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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Manuel Antonio Park: Guided Wildlife Tour & Beach with NaturalistYou walk forest trails with a certified naturalist who uses a high-definition spotting scope to reveal sloths, monkeys, toucans, and frogs you'd otherwise miss. The guide photographs the wildlife and moments as they happen. After the trek, you finish on Manuel Antonio Beach with time to swim or rest. Park entry tickets must be purchased separately in advance.Is it for me?Pick this if you want to actually see the wildlife in Manuel Antonio instead of just walking past it—the spotting scope and the guide's experience are what turn a rainforest walk into something you remember.
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.
La Leona Waterfall Hike: Private Canyon Swim & LunchYou’ll hike upriver through shaded canyons near Rincon de la Vieja, swim through cool pools with your local guide pointing out wildlife, and reach La Leona waterfall after a short swim. Expect rocky trails and river crossings before relaxing by the falls and enjoying a Costa Rican lunch — it’s an adventure that lingers long after you dry off.
Santa Teresa Bioluminescence Tour: Kayak Punta Cuchillos NightYou paddle a kayak or canoe for an hour through waters that glow with bioluminescence, guided by someone who explains the science before you see it. The tour includes the kayak, the guide's talk, and guaranteed sightings (conditions permitting). Small groups, wheelchair-accessible setup, and flexible timing around the lunar calendar mean you're not gambling on whether it'll work. Book a few days ahead and pick a date when the moon is dark.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see bioluminescence without the guesswork—the guaranteed format and science talk mean you know what you're looking at and when to expect it. The small-group setup and flexible lunar scheduling are what make it reliable instead of a gamble.
Manuel Antonio Beach: Private Surf Lesson & Guaranteed Stand-UpYou get a private surf lesson with a 15-year veteran instructor who guarantees you'll stand up on the board, plus access to Manuel Antonio Beach's waves and views for the rest of the afternoon. The lesson starts on sand, moves to water, and includes all boards, shade, snacks and transport from your hotel. Plan for a half-day in the water, with the option to keep practicing after the formal instruction ends.Is it for me?Right for travelers staying in Quepos who want to learn to surf without arranging a guide or transport—the lesson is private, pickup is included, and the guarantee means you'll actually stand up instead of spending the session frustrated. Expect a half-day in the water and sun; that's what makes the calm waves and the monkeys in the trees part of the same morning.
La Fortuna: Arenal Volcano, Waterfall & Hanging BridgesYou hike to a volcano viewpoint, swim at a 70-meter waterfall, eat lunch at a local restaurant, then walk across 15 hanging bridges through the rainforest canopy. Hotel pickup, a professional guide, park fees and snacks are included. The fixed itinerary means you see La Fortuna's four main attractions in one day without arranging transport or timing yourself.Is it for me?Book this if you have one day in La Fortuna and want to see the volcano, waterfall and canopy bridges without arranging separate transport and timing — the fixed itinerary handles all three in one trip. You'll need moderate fitness for the hike and bridges, and the early start means you're moving from stop to stop rather than lingering at any one place.
San Jose: Costa Rica's Only Winery & Golden Berry Liqueur TastingYou tour Costa Rica's only commercial winery, walk through both grape vines and golden berry plantations, learn how the owner produces wines from three countries and a one-of-a-kind liqueur, then taste four wines with pairing plus two pours of Golden Rush. The guide explains each process as you move through the property, and the tasting is paced for real conversation, not speed.Is it for me?Right for wine drinkers curious about a region most wineries skip, or anyone wanting to taste something that exists nowhere else. The tour moves at a conversational pace, so plan for a morning or afternoon that lets you linger over the tastings and ask about the owner's three-country wine collection.
Snorkeling in Tamarindo: Two reef sessions with a guideHalf-day snorkeling in Tamarindo with a professional guide covers two reef sessions near the Catalina Islands (or Cabo Velas if conditions shift), all equipment and snacks included, departing at 6:40 am and returning around noon. The 5-hour outing leaves your afternoon free; children must be at least 8 years old and accompanied by an adult.Is it for me?The 5-hour morning window—departure at 6:40 am, return by noon—leaves your afternoon free for other plans or downtime. If you need a full day of activity or prefer a later start, look for a longer snorkeling trip or a different outing.
Arenal Hanging Bridges Tour Costa Rica: 14 Rainforest BridgesArenal Hanging Bridges is a guided hiking tour through Mistico Park near Volcano Arenal in Costa Rica, where you cross 14 bridges—6 of them hanging—over 3.1 kilometers of private reserve trails. The tour runs about 2.5 hours with a bilingual guide who points out native and migratory birds and explains the rainforest ecosystem; hotel pickup, snacks and bottled water are included.Is it for me?You get the canopy view without arranging transport or a guide separately—the minivan picks you up at your hotel, and the bilingual guide handles the whole hike, so you walk the bridges without building the day around logistics.
Tamarindo Estuary Boat Tour: Mangrove Wildlife with GuideThe Tamarindo Estuary Boat Tour is a two-hour guided boat journey through mangrove channels within the Baulas marine national park, where a naturalist guide points out local flora and fauna adapted to the tidal environment. The tour includes roundtrip transportation from Tamarindo and Lobster, bottled water, and seasonal fruit; the operator coordinates the exact departure time 24 hours in advance based on tide conditions.Is it for me?The tide schedule means you can't book a fixed departure time in advance, but the operator handles that by calling 24 hours ahead to coordinate—so you don't spend the morning waiting to hear when to show up.
Corcovado Sirena Day Trip: Wildlife Hike & Boat from Puerto JimenezYou’ll wake up early in Puerto Jimenez for a real adventure—a small group boat ride to Sirena Station in Corcovado, guided by someone who knows every call in the forest. Expect muddy feet, close-up wildlife sightings (maybe even tapirs or monkeys), lunch at the ranger station, and a feeling that sticks with you long after you’re back on land.
Samara: Werner Sauter Reserve Hike & Mango Tasting TourYou’ll wander through Samara’s rare dry forest trails with a local guide, taste fresh mangos straight from the tree, spot wildlife hiding in plain sight, and hear real stories about life in Guanacaste. Expect earthy scents, quiet moments under big sky, and a sense of resilience you might carry home.
La Fortuna: Sloth Park Walk & Coffee Chocolate Sugarcane TastingYou’ll follow rainforest trails in La Fortuna with a guide who knows every sound and shadow—spotting sloths high above, listening for frogs, then tasting fresh chocolate, coffee, and sugarcane right where they’re grown. Expect laughter over language lessons and moments of real calm among the trees—it sticks with you.
Manuel Antonio: Wildlife Walk & Beach Day with Small GroupYou’ll step right into Manuel Antonio’s wild side with an early start and a small group—spotting monkeys overhead, watching sloths nap in the treetops, then cooling off on white sand beaches. Your guide helps you notice things you’d never catch alone, and there’s time to swim or just listen to the rainforest breathing around you.
Private Surf Lesson Tamarindo Beach: Local InstructorsA two-hour private surf lesson at Tamarindo Beach pairs you with a local instructor for theory on land, then time in the water catching waves suited to your level. The instructor picks your board and rash guard, coaches you through the fundamentals, and finishes with fresh coconut water on the beach. Children from age 3 are welcome; guides speak English and Spanish.Is it for me?Book a private lesson if you want the instructor's full attention on your technique and goals, or choose the group or semiprivate option if you'd rather share the cost and the energy with other learners on the same day.
Liberia: Zip Line, Waterslide & Hot Springs All-Day AdventureYou zip line through canopy, slide 450 meters into a pool, ride horses or a tractor to a waterfall, soak in volcanic mud and hot springs, and eat a Costa Rican buffet lunch — all in one day with hotel pickup included. Bring swimwear, sunscreen, and a camera; the schedule packs six activities into the daylight hours without feeling rushed.Is it for me?Book this if you want to pack six different activities into one day without arranging transport, entry fees, or timing each stop separately — the fixed itinerary and included pickup handle all of that, so you just show up and move through the day.
Tamarindo: 3 Waterfalls & Cliff Jumping Private Tour with LunchYou spend the day moving between three waterfalls — tubing, swimming against a current with a rope, cliff jumping at different heights, and hiking through caves and forest. Lunch is included, as are transport, a guide, water and snacks. The main constraint is footwear: you need proper hiking shoes with thick soles, and the tour will turn you away without them. If you show up ready, you're in for a full day of water and rock without the crowds.Is it for me?Book this if you want a full-day waterfall adventure without arranging your own transport, timing multiple stops, or sharing your guide with other groups — the private format and fixed itinerary are what make three separate waterfalls, a rope swim, and a 90-foot jump possible in one day.
Surf Lesson + Beach Day in Jaco Beach: 2-Hour Group ClassA two-hour group surfing lesson at Jaco Beach teaches the basics of reading waves, technique on land, and practice in chest-deep water, with an instructor guiding you through every step. The lesson includes a surfboard you keep after class, rashguard, sunscreen, fresh water, and access to beach chairs and umbrellas before and after. Pickup is included if you need it. Children from age 6 are welcome; kids under 10 and adults over 50 should book a private class instead.Is it for me?The two-hour lesson leaves the rest of your day free, so you can fit it into a morning or afternoon without blocking out the whole day. Book early in your trip when you have energy for it, and plan to stay on the beach afterward—the chairs and umbrellas are there for you to use as long as you want.
La Paz Waterfall Gardens Day Trip: Waterfalls & WildlifeLa Paz Waterfall Gardens is a wildlife refuge and botanical park near San Jose where you walk a 3-kilometer paved trail through cloud forest to five waterfalls, then tour ten animal exhibits housing over 100 species. The tour includes hotel pickup, a professional guide in English or Spanish, lunch, and guaranteed skip-the-line entry to the gardens. Eight to nine hours total, with moderate hiking on established paths.Is it for me?Book this if you want a guided walk on paved trails with stops to see five waterfalls and hand-feed toucans, rather than navigating the reserve solo—the guide points out wildlife across the sanctuary's 100+ species while you stay on maintained paths.
Costa Rica: Arenal, Monteverde & Manuel Antonio 8-Day TourYou’ll taste fresh Costa Rican coffee on backroads to Arenal Volcano, cross Monteverde’s misty hanging bridges with a local guide, and watch monkeys play along Manuel Antonio’s beaches. Expect daily excursions with pickup and breakfast included—plus time for small surprises you’ll remember later.
