Crocodiles are one of the animals people most want to see in Guanacaste, and one of the easiest to find if you go to the right place. The best place in the province is the Tempisque River, which runs along Palo Verde National Park, one of the most important wetlands in Central America.
- Best place
- Tempisque River, Palo Verde National Park
- Species
- American crocodile
- How
- Boat ride of about 1 h 45 min from Bolsón
- Also see
- Monkeys, iguanas, coatis and waterbirds
- Our price
- From $215 per person
The Tempisque River at Palo Verde
The Tempisque is a wide, slow, muddy river lined with forest and wetlands. The crocodiles here are American crocodiles, and on a sunny morning they rest on the muddy banks with their mouths open to cool down. Some are small and some are very large.
The way to see them is from a boat. Our tour leaves from the dock in Bolsón, Santa Cruz, and the ride on the river lasts about 1 hour and 45 minutes. The boat moves slowly along the banks, so you get time to look and take photos without getting close enough to disturb the animals.
The other wildlife on the river
Crocodiles are the headline, but most people leave talking about everything else. Along the Tempisque you can see:
- White-faced capuchin monkeys and howler monkeys in the trees
- Green iguanas sunning themselves on the branches
- White-nosed coatis
- Waterbirds such as kingfishers, bare-throated tiger herons and limpkins
A naturalist guide makes a big difference here. Many animals are hard to spot against the mud and the leaves until someone shows you where to look.
Other places to see crocodiles in Guanacaste
The Tenorio and Corobicí rivers. On our Safari Float, a gentle raft trip, crocodiles resting on the shore are part of what you can see, along with howler monkeys, iguanas and herons.
The estuary in Tamarindo. At the north end of Tamarindo Beach, the river meets the ocean inside Las Baulas National Marine Park. Crocodiles live in this estuary. It is a beautiful place to look at from the sand, but it is not a place to swim.
Staying safe around crocodiles
Crocodiles are wild animals and they are not interested in people in a boat. Simple rules keep it that way: stay in the boat, keep your hands inside, never feed them, and do not swim in river mouths or estuaries. If you are not sure whether a spot is safe for swimming, ask a local before you get in.
Planning the day
Wildlife on the river is most active in the cooler part of the day, so our Palo Verde tour leaves at 7:00 AM. After the boat ride we sit down to a typical Costa Rican lunch, and you are back at your hotel around 1:00 to 2:00 PM, with the afternoon free for the beach.
Bring a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, insect repellent and a camera or binoculars. The tour is private, with your own bilingual naturalist guide and transport, and it starts from $215 per person for a minimum of 2 people.
Questions
Where is the best place to see crocodiles in Guanacaste?
The Tempisque River, which runs along Palo Verde National Park. A boat ride lets you see them resting on the muddy banks.
Are there crocodiles at the beaches in Guanacaste?
Crocodiles live in rivers and estuaries, such as the river mouth at the north end of Tamarindo Beach. Do not swim in river mouths or estuaries.
Is the boat ride safe?
Yes. You stay in the boat with your guide, at a respectful distance from the animals. Keep your hands inside and never feed wildlife.
What time does the Palo Verde tour start?
We leave at 7:00 AM and you are back at your hotel around 1:00 to 2:00 PM, with lunch included.
Carlos runs Blue Sky Private Tours, a 100% Costa Rican company based in Liberia, Guanacaste. For more than 10 years his team has guided private tours from the beach hotels to the rivers, volcanoes and reefs of the region.
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