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
Sort
Liberia Airport to Playa Conchal: Private Transfer & PickupYou get picked up at the airport terminal with a name sign, ride in a private air-conditioned vehicle with bottled water included, and arrive at Westin Playa Conchal without arranging anything else. The return pickup is scheduled four hours before your flight, and 24-hour support handles any changes. One fixed price, no surprises.Is it for me?Book this if you want to arrive at the resort without arranging transport, waiting for a shared shuttle, or negotiating with a taxi driver — the fixed price and name-sign pickup remove all three hassles from your arrival day.
Puerto Viejo: Sloth Jungle Walk & River Kayak AdventureYou’ll walk muddy jungle trails near Puerto Viejo with a local guide who spots sloths before anyone else does. Watch surfers from a hidden viewpoint, kayak down a calm river surrounded by wildlife sounds, and share sweet fruit breaks along the way. Expect laughter, humidity, and stories you’ll remember long after you leave Costa Rica.
La Fortuna: Sloth Walk & Tortilla Cooking with Sugarcane JuiceYou’ll wander through La Fortuna’s lush trails searching for sloths with a local guide, then pause for fresh sugarcane juice before learning to make tortillas by hand with Doña Elith. Expect laughter, muddy shoes, and real Costa Rican flavors—a day where nature and culture blend quietly together.
Jungle Night Walk Manuel Antonio: Nocturnal wildlife spottingA two-hour guided night walk through Sukia Park in Manuel Antonio where you traverse safe trails with flashlights and UV lights to spot nocturnal wildlife including tree frogs, snakes, spiders, scorpions and mammals like sloths, ocelots and coatis. The guide is a certified naturalist speaking English or Spanish, and children from age 4 are welcome; you'll need moderate fitness and should wear long pants, closed shoes and bring rain gear.Is it for me?You'll spot nocturnal creatures like tree frogs, snakes, and mammals such as coatis and ocelots on darkened trails with experienced naturalists guiding you through the rainforest's nighttime symphony.
Liberia Airport Transfer: Private Mercedes & Welcome DrinksYou get picked up by name at Liberia airport in a private air-conditioned vehicle, with water and beer waiting. The driver tracks your flight in real time, so delays don't mean extra charges or a missing ride. No shared vans, no negotiating at the curb, no wondering if the driver will still be there.Is it for me?Right choice if you're landing at Liberia and want to skip the taxi line and shared shuttle hassle — the driver knows your name and arrival time before you touch down, which is what makes the whole thing feel less like ground transport and more like someone already expecting you.
Canyoning in Jaco: Black Diamond Gear, No Experience RequiredCanyoning in Jaco is a 4.5-hour multi-sport adventure where you rappel waterfalls, wade through streams and climb rock faces using certified Black Diamond gear and professional guides who speak English. No climbing experience is required, and children from age 2 are welcome. Transportation to basecamp and all equipment are included; you bring water, sturdy shoes and a camera.Is it for me?Book the 7am departure if you want to finish before the afternoon heat and have the rest of the day free; the 1pm start suits a later morning or lets you explore Jaco before heading to the canyon. Both options run the full 4.5 hours and include the same guides and gear, so the choice is timing, not experience.
Playas del Coco: Coffee & Chocolate Making Class with TastingsYou'll visit a working coffee and cacao roastery, grind beans and cacao by hand using traditional methods, taste multiple varieties, and eat a typical Costa Rican breakfast or lunch. Hotel pickup is included, the whole experience takes two hours, and you leave knowing how to spot quality coffee and chocolate when you buy them.Is it for me?Pick this if you want a real skill and a meal without spending half the day traveling — the location near your hotel and the two-hour format mean you learn something and eat well without losing the rest of your afternoon.
Arenal & Sarapiqui: Afternoon Rafting Tour with Pickup & Fruit StopYou’ll paddle through lively Class III rapids on the Sarapiqui River with an expert local guide, pause for fresh fruit by the water’s edge, and enjoy quieter stretches away from crowds. Hotel pickup is included from Arenal/La Fortuna. Expect laughs, cool river air, and small moments that might stay with you longer than you think.
Papagayo Peninsula: Private Zipline Tour with 17 PlatformsYou’ll feel your heart race as you soar over Papagayo’s dry forest canopy on nine ziplines and cross wobbly hanging bridges with a local guide. With hotel pickup included and all gear provided, it’s an easy way to get your adrenaline fix—and maybe surprise yourself along the way.
Bijagua Wildlife Tour La Fortuna: Sloths, Frogs & Tapir TracksYou walk through Bijagua plantations with a naturalist guide trained on local wildlife, spotting sloths, poison frogs, birds and tapir tracks at your own pace. Groups stay small to protect the habitat. Pick your start time from four options between 8:30am and 1pm, and all entry fees are covered.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see wildlife in its actual habitat without a large group, and you're flexible about timing — the small-group limit and four daily start times are what make it possible to walk at a pace that lets animals behave naturally instead of scattering.
Sámara Surf Lessons: 2-Hour Classes & Equipment IncludedYou show up at Sámara beach, spend thirty minutes learning the theory and practicing on sand, then paddle out for two hours of wave-catching at your own level. The school provides board and rash guard, picks a time based on that day's conditions, and keeps groups small enough that your instructor knows what you're working toward. No experience necessary; kids welcome from age three.Is it for me?Book this if you want to learn to surf at your own pace without the chaos of a big group — the small-school setup and female-led instruction mean you'll actually feel welcome in the water, whether you're starting from zero or refining what you already know.
Liberia Coffee & Chocolate Tour with Sloths & WaterfallThis private 8-hour tour from Liberia combines a coffee and cacao plantation tour, a wildlife park near Bijagua, and Llanos de Cortés Waterfall, with a 5-minute walk to the falls and easy jungle trails throughout. The guide speaks English or Spanish, pickup is included, and the day ends with lunch at a local restaurant and time to sample the coffee and chocolate you've learned about.Is it for me?The entire day involves easy walking on jungle paths and a 5-minute stroll to the waterfall, with no strenuous hiking required—this suits anyone who wants to see coffee and cacao production, spot wildlife, and swim in a waterfall pool without the physical demand of a full-day hike.
Costa Rica: Quebrada Gata Waterfall & Jurassic Park Canyon TrekYou hike 6.8 miles through jungle terrain to reach Quebrada Gata, Costa Rica's top-rated waterfall, and the canyon where Jurassic Park was filmed. A local guide leads the trek, which takes 5–6 hours and requires medium-high fitness. You swim in the pool at the base, then return the same route. The 7:00 am start means you're back by early afternoon.Is it for me?Book this if you have solid hiking fitness and want a real jungle trek to a waterfall that's not on the resort circuit — the early start and medium-high difficulty are what keep the groups small and the experience genuine.
Catalina Islands Diving Tour from Tamarindo: 2 Dives & PickupYou’ll start early in Tamarindo, suit up at the dive shop, then ride out by boat for two guided dives at Catalina Islands—with snacks between sites and plenty of marine life along the way. Expect close-up views of rays or turtles (sometimes even dolphins), plus friendly local guides who make everything feel easy—even if your Spanish isn’t great.
Rio Celeste Waterfall & Sloths Sanctuary from TamarindoYou hike two to three hours through Tenorio National Park to Rio Celeste's turquoise waterfall, then visit Ranitas sloth sanctuary where sloths and toucans are guaranteed sightings. Lunch at a local restaurant with a butterfly garden is included, plus all park entry fees and hotel pickup from Tamarindo. A private guide leads the whole day, so the pace stays yours.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want to see Rio Celeste and sloths without arranging park tickets, transport, or timing the hike themselves — the private guide and fixed itinerary handle all three, and the small-group format means you're not moving through the rainforest in a crowd.
Monteverde Cloud Forest: Guided Nature Walk & Hummingbird GalleryYou’ll wander misty trails with a local naturalist guide in Monteverde Cloud Forest, watching for rare birds and orchids while listening to stories about this unique ecosystem. Pause at the Hummingbird Gallery for close-up views (and maybe coffee), then follow hidden paths where every step feels like discovery. It’s less about checking off species than feeling part of something wild — small group size means you won’t miss those quiet moments.
Arenal Volcano Canyoning & Rafting: La Fortuna WaterfallsThe Mambo Combo is a full-day canyoning and rafting adventure near La Fortuna at the base of Arenal Volcano, where you rappel down 100-foot waterfalls in Lost Canyon and then raft Class 2 and 3 rapids on the Balsa River. A local guide leads both activities, provides all safety equipment, and hotel pickup is included within the La Fortuna area. Lunch is an all-you-can-eat tropical buffet at Desafio's restaurant next to the El Salto swimming hole on the Río Fortuna.Is it for me?Six hours is enough to do both activities without rushing, but it means an early start and an early finish—book this if your day has room for a full morning and early afternoon commitment, and you want to be back at your hotel by mid-afternoon. The physical demands are real: you need moderate fitness to rappel and paddle, so this is not a beginner's introduction to either sport.
Monteverde Cloud Forest: Morning Walk with Naturalist GuideYou’ll walk through Monteverde Cloud Forest with a bilingual naturalist guide, spotting wildlife through high-definition scopes and learning stories behind the misty trees. Smell fresh leaves, hear bird calls echo above you, and share quiet moments with your group before heading back out into sunlight.
Jaco: Hiking & Waterfall Tour with River Pools & 4x4 RideYou’ll ride up into Jaco’s hills by 4x4, hike through rainforest trails with a local guide, swim in fresh river pools beneath waterfalls, and hear stories only locals know. Expect cold water, laughter, muddy shoes—and maybe a little courage if you try those jumps.
Tortuga Island Private Boat Tour & Snorkeling from PuntarenasYou board a private boat at Puerto Azul marina and spend the day snorkeling at Tortuga Island's volcanic reef, spotting spider monkeys at Isla Negritos, and eating fresh-caught lunch on a reserved beach. Dolphin watching, all equipment, and unlimited drinks are included. Small groups mean you avoid the commercial tour crowds, and hotel pickup can be arranged if you're staying nearby.Is it for me?Book this if you want the main Tortuga Island experience — snorkeling, wildlife, and a full day on the water — without the noise and crowds of commercial tour boats. The private boat and reserved beach spot are what make the difference, and the all-inclusive meals mean you're not hunting for food or paying extras throughout the day.
