Palo Verde Boat Expedition & Cultural Tour

Palo Verde Boat Expedition & Cultural Tour

To learn about how far Costa Rica has come, you need to understand the nation's history. The Palo Verde Boat Expedition and Cultural Tour will teach you about the country's cowboy and agrarian history, as well as how this tradition influenced the emphasis Costa Rica now places on sustainability.

Enjoy the fruits of the sustainability movement when you explore protected wetlands. See a variety of animals in their native habitat. Don't worry, you'll have the opportunity to enjoy refreshments before your tour and after.

Featured in:Boat Tours, Cultural, Palo Verde National Park
Duration:
6 hrs
Available Days:
Every day
Schedule:
9:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM
Hotel Transport Included
Mobile Ticket Included
Offered in English, Spanish

This 4 hour tour takes you through Costa Rica's serene Guanacaste province. You'll explore both Costa Rica's 'Sabanero' (translated as 'cowboy') culture, and the nation's legendary tropical wilderness.

The Hacienda El Vieja Wetlands are nearly 5,000 acres of wildlife and wilderness refuge. Home to an impressive variety of trees, plants, and flowers, and an assortment of mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and tropical birds, you'll definitely want to bring your camera and binoculars! Wouldn't want to miss the crocodiles, white-faced capuchin monkeys, and howler monkeys regularly seen on this tour.

Before you get acquainted with the wildlife, your expedition starts at a home that is nearly 150 years old. Here, you will enjoy fresh Costa Rican coffee, fruit, and juice.

Next, a boat will take you down the Tempisque River. Take in the beauty of the wetlands, and observe animals in their natural environment. Why go to a zoo when you can enjoy this floating safari?

Just when you think this tour couldn't get any sweeter, it's time for the cultural portion. Learn about the importance of sugar cane in Costa Rica. Sample this sweet nectar and see a "trapiche" — an old-fashioned sugar mill operated by the power of oxen! You'll also enjoy fresh coffee, traditional Guanacastecan corn-based appetizers, and delicious handmade tortillas.

Listen to stories about Costa Rica's traditional hacienda families, and walk away with a few tales yourself. This adventure offers a great sampling of Costa Rica's outdoors, traditions, and cuisines. Book your excursion today!

Attraction Visited

Palo Verde National Park

This remote sanctuary for neotropical birds is located at the mouth of the murky Tempisque River where the sluggish waterway pushes sediment into the Gulf of Nicoya (Gulfo de Nicoya). A vast network of mangrove-rich swamp, lagoons, marshes, grassland, limestone outcrops, and forests comprise the 32,266 acre (13,058 ha) Palo Verde National Park. Flanking the Dr Rafael Lucas Rodriguez Caballero Wildlife Refuge and the Lomas Barbudal Biological Refuge to the south, the three parks encompass similar habitats that form the Tempisque Conservation Area (Area Conservacion Tempisque), along with Barra Honda National Park.

Read more:Palo Verde National Park

What to Bring

Comfortable walking shoes, a camera, binoculars, bug spray, and sunscreen.

What's included

Guides, Cultural Tour, Boat Tour, Lunch

Transportation

Many of our tours and activities offer transportation pick up & drop off options from several locations and destinations. Options vary by tour, see “BOOKING REQUEST” for full details.

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