Mangrove Forest Kayak Exploration: Discover Preciosa Platanares Wildlife Refuge with a Local Guide

Embark on a guided kayak tour through the Preciosa Platanares Wildlife Refuge and discover the wonders of the mangrove forest. Immerse yourself in the brackish water and learn about the unique interrelationships between plants and animals. Book now!

Duration: 3 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Calle a Gringolandia - The mangrove kayak tour departs one or two hours before high tide. This adventure takes you through the mangrove estuaries of the Platanares River delta within the Preciosa Platanares Wildlife Refuge. An experienced guide will accompany you along the river beneath the canopy of 70-foot tall mangrove trees. Discover the…
What's Included
  • Local guide
  • Small-group tour (maximum 10 plus guide)
What's Not Included
  • Transportation to/from attractions
Additional Information

Join us for a guided exploration of the Preciosa Platanares Wildlife Refuge, an oasis of serenity and wonder in the heart of the mangroves. These tiny woodland habitats are teeming with flora and fauna remarkably adapted to live in the tidal influences of brackish water, creating a vibrant ecosystem that you will witness during the tour. Accompanied by…

Location
Calle a Gringolandia
Aventuras Tropicales Golfo Dulce, please show up 15 minutes before the tour start :)
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(37 Ratings)
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Julia_w
Mar 16, 2026
Great Mangrove Forest Kayak Tour - It was really interesting and a great trip with a perfect guide. We learned a lot about Mangrove, and had a great break with fresh pineapple and coconut.
Review provided by Viator
Z116fpsheilam
Mar 11, 2026
Wonderful kayak tour of the mangroves - This was a wonderful kayak tour of the mangroves in Puerto Jiménez. The company was very easy to communicate with and our guide, Tamar, was excellent – she taught us a lot about the different kinds of mangroves and animals who live in that ecosystem, and scratched herself up in order to get a very special and unusual fruit for us to eat from one of the plants along the banks. There was a cruise ship in Puerto Jimenez that day so we were in a large group and there were several other large kayaking groups in the mangroves – if you want a more intimate experience you might want to make sure you’re not going on a day when there’s a big cruise ship in the port.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
W3647zvconnieg
Mar 7, 2026
Chill afternoon meeting all the colors of mangroves. - Happy a lovely afternoon learning about the different types of mangroves. It was a very chilled relaxed paddle. Saw a few birds and some crabs but not much else in terms of wildlife. Also got to try the little fruit that was like a pineapple/banana/pear mashup. They were delicious. The fruit and water at the end was a nice treat. They use sit on kayaks so a sarong to cover your legs is helpful to keep you cooler and from frying your legs.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Flyer480907
Mar 3, 2026
Unique Experience! - Awesome experience! Our guide was very knowledgeable - learned a lot about mangroves and the biodiversity of the area. The kayaking was hard work at times but fun!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Cas4075
Feb 17, 2026
Excellent tour - We had an excellent experience on our kayak tour of the mangroves. Tamara was very knowledgeable and passionate about nature and the living environment of the mangroves. Organizing the tour directly with Alberto was easy and he was very responsive. Highly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
607triciat
Feb 7, 2026
An excellent experience - Do t miss this tour if you want an incredible tour through the mangroves and to learn why these trees are so essential to protecting the environment. Alberto is so knowledgeable about birds , the mangrove system and an excellent kayak instructor. I spent 4 wonderful hours recording , learning and enjoying the tranquility of the mangrove passage . It was fabulous!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jengu2985rg
Nov 28, 2025
Wonderful kayaking experience!! - We absolutely loved our kayak through the mangroves. Our guide was so knowledgeable and kind. We enjoyed a delicious meal afterwards at the cafe. I would highly recommend this company!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Marieeve_l
Jul 15, 2025
Thank you Alberto! - This kayak tour with Alberto was incredible. Alberto knows so much about the mangroves. He was informative and very kind. It was an amazing activity.
Review provided by Viator
Jaime_t
Jun 29, 2024
Book this tour! - We had a great time on this tour! I’ll admit I was a little skeptical going in but it turned out to be one of the best excursions we did in Costa Rica. Our guide Lino (I hope I’ve spelled it correctly) was awesome and just an all round good guy and interesting to talk to. I highly recommend this tour!
Review provided by Viator
Z7771pucourtneym
May 30, 2024
Peaceful and fun - This tour exceeded our expectations and would definitely recommend. We started at 7am during high tide and had a very tranquil paddle through the mangroves. Minimal physical exertion because the water is so calm and we went slow, and they also have tandem kayaks. Lino was a great guide and showed us many things to paddle over and look at. The mangrove forest was really cool, and at the end we stopped and watched a family of capuchin monkeys playing. On the paddle back we stopped at the beach next to the river and had a swim break in golfo dulce which was very refreshing, and Lino cut up fresh coconut and pineapple for us. We didn’t get bit by many bugs and some of the river is shaded. Only shoes you need are flip flops for the hot sand on the beach. Great tour!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $62
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).