Kayaking

The kayaking is great at the beach and along the nearby Río Coto Colorado, lined with mangroves. You can also test your balance on a paddleboard over ocean waves or on the river.

Cabinas Los Cocos. The popular tour ($60 per person, minimum three passengers) takes you for a 1½-hour motorboat ride up the Coto Colorado River, then a magical two-hour kayak tour along a jungly mangrove channel and a relaxing paddle, moving downstream with the current, back to the river mouth. Captain Susan can identify the birds you'll see along the way. The lodge also rents user-friendly sit-on-top kayaks with backrests for $5 per hour, and paddleboards (with instruction) at $20 for two hours. Beach road, north of Cabinas Sol y Mar, Zancudo, Puntarenas, 60704. 2776–0012.