Palo Verde Boat Safari
Recommended by 92% of travelers
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Tamarindo, Costa Rica
- 6 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Discover the incredible birds and biodiversity of Palo Verde National Park on this boat tour with lunch. Spot native wildlife such as crocodiles, iguanas, monkeys, and a colorful parade of bird species during a 1-hour and 20 minutes cruise down the Tempisque River led by a naturalist guide. Afterward, discuss your sightings with fellow travelers over a traditional Costa Rican lunch at a local restaurant.
- Morning river safari tour
- Cruise along the Tempisque River bordering Palo Verde National Park
- Visit one of Costa Rica's best bird-watching locales
- Spot monkeys, crocodiles, iguanas, and many exotic birds
- Learn about the park's unique wetlands environment from a naturalist guide
- Savor a traditional Costa Rican lunch at a restaurant
What's Included
- Lunch included
- Bilingual Tour Guide
- Hotel pick-up and drop off
- National Park fees
- JW Marriott, Tamarindo, Langosta, Grande, Conchal, Flamingo
- Playas del Coco, Hermosa, & RIU Hotels, Playa Panama (Secrets Papagayo, Mangroove)
- Gratuities
- Transport from Waldorf Astoria, Catalinas, Andaz, Four Seasons, Planet Hollywood$70.00 per booking
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to your preferred meeting point, or request pickup.
Operating hours.7:00 am
Itinerary
Relax and enjoy the rich scenery of Guanacaste's backcountry during the roughly 1-hour journey to reach Palo Verde National Park. This protected nature reserve is known for its unique dual landscape featuring wetlands surrounding the Tempisque River as well as a tropical dry forest environment. Costa Rica’s dry season attracts hundreds of species of migratory birds to the park, making it one of the country's premier birdwatching destinations.
When you arrive, board a river boat for a leisurely 2-hour cruise along the Tempisque. Admire the park’s undisturbed beauty while a naturalist guide provides insight into its unique ecosystem. Keep a sharp eye out for some of the many creatures that make their home along the river banks, including crocodiles, howler and capuchin monkeys, deer, raccoons, and iguanas. Your guide will help identify local and migratory birds such as macaws, guacacos, kingfishers, tiger herons, woodstorks, and jabiru birds.
After the safari, climb back onto solid ground and head to a local restaurant for a typical Costa Rican lunch. Relax on the return ride to your coastal hotel, where the 6-hour tour concludes in the afternoon.
When you arrive, board a river boat for a leisurely 2-hour cruise along the Tempisque. Admire the park’s undisturbed beauty while a naturalist guide provides insight into its unique ecosystem. Keep a sharp eye out for some of the many creatures that make their home along the river banks, including crocodiles, howler and capuchin monkeys, deer, raccoons, and iguanas. Your guide will help identify local and migratory birds such as macaws, guacacos, kingfishers, tiger herons, woodstorks, and jabiru birds.
After the safari, climb back onto solid ground and head to a local restaurant for a typical Costa Rican lunch. Relax on the return ride to your coastal hotel, where the 6-hour tour concludes in the afternoon.
1
Palo Verde National Park
6 hours • Admission Ticket Included
Playa Conchal (Pass By)
Tamarindo (Pass By)
Playa Grande (Pass By)
Playa Flamingo (Pass By)
Pinilla (Pass By)
Playas del Coco (Pass By)
Playa Hermosa (Pass By)
Playa Panama (Pass By)
Culebra (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Infants must sit on laps
- Infant seats available
- Most travelers can participate
- Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
- Child rate applies only when sharing with 2 paying adults
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- 2 person minimum - if you are a single traveler, contact us to see which dates are open
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 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
Featured review
Tim_R
Very nice excursion, good introduction to wildlife along the river. I wish it would have been a little longer. I had hoped to see wild scarlet macaws. Ivan was very knowledgeable about his country and the ecosystems. The traditional lunch was excellent and cool to experience. We saw many birds and crocodiles and 2 species of monkeys.
Reviews
4.6
based on 158 reviews
Holly_N, Feb 2026
Great wildlife and plenty of birds and monkeys to see :) and the crocodiles and the lunch was very good! And Carlos was awesome! Very nice and had alot of good information and great guide :)
Nicholas_S, May 2025
This is a nice way to get out to the true nature of Costa Rica without driving forever from the pacific coast resorts near Guanacaste. The boat ride and wildlife were great. The stop for lunch was kinda questionable. There’s always the classic attempt
To sell you stuff but the food was served outside with literal flea ridden dogs running around. Didn’t really seem appealing or hygienic. They should just skip the lunch and let people go straight back.
Yvonne_T, Dec 2024
Great tour guide. This was by far the best trip we have been on so far during our stay. We saw lots of wildlife, birds, monkeys and crocodiles. Tour guide was very informative. Highly recommend this trip
Edward_p, Jun 2024
Wonderful tour. Monkeys and crocodiles, birds and lizards galore. Lunch was way better than we expected
Kurt_M, Mar 2024
it’s a great trip to see wildlife in an otherwise arid area realize you are in a boat trip for 1 1/2 hours
1 1/2 hour drive to general transfer point the 45 min to boat
30 minutes to pottery exhibition , then 1 1/2 hours back It is an 8 hour trip not 5 worth it to see crocs and birds lunch was excellent
our guide Victor was excellent with a great knowledge base
David_M, Mar 2024
We didn't especially enjoy this tour. The guides were knowledgeable, but the river tour itself isn't very exciting. Also, the smell of the exhaust from the boats was a little bothersome, and I got food poisoning from something served at lunch. Meh.
Juan_D, Feb 2024
Ariel and Manuel were great guides. Saw a multitude of wildlife. Great lunch too. Beautiful scenery.
Jeffrey_M, Feb 2024
Great experience, with lots of abundant wildlife to view from safety of the boat. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the animals and explained them in detail to us.
Jane_L, Jan 2024
Our family group of six people had a fantastic experience. Ariel our guide and driver was extremely knowledgeable and fun. He took the time to show us many amazing birds and animals and even took close up shots on my phone camera with the help of his binoculars. My 93 year old mother was able to join the tour and she loved it too. We really enjoyed the home cooked authentic Costa Rican meal and pottery demonstration as well. The van was extremely comfortable and right on time. Thank you for such a memorable experience. This was not something we could do on our own!
Tim_R, Jan 2024
Very nice excursion, good introduction to wildlife along the river. I wish it would have been a little longer. I had hoped to see wild scarlet macaws. Ivan was very knowledgeable about his country and the ecosystems. The traditional lunch was excellent and cool to experience. We saw many birds and crocodiles and 2 species of monkeys.
Yogini_P, Nov 2023
Communications were great throughout the booking process. The driver was very friendly and helpful. The best tour was very relaxing. Spotted some birds, crocodiles and Monkies. Had an amazing local vegetarian Costarican lunch after the boat tour. Overall a pleasant trip that we would definitely recommend.
Joe_L, Nov 2023
We had our "boat safari" a few days ago. This tour was much more than a boat safari. Our driver (Michael) and tour guide (Steven) are very passionate about wildlife. The safari started as we stopped at a lowland (swamp) to spot a few amazing birds. Then Michael spotted a troop of howler monkeys a few feet away from the road. We stopped to watch them and take lots of pictures and video. Along the way, whenever Michael or Steven would see something interesting, we would stop, get out the binoculars/scope, take some pictures or video and hear facts and figures about what we were looking at. Then...we took the boat safari. A lot more of the same. Lots of animals: alligators, capuchin monkeys, MORE birds - what a variety! I documented 15 new birds on my Merlin Bird App during this tour! Great lunch (more new birds!) and nice pottery tour. Highly recommend!
Shannon_K, Aug 2023
Great tour. Tour guide did his best to point out all the animals. We had seniors and tween and this tour was perfect that didn’t involve too much walking. Would recommend those with seniors in the group.
Donna_L, Jun 2023
Excellent tour, staff/guides were amazing, pottery stop was a special treat I would highly recommend.
Sarah_G, Apr 2023
It started out great, our tour guide was friendly and knowledgeable and it was fun to see the local area. Before we got to the boat we stopped to use the restroom (we didn’t need to or ask to). At this stop there were local people selling us homemade crafts, which we felt obligated to purchase. The boat ride was nice and we left to go have lunch. It was advertised as a local restaurant, but it was the owner of the boats ‘ranch’ where they had ladies cooking outside. Once e we were done eating a guy showed us how to press sugar cane, then expected a tip. We left there expecting to go back to our resort but they drove us to a place that sells pottery wanting us to purchase something. The whole trip then felt like a sales gimmick and was annoying. To top it all off, the lunch gave me terrible food poisoning and I am now in bed on my vacation writing this review in between stomach cramps.
Gayle_T, Apr 2023
Nice tour, saw a lot of capuchin monkeys and crocs. Guide was very informative. Lunch was very good as well
Adrienne_S, Mar 2023
Poor setup
Didn’t tell us a regular car was picking us up and asking us to meet two other cars. Then put my English speaking daughter and I on a French speaking tour. By the time the guide sorr of translated to English after French whatever we saw was gone - when he remembered to translate to English. Then put us on the wrong bus to take us home and when we got on the right bus they didn’t send the three cars again only two so we were last to be dropped off. A very long day. Not impressed with Viator or natures way on that day. Palo verde itself is interesting to see the crocodiles and the monkeys
rondcostello, Mar 2023
Fabulous experience. Juan Carlos (Carlos) was a knowledgeable, friendly guide and between him and Manuelo, the excellent and eagle-eyed boat captain, we saw the beautiful wildlife the trip promised, including capuchin monkeys, crocodiles and a plethora of birds. A great experience that enriched our Costa Rican vacation.
Eko_L, Mar 2023
What a great adventure. This excursion is a must for bird watchers! From the great egret, blue heron, black-crowned and yellow-crowned heron, tiger heron, orioles, and northern jacana, beautiful birds abound in their natural pristine environment. Beyond that, there were also white-faced monkeys and crocodiles everywhere on the banks. The kids loved it, it is so worth the 1.5hrs drive one way. And to top it off, the lunch at the local authentic restaurant was yummy!
amyboutin, Feb 2023
What a great day. Our tour guide Rodrigo/Rodriguez (I should have paid more attention). Was absolutely amazing, so knowledgeable. We had a great day. Stopped before the boat ride to see monkeys, would stop to show us different fruits and nuts. Seen so many monkeys, birds and crocodiles. Family enjoyed this tour.
Gayle_F, Feb 2023
Interesting boat ride included information on different species of birds and monkeys...crocodiles and iguanas.
April_J, Feb 2023
Our guide, Kevin, was wonderful. Made us see his country through his eyes.
The crocs were pretty awesome too.
John_T, Feb 2023
Our guide, Jorge, was amazing and so was the boat operator who could spot all kinds of wildlife along the river and even knew how to call them. We were a group of 12 and everyone was thrilled with the trip. Our lunch afterwards was delicious. Truly a great experience!!
Iryna_T, Feb 2023
Great tour! Lots of wildlife. Saw birds, monkeys and lots of crocodiles.
You will have fun and enjoy the tour.
Anthon_C, Jan 2023
This was a wonderful trip. We arrived alittle early so the guide's brother took us out for a private 20 minute tour. Then we went on the regular boat ride and we saw so many birds, monkeys, lizards and crocodiles. The guide would move closer so we could get better photos. We had a car so we asked to meet them at the place, I would probably not recommend this unless you have a good GPS and are willing to drive on some difficult roads. During the rainy season it would be hard to get there. We went through 2 large areas where the road was covered with water. Alittle nervous but then was able to say it was part of the adventure.
Stacey_W, Jan 2023
Loved the nature and bird watching (including the monkeys and crocodiles) The lunch was an authentic Costa Rican experience. Loved it!
Katie_L, Nov 2022
Simply wanting to state facts here and not my opinion in the hopes that the website description is updated. The pickup time was supposed to be 7am or so and the day before the tour we were emailed that pickup would be 6:30am.
Tour states it will be an hour drive to the River from the Westin Golf and Spa Resort and it was a 2 hour drive each way. This is a massive difference when traveling with little kids.
It was supposed to be a 2 hour river boat tour and it was 1 hour with minimal narration.
The lunch included a demonstration of making local clay pottery which was nice, but also a total sales trap because when in a small tour group you feel obligated to buy at least something. Food was fine.
The drive there and back our tour guide was very friendly and answered any questions we had, but we had to initiate the conversation and spent the majority of the trip in silence. So he was more like a champeron than an actual tour guide.
I couldn't recommend this trip. We did see some birds, a few monkeys and crocodiles, but we also saw most of these animals from our resort grounds. Pick a different tour.
Liz_W, Jul 2022
Luis did an excellent job! He was polite, knowledgeable, and helpful. He went above and beyond! He even had us stop at a traditional pottery workshop. The river cruise was good and we saw crocodiles, monkeys, and birds.
Sean_R, Feb 2022
We paid for a private tour 2 people, we had to wait 45 minutes for 3 others. They put the 5 in the Ayer, floated for ten minutes, then went back to dock and added about 15 more. Boat was leaning and I felt unsafe as the river has crocodiles. Boat owner was very greedy and did not care for safety of passengers or customers.
Response from Host, Jun 2022
Hola Sean! We can't seem to find your reservations in our system. Are you sure you went on the tour with Native's Way? This does not sound like any operation we have ever run. Please reach out to us as soon as possible with details so we can resolve and clarify whatever we can for you.
James_C, Jan 2022
Most memorable was the safari boat ride and seeing the monkeys, iguana, and crocodiles. The van ride to the river safari was very informative as the Guide, Ariel, told us about the geographical area including the sugar cane farming, cantaloupe farming and work occupations of the local residents.
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