Damas Island Mangrove Tour

Explore Damas Island's Ancient Mangrove Ecosystem

Just a short drive north of Quepos, the Damas Island mangrove system is one of the most biodiverse and visually spectacular ecosystems in all of Costa Rica. A vast labyrinth of tidal channels, freshwater lagoons, and dense mangrove forest, Damas Island feels like a journey into a primeval world — ancient, wild, and utterly unlike anything else in the Manuel Antonio region.

Your Damas Island mangrove boat tour navigates these channels with an expert naturalist guide who knows every bend in the waterway and the wildlife that inhabits each section. As your covered motorboat glides silently through the mangroves, the sheer density of life around you is extraordinary — birds calling from every direction, the splash of a jumping tarpon, the prehistoric stillness of a crocodile on the mudbank just meters from the boat.

American crocodiles are one of the most thrilling encounters on this tour. These ancient reptiles grow up to 4 meters in length and are commonly seen basking in the sun on the tidal flats — your guide positions the boat for perfect viewing while maintaining the respectful distance that keeps both you and the animals completely safe.

The mangrove canopy above is alive with primates: white-faced capuchin monkeys clamber through the mangrove roots, searching for crabs and insects, while squirrel monkeys travel in noisy, chaotic groups through the upper canopy. Iguanas drape themselves on branches overhanging the water, occasionally dropping in with a dramatic splash.

For birdwatchers, the Damas Island mangroves are nothing short of spectacular. Kingfishers dart between branches. Roseate spoonbills wade in the shallows. Ospreys hover overhead before plunging into the water. At dusk, the mangroves erupt with the calls of roosting seabirds creating one of nature's most atmospheric soundscapes.