Private Puntarenas Shore Excursion: Hiking in Carara National Park

Central Pacific, Costa Rica

5 hours (approx.)
Pickup offered
Group discounts
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Spend your Puntarenas port day exploring one of Costa Rica's premier birdwatching and croc-spotting destinations with a hiking tour in Carara National Park. Trek along nature trails that wind through the River Tárcoles basin as an expert naturalist guide helps you spot abundant native species like scarlet macaws, parrots, capuchin monkeys, and the jaw-snapping crocodiles that line the river’s edge. You’ll also get a taste of local cuisine with an authentic Costa Rican lunch.

Half-day hiking shore excursion from Puntarenas
Explore the mangroves, forests, and tidal flats of Carara National Park
Visit one of Costa Rica's best locations to see wild scarlet macaws
Observe other species like crocodiles, monkeys, deer, and parrots in their native habitat
Led by an experienced naturalist guide
Traditional Costa Rican lunch and port pickup and drop-off included

What's Included

Professional guide
Port pickup and drop-off
Lunch
Private tour

Gratuities

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup point

Costanera Sur, Provincia de Puntarenas, Quepos, Costa Rica

What To Expect

After meeting your driver and guide at the Puntarenas port, travel just down the coast to the entrance of Carara National Park. When you arrive at the park entrance, follow a moderate, somewhat hilly loop trail that winds through a forested section and along a walkable road beside the River Tárcoles.

With a dual climate ranging from hot and dry in the winter (November to April) to hot and humid during the rainy season, the park’s mangrove forests and tidal flats offer a welcoming seasonal habitat to an incredible array of wildlife, especially birds. It's one of the best spots in the country to see brilliant scarlet macaws, plus other winged species like parrots, motmots, hummingbirds, and herons. Keep an eye out for members of the crocodile community that often sun along the river banks, as well as mammals that make their home in the forest like agouti, capuchin monkeys, and deer.

Reward your hiking efforts with a typical Costa Rican lunch on the return drive to the Puntarenas port, where your tour concludes with drop-off back at your ship.

Carara National Park

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 4 days of travel. In this case confirmation will be received within 48 hours, subject to availability
At time of booking, cruise ship passengers must provide the following information: ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time
Not wheelchair accessible