The Wildlife Expedition Riverboat Tour is the best way to see the most exotic animals in Costa Rica.  

The boat is slow-moving and does have partial shade.  You will get VERY close to the animals, usually closer than you would if walking on a hike!   Our amazing guide will mesmerize you with his knowledge and ability to find monkeys and birds.

 This is the largest Mangrove ecosystem in all of Latin America and is home for many animals including all the species of monkeys, Scarlet Macaw Parrots, River Birds like Heron and Kingfisher, the mighty Crocodiles, and much much more!

Nothing short of a magical scene! 
Duration is 3hrs 8:00-11:00

Los Manglares is a great place for lunch with a view!   It is directly on route on your way back from the Wildlife Riverboat Expedition.

Overlooking Garza Island this local restaurant has delicious food at insanely affordable prices.   Do not forget to try the Betidas, a natural fruit drink that is sooo delicious!

You are also likely to see white-faced Capuchin Monkeys!

After lunch at Mirador Los Manglares, a great local restaurant with privileged views of Garza Island enjoy the splendors of Playa Ventana.    Ventana means "window" in Spanish.   A name derived from the cave that provides a window into the Pacific.

Bring your beach clothes to the Riverboat Wildlife Expedition as you will be going directly to the beach since it is on your route.

 
Ventana Beach looks like something out of a national geographic documentary.   Here the mountains are closer to the beach than anywhere else in Costa Rica.   The amazing sprawling sand is bordered by an enchanting jungle forest.    There is a beautiful cave to explore.  

Swim in the shallow waters and enjoy a local Costa Rican Ice Cream drink, the Churchill.

We suggest waterfront dining at La Percela Restaurant.   An amazing view of the Pacific Ocean.   Featuring all types of food from locally caught seafood to vegetarian options.   

Get there around 4:30 to see the monkeys that pass through and to be able to enjoy the sunset while dining.  Sunset is at 5:30!

 A magical nature tour through the Bahia Ballena National Park.   This is Uvita’s famous Whale’s Tail Beach.   Whale’s Tail beach is a natural sandbar formation that becomes exposed at low-tide and disappears at high-tide.

The National Park also includes amazing nature hiking trails which provide a vital habitat for monkeys, sloths, and many exotic birds.

The Tour includes:

• Parking
• Entrance into the National Park
• Local Guide
• Local Taxes
• Fresh Coconut Drink

 You will visit an area known as Punta Uvita in Ballena Marine Park where you will see a variety of wildlife including birds, mammals, and also a rainforest area.   The nature trails and forest was created by the forces of two rivers on either side of the reef, which due to the currents have formed and maintained the shape of a whale’s tail when viewed from above. This tour is recommended for those who do not want to travel to Corcovado as you will see a lot of Costa Rican exotic animals on this tour. 

Uvita Waterfall

Enjoy the natural swimming holes, grab a snack, and enjoy the Uvita Waterfall.

 Uvita Waterfall is famous for being a waterfall that you can slide down.   It is located in Uvita and is only 3.9 kilometers from Casitas Del Rio Riverfront Nature Lodge. 

Located 7 minutes or 2.8km from Casitas Del Rio Nature Lodge and only minutes from the Uvita Waterfall!

Best place for great local food at good prices! 

Say hi to Cindy and tell her Casitas Del Rio sent you! Delish foods and margaritas at great prices. Ran by a local family with great service. They speak English and Spanish. They have a wide variety of choices to please vegetarians and meat eaters!

My favorite local dish is Chifrijo, this place has the best Chifrijo I have found in Costa Rica!

Your night tour is 5:30-8:30 so we suggest an early dinner here so you are ready for your night tour.

 The place is charming but casual. Their specialty is Latin food and Costa Rican food, but their menu is pretty large. You will also find burgers, pizzas, and seafood, for example.   

Night Tour

 Wildlife Night Tour – Bring the jungle to life with the profound knowledge of a naturalist!  The goal is not just to provide a fun and interesting adventure, but also to educate about the environments we live in. 

Tour Time: 5:30-8:30

Includes:

-Admission into the Baru Wildlife Reserve

-Rubber Boots

-Flashlight

-Coconut Drink

 At night, the rainforest transforms into a magical and mysterious kingdom that is full of strange and wonderful creatures. Learn about the denizens of the night, their special adaptations, and how they connect to the overall health of the ecosystem. 

 Our guide is amazing and during the tours, instead of just pointing out and identifying the wildlife, our knowledgeable guide will talk about the natural history of the area, the special adaptations of the animals you will see, how they serve a role in the larger ecosystem, or any other interesting information about them. 

Enjoy breakfast by the pool for 2 people each day.   Our breakfast is locally sourced fresh from the local farmers.   In fact our coffee is roasted the same week as we serve it from our friends coffee farm only 30 miles away!

We handmake the traditional Costa Rican breakfast and serve it in an enchanting environment by the pool, overlooking the river and surrounding private nature park.

A fruit bowl which often includes the bananas and pineapples from our nature lodge!   Gallo Pinto with fresh herbs, a corn tortilla, scrambled eggs from the local chicken farm, and delicious coffee or tea!

You will be visited by our hummingbird, Henry and our resident Basilisk, the Jesus Christ Lizards which can walk on water.   They are almost always present at breakfast.   Dancing butterflies will dot the sky with the jungle backdrop leaving you to ask is this place real?

 Zip Lining and Canopy Tour - Top Activity!

An experience in the heart of the rainforest! I have done a LOT of zip-lining around the world, and this is one of the top experiences I have ever had!

Includes

• 7 cables
• 13 platforms
• 3 rapelling stations
• 2 suspension bridges
• A fruit snack
• Experienced Local Guides

 Valued at $170(Included in the Package)

It is a very authentic experience! What makes it so unique?

• Pristine untouched jungles in this area.
• Local guides that make it fun while keeping you safe.
• Only in this region of Costa Rica can you experience the combination of very tall mountains VERY close to the beach! Surreal views of the mountain, valley, ocean, and even the Sierpe River Basin!
• No corporate feel only genuine people with a real passion for the experience.
• Amazing cables, with the perfect combination of distance and speed.
• Very cool rappelling stations and a hanging bridge experience as a bonus!

Located just over 20 minutes from your zip lining experience is the magical El Pavon waterfall and swimming hole.

It is on your route back!

 Easy access and free parking on the street. It only takes about 2 minutes with a dozen steep steps. Most of the terrain is flat. It is a bit off the beaten path and so the road getting there can be interesting especially during October/November when there is more rain. No 4×4 is needed and road is lovely with a bridge and takes you along the river.

What makes this waterfall unique is the two massive rocks on either side of the waterfall, with the smaller rock in the middle. El Pavon waterfall is enchanting and the swimming pool is usually deep enough to swim in year around even in the driest months.

Located 30 minutes from Casitas Del Rio Riverfront Nature Lodge

Mirador or Vista is a breathtaking view from a higher vantage point.

We have explored all the miradors to find the best ones!   Mirador Don Roger has a fantastic view of the iconic Whales Tail Beach complete with the Whales Tail Formation.

One of the best sunset views in all of Uvita! A must do for sunset drinks!

Located only 6.4km from Casitas Del Rio Riverfront Nature Lodge! This is about 10 minutes by car.  A somewhat steep drive, but we did it fine in 2x2 mode.

This is a restaurant and bar. But, you simply must go for the view even if you just order drinks. Be there BEFORE sunset and watch the show! The sunset with amazing views of the Whales Tail Beach is amazing!

Click here to see All the Nature, Adventure, and Cultural Tours

The best snorkeling and diving in Costa Rica is at Caño Island Biological Reserve. Uvita is the easiest way to access Cano Island as we are closer to it from the beach by boat! Only a limited amount of divers and snorkelers are permitted entry to the Reserve each day so make sure you reserve as early as possible. 

Departure is only 6 minutes from Casitas Del Rio Riverfront Nature Lodge.

Price:  $330 Value (Included in the Package)
Time:  7:00-3:00

Tour Includes:

• 6:30-7:00 - Breakfast bites
• Park Entrance Fees
• Bilingual Guide (Spanish-English)
• Snorkeling Equipment
• Safety Gear Including First Aid Kit
• Lunch and Refreshments
• Insurance Coverage
• Boat Trip
• Caño Island Biological Reserve fees included

Cano Island is home to a breathtaking amount of marine organisms. The best snorkeling in all of Costa Rica! The boat leaves early in the morning and returns in the late afternoon. Enjoy the beauty of the open ocean and stunning views back to our majestic mountains and breathtaking coastline. Uvita is where the mountains are closer to the beach than anywhere else in Costa Rica! The juxtaposed position of the mountains meeting the ocean is punctuated by palm-fringed forests.

You will also likely see many dolphins, whales, and turtles on the way.

You will snorkel at two different locations, depending on the conditions around the island. Typical, the visibility usually exceeds 80 ft. The variety of maritime wildlife that will be seen during your Isla Del Caño Snorkeling Tour is just astounding.

Diverse Marine Life

The reefs support a diverse array of marine life, including:

• Various fish species
• Sea turtles
• Rays
• Invertebrates
• Algae
• White-fin sharks
• Mammals such as dolphins and whales (seasonal from July to November and January to April)

Encompassing 14,000+ acres of ocean, “La Reserva Biológica Isla del Caño” is exactly the kind of place that deserves not only protection but also to be experienced for its wonderful marine environment and wildlife.

More than a quarter of Costa Rica is protected by National Parks, Reserves, and safeguarded Conservation Areas. Caño Island Biological Reserve is the jewel of the Costa Rican National Park System’s marine sanctuary.

Tour Logistics

Meeting point: 6:30 AM near the entrance to Marino Ballena National Park.  We will provide you with exact location.  There is secure parking there.

Departure time: 7:00 AM

Travel Time to Caño Island: Approximately 1.5 hours
Snorkeling Time: About 2.5 hours
Depart Cano Island: 1:00 PM
Estimated Arrival Back in Uvita: 2:30 PM

Recommended to Bring:

• Bring sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• Hat
• Extra water
• Swimsuit
• Sandals
• Snacks
• Extra clothing to change at the end of the tour
• Towel

Enjoy another magical breakfast at Casitas Del Rio Riverfront Nature Lodge.

Check-out is at 11:00 or earlier.

We say our goodbyes with full hearts for we are content to share our magical place with others and we hope you have been touched by the beauty of our gardens and radiant spaces.