Wildlife Tour at Palo Verde National Park
Traveler rating
5.0/5
Based on 8 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Wildlife Tour at Palo Verde National Park worth booking?
Wildlife Tour at Palo Verde National Park is a 7-hour experience in Playa Flamingo, Costa Rica, from $199 per person. It scores 72 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Strongly Recommended”, based on a 5/5 rating across 8 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 72 / 100
- Rating
- 5/5 (8)
- Duration
- 7 hours
- From
- $199 per person
This is the best activity to see wildlife and local living. This is a 5 hour tour which starts at 7:00 a.m. This is a great adventure on the Tempique River, surrounding Palo Verde National Park. It is also a cultural tour because you will see the sugar cane fields, which is the livelihood of many Costa Ricans in Guanacaste. You will enjoy the dry forest vegetation and mangroves, perfect for birds habitats and other common animals from this region. You will also witness the transit of tons of different bird species. You will get to see a wide variety of animals such as: American Crocodiles, Piches, Jesus birds, Macaws, Herons (Egretta Thula), Tiger Herons, Guacacos, WoodStorks, Jabiru birds, Wild turkeys, Kingfishers, Iguanas, Common Basilisks, Coatis, Raccons, Capuchino and Howler Monkeys, deers and a lot more.
What you get
About this experience
This is the best activity to see wildlife and local living. This is a 5 hour tour which starts at 7:00 a.m. This is a great adventure on the Tempique River, surrounding Palo Verde National Park. It is also a cultural tour because you will see the sugar cane fields, which is the livelihood of many Costa Ricans in Guanacaste. You will enjoy the dry forest vegetation and mangroves, perfect for birds habitats and other common animals from this region. You will also witness the transit of tons of different bird species. You will get to see a wide variety of animals such as: American Crocodiles, Piches, Jesus birds, Macaws, Herons (Egretta Thula), Tiger Herons, Guacacos, WoodStorks, Jabiru birds, Wild turkeys, Kingfishers, Iguanas, Common Basilisks, Coatis, Raccons, Capuchino and Howler Monkeys, deers and a lot more.
What's included
Included
- Lunch
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Gratuities
Not included
- Sunscreen
What you'll see and do
Palo Verde National Park
We will visit National park as we are going on the boat. This is the best activity to see wildlife and local living. This is a 5 hours tour which starts at 7:00 a.m. This is a great adventure on the Tempique River, surrounding Palo Verde National Park. It is also a cultural tour because you will see the sugar cane fields which is the livelihood of many costaricans in Guanacaste .You would enjoy the dry forest vegetation; mangroves, perfect for birds habitats and for some other common animals from this region. You would also witness the transit of tons of different birds, local and migratory. You would get to see a wide variety of animals such as: American Cocodriles, Piches, Jesus birds, Macaws, Herons (Egretta Thula), Tiger Herons, Guacacos, WoodStorks, Jabiru birds, Wild turkeys, Kingfishers, Iguanas, Common Basilisks, Coatis, Raccons, Capuchino and Howler Monkeys, deers and a lot more.
60 minutes here · Admission included
Playa Flamingo
Stop to pick client
Pass by without stopping
Playa Conchal
Stop to pick up clients
Pass by without stopping
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers. Pickup begins about 10 minutes before departure.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en, es
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 10 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- ATV Beach Tours
Know before you go
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 8 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
4 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Food and drink
4 mentionsThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
Good for families
4 mentionsReviewers traveling with kids report it landed well with their group.
Value for money
2 mentionsTravelers feel they got more than they paid for.
Traveler reviews
8 verified traveler reviews for Wildlife Tour at Palo Verde National Park. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Perfect family adventure!
Absolutely the best experience of our trip! We were picked up by Jason and driven to the river, during the drive he gave us a full description of everything we passed by. I learned so much about the geography and history of Costa Rica. The boat ride was wonderful, we saw so many birds, capuchin monkeys and howlers, crocodiles and bats too. Manuel the captain was great at pointing out everything with a mirror to reflect a light and guide us. After the boat ride we got a delicious meal and saw some beautiful pottery. Then we stopped at the iguana park to see more amazing creatures! Bonus points for the kindness and support given to my senior mother who uses a walker. The men were extremely helpful in getting her in and out of the boat and van, making sure she felt comfortable. Don’t miss out on this trip!
Response from the operator: Thank you so much for your amazing review! We’re truly happy to hear that your experience was the highlight of your trip. Jason will be thrilled to know you enjoyed the drive and all the information he shared about Costa Rica’s history and geography—he loves what he does! It’s wonderful that you were able to see such a variety of wildlife during the boat tour, and we’re glad Manuel made the experience even more special by helping you spot everything along the way. We’re especially grateful for your kind words about the care given to your mother. Providing a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable experience for all our guests is very important to us, and it means a lot to know that she felt supported throughout the tour. Thank you again for recommending us—it was truly a pleasure having your family with us. We hope to welcome you back to Costa Rica in the future!
via Tripadvisor
Great trip. Well worth it!
Gabrielle was a great tour guide. We saw so much wildlife! The boat driver was also really great and n ew where to go to find animals.
Response from the operator: Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re so glad you enjoyed your tour and got to see plenty of wildlife. Gabrielle and our boat driver will be thrilled to hear your kind words! We hope to see you again for another adventure soon.
via Viator
We came for a wedding and...
We came for a wedding and wanted to see the country. What a great adventure for all ages. Jason and Miguel were excellent guides, making sure we saw as much wildlife as possible and really explaining the culture. The lunch was great at the local town and the demonstration of Willy’s family pottery was a great show of 7 generations of artistry. From ages 7 to 67 we all enjoyed it. The private tour was worth it.
via Viator
Top 10 Day of Our Lives!
In May we returned to Guanacaste and again hired the amazing brothers of ATV Beach Tours. This time for a river estuary tour in the Palo Verde National Park. Hands down, this was one of THE best experiences we have ever had in our entire lives. My husband, older son (age 14) and younger son (age 10), were guided by Jason and we saw sooooooo many animals. Our city eyes would have never spotted most of them, but Jason patiently pointed each one out and even had a full-color guide to share the official name and photo of each one to help us out. On the road we saw coati, ring-tailed squirrels, Howler monkeys, and Iguanas. Along the river we saw an Anteater sleeping in a tree over the river, many Green and brown basilisks (Jesus lizards), Long nose bats sleeping on the underside of tree branch over the river. We a had close-up (and safe) experience with a solo male white-faced Capuchin monkey that delighted us all, and also saw a huge troop/family of other Capuchins who were more shy but came close enough for us to see the human like features on their faces. We saw many beautiful birds including Bare-Throated Tiger Heron, white Ibis and snow egret... and we saw.... Crocodiles!!! Oh my goodness they are massive and scary, and the experienced pilot of our boat knew just where to guide the boat so we could see them up close. On the return drive we stopped at Iguana Park in a small town and Jason showed us the hundreds of iguanas all over in trees and bushes, just like squirrels back home. If you spend any money on a wildlife experience while in Guanacaste, this is the tour for you. We have travelled all over the world and this was easily one of the top 10 days of our lives!
via Tripadvisor
Living On The Wild Side!
This was our third excursion with ATV Beach Tours, and by this time we were just out with our friend Jason. We were nervous to be out on the water with the crocodiles, but Jason encouraged us to push past our fears and we are so glad he did. We had a wonderful time! We saw crocodiles big and small, white-faced monkeys, Howler monkeys, long-nosed bats, and other wildlife. Even after leaving the Palo Verde National Park we continued our wildlife experience by stopping at the Iguana park, which was wild! Make sure you have your bananas ready because they will all come out to play!
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 7 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 3
- Verdict
- Strongly Recommended
Who runs this experience
Operated by ATV Beach Tours, who run 9 experiences we rank across 2 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 69.8.
See everything ATV Beach Tours runsWhy this scores 72
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Wildlife Tour at Palo Verde National Park: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Playa Flamingo.
How much does Wildlife Tour at Palo Verde National Park cost?
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Prices start at $199 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Playa Flamingo usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Wildlife Tour at Palo Verde National Park take?
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Plan for about 7 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Playa Flamingo is not rushed.
Is Wildlife Tour at Palo Verde National Park worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 72 out of 100, which we label "Strongly Recommended". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 8 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Playa Flamingo, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Wildlife Tour at Palo Verde National Park?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Wildlife Tour at Palo Verde National Park suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 7-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Wildlife Tour at Palo Verde National Park?
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Around 3 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Playa Flamingo can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Playa Flamingo and add a light layer if any part of the 7-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Wildlife Tour at Palo Verde National Park start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Playa Flamingo within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Playa Flamingo?
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On Outty we rank every Playa Flamingo experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Flamingo, Guanacaste All Inclusive Catamaran Snorkel Adventure, Adventure Pass, Playa Flamingo Catamaran Tour with Snorkel, Lunch, Cocktails. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Playa Flamingo?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Playa Flamingo?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in Wildlife Tour at Palo Verde National Park?
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Included: Lunch; In-vehicle air conditioning; and Gratuities. Not included: Sunscreen. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Does Wildlife Tour at Palo Verde National Park include hotel pickup?
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Yes, pickup is offered for every traveler from 66 listed pickup locations in and around Playa Flamingo. Be ready about 10 minutes before the start time. You can also enter a custom pickup address when booking.
What languages is Wildlife Tour at Palo Verde National Park offered in?
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It is offered in English and Spanish. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Wildlife Tour at Palo Verde National Park?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
Is Wildlife Tour at Palo Verde National Park wheelchair or stroller accessible?
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The operator notes: Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.
What happens to Wildlife Tour at Palo Verde National Park if the weather is bad?
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This experience depends on good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.
What do travelers say about Wildlife Tour at Palo Verde National Park?
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Across 8 reviews averaging 5.0 out of 5, recurring themes include the guide, food and drink, good for families. Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
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