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Palo Verde National Park tour with River Tempisque cruise

4.6/5
17 reviews

Nourished by the River Tempisque, the fertile lands of Palo Verde National Park provide sanctuary to a mind-boggling line-up of exotic birds and other wildlife. This tour gives you exclusive access to the reserve, world-renowned for its biodiversity and natural beauty. Jose, one of our expert local guides, says "Palo Verde is home to around 280 different species of birds, but the most common are waterfowl and forest birds – there's an estimated 50,000 of them living there."

Your adventure kicks off with a cruise down the Tempisque. And being the only boat out on the river at this time of day means you'll have it all to yourself. What better way to see wild animals in their natural habitat? You'll enjoy unobscured views of a multitude of nesting birds – there's a vast number of heron species – howler monkeys, iguanas and even crocodiles basking on the riverbanks. From here, you'll head to a farm at one of the nearby local communities, where you can see how people in this part of Costa Rica live. You'll learn about the produce they grow and their traditional farming methods.

During your tour of the land, your guide will tell you about the history and traditions of the region. Since this place is nestled in the countryside, there are plenty of sprawling views for you to snap pictures of, too. You'll have plenty of time to fill your phone before starting the return journey back to your accommodation.

Main features

Free cancellation
Place: Guanacaste
Duration: from 4 hours to 8 hours
Printed ticket only

Additional features

Entrance fees included
Guided tour
Instant confirmation
Hotel pick up

Why choose TUI Musement experiences

Get to the heart of every destination with our unique tours and activities. Created by locals, curated by us.

Only the best

The extra details that make the trip. One more stop. That hidden corner. Only the best stuff makes it in. Rated 8.3/10

Made by us

Built around what you love. Shaped by what you tell us. Crafted with TUIs 50+ years of travel know‑how.

Local touch

The right time to visit. The view most miss. Do it like our creators and guides – who live and love it there.

Why you’ll love this…

  • You'll head into the Palo Verde National Park and spot thousands of tropical bird species
  • There's a chance for you to see lots of wildlife as you take a leisurely cruise down the Tempisque
  • You can learn about a slower way of life in Costa Rica during a stop at a farm
  • This tour is led by an expert local guide with an unrivalled knowledge of Costa Rica

Important to know

  • A minimum of 4 participants is required to operate the excursion with the rental car
  • Not suitable for guests with reduced mobility
  • Not suitable for guests who suffer from travel sickness
  • Bring insect repellent
  • Bring a hat
  • Bring suitable footwear
  • Food not included
  • Subject to weather conditions

Cancellation policy

Receive a 100% refund if you cancel up to 1 day before the experience begins.


What’s included

  • Transport
  • Guide
  • River cruise
  • Drinks
  • Snack
  • Fresh fruit
  • Lifejacket

Booking fee

Good news! No extra fees are applied to this booking.


Pickup points

To see which pickup points are available, check under availability & prices.

Provider

TUI DESTINATION EXPERIENCES COSTA RICA S.A.


What people say about this experience

4.6/5

All reviews are verified

Based on 17 reviews


Review categories

Value for money

4.2/5

Service

4.7/5

Safety

4.7/5

Staff

4.7/5


82%
6%
12%
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Sort by:

  • A

    Annie

    Travelled with a group of friends


    9 April 2025
    4.6

    United Kingdom

    Loved the river cruise, our guide was very knowledgeable and the boat pilot knew exactly where to go. The cultural experience was very interesting and friendly.

  • A

    Andrew and Maria

    Travelled as a couple


    26 March 2025
    4.6

    United Kingdom

    We loved it and guide treated us all very well

  • D

    Donna and Kevin

    Travelled as a couple


    13 March 2025
    5

    United Kingdom

    Saw loads of crocodiles and it was amazing watching some of them so closely move into the water and swim by. The guides were great at spotting birds and monkeys etc. Had a first stop at a ranch which was lovely and were given fruit and coffee and then back there later for sugar cane demo. Great trip and would recommend.

  • A

    Andrew

    Travelled as a couple


    9 March 2025
    4.2

    United Kingdom

    We enjoyed the whole experience especially the river trip where we saw lots of crocodiles iguanas lizards several species of herons ibis & kingfishers. The guide was very informative and spoke good English whereas the guide at the sugar ranch spoke too quickly and was difficult to understand but was very friendly and helpful explaining the process and history of the ranch.

  • S

    Sue Clarke

    Travelled as a couple


    9 March 2025
    3

    United Kingdom

    Disappointed with the river tour as I expected a river tour that lasted longer not 1 hour. The majority of the day was spent looking at the big house, explaining about sugar cane and cowboys! Not worth the money and found it very misleading!

  • B

    Be careful your rep isn't lying

    Travelled with family


    9 March 2025
    3

    United Kingdom

    We were conned by our sales rep. We asked for a nature reserve and river boat trip that was no more than 4 hours. We were very clear this is what we wanted, we also made sure to say we wanted no audience participation on our trip as one of our group is disabled and would find it very upsetting. Our trip was over 6 hours, 1 hour of what we wanted, 1 and a half hours of cultural learning and audience participation, the rest was travel. The guide was fantastic and should not be blamed.