Damas Island Mangrove Boat Tour

Glide through the intricate saltwater channels of Isla Damas on a private boat tour led by a local captain and bilingual naturalist guide — a 2-hour experience that delivers deep into one of the most productive coastal ecosystems on Costa Rica's Central Pacific. The Damas mangroves sit at the mouth of the Río Damas near Quepos and form a labyrinth of red, white, black and buttonwood mangrove trees whose submerged root systems function as nurseries for shrimp, crabs and juvenile fish, which in turn draw an extraordinary concentration of wildlife. From the shaded, low-draft boat you can expect white-faced capuchin monkeys crossing overhead branches, silky anteaters curled in mangrove crowns, mangrove black-hawks, boat-billed herons, tiger herons, roseate spoonbills, three species of kingfisher, ibis, yellow-crowned night-herons, mangrove hummingbirds, iguanas, crocodiles resting on mud banks, and boa constrictors coiled in the roots. Tours are timed with the tide to give access to the narrowest, most wildlife-rich channels, and the pace is slow and photography-friendly. It is a peaceful, off-the-beaten-path alternative to the busy Manuel Antonio National Park entrance — quieter water, better sightings, no crowds. Round-trip transport from the Manuel Antonio / Quepos area, bilingual naturalist guide and boat captain are included; ideal for families, seniors, birders and travelers wanting a slow, water-based wildlife morning or afternoon.