Aventuras Tropicales Golfo Dulce — Local services in Puerto Jiménez

We were told about this bioluminescence tour from a local when we were planning our trip. It was our finale' of our 2 week Costa Rica road trip. We were excited to do some exploring and paddling (since it was a 3 hour tour) to see some wildlife as the sun set and then catch the bio light show. What a sham! For $60 per person they have you paddle a measly distance, sit and listen to the guide talk for an equal amount of time while floating out in the open, then they have you swim for an hour off a beach while they cut up a few pineapples and coconuts. Even if the weather is beautiful this trip is WAY TOO OVER PRICED! Don't waste your time or money! Now, we had an obvious thunder and lightning storm rolling in as we ventured out. LOTS OF LIGHTNING! The winds were heading our way and there was a dark vertical wall of rain approaching. During our "float chat" the rain and lightning was brought up but the guide avoided the question. When we got to the swim spot the waves picked up and the storm drew closer. My family voiced concern. We were told we would be fine. Lightning then crahed above us several times. I said "Time to go". We told our guide we would be heading back either in kayaks or walking the beach - but we were not staying there with more storm rolling in. The guide said "no, you can not leave". All the while he kept saying "only 10 more minutes then you will see the bioluminescense". That was his priority. It was obvious they just wante our money. By the time he said we could go, the waves were swamping kayakers trying to get out past the crests. Lightning is still crashing directly above us. No self respecting company would have put people and kids in that situation = out in the open on a beach or in/on water, with metal paddles to get home.

We live by the Great Lakes. Have kayaked, canoed and boated several types of waters many times. White water rafted multiple times in different countries. We are experienced kayakers and know water/boater safety. But being out in that situation was very unsafe. The guide and conpany would not admit it when we confronted them. They had the nerve to tell us Costa Rica lightning storms are not dangerous. They never offered to adjust the route that night and did not offer any kind of refund.

Anyone can see bioluminescense in those waters - just stir it up at night from a boat or along the water's edge. (I wish someone would have told us that!) Don't blow $60 per person...

2 major issues! They almost killed us! But first: We went on the 3 hour bioluminecence tour with our 2 young teen boys, expecting an adventure (at least an hour or 2 of paddling) for $60 ea. It turned out to be 15 min of paddling, 20 min of listing to the guide fill time/(watch sunset if there wasnt a storm rolling in), 15 min demo of fruit prep, 10min of netting krill and then the rest swimming! $240 for 4 people I expected much more than that! Lastly and more important! There was a huge storm rolling in, and instead of canceling or at least saying hey this might be shorter, IF it gets dangerous, they said nothing. As we got to our 15min paddle location a storm front was heading our way. The waves got to about 2' swells before we reached shore, which we actually enjoyed, some more inexperienced paddlers almost flipped or were swamped (sunk!), but then the lightening came! Several of us in the tour asked to leave as the lightening got closer, the guide assured us there was nothing to worry about... . The guide said he would make a phone call to ask!! He shouldve made the decission to leave then for the saftey of his guests, but, he was more concerned with his job and the company not having to reimburse our money, which was not even brought up at that time! He said we needed to stay and that we were safe, and wait for the biolumence, then we would leave and that "we cant leave until I say, you have to follow the rules!". I became more insistent as the lighting got closer and he became more adimiment that 'I calm down, there's nothing to worry about'. With lighting crackling over our heads 5 or more times in 10min, I told him we were leaving with or without him and several others joined us, as we left, realizing the danger too. When we returned they would not refund us our money because we had seen the biolumence! After speaking with several local fishing guides and residents, they all agreed that they would've done way worse than just leave, stating that "lighting", opposite of what the kayak guide said, "is a very real threat in Costa Rica". This company is more concerned with making money than your safety! and besides, you can rent a kayak anywhere along the coast there for MUCH less (one place is $5 per hour!) and paddle out 10 to 100' and see the bioluminecence almost any night!!..or just walk the edge of the water...

Disappointing!! We were told conditions were exceptionally good to do the bioluminescence kayak tour. Before departure, we noted some dark clouds at the horizon but both the guide and the owner were positive that these would not interfere with the experience. After paddling for about 15 min, we stopped at the beach. By that time, a thunderstorm had developed in the far distance and sunset was not visible at all. We went for a swim but quickly ran to shore when lightning struck extremely close by. After that, we crouched in the beach, hoping to avoid the lightning and waiting for the bioluminescence to become visible. By the time it did, a strong wind had developed and there were high waves. Nevertheless, we went to the water to see the plankton but this turned out to be lonely and sparse individual spots in a very dark see. It is NOTHING like the glowing blue waves you see on pictures!! Also, by that time, it was raining heavily and combined with the waves, no one felt comfortable paddling back (we were 4 adults and 4 children aged 9-13). The owner came to collect us on foot so we made our way back through the rain over the beach.

All in all, we paid 500 dollar to paddle for 15 min and to see tiny isolated dots. If you want to see real bioluminescence, I suggest you book a tour in the north, not on Osa peninsula. If you want to see the dots, just make your way over the beach, which will save you a...