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 National Park Day Trip from San JoseYou get picked up from your San Jose hotel early, stop for a traditional Costa Rican breakfast on the way, then spend the afternoon in Manuel Antonio National Park hiking trails to spot monkeys and sloths, swimming in coral reef waters, and relaxing on pristine beaches. Lunch and all park fees are included, and your entry is pre-registered so you skip the ticket line. The minivan returns you to your hotel by evening.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see Manuel Antonio's beaches, rainforest and wildlife in one day without arranging transport, park tickets or figuring out the entry system yourself—the pre-registration and included pickup are what make a full park visit possible from San Jose.
Rio Celeste, Sloth Sanctuary & Coffee Tour from GuanacasteYou’ll hike through lush rainforest to see Rio Celeste’s surreal blue waterfall, share a local lunch with new friends, spot wild sloths lounging in treetops at a private sanctuary, and catch glimpses of toucans and frogs along easy trails. With hotel pickup included and a guide who brings Costa Rica alive, you’ll leave with muddy shoes—and probably a story or two stuck in your head.
Río Celeste: Tubing Adventure & Jungle Wildlife ExperienceYou’ll float down Río Celeste’s bright blue water with a local guide, spotting sloths and colorful birds as you go. There are moments of fast rapids and calm drifting under thick jungle canopy. You’ll swim in clear pools (if weather allows), try volcanic mud, and share snacks by the riverbank — all with safety gear included.
La Fortuna: Arenal Hanging Bridges & Waterfall Combo with LunchYou’ll cross hanging bridges above the Arenal rainforest canopy with a local guide, spot wildlife you’d miss alone, descend to swim or watch at La Fortuna Waterfall, then share a home-cooked lunch with a local family before heading back — expect laughter, real conversation, and those little sensory moments that stick with you long after.
San Jose: Aquiares Coffee Tour & Tasting 2 HoursYou walk through a working coffee farm outside Turrialba, watch beans roast and learn to taste coffee properly through a guided cupping session. The two-hour experience includes entry fees, a professional English-speaking guide, and all tastings. Groups max out at fifteen people, which keeps the pace manageable and the conversation real. Book ahead—they require a reservation before you arrive.Is it for me?Book this if you want to understand where your coffee actually comes from and don't want to spend a full day traveling to get there—the two-hour format and small group size mean you get the real farm experience without the logistics of a longer excursion.
Sarapiquí River Rafting: Class II–III Near ArenalSarapiquí River rafting near La Fortuna is a full-day activity where you paddle Class II–III rapids with a bilingual naturalist guide, equipment and lunch included. The river runs through rainforest with wildlife and flora visible from the water; you'll stop to taste local fruits and eat a typical meal at a restaurant in the area. Children from age 7 can participate, and hotel pickup is arranged.Is it for me?The guide speaks English and Spanish, so you can follow the commentary and safety briefing in whichever language works for you. Families with kids 7 and older fit the pace; adults of any fitness level can manage the Class II–III current.
Jaco Beach Chocolate Experience: International Cocoa TastingA two-hour chocolate experience tour in Jaco Beach where you walk through the Central Pacific's only International Cocoa collection, taste raw cocoa fruit straight from the pod, watch the cocoa-to-chocolate production process, and sample an all-you-can-eat spread of chocolates, hot chocolate, and chocolate-drizzled tropical fruits with a live guide in English or Spanish. Strollers and service animals are welcome.Is it for me?Follow cacao from raw bean through production to finished chocolate, with your guide connecting flavors to the history and economics behind each stage.
Montezuma: Playa Grande Surf Lesson & Fresh Fruit BreakYou’ll walk from Montezuma through jungle sounds to Playa Grande’s wide sands for two hours of surf lessons with local Costa Rican instructors. Practice on the beach first, then ride real waves—with breaks for fresh fruit and stories under palm trees. Expect laughter, wipeouts, and at least one moment you’ll want to hold onto long after you leave.
Jaco ATV & Waterfall Rappelling: 5-Hour Jungle AdventureYou ride an ATV through jungle for 90 minutes, rappel a 180-foot waterfall, then zipline over 2000 meters of canopy. All equipment, a professional guide, and refreshments are included. You pick your start time between 8am and 5pm, and the whole experience stays in one park, so no time is lost to transfers between activities.Is it for me?Book this if you want to pack three different adventures into one morning without arranging separate tours or spending time on transfers—the single-park setup means you move straight from ATVs to rappelling to ziplining, and your guide handles all the technical setup.
Costa Rica Sloth Rainforest Private Tour & Waterfall SwimStep into Costa Rica’s rainforest where you’ll swim beneath a hidden waterfall, spot sloths and toucans with your guide, taste fresh coffee and chocolate, and share lunch with locals. It’s an easygoing day trip from town that leaves you with muddy shoes and stories you’ll remember long after the trip.
La Fortuna canyoning and rafting comboThis eight-hour combo activity in La Fortuna combines canyoning and white water rafting: you rappel down tropical waterfalls, rock climb and zip-line in the canyon, then paddle Class II-III rapids on the Balsa River. Hotel pickup and drop-off, lunch, beverages, a professional guide in English or Spanish, and all gear are included; children from age 8 are welcome when accompanied by an adult.Is it for me?One day, two epic adventures: rappel down waterfalls and zip-line through the canyon, then hit the rapids—your driver picks you up once and guides you through both.
Jaco & Los Suenos: Zip Line & ATV Combo with Ocean ViewsYou’ll start flying above Costa Rica’s rainforest canopy by zip line near Jaco Beach with ocean views peeking through the trees. Then shift gears for two hours of ATV adventure through jungle trails and river crossings around Los Suenos. Expect muddy boots, real laughter with local guides, and those moments where everything goes quiet except your own heartbeat.
La Fortuna: Night Walk Wildlife Tour with Guide & LightingYou’ll feel the forest come alive after dark as you spot frogs, bats, snakes, and spiders with your local guide in La Fortuna. Listen for hidden animal calls while your guide shares stories about each species along the trail. With lighting equipment included and plenty of laughs along the way, this night walk is equal parts adventure and learning—a memory that lingers long after.
Tortuga Island Day Trip from San José: Boat & Beach LunchYou're picked up from your San José hotel and driven to Caldera pier, then ferried to Tortuga Island on a large boat with views of the Gulf of Nicoya and Isla San Lucas wildlife refuge. Once on the island, you spend the afternoon on a private beach with lunch (grilled fish and chicken, ceviche, salads, fruit), unlimited drinks including rum punch, and access to the water and beach facilities. The boat returns you to the pier in the late afternoon, and you're back in San José by evening. Total time is around 10–12 hours, and everything—transport, meals, drinks, and island access—is included.Is it for me?A good choice if you want a full beach day without arranging your own transport, meals, or island access—the fixed schedule and included pickup from San José mean you just show up at your hotel and the rest is handled.
Playas del Coco: Catamaran Snorkeling & Sunset Sail with LunchYou board a spacious catamaran at 1:30 pm from Playas del Coco's boardwalk, sail 4.5 hours along the Gold Coast watching for marine life, snorkel in a protected bay, eat grilled chicken with unlimited drinks, and return as the sun sets. Ground transport to the dock is on you, but everything else — gear, food, drinks — is covered.Is it for me?Book this if you want a full afternoon on the water without arranging snorkel gear, food, or drinks separately — the catamaran's open bar and included lunch mean you show up and the rest is handled. Just arrange your own ride to the boardwalk in Playas del Coco.
Costa Rica: ATV Beach Ride & Playa Rajada Swim from DreamsYou’ll feel Costa Rica under your skin on this ATV tour from Dreams Las Mareas — riding rough trails with Fidel, stopping for fresh ceviche in El Jobo, swimming at Playa Rajada, and catching glimpses of wildlife along the way. Expect laughter, honest flavors, and moments you’ll keep replaying long after you’ve rinsed off the sand.
Chocolate Making Class Puerto Viejo: Bean to BarA hands-on chocolate making class in Puerto Viejo where you roast, crack, grind, temper and mould cacao beans into a finished bar you take home. The 2.5-hour class covers the history of cacao in Mesoamerica, the medicinal uses of chocolate, and every stage of small-batch production—you'll work alongside living cacao trees and taste the fruit at different stages of processing. Minimum age is 15; the class runs in English or Spanish with a live guide.Is it for me?Book this class if you want to understand how chocolate actually gets made instead of watching someone else do it—you'll roast, grind and temper the beans yourself and leave with a bar you made from start to finish.
La Fortuna hiking tour: 3 hikes, hanging bridges, waterfallA full-day hiking tour near La Fortuna combines three separate trails: a 3 km circuit across 10 fixed and 6 hanging bridges through the rainforest; a 15-minute descent to La Fortuna Waterfall where you can swim; and an Arenal Volcano hike crossing solidified lava from the 1968 eruption, ending with views of Lake Arenal. A professional guide leads the route in English or Spanish, and the day includes lunch at a local restaurant, bottled water, entrance fees and hotel pickup. The tour runs six hours total and suits hikers with solid fitness who want three distinct landscapes in one outing.Is it for me?Book the private option if you want to set the pace and rest when you need it; the shared tour works if you're comfortable with a group and want to split the cost. Either way, this tour is built for hikers who can sustain six hours of mixed terrain and want to see three different landscapes — rainforest canopy, a waterfall pool, and volcanic ground — without organizing the logistics yourself.
Manuel Antonio Park Wildlife Tour: Private or Group with GuideA 2-hour guided nature walk through Manuel Antonio National Park led by an ICT-certified specialist with over 16 years of experience. You choose between a private tour or a group departure, search for sloths, monkeys, toucans, birds and other wildlife on marked trails, and finish at Manuel Antonio Beach with time to swim or rest. The guide photographs your sightings with a Swarovski spotting scope at no extra cost, and all photos and videos go home with you.Is it for me?Book the private tour if you want the guide's full attention and a flexible pace; choose the group option if you prefer to share the experience and the cost. Either way, the guide's 16 years of experience in the park is what makes the difference between spotting a few animals and finding the ones most travelers miss — the scope and the photos are just the proof you were there.
Canyoning La Fortuna: Waterfall Jumps & RappelsYou rappel an 80-foot waterfall, jump four cliff pools ranging from 10 to 30 feet, boulder and trace through a hidden canyon, and swim in crystalline pools — all with a professional guide, full equipment, and lunch included. Hotel pickup and drop-off are part of it, and you'll need sturdy shoes and a change of clothes. Groups stay under 10 people, and you need to be 16 or older with solid fitness.Is it for me?Right for thrill-seekers aged 16+ with solid fitness who want the full waterfall experience — rappelling, jumping, and swimming — without arranging their own transport or guide. Expect to be wet and exhausted in the best way, and plan to be out most of the day.
