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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Poas Volcano & Coffee Farm Tour from San Jose: Includes lunch and park feesA full-day tour from San Jose combines Poas Volcano, an active 2,708-meter stratovolcano with a crater over a mile across, and a hands-on coffee farm tour at a working plantation near the volcano's base. Hotel pickup and drop-off, park entry, a guide in English, bottled water and lunch are included. The route ascends through coffee plantations, fern farms and cloud forest, with time to view the main crater and its sulfur fumaroles before moving to the coffee farm's visitor center, tree nursery, wet mill, drying patio and roaster.Is it for me?The 10- to 12-hour commitment means you see both the volcano crater and walk the working coffee farm without cutting either one short—but it also takes most of your day, so book this when you have a full morning and afternoon free and don't need to fit other stops into the same day.
Doka Estate, Poás Volcano & La Paz Waterfalls tour from San JoséThis 12-hour guided tour from San José combines three distinct Costa Rican landscapes in a single day: a coffee estate with breakfast and production tour, the Poás Volcano crater viewpoint, and La Paz Waterfall Gardens with a wildlife sanctuary and lunch. A bilingual guide leads small groups, and the tour includes all entry tickets, both meals, and hotel pickup and return from San José.Is it for me?The early start and full 12-hour day mean you're moving between three sites with built-in meals and guide-led stops, so the itinerary holds together without you planning the transitions or timing. Choose this if you want to see volcano, waterfall and coffee culture in one outing and don't want to arrange separate transport or figure out how the pieces fit.
La Fortuna Whitewater Rafting and Tubing Combo: Rafting and tubing in one tourWhitewater rafting and tubing combo in La Fortuna pairs an hour of class 3/4 rapids in a raft with an hour of class 2/3 tubing on the same river, with hotel pickup, lunch, and a walk through the operator's organic farm and sugarcane demonstration included. The full day runs 6.5 hours from pickup to drop-off. Minimum age is 12; moderate fitness required.Is it for me?Small-group rafting and tubing works best for travelers who want to try both in one outing without booking two separate trips, and who have the fitness and time for a full morning and afternoon on and off the water.
Snorkeling in Samara: Dolphin watching and reef explorationA half-day snorkeling activity in Samara where you board a boat to watch for bottlenose and spotted dolphins in their natural habitat, then spend time exploring the underwater reef on your own with provided snorkeling gear. The trip includes hotel pickup and drop-off, a guide who speaks English or Spanish, and snacks and beverages. Humpback whales pass through the area between August and November and again starting in January, so sightings are possible during those months.Is it for me?You're snorkeling with a guide and a shared group, which means the boat, the dolphin spotting and the route are all arranged—you show up and focus on the water instead of managing logistics. Pick this if you want to see dolphins and reef life in one morning without renting your own boat or planning the stops yourself.
Costa Rica: Barigona Beach Horseback Ride & Wildlife SafariYou’ll ride horseback with a local guide through Costa Rica’s forests and rivers to reach deserted Barigona Beach. Expect fresh ocean air, wildlife sightings, a riverside snack break, and plenty of laughter along the way. If you’ve ever wanted to feel alone with nature (but not lost), this is your day.
La Fortuna: Chocolate & Night Wildlife Tour with TastingYou’ll grind cacao beans by hand in La Fortuna’s evening air and taste fresh-made chocolate bars before heading out with a local guide to spot frogs and maybe even sloths on an accessible night walk through rainforest trails. The mix of sweet flavors and wild sounds sticks with you long after.
Tortuguero Sunrise Canoe Tour: Wildlife & BinocularsA sunrise canoe tour through the narrow waterways of Tortuguero National Park in Costa Rica, guided by a certified local naturalist who helps you spot monkeys, toucans, caimans, sloths and tropical birds. The tour runs about 2.5 hours with a maximum of 10 guests per canoe, binoculars provided, and a guide who speaks English or Spanish. Tortuguero National Park entrance tickets must be purchased separately online before the tour begins.Is it for me?The sunrise start means an early wake-up, but it's when the rainforest is most active and your chances of seeing wildlife are highest. The small group size and slow canoe pace let you linger on animals instead of rushing past them, which suits anyone who came to watch rather than just pass through.
Rio Celeste & Sloth Watching: Rainforest Hike & WaterfallA guided rainforest tour from Liberia that combines hiking to Rio Celeste waterfall, live wildlife watching (sloths, toucans, poison frogs), and a swim at Llanos de Cortés waterfall, all in one eight- to ten-hour day. A bilingual guide leads the route, and the tour includes an air-conditioned vehicle, lunch, and hotel pickup. Children from age one are welcome; moderate fitness helps with the hiking sections.Is it for me?Most rainforest tours from Liberia stick to one waterfall or one wildlife spot. This one combines Rio Celeste's hike and sloths with a second waterfall you can actually swim in, so you get the jungle immersion and the water time in a single day without splitting your time between two separate tours.
Monteverde Night Walk: Nocturnal Wildlife with Naturalist GuideA guided night walk through Monteverde Wildlife Refuge where a naturalist leads small groups to observe the 87 percent of fauna active after dark. The tour lasts two hours and includes optic gear; the refuge entrance fee is part of your booking choice at checkout. You'll move slowly through the reserve spotting sloths, armadillos, owls, rain frogs, and insects like stick insects and leaf insects, with occasional sightings of kinkajous or green palm vipers.Is it for me?The slow pace and small group size suit anyone who wants to watch animals move and feed rather than rush through the forest. If you have cardiovascular concerns, check with the operator before booking—the terrain and duration are moderate, but the guide should know your situation beforehand.
Rio Celeste Tubing Adventure & Costa Rican LunchYou’ll float down Rio Celeste’s striking blue waters with a local guide, spotting monkeys and toucans as you go. Expect laughter on small rapids and real Costa Rican flavors at lunch after your adventure. The day is relaxed but lively—a mix of rainforest sounds, cool river air, and moments that stick with you long after.
Arenal: Ecogarden Night Walk & Wildlife Sighting with SnacksYou’ll step into Arenal’s Ecogarden as night falls, following local guides who help you spot frogs, snakes, and insects you’d never notice alone. Listen for jungle sounds, taste simple snacks mid-walk, and share small laughs with fellow travelers—all while learning about Costa Rica’s nocturnal wildlife. You might leave thinking about those glowing eyes long after.
Arenal Volcano Hike: Guided Trails, Old Lava Fields & SnacksYou’ll walk ancient lava trails with a local guide near Arenal Volcano, hear stories of eruptions past, taste fresh fruit under thick forest canopy, and catch views that stay in your mind long after. Includes pickup from La Fortuna, entry fees, snacks and drinks so you can just focus on each step.
Costa Rica: Private River Wildlife Tour & Local LunchYou’ll float quietly through Costa Rica’s tropical dry forest on a private river tour, spotting monkeys and crocodiles with your guide before sharing lunch at a local family’s home. Watch pottery being shaped by hand and soak up real-life moments you’ll remember long after you leave.
La Fortuna: Ecocentro Danaus Wildlife Walk & Butterfly GardenYou’ll follow gentle trails through Ecocentro Danaus near La Fortuna with a guide who knows every sound and shadow—spotting sloths, butterflies, bright birds, maybe even an iguana or two. Pause for stories from Maleku culture before heading back out into town. It’s peaceful here in ways you might not expect—you’ll probably leave smiling for reasons you can’t explain.
Tortuguero Canals & Cahuita Park Wildlife TourA six-hour guided tour through Tortuguero Canals and Cahuita National Park combines a boat ride through jungle waterways, a two-kilometer forest walk, a banana plantation demonstration, lunch, and a drive through Puerto Limón's Caribbean neighborhoods. The tour includes bilingual guide, hotel pickup, air-conditioned transport, and lunch; you spot wildlife—crocodiles, manatees, monkeys, sloths, and tropical birds—without arranging the logistics yourself.Is it for me?Book this if you're based in Puerto Limón without a car or arriving by cruise ship—pickup is coordinated with your ship's schedule, and the guide handles all timing so you can spend a full day on the canals and in the forest.
Arenal Night Walk: Wild Frog Sanctuary After DarkAn Arenal night walk through the region's only wild frog sanctuary, where a trained naturalist guide leads you along flat rainforest trails to spot colorful tree frogs and other nocturnal wildlife among spring-fed ponds. The tour runs 3 hours, includes round-trip hotel pickup and a live guide in English or Spanish, and starts at 5pm from your accommodation. Children from age 6 are welcome; the minimum group size is two people.Is it for me?This is a shared group tour led by a guide, so you walk with other travelers and follow the naturalist's pace and route. Book it if you want to spot frogs and rainforest animals at the time they're most active, with someone who knows where to find them and what you're looking at—and if you're comfortable walking flat trails in the dark rainforest with a flashlight and closed shoes.
Bijagua & Upala: Rainforest Hike, Sloths & Rafting Day TripYou’ll hike real rainforest trails in Bijagua & Upala with a local guide who knows every bird call and secret spot for sloth sightings. Float by raft through quiet jungle waters, spot monkeys and toucans overhead, and enjoy small comforts like umbrellas and cold drinks along the way. Expect moments of laughter — and maybe a few surprises you’ll remember long after.
La Fortuna to SJO Airport: Private Transfer with Local DriverYou’ll get picked up right at your hotel in La Fortuna and travel together in an air-conditioned minivan with Wi-Fi all the way to Juan Santamaria Airport. Your Costa Rican driver handles everything — luggage, timing, even snack stops if you want them. There’s space for your group to relax, laugh, or just watch the countryside slide past before you say goodbye at SJO.
Esterillos & Jaco: Horseback Beach Ride with Ethical HorsesYou’ll ride calm, well-cared-for horses along Esterillos beach near Jaco with a local guide who knows every bend of shoreline—and every horse by name. Expect ocean breezes, small group company, unexpected wildlife moments, and plenty of time just listening to hoofbeats on sand. It’s more about connection than speed—and you might leave wanting to come back for sunset.
Tamarindo & Flamingo: Canopy Zipline Tour with Wildlife SightingYou’ll soar between ancient trees on this Tamarindo & Flamingo canopy tour, spotting monkeys and birds as you zipline high above Costa Rica’s dry forest. With hotel pickup included and friendly local guides leading every step, you’ll end up with dusty shoes, new laughs—and probably a story you’ll want to tell later.
