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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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.
Hiking to Curi-Cancha Reserve: Guided rainforest walkThis guided nature walk takes you through primary and secondary rainforest at Curi-Cancha Reserve near Monteverde, with a live guide in English or Spanish leading a small group on foot. You'll spend three hours watching for birds, tracking mammals in the canopy and learning the plant life that holds the forest together. Children from age 6 are welcome; the entrance fee to the reserve is included depending on which option you choose at checkout.Is it for me?Book this if you're comfortable walking steadily for three hours through forest terrain and want a guide who knows the wildlife calls and tracks to maximize your chances of spotting animals.
Private Guided Walking Tour at Hacienda Baru, QueposA private guided walking tour through Hacienda Baru near Quepos where you search for monkeys, sloths, toucans and other forest animals with a bilingual guide carrying an HD telescope for phone photography. The tour runs 2 to 3 hours early in the morning through less-trafficked trails, and your guide has over 10 years of certification. You pay your own $20 entry ticket to Hacienda Baru on the day of the tour; the minimum is 2 people, though solo travelers can join an existing group.Is it for me?The 2- to 3-hour morning window means you can explore the forest when animals are most active and still have the rest of your day free—ideal if you want wildlife spotting without committing a full day or competing with Manuel Antonio's crowds.
San Jose Bike & Bites: City tour with local food tastingA guided bicycle tour of San Jose that covers historical landmarks, parks and neighborhoods in 3–4 hours, led by a bilingual guide who speaks English and Spanish. The tour includes an urban bike, helmet, empanadas from Empanadas El Frontón (operating since 1948), and specialty coffee brewed by a local barista. Children are welcome from age 12 when accompanied by an adult.Is it for me?The tour runs 3–4 hours of steady riding through city neighborhoods, so it suits anyone comfortable on a bike for that length of time. If you want to see San Jose without renting a car or joining a bus group, the pace and the stops are built around moving slowly enough to notice the streets and eat where locals do.
Arenal: Zipline Canopy & Hot Springs with Hotel PickupYou’ll zip through Costa Rica’s lush rainforest canopy near Arenal Volcano with a local guide, spot wildlife like monkeys or birds overhead, then unwind in natural hot springs at Los Lagos. Hotel pickup makes it easy — just bring your sense of adventure and let yourself be surprised by how alive everything feels here.
Arenal Hanging Bridges: Rainforest Hiking & Wildlife WalkYou’ll walk suspended above Arenal’s rainforest on 15 hanging bridges with a local guide pointing out monkeys, birds, and hidden frogs along an easy 3 km trail. Expect hotel pickup, snacks on the way, and plenty of moments where you’ll just want to stop and stare at all that green—it sticks with you.
Pacuare River: Whitewater Rafting Tour from San Jose with PickupYou’ll feel your heart race as you tackle Pacuare River’s wildest rapids with a local guide by your side. Drift beneath rainforest canopies, catch glimpses of toucans or maybe even a sloth, and refuel with Costa Rican lunch after paddling hard. It’s equal parts thrill and quiet awe — something you’ll carry long after you dry off.
Liberia Airport (LIR) Transfer: Private Car & WiFiYou get picked up at Liberia airport with a name sign, ride in a private air-conditioned car with WiFi and water, and the driver takes you to your Guanacaste hotel on a set route. Stops for bathrooms or food are available if you ask. Children's seats and wheelchair access are included. The price is fixed before you land.Is it for me?Book this if you're landing at Liberia and want to skip the taxi negotiation and rental car desk — the driver knows where you're going, the price is set, and you can relax or work the whole way to your hotel.
Costa Rica Private Yacht Charter & Lunch from FlamingoYou’ll cruise Costa Rica’s coastline on a private yacht from Flamingo with local crew, fishing stops, water sports gear, and a chef-prepared lunch on deck. Swim or snorkel off secluded beaches, spot wildlife like turtles or dolphins, and relax with cocktails as sunset colors spill across the sea — moments you’ll remember long after you’re home.
Sunset catamaran Tamarindo: Snorkel and sail the PacificA 5-hour sunset catamaran tour from Tamarindo takes you sailing along the Costa Rican Pacific coast with time to snorkel, paddleboard, kayak or float at a secluded beach, then returns as the sky turns coral and gold. The crew serves a full meal and unlimited drinks, and depending on the season you may spot dolphins, sea turtles or humpback whales. A local crew and rooftop lounge with 360° views set the mood.Is it for me?The boat rocks with the Pacific swell, so if motion sickness is a concern for you, talk to the crew about timing and positioning on deck — many travelers find the rooftop lounge and forward sections calmer than below. The snorkeling and water activities are optional; you can stay on deck or in the lounge the whole time and still have the full experience.
Liberia Airport to Tamarindo Shuttle: Private, Flexible PickupYou’ll step off your flight at Liberia airport and spot your name on a whiteboard—no stress or searching for rides. Settle into an air-conditioned private shuttle with drinks and snacks as your local driver shares stories or lets you just soak up Guanacaste’s scenery. Arrive at your Tamarindo hotel relaxed, maybe still thinking about those monkey calls echoing through the trees.
Monteverde Cloud Forest Night Walk: Nocturnal wildlife tourA guided night walk through Monteverde cloud forest in Costa Rica where a professional guide leads you through the trees to spot nocturnal animals—mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians that only emerge after sunset. The tour lasts approximately two to three hours and includes hotel pickup and dropoff from Monteverde or Santa Elena, plus all entry fees. Children from age 4 are welcome, and guides speak English or Spanish.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to see the animals that hide during the day—the nocturnal mammals, roosting birds, and tarantulas that only move after dark. The fixed schedule and included pickup mean the logistics are settled, so the evening is free to focus on what the guide finds in the trees.
Monteverde Zipline & Hanging Bridges Tour: Cloud Forest CanopyA five-hour zipline and hanging bridges tour in Monteverde operates entirely within the cloud forest canopy at Selvatura Park. You cross the canopy on a high-capacity cable with full safety gear, then walk 3.06 kilometers of trails crossing eight suspension bridges ranging from 50 to 170 meters in length. The tour includes a bilingual guide, all equipment, and hotel pickup and drop-off in Monteverde.Is it for me?The bilingual guide means you follow the tour comfortably in English or Spanish — choose the language at checkout. The five-hour commitment and moderate fitness requirement suit travelers with an afternoon free and the stamina for sustained activity; if you prefer a shorter or less physically demanding canopy experience, look for a bridges-only tour instead.
Monteverde Cloud Forest Walk: Quetzal & Wildlife with Local GuideA guided walk through Monteverde's cloud forest reserve with a certified local naturalist, lasting 2 to 2.5 hours and covering native flora, medicinal plants, and wildlife including the Resplendent Quetzal, toucans, monkeys and hummingbirds. The guide weaves scientific knowledge with cultural storytelling, and you finish at the hummingbird sanctuary. Binoculars and a microscope are included for closer observation.Is it for me?This is a shared group tour led by a guide who sets the pace and does the interpreting, so it suits travelers who want expert knowledge without doing the research themselves. If you prefer to walk alone or move at your own speed, a self-guided option would serve you better; if you want the forest explained by someone who has spent a lifetime in it, this guide's knowledge is the difference.
Tamarindo ATV and Zipline Tour: 10 Treetop CablesAn ATV and zipline combo tour from Tamarindo puts you on your own semi-automatic Honda ATV (or paired on a double with a driver) to ride through backroads and forests, then sends you 10 stories up into the canopy to zipline down a series of cables above the dry tropical forest. The tour runs 2.5 hours with a trained bilingual guide, helmet, goggles and water included; pickup from your hotel is available on some options, and children from age 4 can ride along on shared ATVs.Is it for me?Book the "ATV Tour with Transportation" option if you're staying in central Tamarindo and want pickup and drop-off handled; choose "Meet at office" if you have your own transport or prefer to drive yourself to the starting point. Ride solo on a single ATV if you want to control the throttle, or pair up on a double ATV if you're traveling with kids or prefer to be a passenger through the backroads and forest.
Palo Verde Boat Safari & Blue Zone Culture Tour Costa RicaYou’ll spot monkeys and crocodiles on a peaceful river safari in Palo Verde National Park, then get hands-on with Costa Rican cooking and pottery in the heart of Blue Zone country. It’s a real mix of wild nature and local flavor—perfect if you want more than just sightseeing.
Monteverde: Waterfalls Trek & Horseback Ride with LunchYou’ll hike down Monteverde’s lush trails with a local guide, pause by riverside waterfalls for snacks (and maybe a swim), then ride horseback back up the mountain before sitting down to a Costa Rican lunch. Expect muddy boots, laughter on creaky bridges, and views of distant volcanoes you’ll remember long after the day ends.
Small Group Canoe Tour: Tortuguero National Park WildlifeA small group canoe tour through Tortuguero National Park on Costa Rica's Caribbean Coast, where a local guide paddles you through the park's canals while you observe wildlife and listen to the rainforest. The tour starts early at 5:30am with coffee and fruit, includes binoculars and a dry-bag, and runs two to three hours. Available in English or Spanish.Is it for me?The 5:30am start and guide-paddled canoe mean you don't need a car or early-morning planning—you arrive at the meeting point and the guide handles the route and the pace through the park from there.
Kayaking and Snorkeling to Capitan Island, TamarindoKayak and snorkel trip from Tamarindo to Capitan Island, the only island within Las Baulas National Park, created by volcanic eruption. You paddle across open ocean for about 25 minutes, land on white sand, explore lava fields and rock formations, walk through tide pools to see sea urchins and starfish, then snorkel at a couple of stops in the surrounding clear water. The trip runs three hours total, includes all equipment, a guide in English or Spanish, water and snacks, and meets on Playa Tamarindo in front of El Chiringuito Restaurant.Is it for me?The paddle across open ocean takes about 25 minutes each way and you spend three hours total on the water and island, so this suits an afternoon when you're comfortable with moderate paddling and want to move between snorkeling stops rather than stay in one place. Infants ride on an adult's lap, and children from age 3 can join, though the trip isn't recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnancy.
Osa Waterfalls Trek from Jaco: Five Falls, Swim & JumpThis 10-hour waterfall trek from Jaco takes a small group of 12 into the Osa area to visit five falls across three remote locations, with time to swim and jump in the pools. You trek between the falls, eat a traditional Costa Rican lunch in the rainforest, and travel by private vehicle with an English-speaking guide who handles all the routing and timing. Moderate fitness is needed for the hiking and climbing.Is it for me?Book this trek if you want to swim and jump at waterfalls instead of viewing them from a distance, and if you have the fitness for a full day of hiking and climbing in the jungle. The small group size and the guide's knowledge of the Osa terrain mean you reach waterfalls most Jaco visitors never see, and the 10-hour commitment gives you real time in the water at each one instead of a quick stop-and-go.
