Kayaking is a super popular pass time in Costa Rica. There are hundreds of great locations but here are seven of the best along the Pacific Coastline including the unique opportunity to kayak the protected mangroves of Manuel Antonio by night!
From Corcovado:
Most kayaking tours in this region leave at 6am so be forewarned! These are two great trips for kayakers of all levels that offer very different benefits Adventure Holiday. The first option is that you kayak and snorkel on the Marino Ballena National Park´s coast line. This breath-taking Pacific coast tour casts off inside the park where you will paddle to Ballena Island. Here you will have the opportunity to explore the island´s caves on foot or snorkel around the island to observe the Pacific´s marine fauna before heading back to the main land.
The second option is a kayaking trip through the mangrove forests of Hatillos Mangrove Swamp. This tour offers an opportunity for you to see a wide range of wildlife and flora all around you as you paddle through the canals of the swamp. This is a great opportunity to acquire a different perspective of the biodiversity of Costa Rica and enjoy the sounds of the forest and the light splashing of water.
From: Manuel Antonio
The coastline of Manuel Antonio is phenomenal without a doubt. There is a kayaking tour that allows you to fully take in this Pacific beauty. Casting off in comfortable open-seat kayaks from Pez Vela Marine in Quepos you will cruise along the coast. When you arrive at the hidden treasure of Biezans Bay, a hidden beach, you will have the opportunity to swim and snorkel along the coral reefs with your guide. After a refreshing swim, you will continue your kayaking adventure to the sounds of the exotic birds of Manuel Antonio National Park while you hover over the reserve´s local aquatic marine life. Your lunch will be served at a local beach restaurant in Manuel Antonio before you return to your hotel!
Visitors to Manuel Antonio also are given an extremely unique opportunity to kayak through the mangroves and protected inland waterways of Damas Estuary. This tour is very relaxed and can be done at your own pace as to not miss the elements of the biodiversity you would like to see. This tour can either be done in the shade of the tropical forest by day or during the forest´s nocturnally vibrant life of the night. If you decide to venture through this Costa Rican paradise by day, your tour will also include a ´Tico styled´ breakfast, lunch or dinner at a local Manuel Antonio restaurant. The night tour is a fantastic and unique. Nearly seventy percent of mangroves and jungle eco-systems are nocturnal so why would you not want to go on this unforgettable journey! Not only will you be trained and have a guide with you to help you spot local nocturnal creatures and flora throughout the rainforest and mangroves, you will be extremely comfortable in your open-seat kayak taking in the wonders of the night.
Tamarindo
If you and/or your family like snorkeling you will love the kayak and snorkel tours in Tamarindo that go to the infamous white sanded beach, El Capitan. The exotic coral and fish are all around you for the entire journey. If you would like a great family activity that is good for all ages you should definitely talk to a tour operator about this relaxing kayaking trip!
But if you want less marine life and more tropical forest, you may want to consider the Estero kayak trip instead. This tour takes nature lovers between Tamarindo and Playa Grande to the estuary for two and a half hours of bliss. Your guide will help you spot crocodiles, iguanas, marine birds, flora and marine life as you travel the Nicoya Peninsula.