Mangrove Kayak
Recommended by 95% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Quepos, Costa Rica
- 2 to 3 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Overview
The lush mangroves of the Damas Island Estuary are renowned for their unique ecosystem and incredible diversity of wildlife. On this tour, take to the water and paddle along the scenic waterways by kayak, as you learn about the natural landscapes and local conservation efforts. Look out for wildlife such as monkeys, sloths, and iguanas, and perhaps spot crocodiles and turtles along the way.
- Enjoy exclusive access to the Damas Island canals
- Ecotourism tours include garbage collection program
- Choice of multiple departure times throughout the day
What's Included
- SnacksFresh fruit & water
- Certified Tour Guide
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Mangrove Tours NacarcostaThe Bamboo Farm, Provincia de Puntarenas, Quepos, 60601, Costa Rica
Nacarcosta reception
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
1
Isla Damas
2 hours • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Infant seats available
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Stroller accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- Wheelchair accessible
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Stephanie_C
This was AMAZING. Even if you haven’t kayaked before, this was safe, slow, and very relaxing. Our guide Memo was very knowledgeable and took the time to show us so many different things and explain them really well. You could tell he loved what he was doing. The farm tour at the beginning was an unexpected, very pleasant surprise.
Reviews
4.8
based on 220 reviews
Stephanie_C, Dec 2025
This was AMAZING. Even if you haven’t kayaked before, this was safe, slow, and very relaxing. Our guide Memo was very knowledgeable and took the time to show us so many different things and explain them really well. You could tell he loved what he was doing. The farm tour at the beginning was an unexpected, very pleasant surprise.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you for your kind words. Nacarcosta feels great knowing that customers leave satisfied.
Peter_D, May 2025
We had an excellent kayak tour. Our guide 'Johnny' was very knowledgeable and was excellent at spotting wildlife. We saw many monkeys, birds, baby crocodile and turtle. The river is a pleasant way to see things (assuming it is not the busy tourist season when things can get crowded). A good way to get outside and experience Costa Rica.
Response from Host, May 2025
Thank you very much Peter for your kind comments about Nacarcosta. These kinds of gestures make us feel increasingly committed to our customers.
AJ_B, Mar 2025
If you want to see native Costa Rican wildlife, the mangroves are a great place to start! Our guide, Jhonny, was excellent; very knowledgeable, great with a large group, and took the time to answer our questions. He’s also a great photographer! We saw tons of wildlife, including capuchins, basilisks, raccoons, sloths, black hawks, a mangrove boa, and more. A great experience!
Response from Host, Mar 2025
The company's mission is to offer an experience rather than just a tour. Thank you very much for your positive comments, and we hope you visit us again.
Debbie_S, Feb 2025
Great tour to see some very interesting landscape of Costa Rica. Our guide- Memo was very knowledgeable, a great sense of humor & entertaining.
Response from Host, Feb 2025
It's a pleasure to hear such nice comments. Thank you and have a great time.
Anne_F, Feb 2024
The kayaking trip was not as advertised. We were kayaking only 1.5 hours. It was on a canal that was full of boats. Not through mangroves with animals and birds. We were not offered the food that was advertised. Also, other people paid cash and it was significantly less money than we paid for the same experience. I would avoid these tours at all costs.
Response from Host, Feb 2024
We are sorry you didn't like our tour because it is the favorite in the area.
The canals, rivers and sea are public in Costa Rica so we cannot have control over people coming from many other companies. We are also in the high tourist season in the country. The animals are wild and are not enclosed, so we cannot guarantee how many you will see and which ones. The food is the most for all customers and we have not had this type of comment. If you pay with a credit card, the use of the machine is charged, so we save money for our clients if they pay in cash. Good day
Rachel_C, Jan 2024
This was a great time. Saw so many monkeys and the guide provided such valuable information on local fauna and facts about the area. So much fun
Tina_F, Jan 2024
It was such a nice experience to see al of the plants and animals from tbe kayak. Our guide was great - one can feel that she loves that place with all its fauna & flora and she had a lot of expertise.
Christopher_S, Dec 2023
We saw what we hoped to, great being in a kayak rather than a boat as we could see close and low. we saw animals without enticing them. We went early so felt like we had place to ourselves. Friendly guide, very happy, be aware you make your own way to park but taxi cheaper than a car rental.
jeffrey_t, Mar 2023
Laid back beautiful environment. Easy paddle, enthusiastic guide. Good for all. Saw lots of monkeys.
Response from Host, Mar 2023
It is a pleasure to hear good comments for the entire Nacarcosta Wildlife Adventure group, . We are committed to giving you a good experience as you deserve it. Thank you for visiting us, see you soon
Jeff_V, May 2022
Michael, our guide was really laid back and fun to talk to. He was sure to point out some wildlife we would have missed on our own, and was also gracious enough to teach us how to say some of the animals in Spanish.
We showed up a few minutes before 10:30a as that was when our tour was schedule to start. However, we didn't actually get started until 11:00a with a brief (approx 10 minutes) walking tour around the farm. Since we were on vacation, and trying to go with the flow of the day, we didn't mind the delay much, but it would be worth noting if you're considering going on this tour.
We did the group kayak tour, and we were the only ones on the tour at that time. It was $70/person for what turned out to be about a two-hour kayak float down to the end of an inlet and back to the dock where we started. We saw a couple of sloths, a snake in a tree, a troop of capuchin monkeys. While wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, we saw more the next day at Manuel Antonio National Park without a guide.
At the end of the tour, we were fed some iced tea, fresh fruit, and chicken rice, which was good. And again, Michael was a great companion to have with us. Though overall, I might spend the money and the time elsewhere on a trip to Costa Rica.
Response from Host, Aug 2022
Hello, it is a pleasure to hear your comments. I see everything you liked about our tour was good and that you saw many animals. The only annoyance is that you saw more animals in other place; but as you say, the animals are not confined and are free in the wild. We are a company that does not feed the animals, so it may be more difficult to see them.
Robin_K, Apr 2022
Mr Anderson gave us a tour through the jungle on individual kayaks. It was an amazing experience, saw a lot of wildlife and nature. Would recommend
Jillian_W, Mar 2022
It was a little challenging to find the location. Our guide was very patient, informative and willing to take photos of me and my girls.
This was an amazing experience! We loved the serenity of the river and a chance encounter with a small troup of monkeys!
Afterwards we enjoyed some freshly cut fruit. I would definitely recommend.
Tom_S, Jan 2022
Eli provided a relaxing tour of the grounds and let my wife ride the water buffalo (Chibolo). Then Daniel led a group of 6 kayaking in the tributary to and thru the mangroves, close to the coast. Saw many monkeys. Tour complete with fresh fruit, a sandwich, and fresh coconut milk.
johnshane_m, Jan 2022
Awesome tour, saw lots of animals and had a pleasant time out on the water. Would be 5/5 but had to dock two stars because the guides feed the monkeys to bait them into pictures. Not a good look, and not the right thing to do. Be good stewards Nacarcosta and leave the monkeys be!
Response from Host, Jan 2022
Hello John!
We are very thankful for your comments, here at Nacarcosta we have very strict policies about feeding the wildlife animals and all of our tour guides know it very well. In fact we are the only company that runs tours in the same canal that stick to the Costa Rican normative of not feeding the monkeys. Unfortunately there are other companies that offer a monkey tour where they will attract the monkeys with food. We have been trying to make raise awareness between the neighbor companies to stop this bad habits.
Julie_J, Jul 2021
My mom and I had an unforgettable experience at Nacarcosta with Elias this week. We were worried at first since my mom has never done kayaking before, but it took only a couple of minutes for her to learn how to paddle and feel confident. The kayak tour was peaceful and full of exotic experiences. We were totally immersed in the sound of nature as we travel down the canal. We passed by the white face monkeys and some wildlife species including tiny bats, and we were lucky to see the sloth and her baby from a close distance. Elias taught us many new things about nature and Costa Rica which made the tour so adventurous. After kayaking, Elias and the team served us a sandwich and fresh pineapple, plus fresh coconut per my mom's wish! (thank you!) While we were waiting for our taxi, we walked around the farm and once again reminded of how perfect mother nature works. I'm so grateful to Nacarcosta and Elias for giving me and my mom such a special memory in Manuel Antonio! I highly recommend this tour to anyone who wants to have a peaceful time and truly commune with nature.
Ishi_M, Jun 2021
Elias was an AMAZING guide. It was so relaxing to float down a calm estuary in a tunnel of mangrove trees. We saw a boa constrictor dormant in the trees, a bunch of birds, Jesus lizards and Elias was super knowledgeable on all of the fauna of the mangroves.
BRUNO_D, Jan 2021
MOMENT UNIQUE AU CALME
AUTHENTIQUE ET HORS DU TEMPS.
Sortie pour les amoureux de la nature Petite ferme plein de plantes de papillons avec de trés jolie explication.......et bien sur ensuite le tour de la mangrove en kayak et pour finir un petit repas;
BEAUCOUP MIEUX QUE FAIRE LE TOUR DE LA MANGROVE EN BATEAUX A MOTEUR.
Sortie écologique
Response from Host, Jan 2021
Cordialement de l'équipe Nacarcosta.
Nous sommes très reconnaissants et heureux de nous avoir fait part de votre expérience au Costa Rica et que vous ayez apprécié l'activité menée à notre place.
From $75.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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