Jeff Bezos yacht Koru Costa Rica: discover where it was seen, what makes the yacht remarkable, and what happened in 2026.
The Jeff Bezos yacht Koru Costa Rica story refers to sightings of Koru and its support vessel Abeona in Costa Rican waters in March and April 2026. Costa Rican media reported the yachts around Guanacaste and the Gulf of Papagayo, with subsequent reporting placing both vessels near Cocos Island before their departure on April 4.
Koru is a roughly 127-meter (417-foot) three-masted sailing yacht built by Oceanco and delivered in 2023. Public yacht-industry sources identify Jeff Bezos as its owner, although precise private itineraries should be treated cautiously because vessel-tracking data does not necessarily establish where an owner is physically present.
What You'll Discover:
Why Jeff Bezos’ Koru Was in Costa Rica
The Costa Rica story became notable in March 2026 when Koru appeared along the country’s Pacific coast during a reported vacation involving Bezos and his wife, Lauren Sánchez.
Costa Rican newspaper El Observador reported that Koru first arrived in the country’s waters around March 19, 2026, and was subsequently associated with the Gulf of Papagayo in Guanacaste. Photographs and video published by Guatemalan photographer Marcos Ponciano showed Koru alongside Abeona.
La Nación similarly reported on March 28 that Bezos and Sánchez were vacationing in Guanacaste and had brought the two vessels with them.
That distinction matters: a yacht being photographed in Costa Rican waters is not the same thing as having a confirmed public itinerary for every stop.
Where in Costa Rica Was Koru Seen?
The most prominent mainland location was Guanacaste’s Gulf of Papagayo, an area known for sheltered Pacific waters, beaches and luxury tourism.
Reporting later expanded the story beyond Guanacaste. El Observador reported that vessel-tracking systems placed both Koru and Abeona around Cocos Island, roughly 550 kilometers from Costa Rica’s mainland. Costa Rican immigration officials reportedly confirmed that both vessels arrived in the area on March 27 and departed April 4.
Cocos Island is not simply another tropical stop. It is a protected natural area and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, making the reported presence of a 127-meter private sailing yacht particularly interesting from a geographical and environmental perspective.
Koru is about 127 meters long, making it one of the world’s largest sailing yachts.
Cocos Island lies roughly 550 kilometers off Costa Rica’s Pacific coast and is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage property.
What Is Jeff Bezos’ Koru Yacht?
Koru is a custom-built sailing superyacht constructed by Dutch shipyard Oceanco.
Industry databases differ slightly on the precise length, reporting figures around 125.8 to 127 meters, depending on the measurement convention used. Its gross tonnage is listed at 3,493 GT, while its beam is approximately 17 meters and its maximum draft about 5 meters.
The yacht has a three-masted schooner configuration, combining the visual character of a traditional sailing vessel with modern engineering and luxury-yacht systems.
Its design team includes Dykstra Naval Architects for naval architecture and exterior design, with Mlinaric, Henry & Zervudachi responsible for the interior. The vessel has a steel hull and aluminum superstructure.
The yacht can accommodate around 18 guests, with roughly three dozen crew members reported by major yacht databases. Different sources list crew capacity somewhat differently, so it is better to treat the figure as an approximate operating capacity rather than a fixed headcount.
How Much Did Koru Cost?
The frequently repeated figure is about $500 million, but this should be described as an estimate rather than a publicly disclosed purchase invoice.
Yacht-industry publications have reported estimates ranging from roughly $250 million to $500 million, while recent Costa Rican reporting has used the approximately $500 million figure. Because the final construction contract and private ownership arrangements are not public, there is no authoritative public document establishing an exact final price.
That makes claims such as “Koru definitely cost exactly $500 million” unnecessarily precise.
A similar caution applies to annual running costs. Estimates commonly reach tens of millions of dollars per year, but expenses depend on crew, fuel, maintenance, insurance, refits, port charges and itinerary.
Koru vs. Abeona: Why Did Bezos Bring Two Yachts?
One of the most interesting details of the Costa Rica trip is that Koru did not travel alone.
Its companion, Abeona, is a roughly 75-meter support vessel built by Damen Yachting and delivered in 2023. Yacht-industry sources identify it as the support vessel for Koru.
The easiest way to understand the arrangement is to think of Koru as the luxury sailing platform and Abeona as its mobile logistics base.
| Feature | Koru | Abeona |
| Type | Sailing superyacht | Support vessel |
| Length | About 127 m | About 75 m |
| Builder | Oceanco | Damen Yachting |
| Year | 2023 | 2023 |
| Primary role | Guest accommodation and sailing | Logistics, equipment and support |
| Guests/crew | About 18 guests; 36+ crew reported | Primarily crew/support accommodation |
| Helipad | Not its defining feature | Yes |
| Water toys/tenders | Some | Major support role |
Abeona can carry equipment that would otherwise consume valuable space aboard the main yacht, including tenders and recreational equipment. It also provides helicopter-support capabilities, an especially useful feature during remote cruising.
This explains why photographs of the two vessels together can look almost surreal: the “support boat” itself is approximately three-quarters the length of many famous superyachts.
Why Is Koru Called Koru?
The name has a distinctly New Zealand connection.
Koru refers to the spiral form associated with the unfurling fern frond in Māori culture. It is commonly associated with ideas including new life, growth, continuity and new beginnings. Contemporary reporting in New Zealand noted the meaning when Bezos’ yacht was named in 2023.
The name also fits the yacht’s visual design. Its sweeping lines, dark hull and enormous curved sailing rig give it a very different appearance from the boxier motor yachts that dominate many billionaire-yacht stories.
There has also been discussion in New Zealand about the cultural use of the Māori name. Those perspectives are worth distinguishing from the straightforward factual point: Koru is a Māori cultural symbol with established meanings around growth and new beginnings.
What Makes Koru Different From a Typical Superyacht?
The biggest difference is right above the deck: Koru is fundamentally a sailing yacht.
Its three huge masts and extensive sailing rig give it a visual identity that is closer to a classic schooner than to a conventional motor-powered megayacht.
Yet this is not an old-fashioned sailing ship. Two MTU diesel engines provide additional propulsion, and SuperYacht Times lists a maximum speed of about 20 knots.
The yacht also has features associated with contemporary luxury cruising, including a swimming pool and extensive outdoor spaces. Public photographs reveal considerably more about the exterior than the interior because the latter has remained comparatively private.
That privacy creates another common misconception: internet articles sometimes present speculative interior layouts or amenities as confirmed facts. Unless a feature is documented by a credible yacht source or photographed directly, it is safer to treat it as unconfirmed.
Why Cocos Island Is a Particularly Interesting Part of the Story
Cocos Island makes this story more than another celebrity-yacht sighting.
Located approximately 550 kilometers off Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, Cocos Island National Park is internationally recognized for its extraordinary marine biodiversity. UNESCO describes its surrounding waters as important habitat for large pelagic species including sharks, rays, tuna and dolphins.
The protected property covers a vast marine area, and Costa Rica’s official tourism information describes Cocos Island as a major diving destination. Access from Puntarenas by boat takes roughly 36 hours, illustrating just how remote the island is compared with mainland Guanacaste.
UNESCO also notes that the area is protected under Costa Rican law and that tourism around the island requires appropriate monitoring and controls to minimize disturbance and pollution.
So when Koru and Abeona appeared in tracking data near Cocos Island, the location was significant not because it was necessarily a secret Bezos destination, but because Cocos is one of the world’s better-known remote marine conservation areas.
Was Jeff Bezos Actually on Koru in Costa Rica?
This is where careful wording matters.
Costa Rican media reported that Bezos was vacationing in Costa Rica with Sánchez during the March 2026 visit, and La Nación reported that the couple were in Guanacaste.
However, AIS or yacht-tracking data identifies a vessel, not necessarily every person aboard it.
That means a statement such as “Koru was in Costa Rica” is considerably easier to verify than a detailed claim about exactly where Bezos was at a particular moment. Public photographs and local reporting provide evidence of the broader visit, but they should not be treated as a minute-by-minute personal itinerary.
This distinction is useful whenever celebrity yacht-tracking stories circulate online.
Is Koru Still Jeff Bezos’ Yacht?
Publicly available yacht-industry sources continue to identify Koru with Bezos.
Recent reporting in 2026 also addressed rumors that the yacht was being sold. People reported that Bezos was not selling Koru, citing information from a source close to the situation, while SuperYacht Times currently lists the yacht as not for sale.
The broader lesson is that yacht ownership information can be less transparent than ownership of a publicly traded company. Private yachts can be registered through corporate structures, and industry databases sometimes label ownership as “reported.”
For that reason, “publicly reported as owned by Jeff Bezos” is the most careful formulation when discussing ownership.
Can You Charter Koru in Costa Rica?
No public evidence indicates that Koru is offered as a normal charter yacht.
Yacht Charter Fleet currently says Koru is not believed to be available for private charter.
That matters because photographs of the yacht in Costa Rica can create the impression that someone could simply charter it for a luxury vacation.
In practice, seeing Koru near Guanacaste does not mean the vessel is available for tourists to rent. It is a privately operated superyacht.
What We Know About the 2026 Costa Rica Visit
The most defensible timeline is:
- March 19, 2026: Costa Rican reporting identified the beginning of Koru’s reported presence in the country.
- Late March: Koru and Abeona were photographed around Guanacaste and the Gulf of Papagayo.
- March 27: Costa Rican immigration information cited by El Observador placed both vessels around Cocos Island.
- April 4: The same report said both vessels departed the Cocos Island area.
The precise movements between these points should not be interpreted as a complete public itinerary. Yacht-tracking systems can contain delays, inferred destinations and gaps, while media reports naturally focus on sightings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where was Jeff Bezos’ yacht Koru in Costa Rica?
Koru was reported in Guanacaste and the Gulf of Papagayo in March 2026. Later reporting placed Koru and its support vessel Abeona around Cocos Island before their reported departure on April 4.
How big is Jeff Bezos’ Koru yacht?
Koru is approximately 127 meters (417 feet) long, with a beam of roughly 17 meters and gross tonnage of 3,493 GT.
How much is Koru worth?
Its construction cost is widely estimated at around $500 million, although an exact final purchase price has not been publicly established.
What is the other yacht with Koru?
The companion vessel is Abeona, a roughly 75-meter Damen support vessel. It provides logistics, equipment storage, tender support and helicopter facilities for Koru.
Can tourists charter Koru?
Koru is not publicly listed as available for private charter.
Key Takeaways
- Jeff Bezos yacht Koru Costa Rica refers primarily to the yacht’s reported Pacific-coast visit in March and April 2026.
- Koru is a 127-meter, three-masted sailing superyacht built by Oceanco.
- Costa Rican reports placed the yacht around Guanacaste and the Gulf of Papagayo, followed by reported movements near Cocos Island.
- Abeona, a roughly 75-meter support vessel, accompanied Koru and handles much of its logistical support.
- Cocos Island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site roughly 550 km from Costa Rica’s mainland.
- The often-reported $500 million price tag is an estimate, not a publicly verified invoice.
- Public vessel tracking can establish a yacht’s location but does not by itself prove who is aboard.
Additional Resources
- Cocos Island National Park: Provides authoritative information on Cocos Island’s geography, protected status, biodiversity and conservation significance.
