Glide through the estuary past crocodiles and herons, paddle the mangrove on the rising tide, or watch the night fall beside nesting turtles. With certified local guides from Tamarindo.
★ 4.8 382 Google reviews
Add your tours, pick the dates and book in one step with a small deposit by credit card, PayPal, SINPE Móvil or bank transfer; you pay the rest in cash on the day of the tour. Boat and kayak times follow the high tide, so we confirm the exact time after you book.
A 2-hour boat safari inside Las Baulas Marine National Park to see herons, crocodiles and iguanas, plus a dry-forest walk with howler monkeys.
Book with $15 · pay the rest on the tour day
The whole boat for your group: a 2-hour estuary tour with a bilingual naturalist guide, coconut water and beers if you like.
Book with $160 · pay the rest on the tour day
The whole boat for groups of up to 16: a 2-hour estuary tour with a bilingual naturalist guide, coconut water and beers if you like.
Book with $240 · pay the rest on the tour day
Paddle into Las Baulas Marine National Park with the tide to see birds, monkeys and iguanas, and walk the dry forest.
Book with $15 · pay the rest on the tour day
The kayak tour just for you or your group, with a bilingual guide and coconut water, timed with the high tide.
Book with $20 · pay the rest on the tour day
A night tour to watch sea turtles nesting at Playa Minas or Playa Jesús. Mostly olive ridley and black turtles, sometimes hawksbills and, occasionally, leatherbacks. Departure at 5:30 pm.
Book with $20 · pay the rest on the tour day
A 1-hour ride from the estuary along nature trails to ocean viewpoints, then along the beach. Guided and safe.
Book with $15 · pay the rest on the tour day
Horseback ride to ocean viewpoints and along the beach, then a guided boat tour through the Tamarindo estuary.
Book with $20 · pay the rest on the tour day
A full day with a sloth tour, a Costa Rican lunch and the Llanos de Cortés waterfall, 2.5 hours from Tamarindo.
Book with $75 · pay the rest on the tour day
A day trip to La Leona waterfall with entrance, a Costa Rican lunch and round-trip transportation.
Book with $50 · pay the rest on the tour day
A full day at Rincón de la Vieja volcano with entrance tickets, drinks, a Costa Rican lunch and round-trip transportation.
Book with $60 · pay the rest on the tour day
The Ostional arribada: more than a thousand turtles a day come to lay their eggs. All year, strongest in the rainy season with peaks in September and October.
Book with $20 · pay the rest on the tour day
Watch the sunset on the beach and take part in releasing baby sea turtles into the ocean. Departure at 3:30 pm from Tamarindo. Available from November 12.
Book with $10 · pay the rest on the tour day
Sunrise to sunset, the Tamarindo way. Scroll to set sail.
Nº 01Rules the brackish estuary and can grow over 4 metres long.
Estuary · Palo Verde
Nº 02Its deep roar carries for kilometres through the forest at dawn.
Estuary walk
Nº 03Las Baulas park is named after it — the largest turtle on Earth. It is endangered.
Occasionally on the turtle tour
Nº 04Hunts patiently in the shallow mangrove channels at low tide.
Boat · Kayak
Nº 05Comes down from its tree only about once a week.
Sloth tour
Nº 06Climbs the prop roots that filter the water and shelter young fish.
Kayak · Walk
Nº 07Nature's clean-up crew, often seen on the sandbars.
EstuaryTap a month to see what's best that time of year.
Tides, turtle seasons, wildlife and day trips, explained by the people who run the estuary every day.
Plan your tripThings to Do in Tamarindo, Costa RicaThings to do in Tamarindo, Costa Rica: beach and sunset, the mangrove estuary, sea turtles, horseback rides, day trips and town life, with local tips.
Costa Rica & GuanacasteCosta Rica Tours: Types by Region, How to Choose and Our Tours from TamarindoCosta Rica tours explained: main types by region, how to choose, booking direct vs packages, and our 13 tours from Tamarindo with real prices from $40.
Estuary, mangroves and wildlifeTamarindo Estuary: Crocodiles, Tides and What to BringPlan your Tamarindo estuary tour: crocodiles, herons and howler monkeys in Las Baulas, why the tide sets the time, what to bring, and boat or kayak prices.Estuary, mangroves and wildlifeCrocodile Tour in Tamarindo: Where and How to See Wild CrocodilesCrocodile tour in Tamarindo: where to see wild American crocodiles, how they behave, safety rules, the best tide and photo tips. Boat tours from $40.
Sea turtlesBest Time to See Turtles in Guanacaste: Month by MonthBest time to see turtles in Guanacaste, month by month: leatherbacks at Playa Grande, Ostional arribadas, olive ridleys and baby turtle releases.
Sea turtlesOstional Arribada Guide: How to Visit from TamarindoOstional arribada tour from Tamarindo: when the mass turtle nesting happens, how to get there, beach rules, what to bring and how our guided tour works.
Tamarindo Estuary Tours Mi Rey was founded by Néstor David Rodríguez Rosales ("Mi rey"), a local professional and member of one of the co-founding families of the Tamarindo community, who possessed over 22 years of experience developing the local tourism industry. His strategic vision and deep commitment to the conservation of Costa Rica's nature and wildlife serve as the fundamental pillars upon which our company was built. His legacy continues to guide each of our operations today.
Our core operations, which include the Estuary Boat Tour and Kayak Tours, take place within the prestigious Las Baulas de Guanacaste Marine National Park. This protected area requires us to uphold the highest standards of respect and sustainability, allowing our clients to responsibly explore mangrove ecosystems that are unique in Latin America.
Today, the team at Tamarindo Estuary Tours Mi Rey carries forward our founder's vision. We are proud to guarantee that all of our guides are local professionals, certified and bilingual, bringing authentic and deep knowledge of the environment to every tour. Together with our local captains and administrative staff, we are committed to delivering seamless logistics to offer memorable, safe, and highly educational experiences. Our team also has the only Woman Tour Guide for the boat tour in the zone.
Our team also has the only captain specialized in:
We took this tour on October 9th. Our guide, Victor Hugo, was fantastic. He was so personable and you could tell how much he wanted to share about all of the wildlife of his country. We saw beautiful herons, assorted birds, many types of crabs, a crocodile, a monkey, small fish, and much more. He explained how the animals and nature work together to create a symbiotic relationship. This was one of the highlights of our trip. We could not have asked for a better guide or experience. Pura vida!
Kivian gave us an amazing tour, and we enjoyed it so much! He explained so much about Las Baulas National Park and shared lots of interesting local knowledge. He’s a truly authentic Tico and made the experience even more special. 100% recommended! Tip of the day: Take the very early tour — you’ll have a much better experience!
We did an estuary tour and horseback riding. I highly recommend this outfit. Locally run by Costa Rican people, and very kind. Victor Hugo was very informative on our estuary tour. He was able to communicate well his passion for the beautiful land/water. We got to see crocodile, monkeys, porcupine, and numerous birds. The horseback riding was great too. My daughter, who is inexperienced did great. The horses were well cared for and did great for both experienced and inexperienced riders.
Great tour experience! Kevin was an awesome bilingual guide: very helpful, knowledgeable, without being intrusive or obnoxious. Communication with the team to make the appointment was quick and easy on Whatsapp. We saw a huge pack of howler monkeys, three crocodiles, iguanas, any many types of birds. I would definitely recommend. Also, this tour was cheaper than the leading tours on TripAdvisor. Win, win!
Victor Hugo was the best ever tour guide up the estuary!! We saw crocodile, raccoons, Iguanas and multiple herons. He shared so many wonderful funny stories we laughed almost the whole trip. Instead of a 2 hour trip we were ot 2.5 hours! Best tour ever!!! 5 STARS ++++
Fui con mi esposa e hijo pequeño, fue un paseo muy bonito y tranquilo, vimos aves, cocodrilos, monos, mapaches y cangrejos. La experiencia de entrar en los manglares es excelente y el guía David fue muy bueno con sus comentarios y datos curiosos. Recomendado para un paseo sencillo y familiar.
We had an amazing experience on the Tamarindo estuary in Tamarindo! The captain (David) was incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, and approachable — he made sure everyone felt comfortable and engaged throughout the trip. His deep understanding of the area and its wildlife was impressive, and he went out of his way to make sure we all got to see monkeys, crocodiles, birds, raccoons and even iguanas up close. You could tell he genuinely cared about sharing the beauty of the region with us. Highly recommend this tour if you’re in Tamarindo — it’s a must-do! ¡Tuvimos una experiencia increíble en el tamarindo estuary tour en bote en Tamarindo! El capitán (David) fue muy amable, conocedor y accesible — se aseguró de que todos nos sintiéramos cómodos y disfrutáramos del paseo. Su conocimiento del área y de la fauna fue impresionante, y se esmeró para que todos pudiéramos ver monos, cocodrilos, aves e incluso iguanas de cerca. Se notaba que realmente le apasiona compartir la belleza de la región. Muy recomendado este tour si estás en Tamarindo — ¡es algo que no te puedes perder!
Muy buena experiencia!! Un tour recomendable, nuestro guía Willy muy profesional y sabía mucho. Vimos cocodrilos, aves, monos, etc… La atención de David, con quien hicimos la reserva, fue muy buena también
Tourzaso obligatorio en la zona. David Muy profesional, guía bilingue, con amplio conocimiento en plantas medicinales, animales, aves y todo lo relacionado con la biodiversidad local. Fruta fresca y agua fría. Para toda la familia. Muy buen precio también no hay excusa para no conocer el Estero de Tamarindo! Gracias David!!
Choose your tour, date and guests, and pay by credit card or PayPal, or by SINPE Móvil or bank transfer. You get your confirmation by email.
They depend on the high tide, which changes every day. Book in advance and we will confirm the exact time with you.
Pickup in Tamarindo (and Langosta on several tours) is usually included. Farther areas such as Hacienda Pinilla, Conchal, Flamingo or Papagayo have an extra transportation cost depending on the route.
Children 0 to 2 years old do not pay on the boat and turtle tours, and 0 to 3 years old on horseback and full-day tours. Each tour shows its rule.
Yes: 2 guests for most tours and 4 for the full-day tours and the Ostional arribada. If you travel alone, we try to place you with another group on your date; otherwise the tour runs as a private tour by paying the minimum of 2 guests. Private boat tours are priced per boat.
Comfortable clothes, water shoes, sunglasses, a hat, repellent and sunblock. For turtle tours: dark clothing and a camera without flash. Each tour lists what to bring.
Yes. If you cancel at least 24 hours in advance, we refund your deposit. With less notice or if you do not show up, the deposit is not refunded.
With PayPal or a debit or credit card, confirmed right away. From Costa Rica you can also pay by SINPE Móvil or bank transfer: after booking you see the payment details, send us the receipt on WhatsApp and we confirm your booking by email.
