Things to do in Costa Rica
Hanging Bridges in La Fortuna27 optionsLa Fortuna Zipline22 optionsTortuga Island Tours20 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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San Jose Airport to Manuel Antonio: Private Shuttle & Fruit Market StopYour driver meets you at SJO arrivals with a name sign and takes you directly to Manuel Antonio in a private, air-conditioned minivan. You stop at a local fruit market for thirty minutes, then spend the three-hour drive watching for crocodiles and macaws along the route. No shared shuttles, no multiple transfers, no waiting for other passengers — just a fixed pickup time that matches your flight and a driver who knows where to look.Is it for me?Book this if you're arriving at San Jose Airport and want to reach Manuel Antonio without arranging your own transport or waiting for a shared shuttle to fill up — the private minivan and flight tracking mean you move on your schedule, not the airport's or another passenger's.
Kayaking Preciosa Platanares: Mangrove wildlife refugeKayak through the mangrove estuaries of Preciosa Platanares Wild Life Refuge with a local guide, paddling under 70-foot trees and watching for wildlife adapted to brackish water and tidal shifts. The trip lasts three hours, leaves one or two hours before high tide, and includes kayak with back rest, life jacket, paddle, snacks and instruction; no prior paddling experience is required. Small groups stay under ten paddlers plus the guide.Is it for me?The three-hour window fits into a half-day itinerary and leaves the afternoon free for other plans. If you have only a morning or an afternoon in the area, this is the activity that fills it without eating the whole day.
Limon: Tortuguero Canals Boat Tour & Banana Plantation VisitYou’ll float through Limon’s Tortuguero Canals spotting wildlife with a local guide, taste fresh bananas right on the plantation, dip your feet in Caribbean waters at Playa Bonita, and catch glimpses of daily life in town. Expect real moments—sometimes surprising, sometimes peaceful—that stick with you long after.
Lake Arenal Jet Ski Rental: 1-Hour Guided Water AdventureYou rent a jet ski for one hour on Lake Arenal, suited to all skill levels. The rental includes a life vest, dry bag, bottled water, fuel, and a safety tutorial before you launch. A $200 refundable deposit secures the equipment. The clock starts when you hit the water, not when you arrive, so you have time to gear up without losing ride time.Is it for me?Book this if you want to explore Lake Arenal on your own schedule without a guide or group — you set the pace and the route, and the included fuel means you can ride for the full hour without worrying about running out of gas.
Snorkeling in Quepos: Catamaran cruise with marine wildlifeSnorkel Playa Biesanz aboard a catamaran from Marina Pez Vela in Quepos, with hotel pickup, a professional guide, snorkeling gear and a meal included. Choose a morning departure to explore the bay's marine life in calm water, or an afternoon sunset cruise along the Manuel Antonio coastline. The boat carries snacks and natural juices throughout the journey.Is it for me?Book the morning departure if you want to spend time underwater spotting sea turtles and reef fish in clear water; choose the sunset cruise if you'd rather stay on deck, watch the coastline and end the afternoon with dinner as the light fades over the Pacific.
Kayaking Tortuguero National Park: Mangroves at dawnKayak the mangroves of Tortuguero National Park on the Caribbean Coast, paddling for roughly three hours at dawn to watch wildlife in the channels and shallows. The activity includes a guide in English or Spanish, life jackets and oars, a pre-dawn snack of coffee, tea, cookies and fruit, and park entrance; children from age 5 are welcome. A guide speaks one language per departure, so confirm which one when you book.Is it for me?Pick the English or Spanish departure based on which language you speak, and choose this early morning slot if you want to paddle while wildlife is most active and visible in the quiet mangroves.
Horseback Riding Arenal Volcano: Private Cattle Farm TrailsHorseback riding around Arenal Volcano takes you through lush primary forest and cattle pastures on a private farm at the volcano's base, with a bilingual guide leading the way on well-trained horses. The route climbs from the lowest to the highest part of the property, stopping at a lagoon where the horses drink and you stretch, then reaching a lookout with direct views of the volcanic cone and old lava fields. Hotel pickup from La Fortuna is included; the ride takes about two and a half hours and suits riders of all skill levels.Is it for me?Choose the private option at Los Lagos Stable if you want to set your own pace and avoid coordinating with other riders; the shared departures work better if you're traveling solo or with one other person and don't mind a small group. Riders need moderate fitness because the trail climbs steadily uphill, but the gentle pace and well-trained horses mean you can manage it without prior saddle experience.
Playa Flamingo: Canopy Zip Lines, Hot Springs & Sugar Mill TourYou zip-line across the rainforest canopy, slide down a natural waterslide into a pool, tour a working sugar mill and taste fresh Costa Rican coffee, then spend your afternoon in thermal hot springs with mud treatments and saunas. Hotel pickup, lunch, and a professional guide are included, and the day ends with a return to your hotel.Is it for me?Book this if you want to pack Costa Rica's main experiences—adventure, culture, and relaxation—into a single day without arranging transport, timing activities separately, or deciding what to do next; the fixed itinerary handles all of it, and the small group size keeps each stop from feeling rushed.
Canyoning and Zipline near La Fortuna: 5 rappels and 400 metersCanyoning and zipline activity near La Fortuna combines five rappels down waterfalls (100 meters total, including a 55-meter drop from a hanging bridge) with a 400-meter zip-line run through cloud forest. Hotel pickup and drop-off, professional guide, lunch and all safety gear are included; the activity runs 5.5 hours and suits all fitness levels. A multilingual guide leads in English, Spanish, Portuguese or Italian.Is it for me?Book this activity if you're staying in La Fortuna without a car—pickup from your hotel means you skip arranging transport, and the guide handles all the technical setup, so you focus on the rappels and the zipline itself.
Carara National Park Private Tour: Scarlet Macaws & MonkeysA private guided nature walk through Carara National Park in Puntarenas, where you follow trails with an expert naturalist through forest that bridges the dry north and humid south. The tour includes park entry, pickup, water, and four hours to spot scarlet macaws, monkeys, reptiles and butterflies across one of Costa Rica's richest ecosystems.Is it for me?Book this private tour if you want a guide who knows where the scarlet macaws nest and can stop as long as you need to photograph them—the personalized pace and expert naturalist are what turn a walk into a real wildlife encounter instead of a rushed checklist of stops.
Guanacaste Buggy Tour & Sloth Sanctuary Day TripYou’ll ride off-road buggies through Guanacaste’s rugged mountains with a local guide, visit Costa Rica’s largest sloth sanctuary to meet rescued wildlife, and cool off with swims at three unique beaches. Expect muddy shoes, laughter, and moments of quiet awe you’ll remember long after the trip.
Tamarindo: Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt Game & Local SurprisesYou’ll wander Tamarindo solving playful riddles at your own pace, with seven days to explore hidden murals and meet locals along the way. Expect spontaneous moments—like arranging seashells or catching live music—and unlock special discounts through your scavenger hunt app. This isn’t just sightseeing; it’s letting Tamarindo surprise you.
Manuel Antonio National Park Day Trip from San Jose: Wildlife & BeachesYou're picked up from your San Jose hotel and driven to Manuel Antonio with stops at a fruit stand, crocodile bridge, and macaw spotting point along the way. After breakfast, you hike the rainforest for an hour with a bilingual guide looking for monkeys, sloths, and tropical birds, then have free time to swim or explore the beaches. Lunch with ocean views is included before the return drive to your hotel in the late afternoon.Is it for me?Pick this tour if you want to see Manuel Antonio's wildlife and beaches without renting a car, navigating on your own, or deciding which trails are worth your time—the guide handles the spotting and the timing keeps you ahead of the afternoon crowds.
Tortuga Island Day Trip from Puntarenas: Boat & Beach LunchYou board a boat in Puntarenas and spend the day on Tortuga Island, 12 nautical miles offshore in the Gulf of Nicoya. The itinerary includes a narrated pass by the abandoned San Lucas prison, snorkeling equipment, a full lunch with grilled fish and chicken, and unlimited drinks—coffee, rum punch, sodas and water throughout the day. The return trip includes coffee and cake. Optional activities like kayaking and banana boats are available to add on your own.Is it for me?Pick this if you want a full beach day without arranging your own boat, snorkeling gear or food—the fixed itinerary and included meals mean you arrive at the dock and everything else is handled.
Kayaking and Stand-Up Paddle Boarding in Costa RicaKayak or stand-up paddle board down a river through mangrove areas in Costa Rica, visiting the Ostional Turtle nesting grounds where you'll learn why they matter. A guide explains the ecosystem along the way; refreshments and fresh local fruit are provided, and the paddle takes roughly two hours.Is it for me?Book this if you want to paddle yourself in a small guided group rather than watch from a boat, and you're comfortable with a hands-on experience in tidal waters.
Playa Hermosa: Private UTV Buggy Tour & Beach TrailsYou drive your own UTV through jungle trails, river crossings, and coastal backroads in Guanacaste with a local guide leading the way. Hotel pickup is included, groups stay small (four per vehicle), and you get a helmet and real insights about wildlife and local life. Expect to finish muddy and wet, so pack a change of clothes. Drivers need a valid license and must be at least 16; passengers can be as young as five.Is it for me?Right for anyone who wants to drive their own vehicle through real backcountry rather than sit in a van, and for groups of friends or families who want to stay together—the four-person limit per UTV keeps it intimate and means you're not waiting for a big tour to assemble.
Caribbean Coast Costa Rica: Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Hike & MonkeysYou hike through a protected South Caribbean jungle with a local guide, spotting three monkey species, sloths, tropical birds, and reptiles across mountain and coastal trails. Binoculars and a fruit snack are provided. Hotel pickup starts at 7:30 a.m. from your location, and the refuge remains undeveloped and pollution-free, so the wildlife you see is the wildlife that actually lives there.Is it for me?This hike suits travelers who want to see Caribbean jungle wildlife without arranging their own transport or guide — the early pickup and fixed route mean you show up ready to walk, and the guide handles the timing and the explanations of what you're seeing.
Doka Coffee Tour, Poás Volcano & La Paz Waterfall from San JoseA full-day guided tour from San Jose that starts at Doka Coffee Plantation with breakfast and a tour of how the beans are processed, moves to Poás Volcano National Park to see the active 2,708-meter crater and its gas emissions, and ends at La Paz Waterfall Gardens where you walk past an aviary, the country's largest butterfly observatory, hummingbird gallery, serpentarium, and frog, monkey and cat exhibitions before lunch. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included; the tour operates with a live guide in English or Spanish and requires a minimum of two travelers.Is it for me?Book this tour if you're staying in San Jose without a rental car — hotel pickup means you don't arrange your own transport to any of the three sites, and the 10-hour day packs three separate ecosystems into one outing with all meals and entry fees settled in advance.
La Fortuna: Hanging Bridges & Waterfall Hike with LunchYou’ll hike through rainforest canopy on hanging bridges near Arenal, spot wildlife with a local guide, then descend to swim or relax by La Fortuna Waterfall before sharing lunch at a countryside spot. Expect muddy shoes and moments you’ll want to remember long after.
Río Celeste Waterfall Hike from La Fortuna: Turquoise lagoonThis day trip from La Fortuna takes you on a guided hike through Tenorio Volcano National Park to Río Celeste waterfall and its azure lagoon, with a stop at Los Teñideros to see two rivers merge and turn the water turquoise. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, along with lunch at a local restaurant after the hike. A local guide leads the trek and explains the rainforest's plant and animal life along the way.Is it for me?The tour departs from La Fortuna with hotel pickup included, so you don't need a car or a way to reach the park entrance 1.5 hours away — the guide handles the drive and the route, and you arrive ready to hike.
