Maratopia Tours · Puerto Limón · Costa Rica
Tropical Boat Tour on the Tortuguero Canal
Discover Costa Rica’s wildlife from the water at a relaxed pace — with a short beach stop, Maratopia’s garden, and a tropical fruit tasting.
Tour overview
English-speaking guide and small groups.
Discover Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast at a relaxed pace
This approximately three-hour excursion combines a peaceful boat ride on the Tortuguero Canal with a short beach stop and a visit to Maratopia.
Tour highlights
A calm nature experience with short distances
Tortuguero Canal
Six special moments in three hours
Wildlife watching
A relaxed ride through tropical vegetation — sit back, observe, and take photos.
With a little luck, you may spot sloths, monkeys, iguanas, waterbirds, or crocodiles.
Short beach stop
Maratopia
A photo opportunity by the sea and a brief impression of the Caribbean coast — not a swimming stop.
Fruit tasting
Seasonal tropical fruit, mostly grown on site, plus bottled water.
Small groups
Tropical garden with large blue morpho butterflies and possible wildlife sightings.
Itinerary
Personal attention instead of an anonymous mass excursion.
Your excursion, step by step
The order may change depending on traffic, ship arrival, or local conditions.
The meeting point is at the port exit on the street side. Look for the Maratopia sign.
The tour begins once the ship has docked and guests are permitted to disembark. The actual arrival time is taken into account.
During the transfer, you will get your first impressions of Puerto Limón, the Caribbean coast, and the tropical surroundings.
Take your seat in the provided boat and experience the canal from a calm perspective. The ride is especially suitable for observing and taking photographs.
With a little luck, animals may appear along the banks, in the trees, or in the water.
The short beach visit is intended as a photo stop and a brief Caribbean experience. Swimming is not possible at this stop.
In the tropical garden, large blue morpho butterflies are a signature part of the experience. Poison dart frogs, sloths, iguanas, howler monkeys, and tropical birds may also be seen with a little luck. These wildlife sightings are not guaranteed.
To finish, enjoy a small tasting of seasonal fruit.
After visiting Maratopia, return comfortably to the starting point. For cruise guests, the tour is planned around the ship’s time in port.
Animals & Nature
What animals might you see?
Different wildlife sightings may be possible depending on the time of day and natural conditions.
Morpho butterflies are a signature part of the Maratopia experience. Wildlife such as sloths, monkeys, iguanas, crocodiles, birds, or poison dart frogs may be seen with a little luck, but sightings cannot be guaranteed.
Is this tour right for you?
Who is the Tropical Boat Tour suitable for?
Short total duration and planning based on the ship’s actual time in port.
A mostly seated boat ride with short walking distances.
Calm observation and many tropical photo opportunities.
Canal, beach, and Maratopia combined in a compact experience.
Start and finish directly at Maratopia by arrangement.
No long hike is involved. Guests must be able to enter and exit the boat; please contact us in advance if you have mobility restrictions.
Included services
Included in the price
- Transportation during the tour
- Boat ride on the Tortuguero Canal
- Guided by a local guide
- With a little luck, you may spot sloths, monkeys, iguanas, waterbirds, or crocodiles.
- Admission to Maratopia
- Fruit tasting
- Bottled water
Not included: personal expenses and optional gratuities.
Meeting point & itinerary
How your tour begins
Clear meeting points and planning based on the ship’s actual arrival.
Meeting point at the port exit on the street side by the Maratopia sign.
Start and finish directly at Maratopia; monitored parking is available.
The tour begins after the cruise ship arrives and guests are cleared to disembark.
The return is aligned with the ship’s actual schedule.
Gallery
Tropical Boat Tour impressions
Guest reviews
Personal guidance, relaxed experience
Google Review★★★★★“Everything worked perfectly. Communication was clear, friendly, and very solution-oriented despite our limited time ashore.”
Google Review★★★★★“As a family, we had a private tour with our own guide and could choose the activities flexibly.”
Google Review★★★★★“A warm welcome, beautiful grounds, and a truly personal experience in Costa Rica’s nature.”
Frequently asked questions about the Tropical Boat Tour
The tour is easy. Most of it takes place seated in the boat; no long walks or major physical effort are planned.
Walking distances are short. However, guests must be able to enter and exit the boat.
Yes. The tour is also suitable for families. Children up to age 14 pay 40 USD.
No. Animals live freely in their natural environment. Sightings are possible but cannot be guaranteed.
No. The beach stop is intended as a short visit and photo opportunity.
At the port exit on the street side. Look for the Maratopia sign.
The ship’s actual arrival and clearance are taken into account. The tour begins as soon as you are permitted to leave the ship.
Yes. The Tropical Boat Tour is accompanied by an English-speaking guide.
No deposit is required. Payment is made in cash on site.
Request without obligation
Check availability
The booking assistant guides you directly through the request.