Mangrove Kayaking Tour

Absolutely stunning scenery. Like being dropped in a prehistoric lagoon. I was ready for a giraffe or dinosaur to appear.

This was a magical experience and a highlight of our time in Mexico! We did the 6am trip and saw loads of local birds and fauna in calm and beautiful surroundings. It was really interesting to learn about the mangroves and our guide, Mario, was helpful, informative and friendly. There was an opportunity to get a snack and some coffee before we got into the kayaks.

This was the highlight of our whole trip to Oaxaca. Mario picked us up from our hostel and drove us through beautiful farmland, telling us about some of the challenges regarding tourism-driven development, environmental protection, and water management along the way. We arrived at a riverbank, where we were ferried across to a magical sandy peninsula between the ocean and the river. After a short walk, we boarded kayaks and paddled up the river (no current) to the lagoon. The kayaking required virtually no skill or prior experience (just be prepared to get a little wet from paddle drip). It was like being in Jurassic Park. We’ve done a lot of kayaking in coastal areas, but this was beyond anything we had experienced. The beauty of the mountains in the distance, the lush forest, the winding channels through the mangroves, and above all the absurd profusion of birds, left us awestruck (even the sometimes surly teenager). We saw many bird species we had never seen before. And even familiar ones we saw more up-close than ever before. Mario was an expert on local wildlife, and guided us gently through the lagoon, never rushing us. After returning, we watched the sunset from a palapa on the seashore while drinking from coconuts. This is a very special experience, and I hope that this place remains wild and free forever. Mario was prepared with everything and his personal stories really added to the experience.