Kayaking on the Lake Arenal *Personalized experience*
Overview
Available languages
4 hours
Mobile ticket
Women-Led, Personalized Experience on Lake Arenal
Join us for a unique, women-led experience on the stunning Lake Arenal, located in the northern highlands of Costa Rica. As the country’s largest lake—spanning 85 square kilometers with depths ranging from 30 to 60 meters depending on the season—Lake Arenal offers breathtaking scenery and tranquil waters perfect for your adventure.
We believe in creating personalized experiences, and we welcome your four-legged companions too! As fellow pet lovers, we’re happy to accommodate your furry friend by providing a pet life vest (available for an additional fee).
Additional Info
Service animals allowed
Specialized infant seats are available
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Cancellation Policy
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
What To Expect
Lake Arenal
Our kayaking experience begins with the pick up at your hotel or Airbnb of preference, then we drive out of town for about 45 minutes to get to El Castillo, which offer stunning views of the dry side of the Arenal Volcano and the Cerro Chato. Once we arrive at our put in location, our certified staff will prepare the gear, give you short safety instructions, and provide you with water. Afterward, we will paddle 6 kilometers (roundtrip) while enjoying the calm waters of the Arenal Lake. We will spend 2 hours on the water, which will allow us to spot different species of monkey's and birds like: Tiger Heron, Great Egret, Snake Head Bird (Anhinga), Toucans, Red Macaw, Howler Monkey's , little blue heron and much more. To finish, you will be able to enjoy some Costa Rican fresh fruit and drinks.
What‘s Included
Certified guide
Bottled water
Snacks
All Fees and Taxes
Air-conditioned vehicle
Insurance
Lunch
Dinner
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
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Kayaking on the Lake Arenal *Personalized experience*
Pickup included
Reviews
16 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Bethahiva is a passionate advocate for Costa Rica and provided an amazing morning
DavidREdin,Mar 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had an amazing morning with Bethahiva kayaking on Lake Arenal, spotting birds and howler monkeys. It was such a great morning, showing us the lake letting us learn about the ecology of the animals who make it their home! She provided a real insight into the work she and local people to support the countries ecology. We booked direct and she was attentive sorting out our plans direct over WhatsApp, we would certainly recommend.
A Great Family Experience!
grahamd534,Jan 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a great morning on the lake with Calypso Adventures! We had three adults and three children (ages 2.5, 5, and 6), and everyone enjoyed the outing. We paddled around looking for wildlife, and saw a family of howler monkeys, a lot of birds (even some Tucans), and some fish! Calypso made it such a pleasant experience, they picked us up at our Airbnb, setup all the kayaks, had life vests, a knowledgeable guide, a photographer, and a platter of fresh fruit upon returning to land. Would recommend to anyone thinking about kayaking on Lake Arenal!
Fun adventure experience!
Taiyaba A,Dec 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a fantastic time with the tour group. It was very easy to communicate with the tour guides and they picked us up directly from our hotel. From there it was an easy drive to get to the kayaking spot. The tour guides are very nice and Warner in particular is very knowledgeable and made our experience special. He pointed out the different wildlife and nature during the tour and we learned a lot! We had a great time kayaking as well and saw amazing views of the volcano from the lake! Afterwards we had yummy fruits and soda and they drove us back to our hotel. Overall great value for the experience and would highly recommend!
Lovely experience
Elena R,Dec 29, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Wonderful kayak tour on Lake Arenal! It was a lovely experience ! Can you please send us the photos ? Thanks
Wonderful !
elenaandreear2021,Dec 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Wonderful kayak tour on Lake Arenal! The scenery was breathtaking, with views of the volcano and lush rainforest all around. Our guide was friendly, knowledgeable, and made the experience both fun and relaxing. We had plenty of time to enjoy nature and wildlife. Highly recommended for anyone visiting the area!
Great experience!
Christian F,Dec 24, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Beautiful kayaking through Lake Arenal with very knowledgeable local guides. Warner helped a lot finding and particularly identifying local species, from birds to plants and trees.
Loved this!
550rajivn,Nov 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Warner and Bethshiva were awesome guides! Warner was our kayaking guide and he has very sharp eyes and ears, spotting what felt like every bird and animal in sight, even on the drive to the lake. Bethshiva is warm and welcoming and you feel like you're part of an intimate experience. The scenery is beautiful and peaceful so when the sun is out, I recommend pausing kayaking for a bit and taking it all in. They made us feel safe, taught us how to kayak, shared Costa Rican medicinal plants with us and spotted many different species of birds along the way.
Excellent tour Kayaking Lake Arenal
Andrew H,May 18, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Excellent tour. Very professionally run. The kayaking itself was fantastic and very relaxing. Dionysis was our tour guide and did an excellent job leading us. I highly recommend to all.
Explore a pristine gem with a local expert
catherinel826,Apr 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My husband and I had a wonderful time kayaking Lake Arenal with Jose this morning! Pick up was prompt at our hotel, and on the ride over he was a super safe driver. Along the way he told us what to expect and how long everything would take. When we got to the lake, he outfitted us with comfortable lifejackets and eased us into our kayak perfectly. As we paddled, Jose showed us many different types of birds while keeping an ideal pace. (His knowledge of wildlife is thorough and impressive.) He even sensed when we were slowing down a bit and steadily led us back to shore with perfect timing. Afterwards, we drove us back to our hotel while we chatted about life in Costa Rica. Even though it was a cloudy and sometimes rainy day, we had a wonderful time on this excursion with Jose. I can't think of a better way to explore the absolutely pristine place that is Lake Arenal. Pura Vida!
Great time Kayaking
jkan635,Mar 12, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had an amazing time Kayaking with our guide Ceasar. Somehow my girlfriend and I were the only two on the tour so we had a very personalized experience. We both have experience ocean kayaking in Canada so Ceasar was able to tailor the experience to us. The water was beautiful and luckily our day was clear so we could see everything. Getting pick up and drop off from the hotel was also very convinient.
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Operated by Calypso Adventures