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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Flamingo & Conchal Beach: Zip Line & ATV Adventure TourYou’ll ride ATVs through real Costa Rican towns, zip line above jungle trees near Flamingo Beach, and cool off at Playa Conchal’s shell-white shore. Expect wildlife sightings (if you’re lucky), laughs with your local guide, and moments you’ll want to photograph—but might forget to because you’re living them.
Monteverde: Private Nature Walk & Wildlife Guide in Cloud ForestYou’ll wander Monteverde’s lush cloud forest with a private guide who spots wildlife you’d never notice alone. Hear distant monkeys, smell mossy air, learn plant names (or try to), and move at your own pace — no rush or crowds here. Includes expert naturalist guiding for your group and all taxes; bring layers for shifting weather and let yourself slow down.
Costa Rica: Zipline, Hot Springs & Horseback Day TourYou’ll taste fresh Costa Rican coffee on a working farm, fly over rivers by zipline with a local guide, ride horses through jungle trails spotting monkeys, then relax in volcanic hot springs with an optional mud treatment—all in one day near Rincón de la Vieja. Expect real flavors, laughter, and moments you’ll want to replay long after you leave.
Quepos Catamaran: Manuel Antonio Whale & Snorkel TourYou board a catamaran at Quepos and spend three hours gliding the Manuel Antonio coast, likely spotting whales and dolphins along the way. You snorkel a reef at Biesanz beach with provided equipment, eat a typical lunch on the boat, and return with the whole day still ahead of you. Inclusions cover entry, snorkeling gear, lunch, drinks and fruit—nothing extra to arrange.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see whales and dolphins without arranging transport, snorkeling gear or a meal separately—the catamaran handles all three in one outing, and the 3-hour window fits easily into a day that includes other plans.
Rio Celeste: Tubing Adventure & River Views with SnacksYou’ll float down Rio Celeste’s glowing waters with a local guide who points out wildlife and shares stories as you go. Expect gentle rapids, riverside snacks, and plenty of laughs—plus all your gear sorted for you. It’s simple fun that sticks with you long after your feet are dry.
Surf Lessons in Santa Teresa: Learn to Ride WavesSurf lessons in Santa Teresa teach wave reading, positioning and the pop-up in a 90-minute session with a local instructor, surfboard and rashguard included. The lesson adjusts to conditions and your level—beginners start in whitewater, and the instructor supervises throughout. Children from age 6 are welcome; the class runs in English or Spanish.Is it for me?The 90-minute window fits a morning or afternoon slot without eating the whole day—book an early session and you have the rest of the day free, or take a lesson in the afternoon and still have time to explore Santa Teresa before sunset. Small group size means real instruction instead of a crowd watching one demo.
Costa Rica: Coffee, Chocolate & Cooking Tour with TastingsYou’ll join a Costa Rican family for a day learning how coffee is grown and roasted, making chocolate by hand, cooking empanadas together, and tasting fresh sugarcane juice. Expect laughter with locals, earthy smells from roasting beans, and real hands-on moments—plus plenty of snacks along the way.
Palo Verde: Boat Safari, Wildlife & Chorotega Pottery Day TripYou’ll drift down the Tempisque River spotting monkeys and crocodiles with a local guide, then recharge over a traditional Costa Rican lunch before watching Chorotega pottery come to life in Guaitil village. Expect real wildlife moments and warm smiles—plus maybe a lopsided bowl to bring home.
Arenal Volcano Rainforest Hike & Hanging Bridges: Full-Day ComboThis full-day tour combines a guided rainforest hike through the slopes of Arenal Volcano with a walk across the Mistico Hanging Bridges, followed by time in thermo mineral hot springs. The hike takes about 6 hours in dense jungle; the bridges offer canopy-level views of monkeys, sloths and tropical birds. Hotel pickup and drop-off, lunch and a local guide in English or Spanish are included. The tour runs 10:30 AM to 6:00 PM and is recommended for travelers in very good physical condition.Is it for me?Combine the area's most demanding rainforest hike with canopy bridges, volcanic mud, waterfalls, and hot springs—all in one day with pickup and meals handled so you arrive ready to explore.
La Fortuna: Private ATV Tour & Rainforest Hot SpringsYou’ll ride powerful ATVs along La Fortuna’s back roads with a local guide who knows every muddy turn. After winding through rainforest trails (and probably getting splashed), you’ll pause for a soak in natural hot springs hidden deep among trees—simple, quiet, and far from crowds. It’s not polished or fancy—just real Costa Rica under your fingernails.
Horse riding tour Long Beach: River, jungle and beachA horse riding tour from Long Beach through Guanacaste forest and across Buenavista river to Buenavista Beach, where you ride into the Pacific on a deserted stretch of grey sand. The tour runs about 2.5 hours with a trained guide, small groups, and calm, well-cared-for horses; helmets are provided. Children from age 5 are welcome, and guides speak English, Spanish and French.Is it for me?If you speak English, Spanish or French, you can follow the guide comfortably without translation—pick the language when you book. Small groups are the default, though larger parties are welcome if you arrange it.
Monteverde: Resplendent Quetzal & Hummingbird Bird-Watching TourYou'll spend three to four hours walking the trails of Curi-Cancha Reserve in Monteverde's cloud forest, scanning for Resplendent Quetzals and endemic hummingbirds with a spotting scope and field guide. The group caps at eight people, which keeps the pace manageable and the sightings shared, not rushed. An electric cart is available if the terrain feels steep, and parking is free. Book this if you want a real chance at seeing the birds that make Monteverde worth the trip, without the chaos of a larger group.Is it for me?Book this if you came to Monteverde specifically to see the Resplendent Quetzal and want a real shot at it without fighting a crowd — the small group size and early-morning timing are what make that possible.
Uvita: Night Jungle Walk with Wildlife & Mountain TrailsYou’ll step into Uvita’s forest after dark with boots and lantern in hand, guided by someone who knows every sound and shadow. Expect close-up moments with frogs or maybe even sloths, stories from locals as you hike muddy trails by rivers, and that strange thrill of being surrounded by wildness you can’t quite see—but definitely feel.
Peñas Blancas River: Wildlife Safari Float & Hotel PickupYou’ll float quietly down Costa Rica’s Peñas Blancas River with a local naturalist guide, watching for monkeys, sloths, and even basilisk lizards that dash across the water. With hotel pickup included and almost no walking required, you’ll have time to listen to the forest and taste fresh fruit as you drift beneath tangled green tunnels.
Snorkeling and Sunset Catamaran Cruise from Playa FlamingoA 4-hour catamaran snorkeling cruise departing Playa Flamingo at 2 pm takes you 45 minutes out to a calm bay where you snorkel with a guide, use a waterslide and floating platform, then return at sunset. Grilled fresh fish, pasta, fruit and unlimited tropical cocktails are included; the crew searches for dolphins, whales and sea turtles, though wildlife sightings depend on ocean conditions. Pickup is included; the guide speaks English and Spanish.Is it for me?The guide speaks English and Spanish throughout, so language is not a barrier to following the snorkeling briefing or the commentary on the way back. Book this if you want to snorkel in open water with a crew watching for wildlife, and you're comfortable in deeper water where dolphins and whales actually travel.
Liberia Airport to La Fortuna: Private Transfer 1-6 PassengersYou get picked up at Liberia airport by a bilingual driver in an air-conditioned van, travel directly to your La Fortuna hotel, and have one free hour to stop for photos, food, or a bathroom break along the way. The price is fixed before you land, and hotel drop-off is included — so the transfer handles itself while you settle in.Is it for me?Book this if you're arriving in Liberia and heading to La Fortuna without a rental car — the fixed price and direct hotel drop-off mean you skip the airport taxi negotiation and arrive knowing exactly what you've paid.
Puntarenas boat tour: Tárcoles River wildlife & buffet lunchThis seven to eight hour shore excursion from Puntarenas combines a boat tour through the Tárcoles River—a waterway known for aquatic wildlife—with a rainforest walk, fruit tasting and a buffet meal. A bilingual guide leads the group, and hotel or port pickup is included. Wildlife sightings are possible but not guaranteed, as animals vary by time of day and weather.Is it for me?The bilingual guide means you follow the commentary in whichever language you speak, so language is never a barrier to understanding what you're seeing. Book this if you want the full day explained as it unfolds, not just observed.
San José: Chocolate Making & Tasting WorkshopYou taste cocoa at every stage of processing, from fresh fruit to finished chocolate, then make and package your own bars using local ingredients and your own creativity. All materials, equipment, and supplies are provided, and you take home what you've made in eco-friendly packaging. The workshop is accessible and runs a few hours, with no prior experience needed.Is it for me?A good fit if you want to understand where chocolate comes from and make something with your hands in the same afternoon, without needing to source ingredients or clean up afterward—the factory handles the supply chain and the mess.
Cahuita & Bribri Waterfall: Wildlife Walks, Swim & Fruit SnackYou’ll walk under Cahuita’s canopy with a local guide who spots wildlife you’d never notice alone—sloths, toucans, maybe even bright little frogs. Afterward comes Bribri Waterfall: cool swimming, fresh-cut fruit eaten riverside, and a glimpse into local culture along the way. It’s not polished or rushed—you just settle into Costa Rica’s rhythm for a while.
Monteverde Birdwatching Tour: Quetzal & Endemic SpeciesA 5-hour birdwatching tour in Monteverde with a certified, passionate guide who knows where the Resplendent Quetzals and endemic species hide across the cloudforest and other local ecosystems. The guide speaks English or Spanish, brings a spotting scope, and moves through different spots in the area to maximize sightings. Suitable for all fitness levels; infants can sit on an adult's lap or use a specialized infant seat.Is it for me?The 5-hour commitment leaves your morning or afternoon free depending on when you depart, so you can combine it with other activities in the area without building your whole day around birdwatching alone. Choose this tour if you want a guide who knows exactly where the endemic species congregate rather than hiking randomly through the forest hoping to find them.
