Spotlight: Costa Rica - Jungle Crocodile Safari

Spotlight: The Jungle Crocodile Safari & Bird Watching Tour takes you up and down the River Tarcoles. The two-hour guided tour allows you to view enormous 4-meter crocodiles in their natural habitat. Although the main attraction is the crocodiles, you will also see iguanas and up to 50 different species of birds.

Location: The Jungle Crocodile Safari is located at Tarcoles - La Barca, 1, Puntarenas Province 61101 on the Rio Tarcoles.

Cost: The tour costs $30/person

Time: The 2-hour tour departs daily at 8:30 am, 10:30 am, 1:30 pm, and 3:30 pm. You can also schedule a private tour if you have a large enough group.

Description: The Jungle Crocodile Safari is reminiscent of the Jungle Cruise at Disneyland - but without the corny puns. Naturally, you aren't going to see nearly as many varieties of animals as you will see on the Disney tour, but the animals you do see are real. We saw lots of crocodiles and iguanas including a 17-foot crocodile lying on the side of the river. He even opened his mouth wide for a picture of the deadly rows of sharp teeth that lined his mouth.

baby croc hiding in a small den on the side of a bank

iguana cave

     As we floated through the mangrove swamp, we also saw a bunch of different species of birds including: egrets, herons, macaws, spoonbills, storks, ibises, hawks and swallows. We were each given a bird guide  pamphlet to help identify the different species common to the region.

Rating: 5 stars (out of 5)

Things You Should Know: - En route to the Crocodile Safari, you will cross the Tarcoles Crocodile Bridge. If you find a spot to pull over nearby, it is worth the walk across the bridge to look at the crocs swimming in the river below.

- The tour is wheelchair accessible.
- If you cancel at least 7 days prior to departure, there is no cancellation fee. If you cancel within 3-6 days, there is a 50% cancellation fee.

Nearby: Crocodile Man Tour, Playa Guacalillo Bird Observatory, Carara National Park, Catarata Manantial de Agua Viva