Paddle in One of Costa Rica’s Most Diverse Ecosystems

Mangroves are trees or shrubs that grow along salt or brackish water. They have tangles of exposed roots, which allow them to withstand changing water tides. Mangroves help reduce erosion and their complex root systems attract fish and other animals seeking nutrients and shelter. For this reason the Isla Damas mangroves are one of Costa Rica’s most eco-diverse areas and are vital for the preservation of many wildlife species. Come meet the variety of creatures that call this island home while navigating the tight quarters of the mangroves on our eco-friendly paddle boards!

Why Book With Paddle 9?

See white-faced capuchin monkeys, iguanas and a plethora of bird species

The gentle waters of the Isla Damas Mangroves make paddling easy so you can focus on taking in the spectacular wildlife all around you

Our informative local guides will teach you all you ever wanted to know about this unique Costa Rican island and the ecosystem it supports

Trip Details

Pricing & Logistics

Price

$80 per person
+ 13% sales tax

Departure time

Dependent on high tide, please contact us to schedule

Meeting point

The Paddle 9 tour office in Quepos or we can provide transportation from anywhere in Quepos or Manuel Antonio.

Pickups outside of Quepos or Manuel Antonio are available for an additional cost. For more information or to schedule a pick up outside of these areas, please contact us.

Availability

Available daily, all year round*

*Tide permitting

Duration

3.5 hours

Group size

2 person minimum – 16 person maximum

Included

Transportation
Snacks
Water
Certified guide
All gear

Not included

Picture package (available at an extra cost)
Guide gratuity

What to bring

Sandals or flip flops
Towel
Sunscreen
Bug spray

Trip Overview

This half-day tour starts when we pick you up from your accommodations in Manuel Antonio or Quepos before heading to the mangroves for your Isla Damas paddleboard tour. Nature and wildlife are in abundance on this tour. We will be on the lookout for monkeys, birds, marine wildlife, and reptiles. You will also learn all about the mangrove tree species and why the ecosystem is so important to Costa Rica. This tour is great for all ages and levels, it is very easy to paddle the Isla Damas mangroves as the water is very calm.

Good to Know

Please advise us of any health conditions, recent injuries (especially back, neck or shoulder surgeries) or medical procedures that could affect your tour experience. Let us know about pregnancy, back pains, and any walking as well as dietary restrictions or preferences.

We have two rules at Paddle 9: 1) Be safe! and 2) Have serious fun! Paddle 9 prides itself in running safe tours and transport with the best logistics and safety procedures in the industry. Our guides and staff are well-trained in emergency situations and take your safety very seriously. Should an accident occur, we are covered by a comprehensive umbrella liability insurance policy.

Have more questions? You can check out our FAQ page.

Don’t Just Take Our Word For It!

					Our family of 5, aged between 17 yrs and 58 yrs, thoroughly enjoyed the 3 tours booked through Paddle9.We booked the Full day Waterfall tour, a morning Kayaking through mangroves at Damas Island and a morning guided tour at Manuel Antonio park.The activities were great. The waterfalls day was thrilling and the guides were so much fun. It was a great atmosphere. The whole group (maybe 14 people) ranged from about 8yrs to 80yrs.The guides really made sure that everyone had fun and were safe and we could opt out of jumps if we wished. There was a photographer and we chose to pay £66 (90USD) for a large collection of 209 photos and 3 short videos which we thought was reasonable for 5 people.We had a delicious meal after that was included.MA park was quite busy with a lot of tours but our guide still managed to show us a fair amount of wildlife through his telescopic lens and afterwards shared photos he took for free. After the tour we were given fresh fruit and a drink and then we chose to stay at the park at the beautiful beach. We took a slow walk back and saw loads of iguanas and monkeys.The Kayaking was a lovely, relaxing trip. The kayaks are operated by both foot peddles and oars. We mainly peddled. We saw monkeys, bats, iguana and loads of birds. Again fruit at the end was lovely.The guides are clearly very passionate about both the wildlife and the enviroment and shared so much information about the animals and the history of Costa Rica. It was a great mix of adventure, fun, wildlife and education.We didn't drive but tours included collection/drop off to our hotel.Thank you paddle 9🙂
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melanie aum
9/07/2026
					My family and I had an incredible experience with Paddle 9 and their waterfall tour. The guides made everyone feel safe the entire time leading up to some really fun jumps off beautiful waterfalls. It was so much fun, we would love to go again next time in CR.
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Matthew Devine
8/31/2026
					MUST DO IN MANUEL ANTONIO! I would absolutely do this again!! Alex & Mike were THE BEST!! They made us feel so welcomed, we’re so knowledgeable about Costa Rica, & made us feel safe. out of the 5 tours we did, this was our favorite!
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Kathryn Price
8/22/2026