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: Wildlife Walk & Beach Time with Nature GuideYou’ll walk shaded trails with a nature specialist in Manuel Antonio, spotting monkeys, sloths, toucans—even if you’d never find them alone. Try snapping wildlife photos through a pro telescope, snack on fresh fruit by the beach, and soak up that humid rainforest air before deciding if you want to linger by the sea or head back with your group.
Arenal Volcano Tour from San Jose: Zip Lining & Hot SpringsA 14-hour combo tour from San Jose to La Fortuna that combines volcano sightseeing, waterfall stops, and adventure activities—zip lining through rainforest canopy, rappelling 150 feet, and soaking in natural hot springs—with coffee tasting, lunch, and dinner included. Hotel pickup and drop-off in the San Jose area are part of the booking; a bilingual guide leads the whole day. Not suitable for travelers with spinal injuries, knee problems, or cardiovascular concerns.Is it for me?Book this if you want multiple activities (zip lining, hot springs, coffee tasting, wildlife spotting) in one 14-hour day; skip it if you prefer a single focus or have concerns with rappelling and sustained physical exertion.
Hacienda Alsacia Coffee Tour Alajuela: Wet mill & roasterYou walk through a working coffee farm — nursery, wet mill, drying patio, and roaster — with a guide explaining each stage in English or Spanish. The tour includes a coffee tasting and access to the on-site cafe. Plan for two to three hours on the grounds, and wear shoes you don't mind getting dusty.Is it for me?Right for travelers staying in or near Alajuela who want to understand where coffee actually comes from — the farm handles the logistics and the guide sets the pace, so you move through each stage without rushing or getting lost. Expect a couple of hours on your feet outdoors, which is what gives you time to see the whole process and ask questions.
Manuel Antonio: Damas Island Mangrove Boat Tour & LunchYou’ll slip quietly through Damas Island’s winding mangrove forest with a local guide who knows every twist of the river. Expect close-up moments with monkeys and bright crabs, plus time to just drift and listen to jungle sounds. Includes pickup near Manuel Antonio and a Costa Rican lunch — slow-paced and real.
Surf Lessons in Tamarindo: All Levels, 90 MinutesSurf lessons in Tamarindo with bilingual instructors at the school operating since 1989, teaching all skill levels in 90 minutes with board, rash guard and shower included. Children under 12 book private lessons for one-on-one attention; semi-private lessons work for two or three people traveling together. Contact the operator to confirm your preferred lesson time before arrival.Is it for me?Group lessons put you with other learners at your level and cost less; semi-private works if you're traveling with one or two others and want more of the instructor's focus; private lessons give you one-on-one attention and are required for children under 12.
La Fortuna Waterfall & Arenal Volcano: Full Day with Hot SpringsYou swim in La Fortuna Waterfall, hike to Arenal's highest viewpoint through lava fields, walk through a butterfly conservatory with rainforest views, visit a Maleku village, and end the day soaking in natural hot springs with a cocktail. Hotel pickup, bilingual guide, lunch, and all park fees are included; the group stays small, and the day is structured so you're moving between different ecosystems without dead time.Is it for me?Book this if you want to pack multiple ecosystems and activities into one day without arranging transport, paying separate entrance fees, or timing yourself—the fixed itinerary and included guide handle all of that, which is what makes a full volcano, waterfall, and hot springs day possible in one afternoon.
Coffee and Chocolate Plantation Tour near Hot SpringsNorth Fields Cafe is a two-hour guided tour through family-owned coffee and cacao plantations near Hot Springs, where you walk the fields, watch live roasting and grinding, and taste freshly prepared coffee and chocolate made from crops you've just seen harvested. Hotel pickup is included for stays within ten minutes of La Fortuna Area; groups stay under eight people; a professional guide leads the experience in English.Is it for me?Walk through coffee and cacao fields where you'll trace each bean and pod from harvest to roast, then taste flavors that reveal what you've just seen growing.
Costa Rica: Balsa River White Water Rafting & Local LunchYou’ll paddle through lively class 2/3 rapids on Costa Rica’s Balsa River with an expert guide by your side—expect laughter, splashes, and sweet local fruit breaks along the way. After swimming in cool river pools, refuel with a traditional casado lunch at a local spot before heading back with new stories (and probably wet hair).
Sloth Watching Tour in La Fortuna: Wildlife Walk with GuideA sloth watching tour in La Fortuna takes you into the rainforest on a guided walk where you search for two and three-toed sloths, poison frogs and birds like toucans. The tour runs 90 minutes, includes pickup from La Fortuna area, a bilingual guide with binoculars and telescope, and park entrance; it operates daily from 7am to 4pm in all weather.Is it for me?The tour picks you up from your La Fortuna hotel, which means you skip arranging transport or finding the park entrance on your own — useful if you're staying in town without a rental car or if you want to move straight from breakfast to the rainforest.
Upper Balsa River White Water Rafting Class 3/4Upper Balsa River white water rafting near La Fortuna is a Class III/IV paddling adventure on the Balsa River with a live guide, hotel pickup, all equipment, and a Costa Rican lunch included. The trip runs 5 hours total, departing daily at 9am and returning by 1:30pm. Minimum age is 12; travelers should be in good physical condition. Vegetarian lunch options are available if requested at booking.Is it for me?Book this if you want to paddle Class III and IV rapids yourself rather than ride along — the guide teaches you, but you're the one making the paddle work. Small groups keep the experience focused and manageable for anyone 12 and older who's in good physical condition.
San Jose Food Tour: Markets, Coffee Workshop & TastingsYou’ll wander San Jose’s lively markets tasting fresh fruits, century-old ice cream, and homemade tamales before learning Costa Rican coffee rituals with locals. Expect laughter over new flavors and stories you’ll carry home long after the last sip.
La Fortuna: Arenal Volcano, Hanging Bridges & Waterfall Day TourYou’ll wake up early in La Fortuna for a full day: hiking Arenal Volcano’s lava fields with a local guide, swimming below La Fortuna Waterfall after climbing down hundreds of steps, and walking Mistico Hanging Bridges high above the rainforest floor. Expect laughter, tired legs, good food—and maybe a sloth sighting that stays in your mind long after.
La Fortuna Hanging Bridges Tour: Mistico Park GuideA guided walking tour of Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park in La Fortuna takes you across suspended bridges through a private tropical forest reserve at the base of Arenal Volcano. A naturalist guide leads the loop trail on non-slip cement surfaces, pointing out wildlife and explaining the forest ecosystem as you move through the canopy and understory. The tour runs one to three hours and includes park entrance and guide; trails are wheelchair accessible with no steps, and suitable for all fitness levels.Is it for me?Book this tour if you speak English or Spanish and want a guide who can name what moves in the canopy as you cross it—the naturalist's knowledge is what turns a walk through the forest into an education in what actually lives there. The accessible trail and no-step design also make this work if you are pushing a stroller or using a wheelchair.
Manuel Antonio: Longest Twin Zip Line & Canopy Tour LunchYou’ll fly above Manuel Antonio’s rainforest on Central America’s longest twin zip line with local guides leading the way. Cross hanging bridges, spot wildlife midair, and pause for fresh fruit before sitting down to a Costa Rican lunch with your group. Expect laughter, some nerves—and views you’ll carry home long after you land.
Tortuga Island: Catamaran Snorkeling & Banana Boat from JacoYou board a catamaran at Los Sueños Marina with breakfast already served, cross the Gulf of Nicoya in 45 minutes, and land on Tortuga Island's white sand with snorkeling gear, a banana boat, and an eco hike waiting. Lunch, margaritas, rum punch, and all drinks are included throughout the day. Transportation from Jaco is arranged in advance, and the crew handles the rest — you just show up and swim.Is it for me?A good fit if you want a full Tortuga Island day without arranging transport, activities, or meals separately — the fixed schedule and all-inclusive format mean you show up and the crew handles the rest. Plan for a full day out, which is exactly what makes fitting snorkeling, a banana boat, an island hike, and lunch into one trip possible.
Arenal Volcano Tour: Coffee, Waterfalls & Hot SpringsA full-day tour from San Jose to Arenal Volcano combines morning sightseeing with afternoon relaxation in thermal hot springs. The route includes a coffee plantation with tasting, La Paz and San Fernando waterfalls, an iguana and sloth viewing stop, a traditional Maleku indigenous presentation, and Costa Rican lunch and dinner. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, along with a bilingual guide.Is it for me?A bilingual guide leads the commentary in English and Spanish, so if you're comfortable following either language, this tour works well. The morning is packed with sightseeing—waterfalls, wildlife, a coffee plantation and an indigenous presentation—but requires no hiking or strenuous effort; the afternoon is pure relaxation in the hot springs, making it ideal if you want to see a lot without exertion and then unwind.
Costa Rica: Waterfall Day Trip & Rainforest Lunch with PickupYou’ll swim beneath jungle waterfalls, test your nerve on a natural rock slide, share an organic rainforest lunch with new friends, and end up on a quiet beach only locals seem to know. With easy pickup and guides who grew up here, this day trip feels less like a tour and more like being welcomed into someone’s favorite memories.
Tamarindo: Rincon de la Vieja Zipline, River Tubing & Hot SpringsYou zipline through a canyon on eight cables and platforms, tube five kilometers down Rio Negro's rapids, eat a full lunch with dietary options, then soak in ten natural hot spring pools and apply volcanic mud like a spa treatment. Hotel pickup and return transport are included, and the whole day runs from early morning through late afternoon.Is it for me?Book this if you want a full-day volcano adventure without arranging separate activities, transport and timing — the fixed schedule and included pickup handle all three, leaving you to show up and move through the day.
La Fortuna Canyoning: 4 Waterfall Rappels & Monkey DropPure Trek Canyoning Adventure is a half-day waterfall rappelling and rock climbing activity in La Fortuna, Costa Rica, where you descend four waterfalls, attempt the signature Monkey Drop jump, and hike through the canyon with a professional guide. Hotel pickup and drop-off, lunch at Pure Trek headquarters, and transport by air-conditioned van are included; the tour runs four hours and welcomes children from age 5, though it requires moderate fitness and comfort with getting soaked.Is it for me?Book an early departure if you want the canyon before the afternoon heat and still have the rest of your day free; the 2 pm slot works if you're arriving in La Fortuna mid-morning or prefer a later start. Moderate fitness and comfort with water are what make this half-day work — it's not a spectator tour, and you'll be climbing, jumping and rappelling the whole time.
Diamante Eco Adventure Park Ziplining: Ocean Views & WildlifeThe Adventure Pass at Diamante Eco Adventure Park combines zip lining, an animal sanctuary and beach access in one day, with lunch and a bilingual guide included. You choose the order and timing of activities — zip the nearly mile-long ocean view line called "The Howler," cross a hanging bridge over crocodiles, and walk through habitats holding monkeys, sloths, jaguars and pumas. The park is located in Costa Rica and operates from 11 am to 3 pm for meal service; children must be at least 5 years old to zip line.Is it for me?Book this if you're staying nearby without a car—everything's walkable from local hotels and transit, and one pass covers zip lining, wildlife, and lunch so you check in once instead of buying separate tickets at each stop.
