Crocodile Man Tour - THE ORIGINAL Tarcoles River Experience

Recommended by 95% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Jaco, Costa Rica

Great choice

5+ bookings last month.

1 to 45 minutes (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Go in search of crocodiles and other wildlife on a boat cruise along the Tarcoles River, home to one of the largest populations of crocodiles in the world. Learn about the area’s flora and fauna from your guide as you cruise along the river, and keep an eye out for crocodiles, reptiles, and more than 50 bird species.

Go on a wildlife spotting boat cruise on the Tarcoles River
Get up close to crocodiles, reptiles, and native birds
Choose from several departures throughout the day
Group size capped at 20 for a more personal experience

What's Included

Crocodile Tour Experience
Free Wi-Fi at our meeting point
Private and secure parking
Coffee and water included in our restaurant
Bird sheet written in 4 languages, used during the tour to identify the species

Private transportation

Transportation is not included; it can be arranged for an extra fee. You can contact us.

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting points

Select a meeting point

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

Tarcoles Bridge (Pass By)

Carara National Park (Pass By)

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Wheelchair accessible
Service animals allowed
Near public transportation
Transportation is wheelchair accessible

Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Most travelers can participate
Si desea reservar para 1 persona , por favor comunicarse ya que el tour se realiza con minimo 2 personas
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 100 travelers

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Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Edward_M

Loved the trip down the Tarcoles with narration from our hilarious tour guide, Jose. A definite must see. You get up and personal with some of the resident crocs and come away with a true appreciation for life on the Tarcoles River.

Reviews

4.8

based on 174 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Great family experience for all ages

Carolyne_R, Dec 2025

Our Canadian multigenerational family attended a tour at 10:00am in late December and it was an incredible experience all around. The children, adults, and seniors all agree that this was well worth the value! We saw over a dozen crocodiles, learned about local birds, laughed at our guide’s jokes, and experienced an up-close and personal moment with Costa Rican wildlife that was educational, safe, and adventurous from start to finish. 10/10 recommend.

Response from Host, Jan 2026

Thank you very much for your kind review! We’re happy to hear your whole family enjoyed the tour, the wildlife, and our guide. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to see you again! Pura vida.

Great tour !

Linda_S, May 2025

Great tour and great guide ! We saw many crocs and birds along the river. The guide pointed out quite a few to us.

Response from Host, May 2025

Thank you for your great review! We're glad you enjoyed the tour and that our guide helped you spot so much wildlife. Hope to welcome you again soon!"

A croc enthusiast’s dream!

AJ_B, Mar 2025

If you’re looking to see crocs in the wild up close (and tons of other wildlife), this is the tour for you! Our guide, Jose, was excellent, always quick with both facts about the species and jokes that kept the tour fun and exciting. The crocodiles were incredible, with some able to be approached where our boat was within a few feet of them; and they were massive!! Bird-watchers will also love this tour, as we saw plenty of avian wildlife. Wish I could go on this tour again!

Response from Host, Mar 2025

We're so glad to hear that the experience was memorable for you. It’s great to know that Jose made the tour even more enjoyable with his knowledge and enthusiasm. We really appreciate your feedback and hope to have the chance to welcome you on another amazing adventure in the future! Pura Vida

12/10 must see

Macy_M, Feb 2025

Siede and El Capitan were great!!! We took the 8am tour and had the whole boat to ourselves. Got up close to the largest crocs in the river and saw an array of wildlife. The birds were beautiful and the knowledge shared from the tour guides was 12/10. MUST SEE

Response from Host, Feb 2025

Hello! Thank you for visiting us, thank you for letting us know that you liked our tour and also the work of the guys.

Ok

Glen_M, Jan 2025

I suppose crocodiles are hit and miss. The trip was OK. We heard about some of the wild life, mostly birds.

Response from Host, Feb 2025

Hello! Thank you for your visit,

Excitement

TheReal_C, Oct 2024

Great experience with friends n nothing to be worried about the quides are knowledgeable. Will be back

Response from Host, Feb 2025

Hello, thank you for your visit and comment. It was a pleasure to serve you.

Great experience

Carine_R, Apr 2024

Great time on the river. Engaging guide. We saw several crocodiles, birds, turtles, monkeys and learned a lot.

Must See

Edward_M, Mar 2024

Entertaining

JanCarsten_S, Mar 2026

You get very close to the plush toys here. All in all interesting but of course not quite natural. The animals are used to feeding chicken. You can't get rid of a mother-in-law here

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Response from Host, Mar 2026

Thank you very much for your review.

Viele Krokodile - kein Action

Irina_P, Aug 2024

Wir haben mehrere Krokodile gesehen. Unsere beiden Kinder (7 und 14 Jahre alt) fanden die Veranstaltung langweilig. Es war zu wenig Action. Der Führer versorgte uns mit umfangreichen Informationen zum Fluß, zu den einzelnen Vögeln und den Krokodilen, die individuell namentlich benannt waren.