Papagayo Excursions welcomes you to Costa Rica, home of unparalleled natural beauty and exciting activities. We are one of the first, and most experienced, tourist activity operators, established in 1976. Located in Tamarindo Beach, Guanacaste, we are situated in one of the most exotic and beautiful tropical settings on the Pacific Coast.

The Guanacaste area offers an incredible diversity of scenic natural wonders, and Papagayo Excursions has developed a complete and unique variety of vacation activities. We are fully equipped, licensed and insured. Our professionally trained bilingual guides are prepared to take you on nature safaris, horse back riding, coastal cruises, scuba diving, deep sea fishing and land trips to the National Parks in our region.

Discover the abundance of wildlife in the Baula National Park right here in Tamarindo, or enjoy a wonderful variety of half or full day trips: go zipping through the treetops of primal forest, a hundred feet off the ground; witness the unbelieveable spectacle of thousands of Ridley turtles laying their eggs, or the giant leatherback turtles laying their eggs at night.

See an active volcano, visit volcanic hot springs and mud baths, float down a jungle-lined river, explore the inner chambers of caves, watch as indigenous indians craft timeless pottery. These are a very few of the adventures that await you here in the Guanacaste region of Costa Rica. Below are more details of some of our tours:

JUNGLE BOAT SAFARI:

This is a two hour boat trip into the Baula National Park to explore the saltwater wildlife refuge. The giant mangrove swamps provide a natural protected habitat for a wide variety of exotic birds, monkeys, caimans, crocodiles, iguanas and land crabs. The tour includes an experienced bilingual guide, refreshments and transportation from the principal hotels in Tamarindo.

GIANT LEATHERBACK TURTLE NESTING SAFARI: October 15 - February 15

This is a nocturnal adventure into the Baula National Park to witness one of the few remaining nesting grounds for the Giant Leatherback Sea Turtle. This is approximately a two hour walking tour with a bi-lingual guide to watch the world's largest reptile lay her eggs and return to the sea. This tour is educational as well as adventurous. The tour includes professional multi-lingual guides from the National Parks, a video show, refreshments and transportation from the principal hotels in Tamarindo area.

RINCON DE LA VIEJA NATIONAL PARK:

This is an all-day adventure tour to the active volcano Rincon de la Vieja. We start the day by driving through the Guanacaste countryside up to the capital city of Liberia. There we start climbing up into the surrounding volcano to Buena Vista Lodge. Upon arrival, we mount horses and take a nature trail down to the hot springs and mud pots. Here we enjoy the hot mud spa and swim in the crystal clear springs. We then take a small hike to a spectacular waterfall. Then we ride back to the lodge to enjoy a delicious typical lunch. In the afternoon there is an option of experiencing the exhilarating canopy tour over the treetops of the jungle, sliding down a giant water slide, or going on a nature hike into the surrounding jungles of the volcano. This area is abundant with wildlife and exotic tropical birds, especially toucans and white-faced monkeys. This tour includes bilingual guide, horseback ride, lunch, spa and nature trails. Canopy tour and water slide are optional.

ARTOLA CANOPY AND GUANACASTE BEACH TOUR:

This is a half-day adventure. We drive north to a beautiful tree-filled canyon to experience the exhilaration of the canopy tour over the tree top jungle. This tour is suitable for all ages. On the ground there is a small zoo of jungle snakes and animals, as well as a butterfly farm. After the excitement of the canopy we will visit several Guanacaste Beaches and have lunch at the famous Flamingo Marina. This tour includes bi-lingual guide, refreshments, canopy tour, and lunch.

SANTA ROSA NATIONAL PARK - LOS INOCENTES:

This is a full day tour to The Dry Tropical Forest of Guanacaste, one of last remaining ecosystems of grasslands and savannah woodlands. You will visit Santa Rosa National Park, one of the country's most historical parks, known for the Battle of Santa Rosa. There is a wide variety of wildlife in Santa Rosa: 115 species of mammals, 253 of birds, and 100 species of amphibians and reptiles. After touring the park we will move on to Los Inocentes Hacienda for a typical ranch style lunch. If you wish, after lunch you may relax in the Hacienda at the pool or take a 2 hour horseback riding trip into a unique tropical temperate ecosystem full of monkeys, butterflies, and birds. The tour includes a bilingual guide, air conditioned bus, horseback ride, park entrance fees, lunch and refreshments.

COROBICI RIVER FLOAT:

This trip is an all-day adventure of floating down the beautiful Corobici River leading into the Tempisque River Basin. You will start off early in the morning and travel through the Guanacaste countryside to the town of Cañas. Here you will ride a raft down the gentle Corobici River and float for two hours, seeing a great variety of exotic birds and tropical wildlife. The float is safe for all ages. You will then have a delicious lunch. After lunch there is an interesting stop to see the wild cats on a private reserve. On the way back you will pass through the "White City" of Liberia and view the unique adobe construction of the capital city of Guanacaste. The tour includes a bi-lingual guide, air conditioned bus, riverboat, lunch, fees for the wild cat preserve.

PALO VERDE NATIONAL PARK / GUAITIL:

This is a visit to the Palo Verde National Park, which is part of the basin of the Tempisque River. The lowlands and marshes create the perfect conditions for the largest concentration of waterfowl and wading birds in all of Central America. This is a birdwatcher's paradise as well as a perfect spot to see lots of big crocodiles. There are three different species of monkeys hanging from surrounding trees. The tour starts with a drive through the beautiful countryside of Guanacaste. We will arrive at a local port and take a boat trip to the National Park of Palo Verde. After exploring the park you will have a delicious typical lunch. On our return, we will pass by the famous artisan village of Guatil and learn how the Chorotega Indians make their pottery using the same techniques that were used by their Pre-Columbian ancestors. In the late afternoon we will visit the folkloric Capital of Santa Cruz and have coffee at the famous tortilla factory. The tour includes a bi-lingual guide, an air conditioned bus, lunch, river tour, park fees and refreshments.

RIDLEY TURTLE NESTING SAFARI IN OSTIONAL BEACH:

Experience the unbelievable phenomenon of thousands of Ridley turtles coming into shore to lay their eggs. This protected beach has a surplus of turtle eggs, so that they are actually harvested to allow baby turtles to have an area to be hatched in without being disturbed by surplus eggs. The "arribada " of turtles is distinctly unique and their arrival is based on the phase of the moon. You will leave in the afternoon, and drive the coastal highway to the south to Ostional Beach where you will await the arrival of this awe-inspiring event. This tour includes a bi-lingual guide, air conditioned bus, refreshments, and local turtle guide.

SANTA CRUZ AND GUAITIL TOUR:

This is a half-day tour of The Folkloric Capital of Costa Rica, Santa Cruz, and Guaitil to see first hand the indigenous "Chorotega" Indians making pottery. The day will start with a trip driving through the Guanacaste countryside and seeing numerous small villages, melon farms, and cattle ranches. In Guaitil village you will learn how the artisans manufacture and color Indian pottery with the same techniques used by their Pre-Columbian ancestors. There are numerous beautiful pots available for purchase as souvenirs. Then you will visit the historic town of Santa Cruz, where there is time to shop for local crafts and souvenirs. Here you will eat a typical lunch in a local restaurant and enjoy the culinary arts of Guanacaste cooking. The tour includes a bilingual guide, an air conditioned bus, refreshments and lunch.

BARRA HONDA NATIONAL PARK:

This is a tour for the adventurous into the caverns of Barra Honda National Park. The park protects a vast system of caves of pitted limestone that are renowned for their pristine condition. We start the day driving through the Guanacaste countryside by melon fields and cattle ranches to the Tempisque River Basin. Here the park guides who will take us down into the caves with special equipment meet us. We will explore the caves for an hour and a half. After this excitement we will hike to Barra Honda Peak that was created out of an ancient coral reef 60 million years ago. There is a spectacular view from the top of the peak. In the afternoon we will have a relaxed typical lunch. There are monkeys, anteaters, and scarlet macaws in the open dry forest. In the caves there are blindfish and salamanders. The tour includes a bilingual guide, an air conditioned bus, guide and equipment into the caves, park entrance fee, refreshments and lunch.