Tamarindo Mangrove on Kayaks
Overview
This is a kayak trip through the Tamarindo mangroves designed to have a lot of fun and a little relaxation at the same time. Mangroves are unusual trees harboring a diversity of wildlife and grow in the calm waters of an estuary that flows between Playa Grande and Tamarindo emptying into the Pacific Ocean. The estuary runs through the Las Baulas National Park to the mouth of the river in Tamarindo.
The tour begins when you are picked up from your hotel and taken to Tamarindo. Guests who are staying locally in Tamarindo are sometimes picked up from their hotel on an ATV. Your bilingual guide will also escort you by ATV down to the estuary and help you settle into an open 2 person kayak.
As you glide through the still waters of the estuary, your naturalist guide will assist you in locating and identifying various species of birds, reptiles, and wildlife like Motmots and Egrets, as well as crocodiles, monkeys, and sloths to name a few. Mangrove kayaking in Tamarindo is a popular trip because of the diversity of wildlife thriving in this unique environment.
Mangroves are wide-ranging trees that grow in the water. Their massive roots grow down pushing the soil to the sides of the river eventually completely covering all the terrain in the water as well as on the shore. An abundance of underwater life flourishes because of the protection of these roots; while above water the dense tree branches provide nesting areas for water birds. In addition, it is nearly impossible to explore this area on foot, so kayaking is the best way to see what is living here.
The tour includes a bilingual nature guide, ATV ride to the river, entrance fee, bottled water and transportation from the Flamingo area, Playa Grande, JW Marriott Guanacaste as well as locally from Tamarindo. Guests staying in Tamarindo are sometimes picked up from their hotel on an ATV.
One way transportation from your hotel to Tamarindo can take from 15 to 45 minutes depending on where you are staying. Combined time of the kayaking tour and round trip transportation can be between 2.5 and 3.5 hours. This tour is tide and weather dependent so availability and times can change daily. Please bring sun block, insect repellent, binoculars, camera, bathing suit, towel, non-skid shoes, and protective clothing like a hat. This is a smooth and easy way to glide into an area full of wildlife.
What to Bring
- Camera
- Binoculars
- Insect Repellent
- Bathing Suit
- Towel
- Sun Block
- Rain Gear
Tour Time
- Varies
Tour Type
- Adventure
- Nature
- Learning Family
Cancellation Policy
Recommended Ages
7 and up
Location
Latitude: N 10° 18' 35.77"
Longitude: W 85° 50' 6.24"
Reviews
- Overall 81.3% (34 Guest Ratings)
- Experience: 80.6%
- Expectations: 77.1%
- Guides: 83.5%
- Logistics: 84.4%
- Value: 83.2%
02/04/2020
Fun and knowledgable tour guide.
12/28/2018
The guide really said nothing. All we really did was just paddle around a lake. Was great exercise but zero experience. No difference if I was in a lake in Montreal. Really quite boring.
10/20/2016
Felt like we were cut short because we were not experienced kayakers
05/14/2016
Once we landed and began looking for monkeys on the way back the guide got lost a few times prolonging the walk back and without water made it not that great.
03/11/2016
Nothing about this tour was good. The poor transportation, the poor location of the tour's office, the crazy city and the other guest made us feel very uncomfortable. The kayaks were in poor shape, our kayak did not have the seat backs, broken clips and we were given no instructions. The guide could only speak very broken English and we got no enjoyment from this activity. The only good was seeing the monkeys, but we stayed where the monkeys were for too, too long. I would never recommend this activity.
03/02/2016
Good kayaks did not see many animals
11/30/2015
Awesome bilingual guide. We asked many questions and he was able to respond to them effectively and knowledgeably. It was fun and interesting. Very sweet guide!
06/21/2015
ATV pick up was on the back of an ATV, we did not drive. That said we had an adventure for sure. No crocs, not sure that is bad or good. FUN and relaxing tour! Not much wildlife, but fun to jest back into the mangroves!