5.0 Amazing boat and pottery experience with excellent food

yellowmellowfellow, June 2026

5/5 - I wish I could rate this higher. I had gotten breakfast, pottery exhibit & boat tour, and lunch. Pottery exhibit: It was a great experience where we got to touch many of the ingredients and really got to see what the pot making process is like. I usually don’t have interest in this kinda stuff but I found it fascinating and actually paid attention. Food: Both breakfast and lunch were amazing! Everything was delicious and was very authentic in the preparation, according to my Costa Rican friend. When we spoke to them, they told us that they grow many of the ingredients. Local, organic, and delicious - you have to get the food when you visit the tour (amazing lemon juice!!!) Tour: Obviously the main objective of the trip - I’ve done boat tours in Florida, Tortuguero, and other places but the amount of animals I saw here was beyond compare. Crocodiles (20+, including babies), howling monkeys, herons, iguanas, and so on. The boat was comfortable and I stayed dry, despite the light drizzle and water splashing, and the tour guides were fantastic at sighting animals and explaining them to us. I had such an amazing time and I will definitely be coming back to do this again.

5.0 Fantastic crocodiles views

d0r1213, June 2026

We saw many crocodiles, birds, iguanas and monkeys. As a cherry on top, lunch was absolutely delish

5.0 So worth it

john b, June 2026

Super interesting and absolutely delicious lunch and crocodile tour, though we saw a lot more than just crocodiles. The family that runs the tour is lovely and do a great cultural and food presentation that was incredibly interesting. Did y’all know that every cashew nut has a cashew fruit attached to it that is delicious and healthy? The pottery demonstration was great. And the lunch they show you how they make from scratch and that you then eat was the best food I had in all of Costa Rica. I’m not exaggerating and we went to some great restaurants. Also, there was a super fun river tour with crocodiles that we got so close to they splashed us. And monkeys. And birds. And bats. Yes bats. So great and worth every penny.

5.0 best lunch in Costa Rica plus lots of crocs

Holly B, June 2026

wonderful family owned business, perfect tour for all ages. my college age kids loved it. wonderful lunch provided

5.0 The family business, wildlife, and experience.

F5224ZSryanr, June 2026

It lasted about 3 hours. Amazing home cooked traditional food, best food I had out of my entire Costa Rica trip. Went into the boat trip expecting some wildlife, surprised with crocodiles everywhere, monkeys everywhere, among other animals as well. The family who runs this is very passionate about sharing their culture and is extremely welcoming and kind. Would recommend.

5.0 Best palo verde boat tour

I5791IEoscara, June 2026

Very knowledgeable on boat ride

5.0 Awesome experience!

Tour30297024812, June 2026

Welcoming, great food, and an abundance of wildlife

5.0 Lots of wildlife and many birds

giaf341, June 2026

We saw many wildlife species, including 2 species of monkeys and many crocodiles. The guide was very friendly and knowledgeable. There was an abundance of birds, quite impressive.

5.0 Relaxed river trip and local food

srplatt, May 2026

Really great day trip starting with a pottery demonstration and then the river trip where we saw monkeys, crocodiles and multiple bird species. These lunch to finish was superb with very tasty local veg/ rice / chicken/ tortillas and plantains - would highly recommend this trip especially with how well we were treated by this business which looks to be family run.

5.0 Wonderful trip for the...

Klaas_D, May 2026

Wonderful trip for the family, ages 19-57. The company is family owned and they were so friendly and welcoming. On the boat ride we saw monkeys, birds and at least 20 crocodiles. The lunch was fabulous and our family enjoyed the entire experience. Highly recommend!

5.0 Amazing tour. Great people!

Benshnakin, May 2026

This was an awesome experience. This is a family business and they took such good care of us. They knew who we were when we got there. Angel was our guide for the tour. He was awesome. He showed us birds, crocs, lizards, plant life, all things Costa Rica. His knowledge was incredible. After the tour we returned to their place and had lunch. It was delicious. Homemade ice cream. The coffee was the best I had on the trip. I had to take some home with me. Clean and comfortable. I would recommend them to all.

5.0 Not to be missed!

109etienneb, May 2026

Great moments spent, pottery demonstration, boat ride to discover wildlife, incredible meal and all with a kindness and fantastic welcome from all. Maybe a little earlier in the season to see more birds. Nevertheless it will remain one of our best memories of our stay.

5.0 Palo Verse boat tours

J911DGdavidd, April 2026

Absolutely amazing!! From the time you arrive you are welcomed with open arms. From the boat tour to the amazing home cooked food it was an incredible experience.

5.0 Best ever!!!

kevinlS1762CO, April 2026

I have never experienced a better tour. Ruben and Mary, the hosts couldn’t have been more gracious. Or your guide, Francisco and the boat operator Caesar were knowledgeable, informative and just fun to be with. You’ll see all the wildlife you could expect. Wonderful!!

5.0 Best wildlife viewing experience we had in Costa Rica!

Tour64560247653, March 2026

We had an amazing day with Palo Verde Boat Tours! Arrived 20 minutes before set tour time. Check-in process went very smoothly. Started with a cultural tour, learning about how corn tortillas are made. Also learned about cashew roasting in the traditional ways. Then off for a 10 minute drive to the boat launch with our guide, Angel. What incredible wildlife viewing we had.... from all kinds of birds to crocodiles to white-faced monkeys and howler monkeys..... We even stopped enroute to the boat to see a macaw bird in a tree (supposedly not very common). The trip down the river was very enjoyable too. Upon return to the tour office/family home in Ortega, we were treated to an incredibly delicious Costa Rican meal served sit down style (not buffet) with some lovely personalized touches like a chalkboard greeting to welcome us to our table. After a delicious lunch, we enjoyed learning about pottery making from a local artisan. The drive to Ortega is an adventure in and of itself on some very rough roads. But the tour and welcoming hospitality of this family-run business is definitely worth the drive! A highlight of our two weeks in Costa Rica!

5.0 One of the Best Days You'll Have

whsmacon, March 2026

Incredible tour from an incredible small business. First of all, the lunch is the best meal you'll have all trip. This is not a sack lunch, this is a pure organic, pure fresh, cooked on the spot feast. The lady who cooks throws down so hard - the tamarind chicken is insane. The salsa is phenomenal. If they opened a restaurant we'd eat there every night we have left. The boat tour was so so so good. White-faced monkeys 3 ft from you in a tree, crocodiles against the boat, iguanas everywhere and every bird you can imagine. We also saw a Coati in the brush. Francisco and Antonio were the best. They're funny and informative. They went out of their way to have fun with the kids on the boat and generally made the whole thing a great experience. We're staying directly on the ocean but I think this was probably the best day we've had in Playa Hermosa. I cannot recommend this enough.

5.0 Great tour and local lunch

Ben O, March 2026

Great tour … we saw howler and white faced monkey, a lot of bird and crocs. Nice local family run business that is very friendly. Don’t miss out on lunch … family said it was the best tasting local meal they have had so far and I would agree. Highly recommend!

5.0 Don’t miss out!

G3522ESashleyf, March 2026

Such an amazing experience! We loved the personal family owned connection. The tour was amazing. Angel was our tour guide and Tonio was our captain. We saw so much wildlife and got close up with a crocodile!!! The Costa Rican lunch was exceptional and we loved meeting with Josue and watching his pottery making. We cannot recommend this enough! - Ashley Fruechte and family

5.0 Amazing Tour!

Michelle S, March 2026

Amazing experience and excellent food! Wonderful cooperative of local guides, cooks and demonstrations!

5.0 Luis was amazing! So many...

Carson_Z, March 2026

Luis was amazing! So many animals and they were super knowledgeable ( and good at spotting) , 10/10 would recommend

5.0 Outstanding Excursion

rmacy74, March 2026

They were outstanding. We had trouble getting the directions to work in our GPS and ran late - they still accommodated us which was wonderful as we had just one day to do it. The lunch was one of my favorite of the whole Costa Rica vacations - do not skip it. The drive was doable from Conchal - it wasn't the easiest drive and I would recommend getting the GPS up and running the night before. By that I mean don't just sort of get it up - get it up as though you are in the car driving.

5.0 Wildlife on the Tempisque River with Palo Verde Boat Tours

324antjee, March 2026

The tour is highly recommended. It's all super organized. On arrival there was coffee or tamarind juice (delicious drink). Then we drove by car to the Tempisque River and switched to the boat, which provided a roof to protect us from the sun. Sun protection is recommended for the skin. We didn't need mosquito repellent. We saw a lot of crocodiles and a lot of birds and monkeys. Our guide Franzisko and the captain Manuel had a good eye for the animals. But the tour was easy to understand in English. The boat tour lasted about 1:45 h. Then we drove back to base. On the way back, Franzisko stopped again, seeing a macaw in the tree. At the base we got a Costa Rican meal prepared by the women themselves. It was very abundant and there was chicken fried with rice vegetables (corncob) beans salad and corn tortellas. For dessert there was a scoop of ice cream dragon fruit and passion fruit. Afterwards, we saw some pottery. In total it was almost 3 hours. Worth it !!!!

5.0 Guide was excellent -...

GABRIELLE_M, March 2026

Guide was excellent - very knowledgeable Between him and the captain we saw so much. Within 3 ft of an alligator and face to face with a capuchin monkey

5.0 ECOTOURISM AT IT'S BEST!

Kathryn H, March 2026

A fantastic experience we will never forget. Henry and his team were incredibly skilled, knowledgeable and attentive. We saw tons of wildlife - families of monkeys, alligators, sleeping bats, hérons, and other birds. They had literature on board to help us learn names and understand what we were seeing if interested. I can't overstate the patience and customer service - they made sure we saw the wildlife they were so adept at spotting, brought the boat right up close so we could watch the monkeys for several minutes. Ensured we got all the photos we wanted. The meal served at the end was fantastic as well. Then we had a pottery demonstration from a local Indigenous artisan (not sure if that was planned or impromptu). So interesting and beautiful wares. High value for money on this tour! It was worth the drive on largely unpaved roads. (Contact them for the Google pin!)

5.0 Awesome tour, and extremely friendly staff!

AntoninoC835, March 2026

Amazing Palo Verde tour! We saw tons of animals, and the staff was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. A truly memorable experience—highly recommended!

5.0 Awesome Experience!!

Aquanirvana, February 2026

If you like authentic homemade Tico food, a great boat ride with a very knowledgeable guide, seeing lots of wildlife from the comfort of a shaded boat and learning about how local artisans make pottery the old fashioned way then this is for you!! We were greeted with smiles and freshly made tortillas before embarking on a fantastic boat ride down the river to see lots of birds, crocodiles, lizards, iguanas and capuchin monkeys. The lunch was fantastic, cooked to perfection and very tasty. Homemade juice was thirst quenching and the coconut and dragon fruit ice cream was the wonderful finale. A local pottery artisan explained his multi generational skills through an actual demonstration. It was very interesting and you don’t have to buy anything but we did because we now know the method, labour and skill put into making this beautiful pottery.

5.0 Amazing tour!

TinYanP, February 2026

We had a great time on this tour! A little bit difficult to get to but worth it in my opinion. I love how they support local artisans and businesses by buying local produce and art. Our guide Ruben and boat captain Luis - they were amazing and we saw so many animals because of them. They were so good at spotting the camouflaged animals, we saw crocodiles, iguanas, white face monkeys, iguanas, and so many birds and even some sleeping bags! Lunch was spectacular and super delicious! Highest compliments to the chef for sure. The pottery demo was also great!

5.0 Palo Verde Boat Tours Ortega

Cate_M, February 2026

This was my third time with this group. The people, staff could not be more friendly and welcoming. Our boat trip was filled with critter sightings and interesting information from our guide. The lunch was generous, delicious, and fresh. All in all a fun and interesting day.

5.0 a beautiful experience, well worth it!

vinkos449, February 2026

The Palo Verde Boat Tour was about an hour’s drive from where we were staying, and it was absolutely worth it. The boat tour was relaxed and very enjoyable. We saw plenty of wildlife—birds, iguanas, crocodiles, and monkeys. Our guide, Teo, and captain, Cesar, were excellent and had an incredible eye for spotting animals we would have missed. What really made this experience special was the people behind it. This is a true family-run business, built over more than 30 years by pioneers in the area and now carried on by their two daughters, Patricia and her sister. You can feel the pride and care in everything they do. The lunch afterward was outstanding—cooked by Maria and absolutely delicious. I still think about that chicken, along with the rice, black beans, fresh tamarind juice, and passion fruit ice cream. Raven, our waiter, was friendly and attentive, and he remembered everyone’s names, making us feel genuinely welcome. Ending the visit with the pottery presentation was a great final touch. This place feels authentic and heartfelt. Highly recommend.

5.0 Fantastic

Dale_A, February 2026

We had a fantastic time on our tour. Our guide Francisco was very knowledgeable and skilled at spotting wildlife and our boat captain was also fantastic. We saw lots of crocodiles, birds, and monkeys during our river cruise and the area did not feel incredibly busy, allowing for a more peaceful and individual experience. We also loved the included lunch, it was one of the best meals on our entire trip. The pottery demonstration was also great. Highly recommend this tour!

5.0 Palo Verde River Boat Ortega - BEST LUNCH EVER!

JMCinMontreal, February 2026

Must do! This river boat company is family run in Ortega, by Patricia Mendoza. The boat cruise is well done with very knowledgeable captains and tour guides. They will show you a variety of birds, iguanas, bats, and of course monkeys. And then after you will be treated to THE BEST LUNCH EVER! Fresh ingredients from local farms go into each dish. You can taste the freshness and the love. Support a local family business that supports their community. Book with Palo Verde Boat Cruise ORTEGA.

5.0 Wonderful !

janU7094FQ, February 2026

Louis was a fantastic gracious guide The tortilla making and pottery demos we informative and entertaining . The boat safari seeing monkeys crocodiles etc was engaging and of course the lunch was fabulous

5.0 Great boat tour plus!

Travelross, February 2026

This tour delivered more than advertised. There were a couple of extra stops to show us cultural history and interesting birds of Costa Rica. The guide was very knowledgeable and great at explaining the flora and fauna we were seeing. He was amazing at spotting birds and animals in the trees as we were driving and stopping the bus so we could observe. The pottery demonstration was very interesting, the lunch at the ranch was delicious and the river cruise was fun and informative. We would book with this company again.

5.0 Great tour

Audrey_S, January 2026

The tour was great and the tour guides were awesome. I would definitely recommend this tour to others

5.0 Highly Recommended

G2735KVmiker, January 2026

Wonderful experience! The pottery, the wildlife boat tour, and the food were amazing. This is a wonderful time for people of all ages.

5.0 Wonderful experience with a super-friendly company!

EllenB158, January 2026

We loved our tour with Palo Verde Boat Tours! The experience started with complimentary coffee, delicious dragonfruit juice & cookies, then a traditional tortilla making demo. Our boat ride itself was great - with so many animals: crocs, multiple types of herons, bats, 2 diff types of monkeys. Carlos was the guide & Cesar the expert driver & also a great spotter! Cesar gave plenty of time for photos from different angles. After we returned, we enjoyed an interesting demonstration by a local potter with beautiful work plus were given a little sorbet & more juice. We didn’t have the lunch but it looked like everyone was enjoying it!

2.0 Tour was okay. Did not focus on birds.

Katie and Flint N, January 2026

I thought about this for a while, before writing this review. I don’t like to write negative reviews at all, and usually choose to not say anything. My family drove an hour for this tour. My husband is a bird watcher so was very excited about this trip. We woke early, as the 8:00 am trip was denoted for “bird watchers”. The good: The location was easy to find and directions were great. The staff was very friendly and very helpful. They offered coffee and juice. The bad: -The tour left 15 minutes late, not due to Palo Verde tours but the staff down by the river for boat tours not being ready. -The tour ended on time, which shorted the tour time a bit. -For a bird watching focus our guide knew very little about birds. He didn’t know the names of the species. Also, the boat tours combines with other local tour outfitters so they didn’t stop for birds and were focused on iguanas and crocodiles. Overall, it’s was an okay experience but not for bird watchers as advertised.

5.0 great tour guide and boat driver

103charlese, January 2026

In my review I forgot to mention the name of our tour guide. Carlos. He was great. The boat driver was Solano. Highly recommended.

5.0 Very fun experience!

julianay2026, January 2026

Tour was really fun! We loved seeing monkeys but they’re not always out. We saw a bunch of birds and crocodiles. Luis and Cesar were very knowledgeable and friendly. They were really nice and provided us a lot of information on the nature!

5.0 Palo Verde Boat Tour

Y1029SBwilliams, January 2026

Our family of 13 booked and participated in this excursion. Ages 18 - 80 - "highlight" of our Costa Rica Vacation. All enjoyed greatly- pottery making - surprisingly interesting - 1 1/2 hout river baot cruise - saw numerous crocs, holler monkeys, white face monkeys (up close!) and wild birds,. Lunch after was terriffic!

5.0 Fantastic tour! Relaxing...

Gregory_G, January 2026

Fantastic tour! Relaxing and everyone was so hospitable!!! Saw so much and food was plentiful and excellent!

5.0 Awesome Experience

Tracy_R, December 2025

This was an amazing experience! The roads in are a little bumpy, but easy to traverse during the dry season. The meeting point is easy to find. The host family is gracious and super helpful. We arrived a few minutes early and watched the pottery demonstration which was interesting. We then followed the host by car to the boat launch area. It was easy for our elderly family member to walk the ramp and get on the boat. We saw egrets, herons, capuchin and howler monkeys, and lots of crocodiles. Such an amazing experience for the whole family. After we got back to the meeting point, we had a delicious meal with rice, beans, salad, chicken, plantains, squash, and dragonfruit/coconut ice cream. The coffee and dragonfruit juice were delicious. Would highly recommend.

5.0 Excellent tour and lunch with great staff.

Dave652, December 2025

Absolutely incredible trip with Palo Verde with our family of 6 and grandmother. A must do in this area of Costa Rica. I would give 6 stars if I could. The boat tour was amazing - lots of crocodiles, birds, and monkeys - the lunch was outstanding, and the Costa Rica culture and food lessons were amazing. The staff are so hospitable and proud of their culture and country. Our tour guide Francisco and boat captain Cesar were incredible at spotting and educating on animals and Maria and the lunch staff were awesome. I highly recommend this outstanding Costa Rican family business. - this was the highlight of the vacation for all of us.

5.0 Best experience in Costa Rica

Eileen P, December 2025

The trip was amazing! We saw so many animals, American Crocodiles, many birds, iguanas, and howler monkeys. Our lunch was delicious. The pottery demonstration was so interesting. The people were so kind and delightful—a community deserving of support!

5.0 Favorite day trip!

W4746IHlaurap, December 2025

We loved our visit to the Palo Verde Boat Tour Community. Our guide Luis and boat driver Caesar did a fantastic job showing us dozens of crocodiles, many iguanas, all kinds of beautiful birds, and even monkeys! Afterward, we had a delicious traditional homemade meal organized by Maria. Best meal we’ve had in Costa Rica! Then we watched a pottery demonstration by 5th generation pottery artist, Josue, from the Chorotega tradition im Guaitil. This was an easy and scenic 1.75 hour drive from Samara In our rental car. Highly recommend!

5.0 Boat tour and lunch

Navigator610435, December 2025

Great experience! Saw lots of iguanas and crocodiles. Make sure you stay for the lunch.. delicious! The lunch is well worth it!

5.0 Great experience with family-owned business

morrisa288, December 2025

Engaging wildlife tour via river boat: we saw lots of birds, crocodiles, iguanas, and monkeys. The guides and the family that owns and operates the tours were the best part of the experience. They were extremely friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful…way beyond what was professionally expected. We were happy to support their family business.

5.0 The guide was awesome!

kaia662, December 2025

I had an awesome time! We saw some super cool local animals. The guide was super kind and was super knowledgeable about all the species! The food was amazing and everyone involved was super generous.

5.0 Five stars—an unforgettable Costa Rica experience.

Q7437DPkarlaf, December 2025

We did the Palo Verde Boat Safari tour and it was fantastic from start to finish. Our guide was knowledgeable, engaging, and clearly passionate about the wildlife and the region. The boat safari itself was incredible, but the experience didn’t stop there. Lunch was at a small local restaurant featuring fresh, locally grown and sourced food—and it was some of the best we’ve had in Costa Rica. Delicious, authentic chicken, rice and beans, fresh salad, friendly staff, and fast service. And the surprise finale? A passionfruit sorbet that was absolutely outstanding. Thoughtful, authentic, well-run, and memorable. Highly recommend Palo Verde Boat Tours if you want a true Costa Rican experience—great people, great food, and great memories.

5.0 Amazing Day

Carrie D, December 2025

Highly recommend the Palo Verde boat tour. From start to finish, the hospitality was excellent. The guides were genuinely excited to spot wildlife and worked hard to find it—and they delivered. We saw plenty, and we felt safe the entire time (even surrounded by crocodiles). Wildlife highlights included crocodiles, white-faced monkeys (some even tried to jump into our boat), iguanas galore, and so many incredible birds. Do not skip the lunch. We almost did, and it would have been a mistake. It was truly a highlight: homemade tortillas from freshly milled corn, delicious chicken and beef, Costa Rican grilled vegetables, salad, beans, rice, and an amazing hot sauce. It ended with great coffee (even black) and passion fruit ice cream topped with coconut cream. Tip: Use Waze for directions, not Google. Overall, this day was a standout highlight of our trip.