Tamarindo tours range from a two-hour boat ride through the mangroves to a full day at a volcano, so the best tours in Tamarindo for you depend on your time, your budget and who is traveling with you. This guide from Tamarindo Estuary Tours Mi Rey, a local operator on the Tamarindo estuary, ranks all 13 of our tours by type of traveler, with the price and duration of each one.
Short answer: if you only do one tour, choose the shared estuary boat tour ($40 per person, 2 hours). It is close to town, suits almost every age and shows you crocodiles, herons and howler monkeys inside Las Baulas Marine National Park. With more time, add a turtle tour in season and one full-day trip inland.
Best tours in Tamarindo by type of traveler
First-time visitors: the estuary boat tour
Our most popular outing and the easiest introduction to local wildlife: the boat travels through the mangrove channels, followed by a short walk in the dry forest. It leaves with the high tide, so we confirm the time by WhatsApp after you book.
Active travelers: the kayak tours
If you prefer to paddle, the shared kayak tour ($60 per person, 2 to 2.5 hours) follows the incoming tide into the park, which makes paddling easier. The private kayak tour ($100 per person, about 2.5 hours) gives you your own bilingual guide and can be booked by one person. Undecided? Read boat or kayak in Tamarindo.
Families with young children
The boat tour is calm and children 2 and under ride free. The sunset and baby turtle release ($50 per person, departs 3:30 pm, available from November 12) is short and memorable for kids. The horseback riding tour ($50 per person, 1 hour) is for ages 7 and up; younger children ride with an adult.
Groups, weddings and birthdays
A private boat keeps the whole group together with a bilingual naturalist guide, coconut water and beers if you like. The private boat for up to 10 people costs $800 and the private boat for up to 16 people costs $1,200, both for 2 hours.
Turtle lovers
The turtle nesting tour ($60 per person) picks you up in Tamarindo at 5:30 pm and goes to Playa Minas or Playa Jesús, where we mostly see olive ridley and black turtles. If no turtles are seen, we reschedule for the next night or make it up to you with the estuary tour. For the mass nesting at Ostional, there is the Ostional arribada tour ($130 per person, minimum 4). The main arribada season runs from August to December, with peaks from September to November and smaller ones possible from May; write to us on WhatsApp to ask about the next expected arribada.
Beach riders
The horseback ride starts at the estuary, climbs to ocean viewpoints and finishes along the beach. To see the mangroves too, the estuary and horseback combo ($80 per person) joins the ride and the boat tour in one outing, with a length that depends on the tide.
Full-day explorers
Three trips take you inland, all with round-trip transportation, entrance tickets, drinks and a Costa Rican lunch, and a minimum of 4 people: the Rincón de la Vieja combo, the La Leona waterfall tour and sloths and Llanos de Cortés waterfall. Compare them in day trips from Tamarindo.
All 13 tours ranked, with price and duration
- Shared boat tour (mangrove safari): $40 per person, 2 hours. For everyone.
- Shared kayak tour: $60 per person, 2 to 2.5 hours. For active travelers.
- Turtle nesting tour: $60 per person, departs 5:30 pm, variable length. For wildlife lovers in season.
- Estuary and horseback combo: $80 per person, length varies with the tide. For travelers short on time.
- Horseback riding tour: $50 per person, 1 hour. For beach lovers aged 7 and up.
- Sunset and baby turtle release: $50 per person, departs 3:30 pm. For families.
- Private boat tour for up to 10: $800 per boat, 2 hours. For families and small groups.
- Private boat tour for up to 16: $1,200 per boat, 2 hours. For large groups and celebrations.
- Private kayak tour: $100 per person, about 2.5 hours. For couples and solo travelers.
- Rincón de la Vieja combo tour: $180 per person, departs 6 to 7 am, returns 6 pm. For volcano landscapes.
- Sloths and Llanos de Cortés waterfall: $185 per person, 6:30 am to about 6 pm. For families with older kids.
- La Leona waterfall tour: $160 per person, 7 am to 3:30 pm. For a shorter day inland.
- Ostional arribada tour: $130 per person, length varies with the arribada. For a rare natural event.
How to choose your Tamarindo tours
- Check the tide first. Boat and kayak tours leave with the high tide, which comes a little later each day. See Tamarindo tides.
- Plan around the season. Estuary tours run all year; turtle activity depends on the month. See the best time to see turtles in Guanacaste.
- Keep full-day trips on their own day. They leave between 6 and 7 am and return in the afternoon or evening.
For a day-by-day plan, see our 3-day Tamarindo itinerary.
How booking and payment work
You reserve online with a deposit, for example $15 per person on the shared boat. The balance is paid in cash, in US dollars or colones, on the day of the tour. If you cancel at least 24 hours before departure, we refund the deposit.
Ready to choose? Start with the shared boat tour or the kayak tour with Tamarindo Estuary Tours Mi Rey, and add a turtle tour or a day trip as your schedule allows. If you are not sure which tours fit your group, write to us on WhatsApp and we will help you plan.
Book these tours
Shared Boat Tour (Mangrove Safari)$40 per personSee tour and book →
Shared Kayak Tour$60 per personSee tour and book →
Turtle Nesting Tour$60 per personSee tour and book →
Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular tour in Tamarindo?
Our most popular tour is the shared boat tour through the Tamarindo estuary: $40 per person, 2 hours, inside Las Baulas Marine National Park. It suits almost every age and is a good first outing.
How many tours can I do in one day in Tamarindo?
You can usually combine two short tours, for example the estuary boat tour at high tide and the night turtle tour. A full-day trip takes the whole day, so it is best not to add another tour that day.
Which Tamarindo tour is best for couples?
Many couples choose the private kayak tour ($100 per person, about 2.5 hours) for a quiet experience with their own guide. The sunset and baby turtle release is another favorite.
Do I need to book Tamarindo tours in advance?
It is best to book a few days ahead, especially from December to April and during Costa Rican holidays. Full-day trips and the Ostional tour need a minimum of 4 people, so booking early helps.
Which tours include transportation from my hotel?
The shared boat, kayak, turtle and full-day tours include transportation from Tamarindo, and several also from Langosta. Farther areas such as Hacienda Pinilla, Conchal or Flamingo have an extra cost paid to the driver; for private boats and horseback riding, ask us when you book.
More Tamarindo guides
- Things 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.
- 3 Days in Tamarindo: A Nature ItineraryA 3-day Tamarindo itinerary built around the tides: estuary tour, night turtles in season, a full-day trip inland and a 5-day variant, with prices.
- Best Time to Visit Tamarindo: Weather Month by MonthBest time to visit Tamarindo: dry season vs green season, Tamarindo weather month by month, high season dates and which tours fit each part of the year.
- Tamarindo in the Green Season: Tours That Shine in the RainTamarindo rainy season guide: what the green season is like, the best tours for May to November, what to do when it rains and how weather changes work.
- Tamarindo Tides: Why Our Tour Times Change Every DayHow the Tamarindo tide schedule works, why estuary boat and kayak tours leave with the high tide, and how we confirm your exact tour time after booking.
- How Much Does a Boat Tour in Tamarindo Cost?Tamarindo boat tour price: shared estuary tours from $40, private boats, kayak and combo, typical market ranges, what is included and how deposits work.