Puntarenas Shore Excursion: Rainforest Skywalk & Tarcoles River

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. Puntarenas is one of the most important tourism regions in Costa Rica. Its coastline is full of islands, inlets, beaches, and very beautiful natural treasures, all which make it an excellent tourist destination. There is a multitude of attractions based around the beaches, as well as protected areas, both land based and around its islands. The area’s center is located at Puntarenas which acts as a place for lodging, distribution, port of call, and excursions. The city of Puntarenas is rich in history, traditions and customs. Historically, it was the most important port in the Costa Rican Pacific, through which the main exports that allowed the development of the country during the 19th century and part of the 20th century took place. Due to its coastal position, it was an important center for the arrival of immigrants towards the middle of the 20th century. Its boom as a tourist destination dates back to 1940.

   30 min

2. árcoles is a picturesque coastal village located in the canton of Garabito, Puntarenas, world-renowned as the gateway to the Central Pacific and home to the impressive river that shares its name. Traditionally a fishing and artisanal community, this town has transformed into a strategic hub for ecological tourism thanks to its proximity to Carara National Park and the spectacular presence of massive American crocodiles easily observed from its famous bridge. With an authentic, laid-back atmosphere, Tárcoles beautifully combines the scenic charm of its mangroves and beaches—perfect for capturing memorable sunsets—with a rich local biodiversity, establishing itself as an essential and adventurous stop for travelers exploring the Costa Rican coast.

   30 min

3. Carara National Park is an extraordinary ecological gem where the dry tropical forest of the north meets the lush rainforest of the South Pacific, creating a unique transition zone brimming with incredible biodiversity. World-renowned as a vital sanctuary for one of the last remaining wild populations of the brilliant scarlet macaw, the park is an absolute paradise for birdwatchers and nature photographers alike. Furthermore, its highly accessible trail system and its proximity to the famous Tárcoles River—home to massive American crocodiles—make it an essential, captivating destination for anyone looking to experience Costa Rica’s rich wildlife in a single, convenient stop.

   Passes by

4. The Crocs Skyway: A Modern Finale Before returning to your ship, we make a sophisticated final stop at the brand-new The Crocs Skyway. This premier tourist complex offers an elevated aerial platform providing a safe and spectacular vantage point over the river’s wildlife. During this 30-minute interlude, you can: • Enjoy a refreshing iced coffee or a cold local beverage. • Browse the Grand Souvenir Gallery for high-quality Costa Rican crafts. • Sample authentic local flavors at the snack bar or chocolatier.

   30 minAdmission included

5. The Hanging Bridges of Villa San Lucia Our journey begins with an ascent into the emerald heart of Villa San Lucia. Here, you will embark on a half-mile guided exploration through a lush rainforest sanctuary. The highlight of this trail is the crossing of three majestic hanging bridges that soar above the treetops. This "bird’s-eye view" allows you to peer into the secret life of the canopy, where orchids bloom and tropical birds nest far above the forest floor. Note on Accessibility: To ensure your comfort, please be advised that the trail consists of gravel paths and involves navigating several sets of stairs. The walk is conducted at a gentle, leisurely pace (taking approximately 60 to 90 minutes) but may be challenging for guests with limited mobility. During the summer months, the tropical climate can be quite warm, so light clothing is recommended.

   1.5 hAdmission included

6. Enjoy a pleasant boat tour with a professional naturalist tour guide and enjoy its rich and abundant wildlife. It is a habitat for American crocodiles, while the marshes located at the river's mouth have many waterfowl and wading birds. Among the many herons and egrets are the boatbill and bare-throated tiger heron, and other birds found here include double-striped thick-knee, mangrove warbler and American pygmy kingfisher. The total list known of birds well exceeds 320 species including the little known Guacalillo Canals. The avian biodiversity is substantial including rare birds such as Agami Heron, Rufous-necked Woodrail, Jabiru, Yellow-billed Cotinga and recently found an Orinoco Goose. It's also home of Howler and White-faced Capuchin Monkeys. Less commonly seen are Silky Anteater, Sloths, Grinson, Jaguarundi, River Otter and Northern Tamandua

   1.5 hAdmission included

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Reviews

Ratings come from 138 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Showing reviews written in English.

• 5Don’t miss it!

  Absolutely fantastic! The tour guide, Ronald, was so friendly and knowledgeable! The hike is fine for fully mobile individuals but anyone with any type of mobility issues should not do this tour, it was hard for most of the elderly members of our group. We saw some amazing things along our hike and the crocodile tour was very cool, they get as close as possible for the best view. We had s quick stop to the overlook and the store attached had wonderful lunch available to purchase. We bought a few souvenirs and headed back to our cruise ship. The ride was roughly an hour in either direction and it was air conditioned. They handed out waters for the hike. Don’t forget to bring your own bug spray!

  Tara_SOctober 2026via Viator

• 5Good shoes & insect...

  Good shoes & insect repellent for the walk . Very interesting & informative guide Very well planned activity . Lots to see & learn about

  SusannaLouise_cOctober 2026via Viator

• 5Very fun but depending on...

  Very fun but depending on conditions the bridge event can get slow if people don't move along River cruise is good but could have seen this from the cruise ship

  Diana_MMay 2026via Viator

• 5Wonderful tour!

  Great experience. Just know that the Skywalk is basically descending a mountain gorge with some bridges. It's beautiful but definitely a lot of "steps" definitely not recommended for anyone with mobility issues. I'm 4 months post tri mal ankle surgery, and it was definitely a challenge! I our guide Flores was wonderful. We saw a ton of crocs!!

  Jake_OApril 2026via Viator

• 5Lots of crocs

  This is a great experience to combine the crocodile river tour with the rainforest sky walk and hike. Our guides were super knowledgeable and took us to areas where they knew that some of the Scarlet Macaws would be. As well as seeing. 10+ crocodiles, we saw a Tucan, a sloth, various monkeys, frogs, lots of different birds and lots of fauna. This was an excellent excursion for wildlife and nature fans!

  Robert_HApril 2026via Viator

• 5Costa Rican Ecosystem Exploration

  Great tour of the rainforest ecosystem. Our tour guide Nestor was great and even took photos with an excellent camera and sent them to all on the tour.

  Carla_BApril 2026via Viator

Know before you go

How it compares in Puntarenas

• Its from-price is 29% below the median of the 42 day trips we list in Puntarenas.
• Its length is typical for the group.
• By number of reviews it ranks 3 of 42.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Puntarenas

Puntarenas is a Pacific port on a narrow sandspit in the Gulf of Nicoya, with a seaside promenade, a cruise dock and ferries to the Nicoya Peninsula.

Puntarenas stretches along a sandspit about five kilometres long that pokes into the Gulf of Nicoya, with the sea on one side and an estuary on the other. In the 19th century it was Costa Rica's main Pacific port, when coffee from the Central Valley was carted down to be shipped abroad. Today a long seafront promenade, the Paseo de los Turistas, runs along the beach, and cruise ships call at the dock.

See all 238 experiences in Puntarenas