Tamarindo estuary mangrove boat tour

People mostly come for the crocodiles. The river mouth at the north end of Tamarindo beach is part of Las Baulas Marine National Park, and American crocodiles in its brackish channels can pass four metres. The boat tour runs about two hours and follows the high tide, so the start time moves from day to day and is confirmed after booking. Along the mangrove channels expect egrets and herons working the shallows, iguanas on the branches and crabs on the prop roots. Most tours land for a short walk in the dry forest, where howler monkeys are the usual find.

Kayak tours cover the same water at paddling pace and take a little longer. Leatherback turtles nest across the river on Playa Grande between October and March.