See huge crocodiles, monkeys, and rare birds in their natural habitat. Take a half-day jungle river cruise in Palo Verde National Park, and experience the wildlife wonders of Costa Rica. Your tour includes round-trip transfer from your Guanacaste hotel.

About this activity

Free cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund
Covid-19 precautions: Special health and safety measures apply. Learn more
Mobile ticketing: Use your phone or print your voucher
Duration 5 hours: Check availability to see starting times.
Instant confirmation
Live tour guide: Spanish, English

Highlights

Explore Palo Verde National Park on a pontoon boat
Experience a variety of habitats in one of Central America’s most important wetlands
See huge crocodiles, monkeys, and diverse and rare bird species

Full description

Palo Verde National Park encompasses one of the most important wetlands of Central America. You’ll have the opportunity to explore its varied habitats on this half-day jungle river cruise. Throughout the year resident and migrant water birds sharing the mangroves and marshlands with white- tailed deer, coyote, white-nosed coatimundi, howlers, white-faced monkeys, iguanas, and crocodiles. Wildlife is plentiful here, from tiny hummingbirds feeding at heliconia flowers, to the huge and flamboyant Roseate Spoonbills. Enjoy the countryside as it changes from savannah to plantations and small villages as you make your way to the pontoon boat, which is one of the easiest and most rewarding ways to explore Palo Verde. You’ll travel by boat along the Tempisque River, which borders the National Park. You’ll pass through a wide variety of habitats, including pastureland and mangroves. Observe huge crocodiles resting in the sunshine and monkeys moving rapidly through the trees. You’ll see diverse bird species such as the Anhinga, Roseate Spoonbill, Wood Stork, the rare and endangered Jabiru, Blue Heron, White Ibis, and more.

Includes

Air-conditioned transportation
Bilingual tour guide
Boat trip
Admission to Palo Verde National Park
Contribution to the Bolsón community

Gratuities for the guide and driver

Covid-19 precautions

Safety measures in place

All areas that customers touch are frequently cleaned
The number of visitors is limited to reduce crowds

Traveler requirements

You are required to bring and wear a mask

Prepare for the activity

Meeting point

Your Guanacaste hotel

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Important information

Know before you go

Please note, a USD 5 contribution to the Bolsón community is included in the tour price when you book
Please note that pick-up is not available from Dreams las Mareas, Nosara area, Playa Hermosa, Playa Grande, Sámara or any private residence
Your booking will be confirmed once you have supplied your hotel details to arrange the pick-up and drop off service

Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.6 /5

based on 17 reviews

Review summary

Guide
4.4/5
Transportation
4.6/5
Value for money
4.4/5
Safety
5/5

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Interesting and informative guide through our drive and the boat trip. Saw many "hidden" animals due to good boatman and guide. Guide "called" to howler and capuchin monkeys and encouraged them to come closer for perfect views. One curious capuchin actually came on the roof of our boat to checkout the tourists!

February 22, 2020

Just what I had hoped for. Great for Families-- ages 7 to 77!!

We had a small group and we were able to see crocodiles (even babies), exotic birds, and two kinds of monkeys! Our guide would not give up until we saw the monkeys and it made our day! The guide was fun and shared a lot of great Costa Rica knowledge with us. This was NOT the most expensive river tour, we searched around, but it was THE BEST! (FYI...all tours are on the same river and use the same type of boat so no need to go for the most expensive).

July 8, 2016

Palo Verde River Boat

I was expecting to see monkeys and crocodiles on a boat and that is exactly what happened. Some people might say the bus ride was too long, but I was expecting that too. And the company was very nice and flexible with our request to be picked up and dropped off at two different locations, which saved us taxi fare!

February 25, 2016

Palo Verde National Park: Half-Day Jungle River Cruise

Palo Verde National Park: Half-Day Jungle River Cruise

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Just what I had hoped for. Great for Families-- ages 7 to 77!!

Palo Verde River Boat

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