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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La Fortuna zip lining and canyoning combo: Rappel waterfallsA full-day zip lining and canyoning combo near La Fortuna pairs two separate adventures: a morning zip line course with heights up to 600 feet above the rainforest canopy, followed by an afternoon canyon descent where you rappel down waterfalls, rock climb and navigate the Monkey Drop. Hotel pickup, a Costa Rican lunch and professional guides in English or Spanish are included; children from age 5 can join.Is it for me?Book this if you want to combine zip-lining and canyoning in one day with a group following set timing and guides' instruction, rather than exploring each activity independently.
La Fortuna: Arenal Volcano, Hanging Bridges, Waterfall & Hot SpringsYou’ll walk misty jungle bridges above La Fortuna, swim under a roaring waterfall, hike ancient lava fields at Arenal Volcano and end up soaking in natural hot springs by dusk—with local meals included and someone else handling all the driving. If you want one wild Costa Rica day that feels full but never rushed, this is it.
La Fortuna: Mistico Hanging Bridges, Lunch & Hot SpringsYou’ll walk high above La Fortuna’s rainforest on Mistico’s hanging bridges with a local guide who knows every bird call and hidden sloth. Spot wildlife, feel the sway underfoot, then sit down for a traditional Costa Rican casado lunch before soaking tired legs in Palmera real hot springs out back. It’s one of those days you’ll remember for how alive everything feels around you.
Playa Grande Surfing Lesson: Small Group, Personal InstructionA private group surfing lesson in Playa Grande pairs you with a local instructor who teaches beginners and intermediates in the water for 90 minutes. Your group stays separate from other travelers, and the instructor keeps the ratio small — up to three adults or two children per teacher — so you get hands-on correction, wave selection help, and safety guidance throughout. Surfboard, rash guard, and a safety briefing on land come first; then you practice in the whitewater, building confidence before moving into deeper water.Is it for me?Book this lesson if your group wants to learn together without being mixed with strangers or competing for the instructor's attention — the small ratio and private format mean everyone gets hands-on correction and the instructor picks waves suited to where each person is that day.
La Leona Waterfall Cliff Jumping & Tubing Private AdventureA private full-day adventure combining cliff jumping on the Colorado River, a moderate-to-challenging hike to La Leona Waterfall with ropes and caves, and a 1.5-hour white water tubing run. The day spans seven to nine hours and includes lunch, water, snacks, video of your jumps, and a private guide in English or Spanish. Sturdy closed-toe shoes and a good fitness level are required.Is it for me?This is a private tour, so you move at your own pace with a single guide rather than in a group. It suits anyone who wants to choose their own cliff height and control the intensity of the day without waiting for others to catch up or holding a group back.
Bribri Shaman Medicinal Plants & Waterfall Hike: 5 HoursA five-hour class and hike in Limón on the Caribbean Coast where you spend time in a Bribri shaman's home learning about medicinal plants, their healing uses, and how cacao is made, followed by a traditional meal and a swim at a waterfall. The shaman speaks English or Spanish and pickup is included; the group requires at least two people to open a reservation.Is it for me?Five hours is long enough to move through the ceremony, cacao-making, a meal and the waterfall without rushing, but short enough to fit into a single morning or afternoon and leave the rest of your day open. If you want to learn how a Bribri shaman actually works with plants rather than watch a demonstration, this is the format that makes it possible.
Monteverde Night Walk: Wildlife Sighting & Coffee Farm TrailsYou’ll wander Monteverde’s forest trails at night with a local guide, flashlight in hand, searching for sleeping birds, bright frogs, mammals and insects among coffee plants. Small group size means you can ask questions or just listen as your senses adjust to the dark—sometimes you’ll even catch a glimpse of stars above the canopy.
San Jose to La Fortuna: Private VIP Transfer & Flexible StopsYou’ll step off your flight at San Jose Airport and find your driver waiting—even if you’re delayed—and settle into a private van with cold water and real conversation. Stop for snacks or photos on your way to La Fortuna, feeling taken care of every mile until you’re dropped right at your hotel door. It’s an easy start that lets you breathe in Costa Rica from the very first moment.
Horseback Riding in La Fortuna: River Crossings & Forest TrailsHorseback riding in La Fortuna takes you through tropical forest trails and across river crossings on well-trained horses, led by a bilingual local guide. The experience runs about 2 hours with flexible pacing for photos and breaks, includes fresh fruit at the start and a natural drink at the end, and suits all ages and riding levels. Groups stay small (2 to 15 travelers), and you get time to feed the horses before leaving.Is it for me?Book this if you have a free afternoon in La Fortuna and want to move through the landscape instead of watching it pass—the river crossings and forest trails are part of the ride itself, not a backdrop, and the small group size means the pace stays yours.
Monteverde Birdwatching Hike: Resplendent Quetzal & Cloud ForestA 4-hour guided birdwatching hike through the Curicancha Reserve in Monteverde, Costa Rica, with a certified bilingual naturalist and high-definition spotting scope. You walk 2 to 3 kilometers of well-maintained forest trails designed for all fitness levels, starting at 6:30am, to observe species like the Resplendent Quetzal, toucans and Bellbirds in their natural habitat. The guide carries the scope so you see detail the naked eye misses.Is it for me?Book this hike if you're staying in Monteverde without a car and want to see the Resplendent Quetzal and other cloud forest birds with someone who knows exactly where to find them. The early 6:30am start and fixed 4-hour window mean you're in the forest during peak activity, and the guide's spotting scope turns distant birds into something you can actually see.
Tortuguero Canoe Tour: Wildlife Canals with Local GuideYou’ll paddle slowly through Tortuguero’s lush canals with a local guide who knows every bend and birdcall. Spot monkeys, sloths, caimans, and bright birds from your canoe or kayak. Tours are offered in your preferred language, so you won’t miss any details — just quiet moments and wild encounters you’ll remember long after the trip.
Balsa River Rafting in La Fortuna: Class 2-3 rapidsBalsa River rafting near La Fortuna puts you on an 11 km run of Class 2-3 rapids with a live guide, hotel pickup at 10 AM, and return by 3 PM. The river is dam-controlled and relatively continuous—most of the whitewater comes in the first hour, leaving the second half for wildlife spotting and jungle scenery. All gear, lunch and drinks are included; children from age 8 can join, and no swimming ability or prior rafting experience is required.Is it for me?The guide speaks English, Spanish or Hindi, so choose the language that fits your group. Children from age 8 can paddle, and no swimming ability or prior experience is needed—this is built for families and first-timers who want the rapids without the barrier to entry.
Poás Volcano National Park tour from San José: Main crater hikeA half-day tour from San José to Poás Volcano National Park includes hotel pickup, an air-conditioned vehicle, a professional guide, breakfast and bottled water. You walk the trails around the main crater, see the sulfur fumaroles and pass through coffee plantations, fern farms and flower fields on the drive up. The tour skips the entrance lines, and the guide speaks English or Spanish.Is it for me?If you're staying in San José without a rental car, the hotel pickup means you don't arrange transport to the park—the guide collects you and handles the drive, so you can leave early and spend the morning at the crater instead of figuring out how to get there.
Carara National Park Birdwatching Tour: Macaws & Toucans in JacoA private birdwatching and photography tour in Carara National Park near Jaco operates with pickup from your accommodation, a local guide fluent in English or Spanish, and park entry included. You spend three hours on easily accessible trails where macaws, toucans, motmots, manakins and other species show themselves in numbers that make a morning productive for both binoculars and cameras. Children from age five are welcome; the guide adjusts the pace to your fitness level.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want a small private group—just your party and the guide—and prefer a morning focused on birds rather than a longer mixed-activity day. The three-hour window and easy trails suit families with young children and anyone who wants to see a high number of species without committing a full day or tackling difficult terrain.
San Jose Walking Tour: 40+ stops, galleries & public artYou walk through San Jose's galleries, parks, and public art with a guide who explains current Costa Rica alongside the sites themselves. Forty-plus stops over a few hours, small groups, meeting at Parque Morazan at 10:15am. The route shifts based on what's happening that day—protests, concerts, ceremonies—so no two tours are identical. Book in advance; same-day availability requires an email.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want to understand San Jose beyond the guidebook—someone curious about how Costa Ricans live now, not just what happened in the past. Expect to be on your feet for a few hours with a guide who reads the city as it happens that day, which is what makes the tour feel alive instead of scripted.
Canopy Tour La Fortuna: 8 Cables, Tarzan Swing & Superman CableA canopy tour through 500 acres of cloud forest in La Fortuna where you zip across 8 cables, walk suspended bridges, swing on a Tarzan rope and hike short jungle trails between platforms high in the trees. A professional guide fits you with safety harness and gear, leads you through the canopy, and lunch is included; hotel pickup is available at selected properties. The tour runs 3 hours and suits all fitness levels from age 4 up.Is it for me?The tour keeps a steady pace of gliding, walking and swinging over three hours with no long stretches of sitting—you're moving through the canopy the whole time, which is what makes the forest come alive around you instead of staying a view from below.
Liberia Airport Transfer: Private Ride, WiFi & Flexible StopsYou’ll step off your flight in Liberia and find your name waiting on a sign—a real person ready to help with bags and questions. This private transfer includes WiFi in the van, room for quick stops if you need snacks or groceries, and a local driver who’ll make things easy even if your Spanish is rusty. It’s quiet comfort after travel chaos—just what you need before starting your trip.
Jaco: Savegre River Rafting Class II-III with Lunch & PickupYou’ll paddle through wild Class II-III rapids on Costa Rica’s cleanest river with a local guide who knows every bend. Spot monkeys and toucans between splashes, snack on fresh fruit by the water’s edge, then relax over lunch before your ride back to Jaco. It’s equal parts thrill and quiet rainforest magic — you’ll remember both.
ATV Riding in Jaco: Jungle & River TrailsATV riding in Jaco puts you behind the handlebars for 2 hours on jungle trails, river paths and muddy terrain in the Central Pacific. A bilingual guide leads the route, which adjusts to your riding ability and weather; fruits, water and professional photography are included. Valid driver's license and a credit card (for ATV deposit) are required at booking.Is it for me?The guide speaks English and Spanish, so if you're comfortable following instructions in either language, you'll track the route and safety briefing without strain. The ride adjusts to your ability—beginners and experienced riders both get a line that matches their control, which is what makes a 2-hour session feel manageable rather than overwhelming.
Costa Rica: Ebano Waterfalls Hike & Rainforest Safari LunchYou’ll trek rainforest trails with a local guide, cross streams and bridges under towering trees, swim beneath double waterfalls at Ebano Natural Reserve, and share a banana-leaf lunch by the river. Expect laughter, wildlife sightings—maybe even monkeys—and moments that stick with you long after you’re dry again.
