How Much Does a Boat Tour in Tamarindo Cost?

If you are comparing the Tamarindo boat tour price before your trip, this guide gives you honest numbers. Short answer: a shared estuary boat tour in Tamarindo usually costs about $39 to $52 per person. With Tamarindo Estuary Tours Mi Rey, the shared boat tour costs $40 per person, a private boat costs $800 for up to 10 people or $1,200 for up to 16, and you only pay a deposit online. Below you will find every price, what is included, what changes the cost and how payment works.

Tamarindo boat tour price: our rates

Shared boat tour (mangrove safari): $40 per person, 2 hours, minimum 2 people. Deposit: $15 per person.
Private boat for up to 10 people: $800 per boat, 2 hours. Deposit: $160.
Private boat for up to 16 people: $1,200 per boat, 2 hours. Deposit: $240.
Shared kayak tour: $60 per person, 2 to 2.5 hours, minimum 2 people. Deposit: $15 per person.
Private kayak tour: $100 per person, about 2.5 hours, no minimum. Deposit: $20 per person.
Estuary and horseback combo: $80 per person, minimum 2 people. Deposit: $20 per person.

Children 2 years old and under ride free on the boat tours. All prices are in US dollars.

What is included in the price

Shared boat tour

A 2-hour boat safari inside Las Baulas Marine National Park with a bilingual guide, bottled water, seasonal fruit and transportation from Tamarindo or Langosta. It also includes a short walk in the tropical dry forest to look for howler monkeys. Along the way you can see American crocodiles, herons, hawks and iguanas.

Private boat

The whole boat for your group, a bilingual naturalist guide, bottled water, seasonal fruit, coconut water and beers if you like. The guide adapts the pace to your group. Our guide to private boats for groups explains how families, weddings and birthdays use it.

How our prices compare with the market

We reviewed the prices published for estuary tours in Tamarindo in October 2026. These are typical ranges; each listing may or may not include taxes, pickup or extras, so always check what is included.

Shared estuary boat tour: usually about $39 to $52 per person. Ours is $40.
Shared kayak tour in the estuary: usually about $49 to $75 per person. Ours is $60.
Private boat: few operators publish prices for groups of 10 or more, and most quote by group size. Ours has a fixed price per boat: $800 for up to 10 people (about $80 per person when full) or $1,200 for up to 16 (about $75 per person when full).

What affects the price of a boat tour in Tamarindo

Shared or private. A shared tour divides the cost among travelers; a private boat is priced per boat.
Boat or kayak. Kayak tours need more equipment per person and usually cost more than the shared boat. See boat or kayak in Tamarindo.
What is included. Guide, water, fruit, coconut water and drinks change the value of a tour.
Where you are staying. Pickup in Tamarindo and Langosta is usually included. Farther areas such as Hacienda Pinilla, Conchal, Flamingo or Papagayo have an extra transportation cost depending on the route, paid directly to the driver.
Type of boat tour. In Tamarindo, “boat tour” can also mean a sailing trip on the ocean. Those are a different product with different prices; this guide covers the estuary.

How the deposit works

When you book online, you only pay a deposit to reserve your spot. The balance is paid in cash, in US dollars or colones, on the day of the tour. Two examples:

A couple on the shared boat: $80 in total. You pay $30 online and $50 on the day of the tour.
A group of 10 on a private boat: $800 in total. You pay $160 online and $640 on the day of the tour.

If you cancel at least 24 hours before departure, we refund the deposit. Because boat tours leave with the high tide, we confirm the exact time for your date by WhatsApp after you book. Read more in our guide to Tamarindo tides.

Why book directly with the operator

You talk to the people who run the tour. Questions about tides, children or group size are answered directly on WhatsApp.
A clear price. The price you see is the price of the tour, and you only pay a deposit in advance.
Flexible cancellation. Cancel at least 24 hours before departure and your deposit is refunded.
Local guides. Our bilingual guides know the estuary, the tides and where the wildlife usually rests.

For everything you can see on the tour, read the complete Tamarindo estuary guide.

Ready to book directly with the operator? Reserve the shared boat tour for $40 per person, or the private boat for up to 10 or up to 16 people with Tamarindo Estuary Tours Mi Rey. If you want a quote for your group or have questions about pickup, write to us on WhatsApp and we will help you.

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Frequently asked questions

What is a fair price for a shared estuary boat tour in Tamarindo?

Shared estuary boat tours in Tamarindo usually range from about $39 to $52 per person, depending on what is included. Our shared boat tour costs $40 per person and includes a bilingual guide, water, fruit and transportation from Tamarindo or Langosta.

How much do I pay online and how much on the day of the tour?

Online you only pay a deposit: $15 per person on the shared boat, $160 for the private boat for up to 10 and $240 for the private boat for up to 16. The rest is paid in cash, in US dollars or colones, on the day of the tour.

Do children pay on the boat tour?

Children 2 years old and under ride free on the shared and private boat tours. Older children pay the regular price.

Is pickup included in the price?

Pickup in Tamarindo and Langosta is usually included. Farther areas such as Hacienda Pinilla, Conchal, Flamingo or Papagayo have an extra transportation cost depending on the route, paid directly to the driver.

Is a private boat worth it compared with the shared tour?

The shared tour is the most economical option for small groups. A private boat costs $800 for up to 10 people, about $80 per person when full, so it makes sense when you want the boat only for your group, extra drinks and a pace set by you.

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