The Sloth and Kayak Tour - Ethical wildlife encounters

Name: The Sloth and Kayak Tour - Ethical wildlife encounters
Price: 64 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.91 (268 reviews)

Overview

Available languages

English

Spanish

2 hours 45 minutes

Mobile ticket

Led by local naturalist guides who know Punta Uva by heart, this tour offers ethical wildlife encounters and a calm, authentic way to see sloths in the wild.

Guided by Elmer, Esteban, and Juanito, our friendly Costa Rican team combines professional training with real field experience. You’ll learn how the rainforest ecosystem connects with the culture and history of Talamanca while exploring hidden beaches, forest trails, and Punta Uva’s turquoise coastline.

On most days we see both species of sloths, plus turtles, monkeys, and colorful tropical birds. Every tour is relaxed, educational, and 100% respectful of wildlife, no cages, no feeding, no forced encounters.

Small groups only, for a personal, eco-friendly adventure that supports local nature guides and gives you the most authentic experience in Costa Rica’s Caribbean.

Additional Info

Service animals allowed

Specialized infant seats are available

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What To Expect

Paddle through calm jungle waters in search of sloths, monkeys, and turtles, then enjoy a relaxed walk along the beach and through the jungle to Punta Uva’s scenic viewpoint on Costa Rica’s South Caribbean coast. Learn about the area’s unique ecosystem and the culture of Talamanca from friendly local guides as sloths rest above and toucans call in the distance. Created by naturalist Roberto Lynch, this is the original Sloth & Kayak experience that inspired many of the tours now offered in Punta Uva. Our team, Elmer, Esteban, and Juanito, are Costa Rican guides with professional training, real field experience, and a deep understanding of local wildlife. What you’ll learn comes from years in nature and growing up exploring this region—not stories made up for tourists. We keep our groups small for personal attention, safety, and better wildlife viewing. No cages, no feeding, no forced encounters—just genuine observation of animals in their natural habitat. Perfect for nature lovers, families, and travelers seeking an authentic, eco-friendly experience in Costa Rica’s Caribbean. Small groups so book early to secure your spot.

What‘s Included

Kayak

Professional local guide (English & spanish)

Insurance

Options

Sloth and Kayak Tour in Punta Uva Beach and Jungle

Reviews

4.91

268 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

254

Amazing and informative
Departure41318924016,,Feb 12, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Hi! This was such an amazing tour—I’ve never experienced anything like it. Our tour guide, Daniel, was incredible and made the whole experience even better. The kayaks they use are far superior to any others I’ve tried before. I noticed people in hard kayaks really struggling, while ours were smooth and easy to handle. I would definitely recommend booking this tour over any other if you’re looking to kayak down the river.
Fantastic family tour
O5761YPmeganm,,Feb 10, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Daniel was a fantastic guide! So passionate about the jungle, the natural resources of Costa Rica, his community, and sharing all of this with visitors. We learned so much about the incredible biodiversity of the area, loved the trees, birds, animals, and Daniel's facts and details. Very ethical, gorgeous, fascinating. Highly recommend. Thank you!
Would recommend!
Kylise M,,Feb 7, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
Saw a ton of animals, sloths, howler monkeys, and an iguana! The kayak part of the tour was really cool and pretty!
Fantastic Floral and Fauna tour
2524hake,,Feb 3, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Fabulous day of sea and shore. Lynch and crew took us on a boat ride along the coastline. We saw dolphins surfing with the waves. Stopped for a hike along the shoreline and refreshments of little coconuts and other fresh fruits.
Perfect start to the day
janinesJ247RP,,Jan 31, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
08.00 am tour in the morning, it was not going on (no other groups on the way) and we saw so many animals - turtle, sloth, iguana, ...
Book it!
Kristin M,,Jan 30, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
It was awesome! Elmer was so good at finding animals to show us. Highly recommend. We saw sloths, huge spiders, monkeys. Totally worth the price!
Great animal watching!
Summer C,,Jan 30, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
We saw howler monkeys, spider monkeys, and lots of sloths! In addition, there were a lot of birds and reptiles. This was a fantastic tour! Our guide, Elmer, was friendly, knowledgeable, and gave us a lot of insight about the history and culture of Costa Rica. I can’t recommend this tour enough!
Brilliant tour! You see so much wildlife!
SallyJayne2020,,Jan 17, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Brilliant tour! Esteban was brilliant, he took us out for 2hours on the kayak and we saw so much including 4 sloths, chameleons, terrapins, kingfishers, spider monkeys. Can not recommend this tour enough. Esteban then took us to the Punta Uva lookout point which was amazing. He was so kind, friendly and knowledgable. Thank you so much!
The slow pace gives lots...
Anne G,,Jan 16, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
The slow pace gives lots of opportunity tonspot wildlife. Our guide Danny was reallybgood at finding sloths and we saw rainbow Toucans. The walk to Punta Uva was also informative, and he was helpful about finding other tours.
Super super super
Hbour,,Jan 14, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This trip was really fantastic. We (a couple) and yet another (coincidentally also Dutch) guest were alone with the guide. It felt like a private tour. Stefan, our guide really knew super he knew a lot about the flora and fauna and the history of Costa Rica. Along the way he managed to spot all kinds of animals. We've seen sloths, monkeys, turtles, spiders, iguanas and what looked like a chameleon. The tour is doable for any age. Super relaxed and interesting. I would really recommend this tour to anyone. (Well actually not because then it gets too busy 😇)