Things to do in Central Valley
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ATV and Ziplining in La Fortuna: 28 km ride and 8-cable courseATV and ziplining activity in La Fortuna combines a 28 km ride through private farmland with views of Arenal Volcano, followed by an 8-cable and 13-platform zipline circuit through the rainforest. A live guide leads both sections in English or Spanish, with pickup, water and snacks included. Minimum age is 12; a valid driver's license is required for the ATV portion.Is it for me?You'll need a valid driver's license and moderate fitness to handle both the ATV ride and the zipline course—this is a full-day commitment to two different adrenaline activities, not a casual half-day option. Book the single or double ATV option depending on whether you want to ride solo or share a vehicle with another participant.
Sky Adventures Arenal: Zipline, Gondola & Treetop WalkSky Adventures Arenal is a guided activity in La Fortuna where you zipline, ride a gondola and walk suspended through the canopy in one morning. The Sky Trek course runs 7 cables that climb up to 200 meters high and 750 meters long, with speeds reaching 70 km/h; the Sky Tram gondola carries you to a lookout over Arenal Volcano; the Sky Walk lets you hike through the treetops. A guide in English or Spanish leads the day, and pickup from your hotel is included.Is it for me?The guide speaks English or Spanish, so you follow the commentary comfortably in either language. Book this if you want to move fast between activities and don't need a full day of hiking on the ground.
SJO Airport - Manuel Antonio: Private Transfer with Local DriverYou’ll be greeted at SJO Airport by your local driver and travel in comfort toward Manuel Antonio, with flexible stops along scenic routes for photos or coffee breaks—maybe even spotting crocodiles at Tarcoles Bridge. Enjoy free WiFi and bottled water as you settle into Costa Rica’s rhythm—a welcome you’ll remember long after arrival.
San Jose: Central Market & National Museum Walking TourYou walk through two of San Jose's oldest markets, taste exotic fruits and street food, learn to make plantain empanadas and traditional coffee with a local family, visit the Cathedral and National Theater, and enter the National Museum without waiting in line. The whole day runs about six hours and includes all food tastings, the cooking class, and museum entry.Is it for me?Book this if you want to taste what San Jose actually eats and see the city's oldest markets and museums in one morning without arranging transport or entry separately—the guide handles the timing and the lines, so you move through the markets and the museum at a pace that lets you stop and talk to vendors and locals.
La Fortuna: Arenal Volcano, Waterfall & Hot Springs Full DayYou start before dawn, hike through hanging bridges and rainforest, swim at a waterfall, walk the base of Arenal Volcano, and end the day soaking in hot springs with dinner included. A bilingual guide handles the narration and logistics; a minivan handles the route. Return is late, so plan for a full day away from your hotel.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see the main Arenal attractions in a single push without arranging separate transport, guides, and meals — the fixed itinerary and included food mean you're not making decisions between 8am and 9:30pm.
Lake Arenal boat tour from La Fortuna: One hour with a captainA one-hour boat tour on Lake Arenal near La Fortuna with a captain who narrates the ride in Spanish. The boat holds up to twenty people. Transportation to the dock is not included, though the operator can help you arrange a taxi or Uber, or you can use local public transit options nearby.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to see Arenal Volcano and the lake from the water in a single hour without planning stops or logistics—the captain handles the route and the narration, and you choose how to reach the dock.
La Fortuna Waterfall Guided Hike: Swim beneath the cascadeYou hike to a 70-meter waterfall in a protected forest, swim in the river below, then tour an organic farm and eat lunch there. Your guide manages the route, timing, and all entry fees, so you show up ready to move. The steep path and river swim mean you need good fitness, but that's what makes the whole day possible in one morning.Is it for me?Right for travelers with solid fitness who want both nature and culture in one morning — the steep hike and river swim are what let you reach the waterfall's base and understand the forest around it, while the farm visit adds the agricultural story that makes the landscape make sense.
San José: Dinner & Folk Dance Show with City ViewYou’ll ride up into San José’s hills for dinner in a historic home with city views, sip a welcome cocktail, taste Costa Rican dishes with wine or beer, then watch (and maybe join) a lively folk dance show—all with pickup included. It’s one of those evenings where you end up feeling part of something local and real.
Rafting Level III & Canopy Zip Lines in La FortunaWhite water rafting on the Balsa River combined with canopy zip lining through cloud forest in La Fortuna includes all equipment, a professional guide in English, Spanish or Italian, and hotel pickup from central La Fortuna hotels. The day splits between 2 hours of Class III rapids and a 500-acre canopy course with 10 cables, platforms, a hanging bridge and a Tarzan swing, with lunch between the two.Is it for me?Hotel pickup from central La Fortuna means you don't need a rental car or a separate ride to the river—the guide collects you and handles the logistics, so the day starts the moment you step into the van. If you're staying in town without transport, this setup removes the planning and gets you to both activities on schedule.
Arenal: Volcano hike in El Silencio Reserve with guideYou’ll walk forest trails near Arenal Volcano with a local guide who shares stories about eruptions and wildlife. Spot frogs or birds if you’re lucky, feel the humid air on your skin, and pause in those rare pockets of silence among ancient trees — moments you’ll remember long after leaving Costa Rica.
Ziplining and ATV from San Jose: Choose 2 activitiesA full-day adventure from San Jose combining two activities you choose—zipline, ATV jungle ride, horseback to waterfalls, surfing lessons or chocolate tour—with transport, lunch, bilingual guide and all safety gear included. The day runs ten hours and starts with a stop at the Tarcoles River to photograph crocodiles in their natural habitat before heading to Vista Los Suenos Adventure Park in Jaco Beach.Is it for me?The ten-hour commitment means you're leaving the city early and returning late, which rules out a second excursion that day but gives you time to do two full activities without rushing between them. If your schedule only has a few hours, this is too long; if you want a full immersion in adventure activities and don't mind spending the whole day, the length is what makes both activities possible without feeling compressed.
La Fortuna rainforest: Night walk with local guideYou’ll step into La Fortuna’s rainforest at night with a local guide, lantern in hand, searching for frogs, bats, sloths, and other nocturnal creatures. Listen to stories under the trees while sharing snacks and bottled water. With every sound and shadow, you’ll feel part of the forest’s hidden nightlife — an experience that’ll stick with you long after you leave.
Horseback riding Rio Celeste: Mountain trails to the riverHorseback riding in Rio Celeste takes you on a 2-hour trail ride through mountain countryside to the shore of the turquoise river, where you watch for birds and animals in the local vegetation. A live guide leads in English or Spanish; children from age 3 are welcome. Helmet, fresh fruit and water are provided.Is it for me?The guide speaks English or Spanish, so you follow the commentary comfortably in whichever language works for you—and children from age 3 can ride alongside adults, making it a family-friendly countryside ride rather than a solo adventure.
La Fortuna: Horseback Riding & Waterfall with Volcano ViewsYou ride through forested trails and volcanic terrain to a viewpoint overlooking Arenal Volcano, then drive to La Fortuna Waterfall for a guided walk down to the 70-meter cascade where you can swim. The day includes your horse, the naturalist guide, waterfall entry, transport between the two sites, bottled water and fruit, so you show up and the rest is arranged.Is it for me?Pick this if you want to see Arenal Volcano and La Fortuna Waterfall in one morning without arranging two separate trips—the horseback ride and the waterfall are connected by transport and timing, so you move through both without gaps or logistics to figure out.
Tabacón Hot Springs La Fortuna: Arenal Volcano Thermal PoolsYou get all-day access to five naturally heated thermal springs, cascading waterfalls, and mineral pools set in Arenal's private rainforest, with entry fees and taxes included upfront. Move between pools at your own pace, choosing water temperature and seclusion level as you go. No guide, no schedule, no surprises—just thermal water and jungle for as long as you want to stay.Is it for me?Book this if you want a full day of thermal pools without arranging transport, timing, or additional costs—the all-inclusive pass and private reserve setting mean you can soak and move between springs at your own rhythm, which is what makes a day of thermal water feel like rest instead of tourism.
Family-Friendly Safari Float on Sarapiqui River from La FortunaLooking for an easy adventure near La Fortuna? This gentle safari float lets you spot monkeys, tropical birds, and more while relaxing on the Sarapiqui River. Great for families or anyone wanting to soak up Costa Rica’s nature without rushing.
Río Celeste tubing and ziplining: Private property adventureTubing and ziplining adventure on private property near Río Celeste, where you float down rapids in individual tubes, then glide along cables suspended over the water itself. The activity takes three hours and includes certified safety equipment, bilingual guides, fresh fruit and bottled water. Children from age 4 are welcome, and pickup is included.Is it for me?Book this if you want both water and aerial adventure in one outing—the tubing handles the aquatic rush, and the ziplining over the river itself adds the height and speed. The three-hour format fits a free afternoon without eating a full day, and the private property location means you get activities the national park does not allow.
La Fortuna Sloth Watching Tour & Ecogarden Walk with GuideWander La Fortuna’s Ecogarden Arenal with a local guide who’ll help you spot sloths, colorful birds, frogs, and even alligators. Use provided binoculars and telescope for close-up views as you explore at your own pace—ending your day with those little moments of wonder only nature can give.
Downtown San Jose Walking Tour: National Theater & Historic SitesThis is a guided walking tour of downtown San Jose lasting three hours, led by a live guide in English or Spanish, that moves through the city's most significant historic sites. The route includes the National Theater (home of the Costa Rican Symphony Orchestra), the National Monument, a historic park in the Barrio Amón neighborhood, and the main cathedral. Children are welcome from age 8.Is it for me?The three-hour pace is built for walking—you'll cover downtown on foot with stops to look and listen, so come ready to stand and move between sites rather than sit. This works well if you want the history and architecture explained as you go, rather than reading plaques on your own.
Lake Arenal boat tour and hiking: 360° viewsLake Arenal by boat and peninsula trail is a guided tour combining a scenic boat ride across Costa Rica's largest lake with an easy, wheelchair-accessible hike through Arenal Volcano National Park. The boat passes bays, peninsulas and islands while your guide explains the lake's history and the 1979 expansion that relocated the town; the trail that follows has no steps or steep incline and includes observation towers for 360-degree photographs of the lake and surrounding volcanoes. Live guides speak English or Spanish, pickup is included, and children from age 4 are welcome.Is it for me?Book the shared tour if you want to join other travelers; choose private if you need to set your own pace on the boat and trail.
