Night Mangrove Safari Boat Tour with Dinner | Manuel Antonio
Recommended by 93% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Quepos, Costa Rica
- 3 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Why travelers loved this
·
Explore our promoted experiences
Overview
What's Included
- All Fees and Taxes
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Dinner
- Boat with captain
- Gratitudes
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
Operating hours.5:30 pm
Itinerary
Quepos (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 30 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
Julia_L
Anderson was a wonderful guide and very knowledgeable. We were able to spot frogs, birds, caimans, and many other animals with his expert eyes. He even tried to find a sloth for us because we were trying to see one! Thank you Enderson for a great experience! We will definitely try to return to experience more of Costa Rica! You made our trip!
Reviews
4.7
based on 602 reviews
Areg_M, Jun 2026
This excursion was unique in getting to see animals at night in their natural habitat. We saw many birds, bats, black & green iguanas, a yellow Boa constrictor, frongs, colonies of termites & ants, as well as a large variety of foliage. Our guide Andersen and the boat captain were determined to give us a great experience to the point that they got out of the boat and pulled us through the extra shallow waters when necessary. The guides were friendly with other boats, each sharing any sights that they saw so that all tourists could have the best experience in the wild. Anderson repeatedly checked in to see that everyone's questions were answered and that all were having a good time. The boat captain maneuvered the boat in ways so that people sitting on either side were able to have a good view of each animal, allowing plenty of time for photographs. Seeing the animals still and sleeping provided a unique experience to really enjoy their true beauty. Anderson was incredibly friendly and engaging with both kids and adults, ensuring we all had a great experience. The only recommendation I would give is to provide brighter flashlights for each passenger. If you choose to embark on this excursion I recommend light pants, tank, and lightweight long-sleeved shirt, as well as spraying yourself with bug spray, as there are a fair bit of mosquitoes but manageable if dressed appropriately. I found that having my long hair down with a hat helped to keep the bugs away from my neck and face. Bringing a small personal flashlight would be helpful. As some of the lights provided were very dim with limited battery life. Our 4 young kids greatly enjoyed this adventure!
Nancy_B, Jun 2026
The boat trip is spectacular and the mangroves are extraordinary. The buffet meal was the best of the "typico" meals we had.If there's one trip to take in this area - do this one.
Nancy_B, Jun 2026
One of the most magical travel experiences I've had. The mangroves at night are mysterious and beautiful as well as the little sleepy birds and reptiles.
Megan_G, Jun 2026
Bring a good flashlight if you have one. The more people looking for things, the more you all will see. The dinner is at the end and off-site (on the way home). There are bugs. If you know all of these things ahead of time, it's very enjoyable!
Anthony_L, Jun 2026
Enjoyable, relaxing and interesting experience. The two guides gave insight into the life in the mangroves.
Rienna_D, May 2026
Cool experience to tour the mangroves at night but a little underwhelming. Seen less animals than we expected. But the rated is more because it says it starts at 5:30, we got there early but our guide didn't arrive with the people until 6 pm and we didnt leave until 6:17 so that should be clearer. Our boat was full, with 18 people, its hard to see on the one side of the boat, the dinner is after which is totally okay but 15 mins away. There should be more details in the advertisement for this one is all. So I cant give it a 5.
Tracey_A, May 2026
I was assured they could accommodate my mobility device. We were picked up and driven there only to find out they could not, because there was an expansive gravel lot that my electric scooter could not traverse, and I am not mobile enough to walk more than 2 or 3 steps. They drove us all the way back home and I had to contact Viator, who was able to secure a refund for us from the operator. Disappointed but satisfied with the refund.
Emely_C, May 2026
If you’re looking for a nighttime activity, I’d consider this experience. We were a group of 9 adults; it is family friendly.
The pros: we DID see a good amount of animals - two crocodiles, a snake, sloth, two types of bats, several different birds, and learned about the different types of trees; if you’ve been extremely active while in Costa Rica, this is a good change of speed; there was dinner and it was pretty good. The Cons: the tour was a bit late to set off; there weren’t enough flashlights for everyone to have their own; some flashlights were brighter than others; the lights obviously attract a lot of bugs; the restaurant was very hot inside as it did not have A/C.
Make sure you sit in the front! (We did). As the guide spends most of their time there. Ours did walk through the aisle but I think it would be more difficult to hear from the back. All in all, I think it’s a bit overpriced, but again, not a lot of options for nighttime activities in the area.
Andres_B, May 2026
Fun relaxing ride along the mangroves. Rainy conditions made it hard to see wildlife, but staff was friendly and very pleasant.
George_K, Apr 2026
Very pleasant cruise and we saw many different animals. The guides were excellent at seeing things we didn't notice. And the meal afterwards was delicious,
Kurt_E, Apr 2026
Our tour guide and captain provided the best experience in this jungle trip showing Cayman, frogs, Sloth, Gecko, and tropical birds! We even had a fish jump right into our boat!! Great Costa Rica dinner followed. Highly recommend!
Hemant_R, Apr 2026
My first recommendation - Do not use Jade Travel that ultimately takes this booking or atleast for a couple of us. Per our reservation through Viator we were told to come by 530 pm which we did infact by 515 pm. The guide didn't show up until after 6 pm and informed us the we were still waiting for late arrivers.
When I approached the guide about the delay he was extremely rude and ultimately took th position that it's a company issue not his issue although he represents the company.
When we were informed we would still wait I called the office and they lied to me that I was informed to arrive by 6 pm. I check all my messages to make sure I didn't miss anything and I informed the office I was never told to come at 6 pm. At the end the tour started an hour late.
We were then informed after the tour that the included dinner was at a different location.
By that point we decided to leave.
Ultimately the chance of seeing fauna is left to chance. But the dishonesty of Jade Tours is what is jarring.
I absolutely don't recommend them and surprised that viator still uses them after Similar reviews.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Hello dear client,
Thank you for sharing your feedback.
We would like to clarify that the confirmed meeting time and location were sent to you via WhatsApp, indicating a 6:00 PM meeting time at the mangrove dock. The 5:30 PM time shown on the product refers to hotel pickups in the Manuel Antonio area. Since pickups can take 30–40 minutes, the arrival time at the dock is later. We also received a confirmation response from your side acknowledging this message.
We understand how frustrating delays can feel, especially when there is confusion regarding timing. However, in this case, the information was provided in advance, and the tour proceeded as scheduled once all participants arrived.
Regarding your interaction with the guide, we regret if this came across as unfriendly, as this is not the standard of service we aim to provide. Your comments have been shared internally for review.
We always strive to be transparent and provide clear communication to all our guests, and we appreciate your feedback as it helps us continue improving our service.
Best regards!
Jade Tours Team
Elle_H, Mar 2026
Such an amazing tour! We had a great guide Johnny who pointed out everything extremely well. We saw two boas, a caiman, bullfrogs, bats, a sloth, and more!! Definitely bring bug spray
Melinda_w, Mar 2026
We were with a 10 and 12 yr old. 10 yr was scared, didn’t like the dark and the animals we saw. You are on the boat for about 90+ minutes. Dinner is not served until after 8 pm (after the tour boat portion is complete). WS good overall just didn’t realize dinner would be so late or would have fed the kids first
Steven_H, Mar 2026
Only the captain and guide had spotlights, a few more people searching would have helped. Also the captain and guide primarily focused on the right side of the boat, so if you were on the left, you did not get to see everything. The meal at 8:40 was a buffet, which are rarely good...
Jennifer_H, Mar 2026
Our tour guide Kevin was incredible! He was very knowledgeable and it was impressive how quickly he was able to spot the wildlife in the dark. The kids had a great time and the meal provided was tasty and very filling.
Donald_M, Mar 2026
Great evening experience loved it saw many night animals and bird and amphibians with typical Costa Rica meal .
Gary_C, Feb 2026
Our guide Javier is a wildlife whisperer. We saw birds (potoo, pauraque, wood-rail, tiger heron, green heron, pygmy kingfisher, green kingfisher), basilisk, bats, cayman and crocodile, iguanas. Although it rained, we remained dry within the boat. We skipped the dinner (and notified them beforehand) because it is served too late for both us and our grandchildren. The tour kindly provided free transportation back to our hotel right after the cruise!
Geralyn_D, Feb 2026
Interesting and fun with knowledgeable and friendly guide, able to spot critters we would have missed. However the driver was frequently talking on his phone making it hard for the people in the back to hear. The dinner afterward was good authentic Costa Rican fare.
Hayden_T, Feb 2026
You never know what you might see so having a good guide like Kevin, who kept us informed and engaged, is the key. As it turned out we were fortunate to see a sloth, caimans numerous birds, snakes, bats and amphibians. The boat was comfortable and the dinner after tasty.
Saja_C, Feb 2026
I had a great time on this excursion with Rodolfo! The tour was well organized from start to finish, transportation was smooth, and dinner was a nice added touch especially when it’s late at night I didn’t have to worry about dinner after the excursion. My guide Rodolfo was funny, engaging, and very knowledgeable, which made the whole experience even more enjoyable.
Being out on the river in the dark was such a cool and unique experience, and it added a fun sense of adventure. It was kind of creepy at first but it was overall cool. I do wish we had seen a few more animals, but still it was still a memorable and worthwhile tour. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone looking for something different and fun to do!
William_S, Feb 2026
It was a fun experience, but not without issues. First, selecting a meeting location is difficult and I tried to reach out through Viator. I ultimately had to call the tour operator the day of our booking which was unneeded stress. It worked out but we had to follow the tour bus in our own rental. Poor communication. Second, the boat seemed to fly up and back the river. I felt like the tour guide was just going through the motions and didn’t necessarily care if we saw wildlife. We saw some birds and frogs, but nothing spectacular which is not the fault of the operator. I just think it could have been better if we spent some time actually looking for wildlife. Lastly, our dinner stop was at a nice local restaurant and the food was good. I would go back. I just wish we had eaten dinner before the tour and not at 9:00PM. Kids were staring to get run down by then. All in all, it was an interesting evening. Don’t know if it was worth the money, but the boat ride at night was enjoyable and worth doing.
Julia_L, Feb 2026
Anderson was a wonderful guide and very knowledgeable. We were able to spot frogs, birds, caimans, and many other animals with his expert eyes. He even tried to find a sloth for us because we were trying to see one! Thank you Enderson for a great experience! We will definitely try to return to experience more of Costa Rica! You made our trip!
Jessica_H, Jan 2026
You might think that a kid-friendly 3-hr tour at 5:30 "including dinner" would involve starting dinner before 8:30, but you'd be wrong! My kids were starving and exhausted. This is not what we signed up for. It's too bad because the actual guided tour in the boat was totally fine. But the logistics were not factually accurate and we nearly got locked out of our hotel because the tour went so much longer than expected. We didn't even get on a boat until 6:45. I had to beg the hotel manager for the gate code through WhatsApp. Don't bring kids if your kids expect to eat dinner before 8:30.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you for sharing your detailed feedback. We’re glad to hear that you enjoyed the guided boat portion of the tour and that it met your expectations.
We sincerely apologize for the timing issues you experienced. While the tour duration is listed as approximately 3 hours and includes dinner, the schedule can sometimes shift due to variables such as arrival times at the meeting point, preparation for departure, or daylight conditions (important for wildlife viewing). In your case, the late boat departure unfortunately pushed dinner later than expected. We understand how difficult this can be, especially for families with children, and we regret that your kids were left hungry and exhausted.
We will take your comments into account to improve how we communicate timing for meals and set clearer expectations for families traveling with children. For future guests, it’s helpful to note that the included dinner is typically served after the tour concludes, which can sometimes be later in the evening depending on start time and logistics.
We truly appreciate your feedback as it helps us improve both planning and guest communication, and we hope you were still able to enjoy the wildlife and the unique experience on the water.
Kind regards,
Jade Tours Costa Rica
Narinder_K, Jan 2026
Not exactly pleasant to sit on hard seats in junky boat in dark night and trying to see few scarce creatures, followed by cafteria style buffet in shack -
Greg_H, Jan 2026
The tour was great - we saw some great wildlife. You go on the tour first and then you are taken to a restaurant for dinner. The dinner was tasty - you get a casado with choice of protein. Our guide was a little hard to understand sometimes but it was nice to be on the boat in the mangroves.
Steve_S, Dec 2025
We did both the night tour and the day tour of the mangrove by boat without realizing they were the same location. I liked the day tour slightly better but you will see different things. Nighttime vipers and more birds. Daytime monkeys. Both alligators basilisks, bats, iguana sloths in our case. Both take you to the same restaurant for a mediocre casado tipico buffet. Edgar was a great guide. The boat driver is the main wildlife spotter and it's amazing what they can find.
Kim_M, Dec 2025
Great tour with Guillermo (spelling?). He and driver found so many animals. Took as long as needed to see them, made sure everyone was ready to leave before moving further down the river. Excellent knowledge base and very informative re animals, birds, plants. We learned a lot. Would do again. Dinner was fine, not as good of a soda as we are at elsewhere but decent local food.
Enjoyed the few minutes sitting in the dark.
No handling of animals and ethical tour.
Laurie_S, Dec 2025
Nice relaxing boat ride, lots of great information and animal sightings. Both the guide and driver went above and beyond to find us night critters
Haviland_F, Dec 2025
Saw a boa constrictor, frogs, & a few birds. Buffet dinner at local restaurant. Was peaceful to listen to jungle sounds on the water in the dark for a few minutes.
From $79.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
Compare Similar Experiences
Current
Night Mangrove Safari Boat Tour with Dinner | Manuel Antonio
602
3 hours
Free Cancellation
From
$79.00
Customers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought
Attractions in Quepos, Costa Rica
More attractions near Quepos, Costa Rica