Manuel Antonio: Damas Island Mangrove Boat Tour & Lunch

Summary

Glide through Damas mangroves by boat spotting monkeys & crabs

You’ll slip quietly through Damas Island’s winding mangrove forest with a local guide who knows every twist of the river. Expect close-up moments with monkeys and bright crabs, plus time to just drift and listen to jungle sounds. Includes pickup near Manuel Antonio and a Costa Rican lunch — slow-paced and real.

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t expect the air to feel so heavy and sweet when we stepped onto the little dock by Hotel Pueblo Real — like someone had left a kettle on in the jungle. Our guide, Mauricio, grinned and handed out cold water before we climbed into the boat. He kept glancing at the tide chart on his phone, muttering about how “the mangrove tells us when to go.” I liked that. There was a kind of hush as we drifted away from shore, only broken by some distant bird making a racket I couldn’t name.

The channels twisted in a way that made me lose sense of direction pretty fast — everything green and tangled, roots dipping into brown water. Mauricio pointed out a white-faced monkey watching us (I swear it rolled its eyes at my camera), then suddenly there were these tiny crabs everywhere, flashing blue and red claws. At one point he stopped the engine so we could just listen: cicadas buzzing, something splashing behind us (he said maybe an iguana). It smelled earthy and salty at once — hard to describe but you know it when you’re there.

Lunch after was simple but good — rice, beans, something grilled I forgot the name of but ate anyway. We swapped stories with another couple who’d spotted an anteater (I missed it; still annoyed). The whole thing felt unhurried, like nobody cared about time except maybe the tide. I keep thinking about that quiet in the middle of the mangroves — not silence exactly, but a pause from everything else.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Mangrove boat tour at Damas Island

• Pickup at scheduled time
• Travel to river dock near Hotel Pueblo Real
• Boat tour through mangrove channels
• Observe wildlife: monkeys, birds, reptiles
• Return from boat tour

Top questions

How far is Damas Island from Manuel Antonio?

Damas Island is about 10 minutes from Manuel Antonio by vehicle.

Is hotel pickup included for this mangrove boat tour?

Yes, pickup is included and depends on high tide timing.

What animals might I see during the tour?

You might see white-faced monkeys, anteaters, boas, iguanas, birds, and colorful crabs.

Does this tour include lunch?

Yes, lunch is included after your boat ride through the mangroves.

Where does the tour start?

The boat departs from a river dock next to Hotel Pueblo Real.

Is this tour suitable for all fitness levels?

Yes, it’s suitable for all physical fitness levels since you’ll be on a boat most of the time.

What’s included

Your day includes flexible pickup based on tide schedules near Manuel Antonio, all entrance fees and taxes covered, bottled water during your boat ride through Damas Island’s mangroves with an experienced captain and guide, plus an air-conditioned ride back after a Costa Rican lunch together.