Things to do in Costa Rica
Hanging Bridges in La Fortuna27 optionsLa Fortuna Zipline22 optionsTortuga Island Tours19 optionsNight Tour La Fortuna16 optionsZiplining10 optionsATV Tour La Fortuna6 optionsHiking La Fortuna66 optionsChocolate Tour La Fortuna18 optionsCanyoning La Fortuna56 optionsTamarindo Snorkeling Tour14 optionsHorseback Riding La Fortuna11 optionsTortuguero National Park Tours14 options
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Drake Bay: Caño Island Snorkeling & San Josecito Beach TourYou’ll start early from Drake Bay, boat out to Caño Island for two guided snorkeling sessions among reefs and colorful fish, then unwind at peaceful San Josecito Beach before heading back for lunch. Expect simple comforts—fresh fruit, friendly local guides—and small moments that linger long after you dry off.
Puerto Limon & Cahuita: Tortuguero Canals, Fruit Tasting, Beach HikeYou’ll glide quietly through Tortuguero’s lush canals with a local guide, sample fresh tropical fruits by a banana plantation near Puerto Limon, then walk Cahuita’s wild coastal trail—maybe spotting monkeys or sloths if you’re lucky. Expect real conversations, salty air, and small surprises along the way.
Pacuare River: White Water Rafting Day Trip from San JoséYou’ll start before sunrise in San José with hotel pickup and breakfast, then raft 18 miles of Pacuare River rapids with an expert guide. Paddle past waterfalls and jungle cliffs, eat lunch by the water’s edge, spot wildlife if you’re lucky—and head home tired but buzzing from it all.
Playa Grande Surf Lessons: 2-Hour Classes for BeginnersPlaya Grande surf lessons run 2 hours with a land safety briefing, 45 minutes to an hour in the water with your instructor, and a break with fresh pineapple and ice water before a final hour of practice. Maximum 4 students per instructor; children from age 5 are welcome. The beach is a sand walk-out with no rocks, and you'll leave with 150–250 professional photos of your session included.Is it for me?The 2-hour length gives you a full morning or afternoon without eating your whole day, and the high-tide timing means the waves are best for learning. If you're staying in Tamarindo and want to avoid the crowded beach breaks, Playa Grande's secluded sand beach across the water is where the smaller class sizes and calmer conditions make the difference.
Cozumel: Try Scuba Diving for Beginners & 2 Guided DivesYou’ll feel your nerves turn into excitement as you learn scuba basics with an easygoing instructor in Cozumel. Dive twice at different sites with all equipment provided, pause for snacks on the boat, and finish before lunch—leaving you with salty hair and a story you’ll want to tell again.
Manuel Antonio National Park: Guided Hiking & Wildlife SpottingYou get a private guided hike through Manuel Antonio's quieter trails with a certified guide carrying a telescope for wildlife spotting and photography. The tour includes park entry, air-conditioned transport, and access to different ecosystems—tropical forest, mangrove, and ocean overlooks. At the end, you choose to stay at the beach or return to the entrance. Concierge support for your full Costa Rica stay is included at no extra charge.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see Manuel Antonio's wildlife without the crowds and without arranging park entry or transport yourself—the private format and quieter trails are what make spotting animals realistic, and the concierge help means one less thing to plan before you arrive.
Intro Scuba Diving at Catalina Islands: 2 Open Water DivesAn introductory scuba diving course at Catalina Islands and North Island in Costa Rica for divers without certification. You learn basic skills with a PADI professional in confined water, then complete two open water dives in warm Guanacaste waters while searching for sharks, rays, octopus and other marine life. Hotel pickup and all diving equipment are included; the 5-hour program is geared for first-timers.Is it for me?This is a shared-group course led by a PADI instructor, so you're learning alongside other first-timers rather than diving solo. It suits anyone who wants to try scuba without the time and cost of full certification, or who wants to know whether diving is worth pursuing before signing up for the longer course.
La Paz Waterfall Gardens San José: Skip-the-Line Day PassYou skip the ticket line and spend the day hiking between five waterfalls in cloud and rain forest, hand-feeding hummingbirds, watching rescued jaguars and monkeys, and exploring an aviary, butterfly observatory, and orchid exhibit at your own pace. Meals are available on site; parking is free. The whole park is self-guided, so you move as slowly or quickly as you want through the trails and exhibits.Is it for me?Book this if you have a free afternoon in San José and want to see waterfalls and rescued wildlife without arranging a guided tour or waiting in the entry line — the skip-the-line pass and self-guided format mean you move at your own pace and spend as much or as little time as you want at each stop.
Playa Flamingo: Catalina Islands Snorkeling & Two Dive SitesYou get two separate snorkeling sessions at Catalina Islands with all gear provided, spotting sharks, rays, and reef fish among rock formations. Hotel pickup is included, and the morning timing means you're back by midday. Bring a towel and sunscreen — the boat provides water and snacks.Is it for me?Right for snorkelers who want two separate reef sites in one morning without arranging transport or renting gear separately. The early 7:30am start is what gets you to the islands when visibility is best and the boat traffic is light.
Manuel Antonio: Wildlife Walk, Beaches & Photos with MauroYou’ll wander slow forest trails with a certified guide who actually knows where to look for sloths and monkeys (and lets you try his fancy scope). Expect animal sightings up close, laughter over local words, and plenty of time to swim or just sit on Manuel Antonio’s wild beaches after your walk. It’s not rushed — you’ll feel it linger later.
Naranjo River Whitewater Rafting Class III-IV from Manuel AntonioWhitewater rafting on the Naranjo River near Quepos is a Class III-IV half-day run through a steep jungle canyon with Class III-IV whitewater, canyon walls that meet the water at 90-degree angles, and a bilingual guide leading groups of 2 to 10 paddlers. Hotel pickup and drop-off from Manuel Antonio or Quepos are included, along with lunch, helmet, life jacket and all gear; the actual rafting takes about 1.5 hours. Minimum age is 12, and you need at least moderate fitness—this is not a beginner's float.Is it for me?If you've paddled before or you're fit and want the adrenaline instead of the scenic float, the Naranjo's Class III-IV rapids and canyon walls deliver what easier rivers don't—the drop and the speed make it a real challenge, not a warm-up run.
Rio Celeste: Blue River Tubing, Waterfall & Wildlife Day TripYou’ll hike rainforest trails to Rio Celeste waterfall, tube down its bright blue river with fresh fruit breaks, spot wildlife like sloths and monkeys with your local guide, and share a typical Costa Rican lunch before heading home tired but happy.
La Fortuna: Hanging Bridges, Waterfall Swim & Arenal Volcano HikeYou’ll walk high above Costa Rica’s rainforest on hanging bridges near La Fortuna, swim beneath a roaring waterfall after hiking down its canyon, share lunch with a local family at their ranch, then finish by tracing old lava trails around Arenal Volcano—all with a friendly guide and hotel pickup included.
Dolphin and Whale Watching Tour in Drake BayA dolphin and whale watching tour in Drake Bay, Costa Rica, puts you on the water with a marine biologist aboard Delfin Amor, a custom-designed boat built for viewing and safety. You listen to the animals through an on-board hydrophone, snorkel in the same waters, eat lunch aboard and return with the sounds and the sightings still vivid. The Divine Dolphin has operated since 1998 and is the only tour operator in Drake Bay dedicated solely to dolphin and whale watching.Is it for me?The six-hour commitment means you need a morning or afternoon free, but it leaves room for other activities before or after—the tour is built around the animals' behavior, not a rigid schedule, so you move at the pace of what you're seeing.
San Jose: Market Food Tour & Architecture Walk with Local GuideYou walk through San Jose's colonial architecture and two major markets with a local English-speaking guide, tasting fresh fruit, seasonal food, local drinks and ice cream along the way. The group stays under 12 people, so the pace is manageable and your guide can answer real questions. You end at Mercado Central after three hours on foot, with tips on where else to eat and explore during your stay.Is it for me?Book this if you want to understand how San Jose actually works rather than see it from a distance — the markets, the architecture, and the local rhythm all make sense when someone who lives there is explaining them, and a small group means you're not rushing through any of it.
Caño Negro: Wildlife Boat Trip & Costa Rican Lunch from La FortunaYou’ll travel from La Fortuna to Caño Negro with local stories along the way, then board a slow boat down Rio Frio to spot monkeys, birds and caimans up close. Includes hotel pickup and drop-off plus a Costa Rican lunch at El Caiman restaurant. It’s less about ticking boxes and more about really seeing what’s there.
Tortuguero Canal Tour by Canoe: Wildlife & Hidden WaterwaysA canoe tour through Tortuguero National Park's canals starts at the lagoon in front of the park offices and winds through the Tortuguero River into narrow, secluded waterways over two and a half hours. A certified guide in English or Spanish leads the paddle, pointing out mammals, reptiles and birds throughout. Safety equipment is provided; the park entrance ticket is optional at checkout.Is it for me?The tour departs from the lagoon at the park offices, so you don't need a car or a separate ride to the starting point—it's the central meeting place in Tortuguero. If you're staying in the village or arriving by boat, you can walk or arrange a short transfer to the offices and step straight into the canoe.
Flamingo Beach: Small Group Sunset Sail with Snorkeling & LunchYou’ll leave Playa Flamingo behind on a relaxed 50ft yacht with just 13 guests, sharing laughs with your local crew as you snorkel quiet coves and enjoy fresh lunch with an open bar. There’s no loud party vibe—just ocean breeze, warm light on your face, and time to soak in those last golden moments before sunset.
Damas Island: Mangrove Kayak Tour & Wildlife with Local GuideYou’ll paddle through Damas Island’s winding mangrove canals with a local guide who knows every twist and sound. Spot monkeys overhead, join in collecting stray garbage to help protect the estuary, taste fresh fruit right on the water, and feel how wild Costa Rica really is—muddy fingers and all.
Horseback Riding in Rio Celeste: Swim the Natural PoolA 2-hour horseback ride from El Pilon through farmland and primary forest to Rio Celeste's natural swimming pool, led by a local guide who owns the operation. The route passes a Tarzan swing and hanging bridge before reaching the river, where you swim in water the national park restricts. The guide speaks English or Spanish; children from age 1 are welcome, and the ride suits all fitness levels.Is it for me?Book this if you want to swim in the Celeste River's natural pools—something the national park forbids—with a local guide who handles logistics and timing so you're not bound by park hours.
