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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Tarcoles River Crocodile Tour from Jaco: Up-close with giantsYou’ll cruise Costa Rica’s Tarcoles River with local guides who know every croc by name, spot wild birds from your boat, and glide through lush mangroves. Coffee and water are included during your tour—and if you’re hungry after all that excitement, there’s a riverside restaurant waiting with hearty local food.
Jaco: 10 Waterfalls Jungle Hike & Costa Rican LunchYou’ll taste fresh sugar cane juice before hiking jungle trails just outside Jaco, crossing rivers and ropes to reach ten waterfalls with natural pools for swimming or just dipping your toes. Along the way, learn about local plants from your guide and finish with a home-cooked Costa Rican lunch—leaving you sun-warmed and maybe a little changed.
Jaco: ATV Jungle Adventure Tour with Agujitas ViewsYou’ll feel every bump and breeze on this 2-hour ATV adventure from Jaco into Costa Rica’s rainforest. Climb to Agujitas Mountain for sweeping ocean views, pause by a hidden waterfall, and follow your local guide along winding jungle trails. Expect mud on your clothes and maybe a new story to tell.
Tenorio River Rafting: Class III-IV rapids with lunchWhitewater rafting on the Tenorio River near Tamarindo covers 12 kilometers of Class III-IV rapids, including over 22 named rapids and a 12-foot drop at Cascabel Falls, with hotel pickup, transport, lunch and a guide included. The full day runs about 10 hours from pickup to return. A minimum of two people per booking is required, and the activity suits travelers with moderate fitness; those with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health or pregnancy should not book.Is it for me?Choose shared transportation if you're comfortable meeting other rafters and want the standard option; book private transport if you're traveling with a group and prefer to start and finish on your own schedule. Self-drive works if you have a rental car and want to meet the group at the launch point instead.
Poas Volcano & La Paz Waterfalls: Coffee Farm Day TripYou’ll ride out from San José through strawberry fields to Poás Volcano’s steaming rim, walk misty trails by La Paz Waterfall, and tour a working coffee farm where you can taste fresh brews and pick cherries yourself. Expect real Costa Rican food for lunch and friendly local guides who make everything easy — but what sticks with you is that mix of mountain air and laughter on the bus home.
Marino Ballena National Park: Whale Watching & Dolphins TourYou arrive at the office, get picked up or park nearby, then board a boat in Marino Ballena National Park with a guide who knows where whales and dolphins move. The tour includes park entry, a lifejacket, tropical fruit, and time to swim, with the guide handling the spotting while you watch the coastline and wildlife. You're back in the Central Pacific by midday.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see humpback whales and dolphins in their habitat without arranging park entry, transport, or a guide yourself — the crew handles the logistics and the spotting, leaving you to watch the water and the coastline.
Sunset Boat Tour Tamarindo: Snorkel, Paddle Board & DinnerA 5-hour guided sunset boat tour from Tamarindo takes you along the coast to a beach accessible only by water, where you snorkel, paddle board or rest on the sand. The tour includes all snorkeling gear, paddle boards, a buffet dinner with chipotle-style burritos and fresh fruit, and an open bar; the guide speaks English and Spanish. You depart at 1pm and return as the sun sets, which happens at nearly the same time each day near the equator.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to snorkel and paddle board without arranging your own transport to a remote beach—the boat does the traveling, and the sunset timing is already locked in so you don't have to chase it.
La Fortuna: Balsa River Rafting & Canopy Zipline with Organic LunchYou’ll raft down La Fortuna’s Balsa River with a local guide cheering you on, then fly across nine zip-lines above lush forest canopies. In between adventures, dig into an organic Costa Rican casado lunch—plus fresh coffee and a quick sugarcane demo at a family farm. Expect laughter, muddy shoes, and memories that stick around long after you’re back at your hotel.
Liberia Airport to RIU Guanacaste: Private Transfer, Bilingual DriverYou’ll step off your flight into warm Costa Rican air and spot your driver waiting with your name. Enjoy a private transfer from Liberia Airport to RIU Guanacaste Hotel with a bilingual chauffeur, cold AC, and no stops for other passengers. There’s time for small talk or silence—and maybe even a glimpse of monkeys along the way.
Ziplining in La Fortuna: 8 lines over the Arenal rainforestZipline across 8 lines and rappel 50 meters through the rainforest canopy above La Fortuna, with harness and helmet included. The tour runs 2 hours and ends at thermal mineral pools and volcanic mud baths on the same ticket. A guide in English or Spanish leads small groups; children from age 6 are welcome, and pickup is included. Maximum weight is 224 pounds.Is it for me?The 2-hour zipline leaves your afternoon open for a meal or a second stop in La Fortuna, so you're not locked into a full-day commitment. If you want to spend the whole day on one activity, look for a longer tour package instead.
Río Celeste: Nature Hike, Blue River Swim & Farm LunchYou’ll hike lush trails to see Río Celeste’s unreal blue waters, stand at Los Teñideros where colors change before your eyes, then cool off with a swim at a local farm. Lunch is fresh and simple — Costa Rican comfort food shared outdoors. Expect surprises: mist on your face at the waterfall or laughter echoing over turquoise water.
Manuel Antonio: Wildlife Walk & Beach Swim with Pro PhotosYou’ll walk slow through Manuel Antonio’s rainforest trails with a local guide who spots wildlife you’d miss alone—sloths, monkeys, birds—then end up at the famous beach where swimming is allowed. Photos from the pro spotting scope are included, so you can actually show people what you saw instead of just describing “a brown blur.”
Corcovado: Jungle Hike, Waterfall Swim & Off-Trail AdventureYou’ll trek deep into Corcovado’s wildest corners with a local guide from Drake Bay—crossing rivers, scrambling over ancient roots, swimming beneath a hidden waterfall, and sharing lunch surrounded by nothing but jungle sounds. Expect real adventure and a kind of quiet you’ll carry home long after your boots are clean.
Tortuga Island: Catamaran Day Trip with Lunch & SnorkelingYou’ll sail from Los Suenos Marina toward Tortuga Island on a catamaran day trip filled with easygoing adventure: snorkeling in clear waters, a fresh-grilled lunch right on the sand, banana boat rides or hikes if you want them—all with a bilingual guide who keeps things light. Expect laughter, new friends, and those quiet moments that stick long after you’ve rinsed off the salt.
Liberia: Volcano Horseback, Tubing & Zipline with Hot SpringsYou ride horses on volcanic slopes, tube rapids in the Rio Negro, zipline through Rio Blanco Canyon, and soak in natural hot springs — all in one day with a Costa Rican lunch included. Transport, all gear, water and cooler are provided. Plan for a full day of back-to-back activity, not a leisurely pace.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want maximum variety in one day and can handle four different activities back-to-back without breaks — the combo format is what keeps the cost down and the schedule tight. Not suitable if you have spinal issues, are pregnant, or have cardiovascular limitations.
Rio Celeste: Tubing Adventure with Guide, Photos & PickupYou’ll float down Rio Celeste’s vivid blue waters with a local guide leading the way, feeling cool currents and jungle air on your skin. Expect laughter as you hit gentle rapids, snack on fresh fruit by the riverbank, and get photos snapped along the way—all with transport included. The memory of that wild blue will stick with you long after you dry off.
Costa Rica Mangrove Boat Tour: Isla Damas Wildlife & Easy RideYou’ll float through Costa Rica’s Isla Damas mangroves by boat with a local guide who points out monkeys, sloths, and bright birds along the way. Taste fresh fruit on board while sunlight filters through tangled roots. No paddling needed—just relax into nature’s rhythm and let yourself drift for a while.
Quepos: ATV Rainforest Tour & Waterfall SwimmingYou ride a semi-automatic ATV for 15 miles through rainforest plantations and village roads, hike into primary forest, swim in a waterfall pool, and return for a traditional Costa Rican lunch — all with a bilingual guide, helmet, water, and hotel transport included. No separate arrangements needed.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want to drive themselves through real Costa Rican landscape — plantations, villages, rainforest — without arranging transport, a guide, or a meal separately. The bilingual guide and fixed itinerary mean you don't navigate or time the stops yourself.
San Jose: Downtown Bar Crawl with Shots & Entry FeesYou’ll jump straight into San Jose’s nightlife with a local guide who knows every corner. Expect shots, beers or Smirnoff, music that pulls you in—even if you can’t dance—and real moments with travelers from everywhere. You’ll leave grinning and probably humming reggaeton under your breath.
La Fortuna Horseback Ride to Waterfall & Hanging BridgeYou’ll ride horseback through Arenal’s lush rainforest with a local guide, cross a hanging bridge, watch monkeys overhead, swim beneath La Fortuna Waterfall’s spray, and meet Maleku community members sharing their traditions. Expect muddy boots, laughter, and moments that stick with you long after you’re dry again.Is it for me?Book this one if you want the full rainforest experience without arranging your own transport — the guide handles the route, the horses are calm enough for beginners, and the hanging bridge plus the waterfall swim are built into one ride.
