Damas Mangrove Boat Tour from Manuel Antonio: Wildlife & Lunch

Navigate mangrove waterways spotting sloths, monkeys, caimans and tropical birds

A four-hour mangrove boat tour from Manuel Antonio explores the Isla Damas ecosystem by covered motorboat with a naturalist guide, hotel pickup and lunch included. You navigate the intricate canal network surrounded by lush forest, watching for white-faced monkeys, sloths, caimans, crocodiles, egrets and other wildlife that inhabit this coastal sanctuary. The tour ends with an authentic Costa Rican meal at a local restaurant before returning to your hotel.

Step-by-step itinerary

Mangrove boat tour and wildlife viewing

• Hotel pick-up by tour guide
• Navigate mangrove waterways by covered motor boat
• Learn about mangrove ecosystem from naturalist guide
• Observe monkeys, birds, caimans, sloths, and reptiles
• Enjoy scenic views of mangrove habitat
• Savor authentic Costa Rican meal at local restaurant
• Return to hotel relaxed

The experience

How do you see Costa Rica's mangrove ecosystem without spending a full day driving into the interior? This tour leaves from your Manuel Antonio hotel in an air-conditioned minivan and takes you straight to Isla Damas, where you board a covered motorboat for the main event. The boat navigates the waterways at a pace that lets the guide point out wildlife and explain why the mangroves matter to the country's biodiversity: sloths hanging in the canopy, white-faced monkeys that sometimes climb aboard, caimans and crocodiles in the water, egrets and other bird species in the branches. A naturalist guide leads the tour in English or Spanish, so you get context for what you're seeing, not just a boat ride.

The covered boat keeps you dry and shaded while you move through the canal network, and the guide knows where to look for the animals that live here. You'll spot an array of tropical species: boas, egrets, the full roster of wildlife that makes mangroves a vital habitat. The tour is built for all fitness levels and works for families. Infants sit on an adult's lap, and there's no strenuous walking or climbing involved.

After the boat portion, you head to a local restaurant for lunch with authentic Costa Rican flavors before the minivan returns you to your hotel. The whole outing, from pickup to drop-off, takes four hours.

What’s included

• Professional naturalist guide in English or Spanish.
• four-hour tour with covered motorboat transport through the mangrove waterways.
• lunch at a local restaurant with authentic Costa Rican cuisine.
• hotel pickup and drop-off in the Manuel Antonio area.
• transport by air-conditioned minivan.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 06:00

AgesAdult (9 to 90 years) · Youth (6 to 8 years) · Child (3 to 5 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 28 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h 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 today

Good to know

Low physical effortInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Costa Rica Groups Travel Company

Is this one for you?Hotel pickup from Manuel Antonio means you don't need a car or arrange your own transport to reach Isla Damas. The minivan collects you and returns you at the end, so the whole outing works whether you're staying in town or have no rental.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (6 to 8 years); Child (3 to 5 years); Infant (under 3): 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 24 h before the start.

What wildlife will I actually see on the Damas mangrove tour?

The mangroves are home to white-faced monkeys, sloths, caimans, crocodiles, boas, egrets and countless other tropical bird species. The guide knows the waterways and can point out animals as the boat moves through the canals, though wildlife sightings depend on the time of day and season.

Does the tour include transportation from my hotel?

Yes. Hotel pickup and drop-off in the Manuel Antonio area are included, along with transport by air-conditioned minivan to and from Isla Damas. You travel with the group in the minivan, then board the covered motorboat for the mangrove portion.

Is lunch included, and what kind of food is served?

Lunch at a local restaurant is included after the boat tour. The meal features authentic Costa Rican flavors, though the specific menu depends on the restaurant's daily offerings.

What is the Isla Damas mangrove ecosystem, and why is it worth visiting?

Isla Damas is a coastal mangrove sanctuary: an intricate network of canals and waterways surrounded by lush forest that serves as a vital habitat for Costa Rica's wildlife. The mangrove ecosystem supports an extraordinary variety of species and plays an important role in the country's biodiversity and the health of the region.

Can I bring my infant on this tour?

Yes. Infants are welcome and sit on an adult's lap during the tour. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, so there are no age or fitness restrictions beyond the infant lap requirement.