Tárcoles River crocodile tour: Largest crocs in Costa Rica

Watch expert guide Jason Vargas interact with wild crocs on a scenic boat ride

This crocodile and bird watching tour operates on the Tárcoles River near Carara National Park, where you watch the largest crocodiles in Costa Rica and observe birds from a boat with a professional guide. The guide speaks English, Spanish or French and has over 20 years of experience on this river. The tour lasts about two hours and includes the boat experience. All fitness levels are welcome, and the boat is wheelchair accessible.

Step-by-step itinerary

Crocodile and nature river tour

• See largest crocodiles in Costa Rica
• Enjoy bird watching on Tarcoles River
• Learn about nature with professional guides
• Take a quick coastal boat tour

The experience

The Tárcoles River holds the largest crocodile population in Costa Rica, and this tour puts you on the water to see them. You ride in a boat with a live guide who has spent more than 20 years on this river and knows where the animals gather and how they behave. The guide speaks English, Spanish or French, so the narration stays with you throughout. Beyond the crocodiles, the river is also a bird watching site. The tour includes both, and the guide points out what you are seeing as the boat moves along the water.

The boat makes a run along the coast as part of the tour, giving you a view of the shoreline and the landscape around Carara National Park. The whole experience takes about two hours. The boat is wheelchair accessible, and the tour is suitable for all fitness levels, so the physical demands are minimal. Infants and small children can come along in a pram or stroller, and service animals are allowed on board.

What’s included

• Crocodile and bird watching tour on the Tárcoles River.
• live guide in English, Spanish or French.
• boat ride along the coast.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (4 to 80 years) · Infant (under 4): free

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.Operator's directions: “Our welcome dock is located 2km north of the catolic church in Tarcoles. Please contactus by whatsapp to provide you the location and to arrange the start time of the tour.”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 13 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Jason Crocodile Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour for a morning or afternoon when you want to see the largest crocodiles in Costa Rica without arranging transport or a guide yourself. The boat is wheelchair accessible and the pace suits all fitness levels, so it works whether you are traveling solo, with family or with children in a stroller.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 4): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

What is the Tárcoles River known for?

The Tárcoles River is home to the largest crocodile population in Costa Rica. The tour takes you out on the water to see them up close, and the river is also a bird watching site, so you see both wildlife types during the same trip.

How long does the crocodile tour last?

The tour lasts about two hours on the water, including the boat ride along the coast and the crocodile and bird watching sections.

What experience does the guide have?

The guide has over 20 years of experience on the Tárcoles River and has appeared on Discovery Channel, NatGeo, Animal Planet and the BBC, which reflects the quality of the wildlife encounters and the knowledge brought to the tour.