Palo Verde River Boat Tour

Cruise down the Tempisque River inside Palo Verde National Park to see one of Costa Rica's most fascinating and precious ecosystems: the dry tropical forest. On this riverboat safari cruise, your guide will spot wildlife such as herons, crocodiles, and monkeys and share interesting facts about the region’s unique biodiversity and essential cultural history.

Duration: 6 hours
Transportation: Included
Certified: Tour Guide
Mytanfeet: Customer Service

Description

The Palo Verde River Boat Tour is one of the best half day experiences to do from the Guanacaste coast.

This leisurely tour combines sightseeing and wildlife watching all in one, so you can learn about the precious tropical dry forest, the Tempisque Valley and River and its cultural importance and see unique wildlife.

Your day begins with a scenic drive through rural Guanacaste, past sugarcane and melon plantations, small towns and open countryside, leading to the banks of the historic Tempisque River. Your guide will share the cultural and economic importance of the Tempisque River, and you’ll get a glimpse of this local tradition still taking place in this modern day and age (only available for those getting transportation).

Afterwards, you’ll head to the river boat dock, to board a comfortable covered river boat to begin the cruise. Your trusty local boat captain will drive the boat down the river, while your expert bilingual naturalist guide points out flora and fauna along the way, explaining the crucial insights about the park’s rare dry tropical forest and wetland habitats.

Animals you may see are crocodiles, caimans, bats, monkeys, herons, kingfishers and iguanas.

This experience is ideal for visitors of all ages, ideal for seniors and young children as it requires minimal walking and no strenuous movement.

Tour highlights

Scenic river cruise down the Tempisque River in Palo Verde National Park.
Wildlife viewing opportunities to see crocodiles, monkeys, iguanas, birds and more.
Minimal walking. Easy level.
Well maintained dock for easy on and off boarding.
Private service, only your group is with the guide.

Watch the tour video

What is included?

River boat, boat captain, bilingual English and Spanish naturalist guide
Palo Verde National Park entrance fee
Bottled water on the boat
Traditional Costa Rican lunch
Taxes and fees

Gratuities
Photographer
Transportation (extra cost)
Binoculars, wildlife viewing equipment

Before you go

Additional Information

Tour must be prepaid in full to book and confirmation will be sent upon booking.
Half day tour, usually operating in the morning (~7 AM) with return in the early afternoon (~1230 PM).
The riverboat is covered and has seats with plastic seat backs.
No swimming involved.
The tour is suitable for guests of all ages, including young children and seniors.
Restrooms and shaded waiting areas available at the river boat dock site.

What to Bring

Comfortable clothing and shoes
Hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and insect repellent
Binoculars (optional) and camera (optional)

Request this tour

Send your preferred date and group details. Our team will follow up by email to help complete your booking. Submitting a request does not confirm a reservation.

Tour date(Required)

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Preferred tour(Required)

Palo Verde River Boat Tour

Palo Verde River Boat Tour (No transportation)

Tours include roundtrip transportation, bilingual guide, national park fee, lunch and refreshments. Requires a minimum of 2 people to operate. These are private tours so it will be just your group and the guide in the van (there may be other people in your boat but they will not be with your guide). Also includes a stop at the local "aranderos" (river sand collectors) if conditions allow and lunch is at a local family's house for a traditional meal, coffee and juice.

Pick up time is around 7 AM and return is around 1-2 PM depending on your location. We will send the exact pick up time in your confirmation.

The Palo Verde boat tour without transportation includes a bilingual English and Spanish guide, the boat, national park fee and lunch. Rates vary depending on the number of people in your group since there is one flat rate for the guide, and then a separate rate per the three individual services (boat, national park fee and lunch) per person.

You will meet the guide in the town of Filadelfia at 8 AM and then follow them in your car to the boat launch to do the tour. Once the boat and lunch service is over, the guide will leave and you may go on to your next destination. Return back to your hotel is around 2 PM, depending on your location.

Location for pick-up and drop-off(Required)

Select the zone in Guanacaste where your hotel is located. We only offer the tour from these locations.

Zone 1: Liberia, Hilton, Playa Panamá, Hermosa, Coco, Ocotal, RIU, Waldorf, Secrets Papagayo, Occidental Papagayo

Zone 2: Las Catalinas, Potrero, Flamingo, Conchal, Brasilito, Tamarindo, Playa Grande, Hacienda Pinilla

Papagayo Peninsula: Planet Hollywood, Andaz, Four Seasons, Nekajui

Hotel for pick-up and drop-off(Required)

Participants (10+) (Required)

Price: $0.00

Children Ages 7-9

Price: $0.00

Children Ages 0-6

Price: $0.00

Children ages 0-6 have no charge.

Kids Ages(Required)

Palo Verde boat tour guide (No transportation)

Price:

Aux Children

Aux drive directly

Drive directly

Rack without IVA

Rack IVA only

Tour total Net

Net IVA only

Total Net with IVA

Subtotal

$0.00

Tax IVA 13%

$0.00

Final total

Guest Information

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Your questions answered

If we have our own transportation, how do we meet the guide?

If you have your own rental car, you will meet your guide in Filadelfia, and then follow them in your car to the river dock. The meeting time is normally 8 AM for the afternoon tour. If you wish to have an afternoon tour, please let us know in the comment section, the meeting time is usually around 11 AM.

Is there a difference in the tour with transportation vs no transportation?

The tour with transportation includes a stop by the Tempisque River river to see the local areneros en río y boyeros, the local river sand collectors and traditional oxcarts for transportation. This is not included in the tour without transportation.

For both the tour with and without transportation, there is a short presentation of traditional Guatil pottery.

For those doing the Palo Verde river boat tour with transportation, the guide will also stop along the drive if they spot special birds like Scarlet Macaws.

What kind of wildlife can we see?

It is possible to see corrensponding wildlife that live in the wetlands and dry tropical forest such as crocodiles, howler monkeys, white faced capuchin monkeys, iguanas, herons, egrets, kingfishers and storks.

You do not see sloths on the Palo Verde river boat tour as they do not live in this type of ecosystem. If you wish to see sloths in the wild, the Guanacaste rainforest sloth tour is the best option.

How long is the boat tour itself?

The river cruise typically lasts around 1.5 to 2 hours.

What are the driving times?

Zone 1 is around 1 hour to Palo Verde.Zone 2 is around 1.5 hours to Palo Verde.

Palo Verde to the lunch spot is about 10-15 minutes.

Is this tour suitable for kids and seniors?

Yes, definitely. The only physical activity required for the Palo Verde river boat tour is walking from the shuttle to the boat dock and boarding the boat.

Unfortunately, it is not wheelchair accessible, as participants cannot bring their wheelchair onto the boat. They must be able to walk on the dock which has handrails, onto the boat.

The guide and driver will assist anyone who may require some assistance walking on the dock and boarding the boat.

You will be sitting on the boat for the whole cruise, and the boat is covered.

Do we need binoculars?

Binoculars are not required but highly recommended if you wish to do your own wildlife spotting and to see the animals closer. The guide will not be able to provide a viewing telescope due to the boat logistics.

Will there be other people on the boat since we have a private tour?

Yes. The private service means that it will be only your group in the shuttle bus and only your group with the guide. There may be others on the same boat as your group, but the guides will space the groups out as much as possible. No one else will join your group to be with your guide.

What should I wear?

We recommend lightweight, comfortable clothes and comfortable shoes. You do not need hiking boots or shoes, as there is minimal walking. Bring sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses as the strong is very strong.

Is breakfast included?

No. Only lunch is included which will be after the boat tour. You will need to get your own breakfast.

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Palo Verde River Boat Tour