Over 25% of Costa Rica is protected land, and we are taking you right into the heart of it! Our #1 top-rated wildlife tour of the past decade now has an exciting new addition: an incredible river safari through the spectacular Hacienda El Viejo Wetlands.
Hop aboard as we cruise along the Tempisque River on a journey to spot wild monkeys, giant crocodiles, iguanas, and exotic tropical birds in their natural habitat. After building up an appetite, enjoy a delicious traditional Costa Rican lunch served at their historic 150-year-old Casona.
Availability: Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Schedule & prices
Runs
Tue and Thu
Start times
7:00 AM
Next available
Thu, Oct 8
Adult (ages 12–80)
$135
Child (ages 3–11)
$113
Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 7.
Tour Options
Jungle River Cruise at Palo Verde
Pickup included
Itinerary
Palo Verde National Park
Admission included120 min
The whole purpose of this tour is to spot monkeys and other wildlife, like birds, crocs, iguanas and a lot more, while you cruise down the Tempisque River.
120 min
Your will navigate in this amazing river that provides water for all the province of Guanacaste
Filadelfia
Pass by
We will pass by the city of Filadelfia in Guanacaste and our tour guide will explain the process of the sugar cane.
Province of Guanacaste
Pass by
You will get into the heart of the Guanacaste Province, traveling though old small town and sugarcane field. In this experience you will not only enjoy nature, but also learn about the way of living of the Guanacaste people.
Hacienda El Viejo Wetlands
Admission included120 min
All activities will be at El Viejo Wetlands at Hacienda El Viejo, designated a National Heritage site in 2023. Here, one can experience a captivating blend of the past and present while uncovering the authentic essence of local culture.
What's included
Included
Lunch
Driver/guide
Hotel pickup and drop-off (selected hotels only):Pickup from Hotel Dreams Las Mareas is not available for this tour. If you are staying there, you may head to the Hilton Garden Inn to be picked up.
Not included
Tips for driver and tour guide are NOT included
Pickup Locations & Times
We pick up from hotels in Guanacaste from Papagayo, Coco, Flamingo and Tamarindo areas.
Availability: Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.8
43 reviews
5
36
4
4
3
3
2
0
1
0
How it compares in Playa Hermosa
No. 24 by number of reviews among 335 tours in Playa Hermosa
Starting price $135 is 31% below the typical $195 for tours of similar length in Playa Hermosa
Excurgo comparison of 335 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
Specialized infant seats are available
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Jungle River Cruise at Palo Verde take?
Jungle River Cruise at Palo Verde lasts about 7 hours. The itinerary has 5 stops.
How much does Jungle River Cruise at Palo Verde cost?
Prices start at $135 per person for this Playa Hermosa experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Jungle River Cruise at Palo Verde run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays, starting at 7:00 AM.
How much does Jungle River Cruise at Palo Verde cost for children?
Children aged 3–11 pay from $113, adults from $135.
Can I cancel Jungle River Cruise at Palo Verde for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, pickup is offered. We pick up from hotels in Guanacaste from Papagayo, Coco, Flamingo and Tamarindo areas.
Availability: Tuesdays and Thursdays. Pickup points include Que Tuanis, Coco Beach Hotel.
What languages is Jungle River Cruise at Palo Verde offered in?
The experience is available in EN, ES.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 15 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Specialized infant seats are available
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is Jungle River Cruise at Palo Verde worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.8 out of 5 across 43 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Central American Tours.
Reviews(43)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
7
739bonitag
September 4, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Relaxing and beautiful!
The Jungle River cruise was amazing and very relaxing. We saw lots of crocodiles, iguanas, bird species, howler monkeys and bats. The guide, Gio, from CATtours was very knowledgeable and entertaining. The lunch break was at a beautiful hacienda. We don’t recommend eating the beef for lunch. Choose chicken or fish. Beef is very tough and we couldn’t cut it, much less chew it. I think this is the case in most of Costa Rica, as the beef was tough at our Resort as well. But otherwise, everything was great.
I
Isabella_D
August 14, 2026 · via Viator
Everything from...
Everything from transportation to the tour itself and food was incredible! Our driver, Steven, gave a us a great experience and was helpful answering questions. The food on site was delicious and highlight of the trip!
D
dougbY7284DX
June 18, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Jungle cruise tour
The tour was awesome. Our Tour guide was Daniel. He was the best. Very knowledgeable about all the species of birds and all the wild life. We saw the Howler monkeys, crocodiles, and so much more.
Our captain (Miguel) was awesome as well. They both spotted and pointed out so many different things.
D
Donna_G
June 1, 2026 · via Viator
Well Worth It
The Guide was amazing. He told so much about the animals we were seeing. We saw Crocs, monkeys, birds. Was a wonderful adventure. He even took photos with my camera as I looked through my scope.
A
Angie F
May 5, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Perfect adventure for family and seeing wildlife!
We had a blast on this trip. We had three kids ages 6 to 13 and we weren’t sure what to expect with the boats and the crocodiles, but the boats were beautiful. Very sturdy made us feel safe.
Juan was our tour guide, he knows everything about Costa Rica! They operate smaller tours, it’s intimate and you get all your questions answered.
We saw tons of crocs! Lots of moms with babies. The driver of the boat took his time, stopped and backed up every time there was something to see.
It was a relaxing tour, a perfect day. Omar was our driver and he was very friendly and got us everywhere safely! Thanks for a perfect start to a family vacation!
C
Catherine_C
April 10, 2026 · via Viator
Enjoyed the Tempesque River cruise
Excellent tour. Sightings of monkeys, crocodiles, and many types of birds. Comfortable transportation to the river and on the river. Morning refreshments and lunch were delicious and the scenery for dining was unique and lovely.
A
Anthony_P
February 27, 2026 · via Viator
A great day, a great guy and a great boat driver
Juan was a wonderful tour guide!
The group size was fantastic, nine people.
Both Juan and the boat driver were superb at finding wildlife as we cruised the banks.
The lunch was delicious with very nicely prepared fish with local accompaniments. They were very accommodating for some strict dietary guidelines that one of our friends had. I myself have some physical limitations that they were careful and accommodating with concern about my welfare and my ability to enjoy the day.
We would certainly recommend this to anyone and would consider redoing this trip if we return.
W
Wendy_L
February 4, 2026 · via Viator
Fantastic!
Excellent guide (went above and beyond), & drivers. We had a wonderful extremely informative excursion, saw lots of wildlife on the river - TONS of crocs, many iguanas, entertaining white face monkeys, howlers, a variety of birds! Lunch at the hacienda was excellent. We could not be happier with the tour.
T
Timothy_S
January 30, 2026 · via Viator
Juan was an amazing guide with great knowledge of Costa Rica’s history, culture, cuisine, & flora & fauna …
Great tour, have never seen so many crocs before… My guide, Juan had incredible knowledge of everything…
C
Christina_N
January 20, 2026 · via Viator
Fun ride on the river....
Fun ride on the river. Lots of birds, crocodiles and reptiles, unfortunately no good view monkeys. They were not cooperative 🥲
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