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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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.
San Jose to Manuel Antonio: Catamaran & Park Tour with LunchYou’ll leave San Jose before sunrise and find yourself sailing Pacific waters by mid-morning—snorkeling among tropical fish, sharing lunch on deck, then wandering through Manuel Antonio’s rainforest with a local guide who spots sloths before you even notice them. End your day relaxing on a wild beach surrounded by jungle—moments you’ll remember long after you’re home.
Chorro Rafting Private Trip from Manuel Antonio | Class IV-V RapidsYou’ll tackle wild rapids just outside Manuel Antonio with expert guides who know every bend of the Chorro section. Expect adrenaline, teamwork, and stories to tell.
Rio Celeste Nature Hike: Swimming & Wildlife in La FortunaYou swim in Rio Celeste's turquoise water, walk through old-growth forest with a local guide who finds wildlife most visitors miss, and return with park entry and water included. The hike suits moderate fitness and takes most of a morning.Is it for me?Pick this if you want to see Rio Celeste and wildlife without navigating the national park alone — the local guide is what makes finding sloths and monkeys possible, and the fixed itinerary means you don't have to plan the route or timing yourself.
Carara National Park bird watching tour: Spot macawsA bird watching tour in Carara National Park with a native guide fluent in English, Spanish, French or German, starting with early hotel pickup and including park entry and air-conditioned transport. The park sits in a transition zone where tropical rainforest meets dry forest, gathering species from both habitats — scarlet macaws, toucans, antbirds, tinamous, trogons, manakins, motmots and jacamars — making it one of Costa Rica's premier birding sites. The tour runs 3 to 5 hours depending on sightings and your interests; you can add a 2-hour Tarcoles River birding extension on request.Is it for me?Choose the private tour if you want the guide's full attention on your group's sightings and pace; pick the group tour if you prefer to share the cost and enjoy birding alongside other enthusiasts. Either way, the early start and native guide are what turn a walk through the forest into a morning of actual bird spotting instead of hoping something flies past.
La Paz Waterfall Gardens tour: 5 waterfalls & wildlifeA 7-hour guided tour of La Paz Waterfall Gardens from San Jose takes you through rainforest trails to five waterfalls and a wildlife sanctuary holding over 100 species. Hotel pickup, a professional guide in English or Spanish, park entry and a buffet lunch with 35+ options are all included; children from age 3 are welcome.Is it for me?Choose this if you want a guide timing the day around wildlife viewing patterns and a midday meal break; pick self-guided entry if you prefer exploring the gardens and trails at your own pace.
Eden Chocolate Tour with Lunch: Make Your Own BonbonsThe Eden Chocolate Tour is a hands-on class where you roast and grind cocoa beans, learn the conching and refining process, and make your own chocolate bonbons at an organic plantation near La Fortuna. The experience runs two and a half hours and includes a tasting of five different chocolates, caramelized cocoa seeds, a cacao tea, and a typical Costa Rican lunch afterward. A live guide in English or Spanish leads the whole thing.Is it for me?The tour picks you up and brings you to the plantation, so you do not need a car or need to find the place yourself — the guide handles the route and the timing, which matters if you are staying in town without your own transport.
La Paz Waterfall Gardens tour: Wildlife exhibitsA seven-hour tour from San José to La Paz Waterfall Gardens includes hotel pickup, a guided walk through rainforest to the waterfall, visits to the hummingbird gallery, serpentarium, bird house, butterfly garden and frog exhibit, lunch, and a live guide in English or Spanish. The tour operates with a minimum of two travelers and requires moderate physical fitness for the trail walk.Is it for me?You book this tour when you land in San José and have a free morning or afternoon but no rental car — the pickup and the guide handle the logistics, and the seven hours fit between arrival and an evening flight or a second day of exploring. It works for families with children of all ages because the exhibits are paced for everyone, though the rainforest walk itself requires moderate fitness and comfortable walking shoes.
San José to Jaco Beach Shuttle & Surfboard TransferSkip taxi stress with a shared shuttle ride from San José Airport to Jaco Beach — your surfboard rides free, pets are welcome, and you’ll meet a local driver who knows every curve of the road. Enjoy working WiFi and air conditioning as you watch Costa Rica’s landscape change outside your window… it’s an easy start you’ll remember long after arrival.
Kayaking and snorkeling tour Tamarindo: Paddle to Captain IslandA 2.5-hour kayaking and snorkeling activity in Tamarindo where you paddle your own single or double kayak from the beach to Captain Island, then snorkel the waters around it with a bilingual guide. The tour includes a 20-minute kayak lesson if you need one, snorkeling gear, water and snacks, with pickup and drop-off in the Tamarindo/Langosta area. Departure time shifts with the tide and will be confirmed after booking.Is it for me?The guide speaks English and Spanish, so you can follow the whole paddle and snorkel comfortably in whichever language you prefer. This tour suits anyone with moderate fitness who can paddle for 30–40 minutes and spend 45 minutes in the water, and it works well for small groups or families who want to move at their own pace without a large tour boat.
Palo Verde: Wildlife Boat Tour & Local Lunch with PickupYou’ll glide through Palo Verde’s wetlands by boat with a local guide who knows every bird call and hidden croc. Spot monkeys and rare birds up close before sharing a rustic Costa Rican lunch with your group. Includes hotel pickup—expect real wildlife moments and warm local flavors along the way.
See Sloths & Blue River Waterfall in Costa RicaYou’ll swim under a hidden waterfall, hike to a surreal blue river, and spot wild sloths—all in one day. It’s a real taste of Costa Rica’s wild side, with local guides who know every shortcut and secret spot.
Whitewater Rafting Tenorio River from Tamarindo: Class III & IVIf you want real adventure near Tamarindo, this Tenorio River rafting trip is it. You'll paddle through wild rapids with expert guides, see Costa Rica's untamed side up close, and share laughs (and maybe a few nervous yells) with fellow travelers. It's not just about adrenaline—it's about feeling alive in the heart of nature.
Jaco Street Art Bike Tour with Local Guide & Beach ViewsHop on a bike and cruise through Jaco’s lively streets with a local guide leading the way. Discover massive murals by Costa Rican and international artists, learn about neighborhood stories, and enjoy beachside views as you ride. End your tour with a cool drink and new appreciation for this creative town.
Guanacaste Airport - Planet Hollywood: Private transferYou’ll skip airport stress with a private transfer from Guanacaste Airport to Planet Hollywood Beach Resort. Your local driver meets you right outside arrivals with your name on a sign, offers chilled water, and handles all logistics—even infant seats if you need them. It’s quiet, comfortable, and gives you a first taste of Costa Rica’s warmth—something you’ll remember long after arrival.
Sky Adventures Arenal: Zipline, Gondola & Treetop WalkSky Adventures Arenal is a guided activity in La Fortuna where you zipline, ride a gondola and walk suspended through the canopy in one morning. The Sky Trek course runs 7 cables that climb up to 200 meters high and 750 meters long, with speeds reaching 70 km/h; the Sky Tram gondola carries you to a lookout over Arenal Volcano; the Sky Walk lets you hike through the treetops. A guide in English or Spanish leads the day, and pickup from your hotel is included.Is it for me?The guide speaks English or Spanish, so you follow the commentary comfortably in either language. Book this if you want to move fast between activities and don't need a full day of hiking on the ground.
Airport to JW Marriott Guanacaste: Private car, no waitingYou land at Liberia, your driver meets you at arrivals with a sign, and you're driven directly to the JW Marriott Guanacaste in an air-conditioned vehicle with a vaccinated driver. The price is fixed before you arrive, infant seats are available, and you skip the taxi negotiation entirely. No surprises, no waiting — just a smooth handoff from airport to resort.Is it for me?Worth booking if you land at Liberia without a rental car or want to skip the taxi negotiation — the driver meets you at arrivals and the price is set, so ground transport stops being a problem the moment you step outside.
ATV and Ziplining in La Fortuna: 28 km ride and 8-cable courseATV and ziplining activity in La Fortuna combines a 28 km ride through private farmland with views of Arenal Volcano, followed by an 8-cable and 13-platform zipline circuit through the rainforest. A live guide leads both sections in English or Spanish, with pickup, water and snacks included. Minimum age is 12; a valid driver's license is required for the ATV portion.Is it for me?You'll need a valid driver's license and moderate fitness to handle both the ATV ride and the zipline course—this is a full-day commitment to two different adrenaline activities, not a casual half-day option. Book the single or double ATV option depending on whether you want to ride solo or share a vehicle with another participant.
La Paz Waterfall Gardens & Coffee Plantation Tour: 8 HoursAn eight-hour guided tour from La Paz pairs a working coffee plantation with La Paz Waterfall Gardens, where you walk a trail to a waterfall in the rainforest and tour wildlife exhibits. Hotel pickup and buffet lunch are included, and the guide explains the coffee process from sowing to harvest. The park holds a hummingbird gallery, serpentarium, bird house, butterfly garden, frog exhibit and jungle cats that cannot be released to the wild.Is it for me?The eight-hour commitment leaves the rest of your day free, which suits anyone staying in the La Paz area who wants both a working plantation and a full park tour without splitting them across two days. The minivan and fixed schedule mean you move through both stops without arranging transport or timing yourself.
