Kayaking in Tortuguero: Canoe tour, hike & night walk

Three activities in one day: paddle at dawn, walk the jungle twice, and spot nocturnal animals after dark.

A three-activity package in Tortuguero National Park combines a canoe tour starting at 6 am, a 2-hour hike on the jaguar trail at 11 am, and a night walk at 6:30 pm, with breakfast and 2 hours of free kayaking included. The activities can be done back-to-back in a single day or split across two days, with the night walk on the first evening followed by the canoe tour and hike the next morning. A live guide speaks English and Spanish.

Step-by-step itinerary

Tortuguero activities and tours

• Arrive early for snack and coffee
• Take canoe tour at 6 am
• Hike Jaguar Trail at 11 am
• Join night walk at 6:30 pm

The experience

You arrive in Tortuguero with a free afternoon or a morning to fill, and this package stacks three separate wildlife experiences into a single day, or spreads them across two if you prefer. The canoe tour launches at 6 am from the park, giving you the quietest water and the best chance to spot alligators, birds and mammals before the heat builds. You'll be asked to arrive 10 minutes early for coffee, tea, cookies and fruit. The jaguar trail hike starts at 11 am and runs for 2 hours through the national park, where white-faced monkeys, bird snakes and sloths are common sightings. A night walk departs at 6:30 pm and lasts roughly 2 hours, ending around 8:30 pm. This is when frogs, snakes, a wide variety of insects and nocturnal birds emerge.

The package includes breakfast and 2 hours of free kayaking, so if you want to paddle on your own after the guided activities wrap, the time is already yours. A live guide leads all three activities in English or Spanish. The flexibility to run all three back-to-back or to split them (night walk first, then canoe and hike the following day) means you can fit the schedule around your own rhythm and energy.

What’s included

• Breakfast before the canoe tour.
• 2 hours of free kayaking.
• a live guide for all three activities in English or Spanish.
• the canoe tour in Tortuguero National Park at 6 am.
• the jaguar trail hike at 11 am.
• the night walk at 6:30 pm.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 06:00

AgesAdult (19 to 64 years) · Senior (65 to 90 years) · Youth (13 to 18 years) · Child (5 to 12 years) · Infant (under 5)

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.Operator's directions: “Tuanis Tour office located 50 meters South of Tortuguero's main pier on the right”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Tuanis Tour Tortuguero

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English or Spanish, so if you're comfortable with either language, you'll follow the commentary without strain. The flexibility to do all three activities in one day or split them across two means you can choose based on your energy and how much time you actually have in Tortuguero.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 18 years); Child (5 to 12 years); Infant (under 5).

What animals will I actually see on the canoe tour and hikes in Tortuguero?

The canoe tour at dawn regularly turns up alligators, birds and mammals in the waterways. The jaguar trail hike is known for white-faced monkeys, bird snakes and sloths. The night walk brings out frogs, snakes, insects and nocturnal birds that stay hidden during the day.

Can I do all three activities in a single day, or do I have to split them?

You can run all three back-to-back in one day: canoe tour at 6 am, jaguar trail hike at 11 am, and night walk at 6:30 pm. Alternatively, you can do the night walk on your first evening and then the canoe tour and hike the next morning.

What time does the canoe tour start and how early do I need to arrive?

The canoe tour starts at 6 am, but you should arrive 10 minutes early for a small snack of coffee or tea, cookies and fruit before you push off.

Is the 2 hours of free kayaking separate from the guided canoe tour?

Yes, the 2 hours of free kayaking is included in the package and is separate from the guided canoe tour. You can use that time to paddle on your own after the three main activities.