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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SJO Airport to Jaco: Private Transfer with Crocodile StopYou get picked up at San José airport by a named driver holding a sign with your name, travel in a private air-conditioned vehicle with complimentary drinks, and stop at Tárcoles Bridge to see crocodiles before reaching your Jaco or Los Sueños hotel. The driver coordinates around your actual flight time, so late arrivals don't trigger a scramble.Is it for me?A good fit if you're arriving at San José airport and want to reach Jaco or Los Sueños without arranging a taxi or worrying about shared vans—the private vehicle and driver coordination remove the airport arrival negotiation entirely. The two-hour drive is what it is, but you spend it in air conditioning with refreshments and a stop at the crocodiles, not in a shared shuttle or haggling at the curb.
Private Horseback Riding in Costa Rica: Rivers & Rain ForestPrivate horseback riding across a 1,800-acre ranch in Costa Rica, where you ride through rivers, rain forest trails, rolling hills and open pastures with a bilingual naturalist guide who tailors the route to your pace and interests. The guide speaks English or Spanish, and children from age 5 are welcome; the ride lasts around 3.5 hours.Is it for me?Book this if you want to set the pace yourself and see the ranch on your own terms—the private format means the guide tailors the route and speed to you, not to a group schedule or a fixed itinerary.
Guanacaste: Catamaran Snorkel Cruise & Pacific Sunset SailYou’ll step barefoot into Guanacaste’s surf to board your catamaran, sail along the Pacific coast with an open bar and snacks, snorkel a quiet bay with included gear, and watch for dolphins or turtles before drifting beneath a wild Costa Rican sunset. Expect small surprises—and maybe a moment you’ll want to remember later.
Costa Rica Arenal: Butterfly Conservatory Tour & Rainforest TrailsYou’ll walk through lush rainforest trails at Costa Rica’s Butterfly Conservatory near Arenal, watch butterflies emerge up close during a live life-cycle demo, spot poison dart frogs and turtles in their habitats, and explore an insect museum filled with local curiosities. Expect laughter with guides and moments that linger long after you leave.
Monteverde Butterfly Gardens: Guided Bug & Butterfly TourYou’ll get hands-on with caterpillars, meet Costa Rica’s famous butterflies in three lush gardens, and hear quirky bug facts from local guides at Monteverde Butterfly Gardens. Kids (and adults) can hold insects if they want — or just watch them up close. It’s relaxed, interactive, and leaves you seeing bugs differently by the end.
Mangrove boat tour Quepos: Wildlife in their habitatA mangrove boat tour in Quepos takes you through the calm waters of the Central Pacific forest on a fully equipped boat with a professional guide, where you'll watch white-faced monkeys, crocodiles, alligators, herons, birds and other species in their natural habitat over roughly 2 to 3 hours. The 8 am and 11 am departures include a walk around the farm to see water buffalo and other animals; the 2 pm tour stays on the water. Snacks and parking are included, and the tour suits all ages and fitness levels.Is it for me?Choose the shared tour for wildlife viewing with other travelers, or book private if your group wants to set the boat's schedule and route without coordinating with others.
Monteverde Cloud Forest Night Tour: Nocturnal wildlife walkA 2-hour guided night walk through Monteverde's Cloud Forest in Costa Rica, where you move slowly through the dark with a licensed guide and flashlight to watch frogs, insects, mammals and other creatures that are active only after dark. The guide speaks English or Spanish; children from age 5 are welcome. Park entry and flashlights are included.Is it for me?The guide speaks English or Spanish, so you can follow the commentary comfortably in whichever language suits you best. The slow pace and the guide's focus on locating and explaining each animal work well for anyone who wants to understand what they're seeing rather than cover distance quickly.
Kayaking in Bioluminescent Waters: Glowing Paddle at SunsetA guided evening kayak tour in the Golfo Dulce tropical fjord where you paddle through bioluminescent waters that glow with each stroke. The tour runs three hours from Aventuras Cafe, your adventure base and restaurant, and includes a local guide in English or Spanish, a safety briefing, seasonal fruit snacks, water, and beach time for swimming before the night paddle back. The bioluminescent effect appears after sunset, turning the water luminous as you move through it.Is it for me?The three-hour window means you can fit this into an afternoon and evening without losing the whole day, and the beach break gives you time to rest before the night paddle back. If you need transportation to the base, arrange it separately—the tour itself does not include a pickup from your hotel or a ride back.
La Fortuna: Safari Float, Waterfall Swim & Arenal Volcano HikeYou’ll start your day floating quietly down Peñas Blancas River spotting monkeys and birds with your guide, then cool off swimming beneath La Fortuna Waterfall after a steep descent. Share lunch with a local family before hiking along Arenal Volcano’s old lava trails as evening falls—a day full of small surprises and real Costa Rican warmth.
La Fortuna: ATV Adventure with Arenal Volcano & River SwimYou’ll ride ATVs through La Fortuna’s backroads with a local guide, cross rivers (and maybe swim), meet villagers and try homemade snacks, all with Arenal Volcano looming nearby. Expect mud on your shoes, laughter with strangers, and real Costa Rican flavors along the way.
Guanacaste: ATV Beach, River & Forest Adventure with PickupYou’ll ride ATVs through Guanacaste’s wild dry forest and splash across rivers before rolling onto quiet Pacific beaches—sometimes with only monkeys for company. Expect fresh fruit breaks, stories from your local guide, and views you might dream about later.
La Fortuna ATV Tour: Arenal Volcano & Jungle TrailsYou ride an automatic ATV through rainforest trails around La Fortuna, cross the Arenal River for a swim, visit the Maleku Village, and see Arenal Volcano from multiple angles — all with a bilingual guide, hotel pickup, and three hours of near-constant forward motion. Bring a valid driver's license and expect to leave muddy.Is it for me?Book this if you want to drive yourself through the jungle rather than be driven through it, and if you're comfortable arriving back muddy and soaked. The automatic transmission and bilingual guide handle the learning curve, leaving you free to focus on the trail and the volcano ahead.
Caño Island snorkeling tour: Manta rays, reef sharks, dolphinsCaño Island snorkeling tour from Marino Bahia Ballena National Park combines two 30-40 minute underwater sessions at a Marine Biological Reserve with a 1.5-hour boat journey across Bahia Ballena and Bahia Uvita. The boat passes Punta Uvita (Whale's Tail) and Costa Ballena on the way out and back, with a chance to spot dolphins, whales, manta rays, turtles, reef sharks and moray eels depending on the season. Lunch—typically chicken, rice and fresh fruit—happens at San Josecito Beach before the return to the park. The full day runs 8 hours from check-in at the property to departure.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to snorkel a working marine reserve with a guide rather than a guided beach entry—the boat ride, the two timed sessions, and the wildlife spotting en route are what fill an 8-hour day and keep the focus on the underwater ecosystem instead of the shore.
Liberia Airport - Guanacaste: Private transfer with driverYou’ll step out of Liberia or San Jose Airport into Costa Rica’s lush air and find your private driver waiting for you. Enjoy a smooth ride through Guanacaste’s countryside with bottled water and local tips along the way. With hotel pickup and drop-off included both ways, you can settle in and soak up those first moments — the kind you’ll remember long after the trip.
Liberia Airport Transfer: Private Pickup & Drop-offYou land at Liberia, contact the office via airport WiFi, and your private driver meets you with a name sign. The van includes AC, WiFi, and a 35-minute comfort stop; if your flight is delayed over two hours, the pickup adjusts at no extra cost. Round-trip service is quoted for four passengers, with bilingual drivers available subject to availability and free wait time up to two hours for flight delays.Is it for me?Book this if you want to skip the taxi line and arrive without arranging transport yourself — the driver meets you at arrivals, handles delays at no extra cost, and you're driven directly to your hotel or resort with no other stops in between.
Tamarindo Bar Crawl: VIP Entry, Shots & Games Nightlife TourYou’ll jump right into Tamarindo’s nightlife with VIP entry to lively bars and clubs, welcome shots to break the ice, fun games that get strangers laughing together, and unlimited shots between stops thanks to Mr.Shots. Expect sticky floors, new friends from everywhere, and moments you’ll remember long after your voice is gone.
Tortuguero 2 Nights 3 Days from San Jose: Canals & WildlifeYou leave San Jose at dawn, cross Braulio Carrillo National Park by vehicle, then travel by boat into Tortuguero's canals and stay three nights in a lodge surrounded by jungle. Your days include guided walks on private trails, a full boat tour of the national park with a specialized guide, a visit to the village and Turtle Museum, and meals throughout. Transport, lodging, and most activities are arranged — you just show up and move through the day as planned.Is it for me?Book this if you want the main Tortuguero experience — canals, jungle, wildlife, and the village — without arranging transport, lodging, or timing yourself; the fixed 3-day structure fits all of it into one trip from San Jose.
Canoe Tour Tortuguero: Wildlife in Rainforest CanalsA guided canoe tour through Tortuguero National Park on Costa Rica's Caribbean Coast, where you paddle quiet waterways to spot monkeys, sloths, birds and reptiles in their habitat. The tour runs roughly two hours with a live guide in English or Spanish and includes the canoe and all equipment; pickup is included. Children from age one are welcome, and the tour is accessible for wheelchair users with a companion in the canoe.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to move quietly through the rainforest and watch animals that would scatter at engine noise—the canoe is what makes that possible. If you're traveling with young children or using a wheelchair, confirm accessibility details with the operator before booking, as the canoe itself requires either sitting upright or having a companion provide support.
Limon: Tortuguero Canals Boat Safari & Organic Farm Day TripYou’ll float along the Tortuguero Canals with a local guide watching for monkeys and bright birds, then snack on fresh fruit at an organic banana farm before wandering through Limon’s lively streets or relaxing at Playa Bonita beach. Expect real Caribbean warmth—and maybe even a little surprise at how much you enjoy peeling bananas badly.
ATV Riding Tamarindo: Secret Beaches and Mountain TrailsATV riding in Tamarindo combines two hours of fully automatic machine operation on jungle paths and hidden beaches, with a live guide in English or Spanish, roundtrip pickup from Tamarindo and Lobster, and stops to swim or rest at white-sand coves. Children from age 1 are welcome; the ride suits all fitness levels but is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnancy, or cardiovascular concerns.Is it for me?The guide speaks English or Spanish, so choose based on which language you're comfortable following for two hours on the trail. Families with children from age 1 can join, though very young riders will share a machine with an adult rather than operate their own.
