The 15 Kayak Trips in Costa Rica That Earn Their Price

1.Damas Island Mangrove Kayaking Tour from Manuel Antonio

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 89 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $75Our pick

You’ll paddle through Damas Island’s mangrove channels near Quepos for about four hours, with guides pointing out monkeys, birds, reptiles, and plant life. The trip includes hotel pickup, bottled water, and a Costa Rican meal at the Tucanes Tours base. Tide times control the actual start, so confirm your pickup time.

“It was very interesting to kayak the mangroves and see the monkeys. The tour itself was not impressive and not worth the money we paid for it. The time of the tour is not what is posted on the website but is dependent on the tide - in our case the pick up was at 12:40 (instead of 6am.). The guide was nice but a newbie - he was not very engaging, his english was adequate, and he was not very knowledgable. The kayaks were uncomfortable and the first double kayak in which they launched us quickly took on water so we had to get back - they didn't have…”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Canoe tour dentro del Parque

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 86 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $28Top rated

Start at 6:00 am with Tortuguero Adventures for a three-hour canoe ride through Tortuguero National Park. Your multilingual guide points out caimans, howler monkeys, and tropical birds while you paddle quiet canals. Binoculars, ponchos, and paddles are included. The group is limited to 10 people.

“Die Tour war von Anfang bis Schluss perfekt. Sehr einfache und freundliche Kommunikation mit Carmen. Die Tour startete pünktlich um 6.00 Uhr - davor gab es noch Kaffee und Tee. Der Guide war perfekt - er erklärte uns alles im Detail und nahm sich die Zeit alle Fragen zu beantworten. Wir sahen super viele Tiere.”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Wildlife Safari Float by Kayak in Peñas Blancas River from Arenal

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 79 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $88

Spend about four hours kayaking the Peñas Blancas River with a naturalist guide such as Christopher, Beto, or David. Watch for monkeys, crocodiles, sloths, toucans, bats, and iguanas, then visit La Cocina de Tita Yolanda for coffee, cacao, sugar cane, and a typical snack.

“The guides were knowledgeable about the animals in the area and kept an eye out for us to stop and take pictures. They were cautious about keeping us safe and they were very fun and kept us laughing. This was one of the highlights of our trip!”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Kayak to the Heart of the National Park

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 79 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $65

Set out from Pangas Beach Club with guide Luis or Tom for a tide-timed kayak trip into Las Baulas National Marine Park. You’ll learn basic paddling, watch for monkeys, crocodiles, and birds, then leave the kayaks for a guided forest walk and climb to an indigenous archaeological site. Expect heat, mud, and moderate physical effort.

“Paddle was very cool up the estuary. We were taken into the park and on a short hike to see local flora and fauna. Would recommend to any nature enthusiasts. Luis was very knowledgeable.”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Lake Arenal Private Paddle Board Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 78 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $70

Join Jose for a private 2.5-hour stand-up paddleboard outing on Lake Arenal near La Fortuna. You’ll receive a safety lesson, paddle in sheltered areas, look for birds, turtles, fish, and otters, and enjoy fruit, photos, and video. The pace is friendly and adaptable, with assistance available for participants with disabilities.

“Jose was a very friendly and professional guide. He taught the basics of supping very patiently and made us feel confident on the paddle board”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Adventure Canoe Tour in Tortuguero

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 78 reviews · 2 hours 15 minutes (approx.) · from $25

Paddle a canoe through Tortuguero National Park with an accredited guide such as Leroy, Norton, or Eric. The roughly 2-hour-15-minute outing is limited to six people and focuses on wildlife, including monkeys, sloths, toucans, basilisk lizards, otters, caimans, and more. Bring rain gear: the canoe has no motor, and you will paddle.

“We had a great boattrip watching birds, monkeys and caimans. Our Guide Norton was very nice and helpful to see this animals in the canals of Tortuguero.”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Kayak Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 76 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $45

Start at 6:00 am in Tortuguero for about three hours of guided kayaking through the national park. Christian and other guides point out monkeys, caiman, sloths, turtles, snakes, and birds while you paddle quietly through narrow waterways. Kayak gear is supplied, but the park entrance fee is extra.

“Great trip, very knowledgeable guide, Christian. Saw howler monkeys, lots of cayman, black turtle, snake bird and lots of others. Everything very safe and plenty of time to take photos and soak it all in.”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Canoe tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 71 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $35

Start at 6:00 am in Tortuguero National Park for a 2.5-hour canoe or kayak trip through the park’s canals. A licensed guide, including Hugo on some departures, helps you look for caimans, crocodiles, monkeys, sloths, iguanas, and birds. Groups are limited to eight, while park admission costs extra.

Check availability →Read our full review

9.3-hour canoe tour through Tortuguero National Park

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 68 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $24Best value

Join PabloToursTortuguero for a three-hour canoe trip through Tortuguero National Park. Guides such as Pablo and Abel paddle with you through quiet channels, pointing out birds, American crocodiles, caimans, monkeys, snakes, trees, and plants. The group has no more than eight people, and the tour returns to its starting point.

“Excelente día con Pablo. Se ha esforzado en darnos a conocer el entorno y mostrarnos la fauna y flora local explicando sus interacciones. Ha estado en contacto y pendiente de nosotros incluso antes de llegar a Tortuguero ofreciendo su ayuda para cualquier cosa que pudiéramos necesitar. Gracias Pablo por la fabulosa experiencia que nos has ofrecido.”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Paddle Through Paradise: Mangrove Kayak Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 61 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $55

Paddle the calm mangrove waterways near Quepos with guides such as Memo, Jason, Jayson, or Felipe. Expect a small group of up to 12, easy kayaking for beginners, and chances to see sloths, monkeys, raccoons, lizards, snakes, crabs, and birds. The tour lasts about two hours and returns to the starting point.

“Jason was an excellent and conscientious guide. While other operators feed the animals to attract them for the tourists Jason didn't. We still saw plenty and enjoyed this short tour around the mangroves.”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Canoe Boat Tour in Tortuguero Canal

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 56 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $35

Explore Tortuguero’s rainforest canals with Sunbittern Nature Tours in a group of no more than eight. Your guide helps you spot camouflaged wildlife, reach narrow waterways, and understand the forest’s sounds and species. Adrian is a guide worth requesting if available. The tour lasts about three and a half hours and costs $35, plus the $16.95 national park ticket.

“Fantastic time seeing the canals and the nature of Tortuguero! Adrian was an amazing guide. Very knowledgeable of the area and its nature and helped us to get through narrow canals to see the best nature and hidden spots. He had a great sense of humour as well. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone going to Tortuguero… ask for Adrian!”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Canoe experience exploring Tortuguero National Park

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 54 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $30

Join Andrew for about two and a half hours on Tortuguero’s waterways, using a canoe or small boat, oars and a life jacket. Expect close views of wildlife, fresh air, and clear explanations of local nature, culture and history. Groups are capped at six, and the SINAC park ticket costs about $15 to $17 extra.

“Andrew est LE guide parfait ! Nous avons passé une matinée juste parfaite, il a prit le temps de nous montrer un maximum d'animaux en nous donnant toutes les explications. Andrew est un amoureux de la nature et de sa ville et sait le faire sentir à ses clients. Un moment juste unique ! Si vous souhaitez faire la sortie surTortuguero vous devez la faire avec Andrew. Il a rendu l'excursion juste incroyable !!! Merci Andrew Pascaline”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Small Group Tortuguero National Park Canoe Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 53 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $35

Meet at 5:30am for coffee, tea, biscuits, and fruit before paddling Tortuguero National Park’s canals. Your guide, including Kevin on some outings, points out birds, caimans, monkeys, and aquatic life. The canoe tour lasts about two hours, carries no more than 10 people, and includes binoculars and a dry-bag.

“Heel gaaf om in een kano op de vroege ochtend het water op te gaan. Kevin, onze gids, heeft ons met veel enthousiasme vertelt over het regenwoud. Meest bijzondere was de kaaiman van 1,5 meter naast onze boot. Aanrader!”

Check availability →Read our full review

14.Relaxing Canoe Tour in Tortuguero

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 48 reviews · 2 hours to 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $30

Join Green Tours for a quiet, eco-friendly canoe ride through Tortuguero National Park. Your local guide, possibly Johnatan, also called John, handles the route while you watch for wildlife along the creeks and lagoons. The tour lasts about two to two and a half hours, runs in the early morning, and limits the group to seven people.

“great canoe tour in the early morning. we saw beautifull animals and out guide Johnatan or John was very Professional”

Check availability →Read our full review

15.Mangrove Damas Island Kayak Tours

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 46 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $70

Spend about four hours paddling an open-seat kayak through the Damas Island Estuary near Quepos. Bilingual naturalist guides, including Marlon Erick Gonzalez Araya, known as Mega, point out birds, iguanas, crabs, monkeys, and other wildlife. A meal and hotel transfers in Manuel Antonio are included.

“Kayaking in the mangroves is a peaceful experience to learn about the wildlife from our guide Mega. I was hoping for an early morning paddle but it is dependent upon the tides. Our tour began midday just before the afternoon rains. Mega is some history of the mangroves. We were able to see a family of Capuchin monkeys and a curled up anteater in the distant trees. The meal provided after the tour was satisfying and delicious.”

Check availability →Read our full review