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San San Pond Sak – Manatee & Turtle Adventure
While Panama is a great place to spend time in nature, it is not as easy as it may seem to see mammals in action. Many of the country’s mammals are nocturnal, while others are simply incredibly elusive. While the opportunities to see animals in Panama are available, sightings requires patience, time, and a little bit of luck.
One of the more elusive mammals in Panama is the West Indian Manatee. There are so few manatees in the country, many do not know these “sea cows” roam in Panamanian waters. Manatees or sea cows are perhaps the humblest creatures on our planet. Their lovable appearance and peculiar mannerisms make them a favorite among our guests, especially children.
There are two distinct populations of manatees remaining in Panama, one in is located in the Bocas del Toro region and another in Lake Gatun within the Panama Canal.
TOUR OVERVIEW
The tour starts at 9:00am, leaving Bocas town and heading towards San San Pond Sak, a wetland lagoon area close to the Costa Rican border. Before we meet the wildlife endangered manatees and baby turtles, we start with a few videos, learning about these amazing animals. There will be volunteers eager to answer any of your questions and curiosities.
As we embark on a boat ride along the mangrove lined jungle river, keep your eyes open for sloths, monkeys and various types of tropical birds. By the time arrive at the observatory, we coincide with the feeding time of the manatees, increasing our likelihood of spotting them. Watch our volunteers feed the manatees with bananas and plants. During this crucial moment we advise our guests not to make any sounds, in order not to spook these elusive creatures away.
We will remain around 2 hours in this place, giving you ample opportunities to snap amazing photos and witness the almost extinct sea-cows.
When we return downriver, we make a stop at San San beach, where we visit a facility that specializes in turtle preservation and nesting. Watch as new born baby turtles get released and wobble towards the ocean for their first every swim.
TOUR SUMMARY
- Price - $159 per person (Small Group Tour)
- Duration - 7.5 hours
- Any day of the week
- Start time - 9:00am - 4:30pm
- San San Pond Sak – Manatee & Turtle adventure
- Excursion finishes at 4:30pm
WHAT’S INCLUDED
- Transportation by bus
- Transport by taxi
- Tour to the manatee observatory
- Tour to the turtle sanctuary
- Bi-lingual private guide
- All activities and access fees
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
- Lunch and drinks
WHAT TO BRING
- Comfortable and adequate clothing to protect yourself from the sun and thus avoid the use of sunscreen. Creams (even biodegradable ones) are polluting and for that reason we do not promote their use
- Comfortable shoes (there is very little walking on this excursion)
- Swimwear
- Sun glasses
- Towel
- Waterproof camera
- Cap or hat
- A reusable bottle to fill with water during the day
- Cash for tips and souvenirs.
Please Note:
- There are no ATMs in the area, vendors do not accept card payments either. Cash Only!
- It is customary to tip guides and field equipment as a thank you for excellent service
CANCELATION POLICY
Please read our Tour Cancelation Policy before booking our tours.
TOUR CANCELATION POLICY
Tao Travel 365 strives to deliver the best possible customer experience. If at any point you have a question or concern about our service, please call us by phone at +1 (805) 826-3657 or email us at sales@taotravel365.tours.
The following cancellation policy applies only for Day Tours (DOES NOT apply for Multi-Day Tours).
TOUR POLICIES
Due to the nature of our business, the logistics involved with organizing tours and the high reservation demand following refund policies apply:
- 100% refund less credit card processing fees will only be granted if booked via our website www.taotravel365.tours AND if canceled more than 24 hours before the start of the tour.
- No refund will be granted for cancelations received less than 24 hours before the tour start date.
All sales are final.
For all bookings made via outside portals such as, but not limited to Viator, Expedia, Airbnb, please refer and adhere to the respective cancellation policy of the portal that you booked with.
If you are unable to realize the reservation, contact us as soon as possible and we will try to arrange and reschedule the same or different tour for you.
If you are not at the designated meeting point by the time of your scheduled reservation or pick up, Tao Travel 365 reserves the right not to provide a refund. However, we will always try our best to locate you at the meeting point and call your WhatsApp number, if one was provided. After all, we want you to participate in our tour and have fun. That is our goal!
CANCELED OR POSTPONED TOURS
Occasionally, tours are canceled or postponed due to weather or ocean conditions, mechanical failure, or other unforeseen events. Should this occur, we will attempt to contact you about the cancellations and to inform you of refund or exchange procedures for that tour. For exact instructions on any canceled or postponed tour, please contact us. In the case of a cancellation of your tour by Tao Travel 365, we will refund your tour or schedule you for another tour, as detailed below.
REFUNDS
All sales are final. No refunds are available unless a tour is canceled or postponed, or we are given 48 hours advance noticed whereby a 50 percent refund will be awarded. We will offer refunds of the full face value of the tour(s) that are canceled or postponed (or, if a discounted tour, then instead the discounted tour price paid). No refunds are offered on any service, payment processing or convenience fees. To receive a refund for a canceled or postponed tour, contact us at sales@taotravel365.tours within 3 days of the tour cancellation and write "refund" in the subject line. Instructions will be provided in order to obtain your refund.
TOUR EXCHANGES
No tour exchanges are offered by Tao Travel 365. While in some extreme cases we may offer this service (such as a cancellation by Tao Travel 365), it is not guaranteed and often impossible. Contact us directly by phone at +1 (805) 826-3657 or by email at sales@taotravel365.tours to inquire about tour exchanges. Fees may apply.
