A private boat tour in Tamarindo is one of the simplest ways to explore the estuary with your own group. Instead of sharing the boat with other travelers, your family, wedding party or team has the whole boat, a bilingual naturalist guide and a pace that suits everyone. Tamarindo Estuary Tours Mi Rey offers two private boat sizes, for up to 10 and up to 16 people, on a 2-hour route through the mangrove of Las Baulas Marine National Park.
What a private boat tour in Tamarindo includes
The route is the same one that makes the estuary famous: calm channels lined with mangrove, American crocodiles resting on the banks, iguanas in the trees and birds such as herons and hawks. The difference is that your guide works only for your group, so there is time to stop for photos, answer questions from children and adults, and adjust the explanations to your interests.
- Exclusive boat for your group
- Bilingual naturalist guide
- Bottled water and seasonal fruit
- Coconut water
- Beers, if you like
The tour lasts 2 hours and departs with the high tide, so the exact time is confirmed after you book.
Prices and value per person
Private boats are priced per boat, not per person, up to the capacity shown:
- Private boat for up to 10 people: $800 per boat
- Private boat for up to 16 people: $1,200 per boat
Approximate cost per person
- 8 people on the 10-person boat: about $100 each
- 10 people on the 10-person boat: about $80 each
- 12 people on the 16-person boat: about $100 each
- 16 people on the 16-person boat: about $75 each
For comparison, the shared boat tour costs $40 per person. The private boat costs more per person, but the boat is yours alone: a guide focused on your group, coconut water and beers, and more freedom to set the pace. For couples or small groups who mainly want to see wildlife, the shared boat is usually the better value. Our guide Boat or Kayak? How to Choose Your Mangrove Tour in Tamarindo compares every option.
Ideas for groups and celebrations
Families and multigenerational trips
Grandparents, parents and children travel seated in the same boat, with no paddling and no long walks. It is an easy way to share an outdoor experience when the group has very different ages and energy levels.
Weddings
Couples who marry in Guanacaste often look for an activity for their guests the day before or after the ceremony. A private boat keeps everyone together, offers a relaxed shared experience and gives the wedding party photos with the mangrove as a backdrop. If your guest list is larger than one boat, write to us early so we can check the options for your date.
Birthdays and anniversaries
For a birthday, an anniversary or a reunion of friends, the private boat turns a nature tour into a celebration with your own people. Tell us about the occasion when you book, and if you have a special request, ask us by WhatsApp and we will let you know what is possible.
Corporate groups and retreats
At 2 hours, the tour fits easily into a retreat or incentive trip schedule. A bilingual guide makes it a good fit for international teams, and the shared experience outdoors is a natural break from meetings.
How to plan your private boat
- Book early in high season. From November to Easter, and during Costa Rican holidays, dates fill faster, especially for groups.
- Plan around the tide. The departure time depends on the high tide, so keep some flexibility in your schedule. Read our guide to Tamarindo tides to understand why.
- Choose the right size. If your group is close to 10 people, the boat for up to 16 gives you extra room.
- Pack for the sun. Bring comfortable clothes, water shoes, sunglasses, a hat, sunblock, repellent and a camera.
To learn more about the wildlife and the park before your trip, see our Tamarindo estuary guide.
Booking and payment
When you book online, you pay a deposit to reserve the boat: $160 for the boat for up to 10 people and $240 for the boat for up to 16 people. 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 your deposit. After booking, we send you the meeting point and all the details by WhatsApp. If the weather or water conditions make the tour unsafe, we contact you to offer another date or a refund.
Reserve your private boat
Book the private boat for up to 10 people or the private boat for up to 16 people and secure your date. If you are planning a wedding, a birthday or a company trip and have questions, write to us on WhatsApp and the Tamarindo Estuary Tours Mi Rey team will help you organize it.
Book these tours
Private Boat Tour · up to 10 people$800 per boatSee tour and book →
Private Boat Tour · up to 16 people$1,200 per boatSee tour and book →
Shared Boat Tour (Mangrove Safari)$40 per personSee tour and book →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a private boat tour in Tamarindo cost?
The private boat costs $800 per boat for up to 10 people and $1,200 per boat for up to 16 people. The price is per boat, so the cost per person goes down as your group grows.
What is included in the private boat tour?
An exclusive boat for your group, a bilingual naturalist guide, bottled water, seasonal fruit, coconut water and beers if you like. The tour lasts 2 hours.
Can we choose the departure time?
The boat leaves with the high tide, which changes every day, so the departure time depends on the tide on your date. We confirm the exact time by WhatsApp after you book.
How much is the deposit for a private boat?
The deposit is $160 for the boat for up to 10 people and $240 for the boat for up to 16 people. The balance is paid in cash, in US dollars or colones, on the day of the tour.
What if our group has more than 16 people?
Write to us on WhatsApp with the size of your group and your date, and we will tell you which options are available.
More Tamarindo guides
- Tamarindo 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.
- Boat or Kayak? How to Choose Your Mangrove Tour in TamarindoTamarindo kayak tour or boat tour? Compare shared and private options by effort, wildlife, kids rules, tides and price, from $40 per person.
- Crocodile 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.
- Tamarindo Mangrove Tour: Why the Mangrove Forest MattersTamarindo mangrove tour guide: the types of mangroves, why they are a nursery for fish and wildlife, and how to explore them by boat or kayak from $40.
- Wildlife in Tamarindo: Animals You Can See and WhereWildlife in Tamarindo: crocodiles, howler monkeys, iguanas, crabs, birds, sloths and sea turtles, with the tour, place and season to see each animal.
- Birdwatching in the Tamarindo Estuary: Birds You Can SeeBirdwatching in Tamarindo: herons, egrets, kingfishers, ospreys and spoonbills in the estuary, the best season and tide, tips for birders and which tour.