Damas Island Boat Excursion, Manuel Antonio

4.2 (9 reviews)
Cruise through lush mangrove estuaries, where the unique shifting sediment and saltwater attract diverse wildlife.

Overview

Take a gentle cruise through the lush mangrove estuaries around Isla Damas on this four-hour excursion that's perfect for families and nature lovers. Your knowledgeable guide will point out flora and fauna as you glide along the natural passageways created by the river's ebb and flow. Watch for exotic birds in the surrounding treetops, spot monkeys and reptiles on the shores, and keep an eye on the water where the fluctuating conditions of sediment and saltwater attract a wide range of marine life. The day ends back on shore with an included lunch with your group and guides.

Highlights

  • Cruise through the unique mangrove estuaries of Isla Damas
  • Learn how this coastal ecosystem is vital to the region's biodiversity
  • Spot diverse birdlife like herons, kingfishers, ospreys, and frigatebirds
  • Look out for monkeys in the trees and reptiles on the riverbanks
  • Enjoy an included lunch at the end of the boat trip

Know before you go

Duration
4h
Recommended for
All ages
Group
Group tour, 30 people or less
Food & Drink
Lunch Included. Lunch or dinner is included, based on the time of the tour

What you'll do

Your four-hour excursion starts with a pick-up from your hotel (the exact time depends on the tide). From there, you'll transfer to the dock and board a small boat to discover the mangroves and estuaries surrounding Isla Damas. Cruise through the winding channels and listen as your guide shares fascinating facts about the region's unique mangrove ecosystems and explains why they're vital to Costa Rica's biodiversity.

Your guide will point out the area's plentiful birdlife, which includes herons, kingfishers, ospreys, and frigatebirds, and if you're lucky, you might spot reptiles or anteaters along the banks or sloths and monkeys hanging in the trees. Don't forget to look down as well—the mangrove forests act as a natural filtration system for water and provide a nursery for many marine species like oysters, stingrays, sponges, juvenile black-tipped sharks, and large schools of fish. After your scenic cruise, return to shore to enjoy an included lunch or dinner, then say goodbye to your guides and group and transfer back to your hotel.

Start times

  • Daily
    6:00 am

What's included

  • Transportation
  • Bilingual guides
  • Boat ride
  • Beverages
  • Meal
Please note that departure times are based on the tide. Breakfast, lunch, or dinner is included with your activity based on the start time.

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Traveler reviews

9 total ratings, 5 with reviews
4.2
Feature ratings
Quality of Experience
4.4
Food
3.6
Guides, Drivers and Staff
4.4
Transport
4.5
Cynthia
Cynthia D.
La Mirada, CA | Reviewed on Jul 29, 2024
This was a fun excursion to learn about the unique mangrove ecosystem. It was cool where the mangrove then opens up to the ocean. A great learning experience for the kids. Unfortunately, we didnt see much wildlife but that's just nature for you. Read more

This was a fun excursion to learn about the unique mangrove ecosystem. It was cool where the mangrove then opens up to the ocean. A great learning experience for the kids. Unfortunately, we didnt see much wildlife but that's just nature for you.

Tips for future travelers

The boat vs kayak takes you all the way out to Damas Island and the beach area where you can get off and walk around to take advantage of great photo ops.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Alison
Alison C.
Canada | Reviewed on Mar 01, 2023
Loved our guide. Very nimble and entertaining, he climbed over the mandrake roots to point out the wildlife. It was very enjoyable. I think Tolkien must have seen the mandrake groves when he created the Ents. Read more

Loved our guide. Very nimble and entertaining, he climbed over the mandrake roots to point out the wildlife. It was very enjoyable. I think Tolkien must have seen the mandrake groves when he created the Ents.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Loni
Loni K.
Minneapolis, MN | Reviewed on Dec 06, 2022
this was other worldly. If you have not been in a Mangrove forest, it is so cool. We went late afternoon which was pretty nice for seeing birds, snakes, monkeys, etc. Even the bats at dusk were so cool to watch swooping close to the water Read more

this was other worldly. If you have not been in a Mangrove forest, it is so cool. We went late afternoon which was pretty nice for seeing birds, snakes, monkeys, etc. Even the bats at dusk were so cool to watch swooping close to the water

Quality of Experience
Food
We had dinner with our two tour guides after and it was a very nice simple delicious dinner.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
We had George our van driver, our boat driver and two guides for the 4 of us. They were all great.
Transport
F
Frederick K.
Saint Michael, MN | Reviewed on Nov 30, 2022
Our two young new guides could not have been better! They knew their stuff. It was beautiful to do this boat tour rich before the sunset. Saw snakes, lots of birds, crabs, and monkeys! Read more

Our two young new guides could not have been better! They knew their stuff. It was beautiful to do this boat tour rich before the sunset. Saw snakes, lots of birds, crabs, and monkeys!

Quality of Experience
Food
The food was simple and delicious.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
The boat and bus drivers were great.
C
chari p.
Asheville, NC | Reviewed on May 29, 2022
This is the only experience that we didn't like. It was not what we expected. We saw more of the amimals on the hike than on the boat tour. The breakfast was not good. The food was cold and seemed to be more of an afterthought. Read more

This is the only experience that we didn't like. It was not what we expected. We saw more of the amimals on the hike than on the boat tour. The breakfast was not good. The food was cold and seemed to be more of an afterthought.

Quality of Experience
Food
would like to have a made to order breakfast, our food was sitting on the table when we arrived and was not hot.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport

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Itineraries with Damas Island Boat Excursion