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Damas Island: Mangrove Kayak Tour & Wildlife with Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.82 (227 reviews) 91% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/49

Duration2h–3h

GroupUp to 15

LanguagesEN · ES

Mobile ticketAccepted

Kayak the mangroves of Damas Island meet monkeys help protect nature

You’ll paddle through Damas Island’s winding mangrove canals with a local guide who knows every twist and sound. Spot monkeys overhead, join in collecting stray garbage to help protect the estuary, taste fresh fruit right on the water, and feel how wild Costa Rica really is—muddy fingers and all.

2h–3h

Step-by-step itinerary

Arrive at Damas Island estuary
Receive kayaking equipment
Kayak through mangrove canals
Observe wildlife like monkeys and sloths
Participate in garbage collection program
Enjoy personalized guided tour

The Experience

I didn’t expect the air to smell so green. That’s the first thing I noticed when we pushed our kayaks into the Damas Island estuary—just this thick, earthy scent, like wet leaves and salt. Our guide, Diego, grinned at us from his bright yellow kayak and waved us forward. He kept pointing out things I’d never have spotted on my own: a sloth curled up in what looked like an impossible knot of branches, a line of tiny crabs skittering sideways along the muddy roots. I tried to keep my paddle quiet but kept bumping it against the side; Diego just laughed and said everyone does that their first time.

We drifted under these arching mangrove tunnels where the light went all dappled and soft. There was this moment—a white-faced monkey stared straight at us from above, tail twitching. It felt like he was sizing us up (I probably would too if strangers floated through my living room). The water was glassy, except for the occasional ripple from a turtle or something bigger that Diego swore was just an iguana, though I’m still not convinced. At one point he handed me a net and asked if I wanted to help collect any floating trash we saw—turns out they run this garbage collection program as part of the tour. It wasn’t glamorous but honestly felt good to do something useful while paddling around such a wild place.

Halfway through, we stopped in a quiet spot where sunlight broke through and Diego passed around cold slices of pineapple—sticky sweet fingers, river breeze on my face. I think that’s when it hit me how alive everything felt here. We saw maybe four or five different birds I couldn’t name (Diego rattled off every one), plus raccoons poking around on shore. The whole thing lasted maybe two hours but it sort of stretched out in my head—I still think about that monkey’s eyes sometimes when it’s quiet at home.

What’s included

Your day comes with a certified local guide who leads you through Damas Island’s mangroves by kayak; you’ll get fresh fruit and water along the way. Specialized infant seats are available if needed—and if you’re traveling with little ones or need accessibility support, they’ve got you covered with wheelchair access too.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Nacarcosta Wildlife Adventure