When you book tours in Tamarindo from home, a few practical questions come up: how much do I pay now, how do I pay, what time should I be ready and what if my plans change? This guide answers them from our side of the counter.
At Tamarindo Estuary Tours Mi Rey, a local operator on the Tamarindo estuary, the first thing we do with every new booking is look up the tide for that date. Here is everything that happens from that moment until you pay the balance on the tour day.
Short answer: choose your tour, date and number of guests on our website and pay only a deposit online, with PayPal or a card, or by SINPE Móvil or bank transfer from Costa Rica. For boat and kayak tours we confirm the departure time by WhatsApp according to the high tide. On the tour day you pay the balance in cash. Cancel at least 24 hours in advance and your deposit is refunded.
How to book tours in Tamarindo, step by step
- Choose the tour, date and number of guests on our website. Each tour page shows the price, the deposit, the minimum number of people and what is included.
- Pay the deposit online with PayPal or a card. From Costa Rica you can also use SINPE Móvil (in colones) or a bank transfer: you see the payment details after booking, send us the receipt on WhatsApp and we confirm by email.
- Receive the confirmation by WhatsApp. For boat and kayak tours we send the exact departure time for your date, plus the pickup details or, if you come on your own, the meeting point.
- Enjoy the tour and pay the balance in cash, in US dollars or colones. If you are staying outside the included pickup area, the extra transportation is paid directly to the driver.
Tour deposit: what you pay online and on the day
Every tour has its own deposit, shown on its page. Some examples with our current prices:
- A family of 4 on the Tamarindo kayak tour: $240 in total. $60 online, $180 on the day.
- A couple on the baby turtle release in Tamarindo: $100 in total. $20 online, $80 on the day.
- Four friends on the Rincón de la Vieja tour from Tamarindo: $720 in total. $240 online, $480 on the day.
- A group of 10 on a private boat tour in Tamarindo: $800 per boat. $160 online, $640 on the day.
Bring the balance in cash, ideally in small bills. For every boat price and what each tour includes, see Tamarindo boat tour price.
Why the boat and kayak time is confirmed after booking
Our estuary tours leave with the high tide, when the mangrove channels are deep enough for the boat and the current helps the kayaks. The tide arrives about 50 minutes later each day, so a tour that leaves at 8 am one week may leave at 1 pm the next.
A fixed schedule would be wrong half the time, so we confirm the right hour for your date personally. If you have a flight or a dinner that day, tell us when you book. The Tamarindo tide schedule guide explains it in detail.
Tours with fixed times
- Turtle nesting tour: pickup in Tamarindo at 5:30 pm.
- Sunset and baby turtle release: departure at 3:30 pm, from November 12.
- Full-day trips: early morning departures. These and the Ostional arribada require a minimum of 4 people; most other tours require 2.
Cancellation policy, weather and refunds
- Cancelling or changing the date: write to us by WhatsApp or email with your name and tour date, at least 24 hours before departure.
- Deposit refund: if you cancel at least 24 hours in advance, we refund it. With less notice, or if you do not show up, it is not refunded.
- Weather: light rain does not usually stop a tour. If conditions make it unsafe, we offer you another date or a refund.
- How refunds are made: the same way you paid, to PayPal or your card, or by SINPE Móvil or bank transfer to the account the payment came from.
- Turtle nesting tour: if we do not see turtles, we reschedule it for the next night or make it up to you with the estuary tour.
Wildlife sightings depend on nature and cannot be guaranteed on any tour. The full text is in our cancellation policy, linked at the bottom of every page.
When to book your Tamarindo tours
From November to Easter, and during Costa Rican holidays, dates fill faster, especially for groups, turtle tours and full-day trips. Booking a few days ahead also gives us room to match the Tamarindo estuary tour with a comfortable tide.
Last-minute bookings are sometimes possible. Write to us on WhatsApp to check availability for tomorrow or the same day. If you are still choosing activities, start with our list of the best tours in Tamarindo.
Book direct or through a reseller?
In Tamarindo you can book directly with the operator, at a hotel tour desk or on an online booking platform. Resellers are convenient if you want many activities in one place. Before choosing, compare these points:
- Payment: with us you pay only a deposit online. Some resellers charge the full price in advance.
- Price: resellers usually add a commission, so the same tour can cost more or include less.
- Cancellation: each reseller has its own rules, which may differ from the operator policy.
- Communication: booking direct, questions about the tide, children or pickup go straight to the people who run the tour.
Tips for a smooth booking
- Tell us your hotel or the area where you are staying, so we can confirm pickup.
- Mention the ages of any children; each tour has its own rules for kids.
- Keep WhatsApp active during your trip; that is where we confirm times.
- Read what to pack for Costa Rica tours and, if you want to thank your guide, our notes on tipping in Costa Rica.
Ready? Choose your tour on the website of Tamarindo Estuary Tours Mi Rey and reserve it with the deposit, starting with the shared boat tour at $15 per person. If you have questions before booking, write to us on WhatsApp and we will gladly help.
Book these tours
Shared Boat Tour (Mangrove Safari)$40 per personSee tour and book →
Shared Kayak Tour$60 per personSee tour and book →
Sunset & Baby Turtle Release$50 per personSee tour and book →
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pay the full price when I book tours in Tamarindo?
Not with us. Online you only pay a deposit to reserve your spot, for example $15 per person on the shared boat tour. The balance is paid in cash, in US dollars or colones, on the day of the tour.
Which payment methods can I use for the tour deposit?
You can pay with PayPal or a card online. 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.
Why do boat and kayak tours in Tamarindo have no fixed time?
Boat and kayak tours leave with the high tide, which arrives about 50 minutes later each day. After you book, we check the tide for your date and confirm the exact departure time by WhatsApp.
What is your tour cancellation policy?
If you cancel at least 24 hours before the departure time, we refund the deposit. With less than 24 hours of notice, or if you do not show up, the deposit is not refunded.
What happens if it rains on the day of my tour?
Light rain does not usually stop a tour. If the weather or water conditions make a tour unsafe, we contact you to offer another date or a refund.
More Tamarindo guides
Plan your tripBest Tours in Tamarindo: A Local Operator's GuideBest tours in Tamarindo ranked by a local operator: estuary boat, kayak, turtles, horseback and day trips, with the price and length of all 13 tours.
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.
Plan your tripThings to Do in Tamarindo at Night: Turtles, Sunset and TownThings to do in Tamarindo at night: a turtle nesting tour, the sunset and baby turtle release, dinner in town and safety tips for walking after dark.
Plan your tripFree Things to Do in Tamarindo: A Local List with Tide TipsFree things to do in Tamarindo: beach walks, tide pools, the walk to Langosta, birds, surf watching and sunsets, with tide timing and safety tips from locals.
Plan your tripTamarindo Travel Tips: What to Know Before Your First VisitTamarindo travel tips from local guides: dollars or colones, why SINPE is local, sun and heat, tides, booking tours and getting around on your first visit.
Plan your tripOne Day in Tamarindo: An Itinerary Built Around the TideOne day in Tamarindo: two schedules for a morning or afternoon high tide, with the estuary boat tour, beach time, lunch and the sunset, plus real tour prices.