do my research because I don’t consider myself a paparazzo,” Marcos told Supercar Blondie.
“I consider myself a yacht lover, so I don’t care who’s onboard. I hate not respecting people’s privacy, so I don’t get too close.
“They headed off to Isla El Coco, and they [went there] with their submarine, and with their helicopter.”
Costa Rica – the new place to be for superyacht owners?
Back in 2021, the luxury yachting landscape in Costa Rica changed with the Law for the Attraction of Marina Investments and Tourist Development.
This meant that foreign-flagged superyachts were legally authorized to engage in commercial charter activities.
Previously, foreign-flagged yachts had been prohibited from chartering in Costa Rican waters.
At the time, Jeff Duchesneau, the President of Marina Pez Vela and a board member of the Costa Rica Marina Association, anticipated big economic boosts for the country.
“When these guests, who are spending from $250,000 to $1m a week chartering a yacht, come to Costa Rica, they’re eating at the best restaurants, visiting the spas, buying provisions, hiring help – they have a big impact on the community,” he told Forbes.
In the years since, the law change has been cited as a big boost for the country.
As you might expect, there was a huge increase in charter bookings and marina developments.
The law also established a mandatory 2.5 percent tax on the gross income of every charter contract performed by a vessel with a foreign flag.
Not that uber-rich superyacht owners like Bezos would even notice that.
Marcos is happy to see more luxury yachts on the shores of Costa Rica.
“Seeing these types of yachts coming into our country is amazing,” he said.
“Costa Rica has always been very popular, but we’re transitioning from a vacation area to ultra luxury – we’re seeing more helicopters and more jets, and these huge boats. It’s amazing.”
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Following stints at LadBible, The Sun, The New York Post, and the Daily Mail, Ben joined the team full-time in February 2025. In his role as Senior Content Writer, his sparkling copy, the ability to sniff out a good story at 100 paces, and a GSOH quickly led to him becoming an integral and invaluable member of the writing staff.
