Night Paddle Boarding Experience in Manuel Antonio
Looks like a dream? It was. Paddle boarding at night in Manual Antonio delivered on so many levels. We booked a tour with a Paddle Vision CR, a locally owned company ran by a Costa Rican native that went to college with my good friend who was on the trip with us. That personal connection made the experience feel special, but honestly, the tour stands on its own.
When we arrived, the Paddle Vision CR crew greeted us with a warm and relaxed demeanor that put everyone at ease. They gave us a breakdown of how the tour works as well as a quick safety briefing. We launched from a calm bay called Biesanz Bay just before sunset. The first ten minutes or so was a bit wobbly. Ocean waves are a different beast compared to the Montana lakes we are used to.
We had two guides for a group of eight people and both of them were wonderful. They made sure we felt confident before heading out on the water and they stayed close the entire time. They shared tips, pointed out various birds, and told us about life in Costa Rica. They also snapped tons of photos of us on the water so we didn’t have to worry about carrying our cell phones.
As the sun began to set, we paddled back to the bay we launched from and the guides had us switch on the LED lights attached to the bottoms of our boards. The water around us glowed and we could see fish swimming beneath us. We had time to explore the bay on our own and lay on our boards for a peaceful moment of meditation and gratitude for the experience. When we got back to shore we were treated with some fresh pineapple – a great way to end the tour!
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is this tour beginner‑friendly? Yes. Even with ocean waves, the guides make you feel comfortable and supported. If you’ve only paddled on lakes, it make take you awhile to adjust to the larger waves. You can also paddle sitting on the board or kneeling if you aren’t comfortable standing.
- Do you have to wear a life jacket? Wearing a life jacket is optional. Everyone in our group was comfortable in the water so we didn’t wear any.
- Where do you store your things? There are no lockers, but the owners will lock your items in their vehicle.
- Do they take photos? Yes, the guides took great photos of us on the water! No extra charges for the photos.
- Is there a place to shower afterward? Yes, there are public outdoor showers in the park nearby.
