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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La Fortuna: 12-Cable Zipline Over Waterfalls & Arenal VolcanoYou get a Jungle Bus ride to the canopy top with views of Arenal Volcano and two waterfalls; a 20-minute guided hike through the forest; twelve ziplines totaling 3.5 kilometers, including a 980-meter cable over La Fortuna Waterfall; safety gear and instruction; and time at a Maleku village to learn about indigenous Costa Rican life. The whole thing takes a half day, and you don't need to arrange transport or worry about equipment.Is it for me?Pick this tour if you want the full canopy and waterfall experience without arranging your own transport or safety equipment — the Jungle Bus, guide, and gear are all handled, and the mix of ziplining, hiking, and cultural time fills a half day without feeling rushed.
Playa Flamingo: 48ft Yacht with Snorkeling & Water SportsYou board a fully equipped 48ft catamaran in Playa Flamingo and choose your own mix of snorkeling, fishing, waterskiing, wakeboarding, or tubing over four hours. A naturalist guide and crew handle the boat and gear while you set the pace. Beer, wine, snacks, and all equipment are included; you return when the time is up.Is it for me?Right for families or groups who want flexibility over a fixed itinerary — you pick snorkeling, fishing, water sports, or a mix, and the crew adjusts the boat's route and pace to match. Plan for four hours on the water; that's the window, and it's what lets you fit multiple activities without rushing.
Tortuga Island Snorkel & Sunset Cruise from JacóYou snorkel at Tortuga Island with all gear provided, use the boat's water slide and dive boards, and enjoy a gourmet lunch with signature drinks on the beach. The return cruise follows the sunset along the Pacific coast. The fixed schedule means no arranging transport or timing yourself — you show up at Los Sueños Marina and the day is already planned.Is it for me?Book this if you want a full island and snorkel experience in half a day without arranging your own transport or timing — the fixed schedule and included lunch mean you show up and the day unfolds on its own.
Snorkeling in Manuel Antonio from Quepos: 37-foot catamaranA private catamaran snorkeling cruise departing from Quepos explores the coastline of Manuel Antonio National Park for four hours, with a guide, hotel pickup, snorkeling gear and a grilled fish lunch included. The boat holds up to 12 passengers and sails into open water to spot dolphins, sea turtles and manta rays before anchoring in Biesanz Bay for the snorkel. Dietary needs can be arranged at booking.Is it for me?Book the two-person option if you want an intimate cruise; the three-to-five or six-to-twelve options work for small families or groups who want to share the cost and the boat. All three are private to your party, so the guide's attention and the boat's route stay yours alone.
Nosara: Cycling tour with local guide & bamboo bikesYou’ll ride locally crafted bamboo bikes through Nosara’s neighborhoods, river crossings, black sand beaches, and fishing villages with a friendly local guide. Expect stories about sea turtles at Ostional beach and reforestation efforts near Guiones. Finish with fresh coconut water in your hand — one of those little moments you’ll remember long after heading home.
Palo Verde National Park Boat Tour: Wildlife & WetlandsA boat tour of Palo Verde National Park in Costa Rica's Guanacaste region, traveling by minivan from your hotel and then by private boat through marshland and forested areas along the Tempisque and Bebedero rivers. You'll see native and migratory birds, crocodiles, white-faced and howler monkeys, iguanas, and bats in one of the world's best remaining tropical dry forests. Hotel pickup, lunch and an English-speaking guide are included; the tour runs three hours total.Is it for me?The boat keeps you on the water for the entire tour, so you see wildlife without hiking or climbing—a good fit if you want to watch the forest and wetlands from a steady vantage point. A minimum of two paying adults per booking is required, and children must be accompanied by an adult.
Tortuguero Canal Eco Cruise & Banana Plantation Tour LimonIf you want to spot monkeys and sloths from a jungle boat, taste fresh fruit straight from local farms, and get real stories about Costa Rican life from someone who lives it every day—this tour’s for you.
SJO Airport - Manuel Antonio: Private Transfer with Local DriverYou’ll be greeted at SJO Airport by your local driver and travel in comfort toward Manuel Antonio, with flexible stops along scenic routes for photos or coffee breaks—maybe even spotting crocodiles at Tarcoles Bridge. Enjoy free WiFi and bottled water as you settle into Costa Rica’s rhythm—a welcome you’ll remember long after arrival.
San Jose: Central Market & National Museum Walking TourYou walk through two of San Jose's oldest markets, taste exotic fruits and street food, learn to make plantain empanadas and traditional coffee with a local family, visit the Cathedral and National Theater, and enter the National Museum without waiting in line. The whole day runs about six hours and includes all food tastings, the cooking class, and museum entry.Is it for me?Book this if you want to taste what San Jose actually eats and see the city's oldest markets and museums in one morning without arranging transport or entry separately—the guide handles the timing and the lines, so you move through the markets and the museum at a pace that lets you stop and talk to vendors and locals.
Africa Safari Adventure Park Liberia: Animal encounters & activitiesYou spend a full day moving through four different activities — safari, kayaking, horseback riding to a waterfall, and canopy — with a typical Costa Rican lunch included and a certified guide leading the safari portion. All fees are covered in the price, and the park's 100 hectares mean you're not crowded between stops. Book the full-day pass to access everything; the entrance-only ticket limits you to the safari alone.Is it for me?A good fit if you want multiple activities in one location without arranging separate bookings — the full-day pass bundles the safari, water, horseback, and canopy into a single day, which is what makes it possible to do all four without backtracking across Liberia.
Tamarindo Private Zipline, Horseback Riding & Hot SpringsA private 10-hour adventure in Guanacaste combining zipline flights over Rincón de la Vieja volcano, horseback riding through transitional forest, a 420-meter water slide, and cultural stops at a sugar cane farm and pottery workshop, ending with hot springs and mud baths. Pickup from Tamarindo is included, as are all equipment, lunch, snacks and a live guide in English or Spanish; children are welcome from age 4.Is it for me?Book this if you want to pack zipline, horseback riding, water slide, cultural stops, and hot springs into one day—the private format lets you move between activities on your own schedule instead of waiting for a group.
La Fortuna: Arenal Volcano, Waterfall & Hot Springs Full DayYou start before dawn, hike through hanging bridges and rainforest, swim at a waterfall, walk the base of Arenal Volcano, and end the day soaking in hot springs with dinner included. A bilingual guide handles the narration and logistics; a minivan handles the route. Return is late, so plan for a full day away from your hotel.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see the main Arenal attractions in a single push without arranging separate transport, guides, and meals — the fixed itinerary and included food mean you're not making decisions between 8am and 9:30pm.
Canoe tour Tortuguero National Park: Smallest canals, no motorsA canoe tour through Tortuguero National Park on Costa Rica's Caribbean Coast takes you by paddle-powered boat into the smallest canals, off-limits to motors, so you can watch fauna and flora without the noise that scares animals away. Life jackets, cushions, binoculars and ponchos are provided; your guide speaks English or Spanish. The park entrance fee is separate.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to watch wildlife without the noise and wake of a motorboat—the paddle-powered canoe reaches the narrowest canals where motors are banned, which is where the animals stay.
Lake Arenal boat tour from La Fortuna: One hour with a captainA one-hour boat tour on Lake Arenal near La Fortuna with a captain who narrates the ride in Spanish. The boat holds up to twenty people. Transportation to the dock is not included, though the operator can help you arrange a taxi or Uber, or you can use local public transit options nearby.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to see Arenal Volcano and the lake from the water in a single hour without planning stops or logistics—the captain handles the route and the narration, and you choose how to reach the dock.
Damas Island Kayaking Tour: Manuel Antonio MangrovesA 4-hour kayaking tour through the mangrove waterways of Damas Island, just 10 minutes from Manuel Antonio, with a local guide, lunch and hotel pickup. You paddle protected inland canals at a pace suited to your fitness level, moving through channels where fresh and salt water blend and wildlife inhabits the plants along the banks. The tour includes snacks, a guide in English or Spanish, and a vegetarian meal option if you request it at booking.Is it for me?The guide speaks English or Spanish, so choose the language that lets you follow the commentary comfortably. If you're new to kayaking, the protected waterways and adjustable pace work for beginners with moderate fitness; if you're experienced, you'll find the mangrove system itself worth the paddle.
Guanacaste: Horseback safari tour with river & jungle wildlifeYou’ll ride gentle ponies through Guanacaste’s rivers and jungle with a local guide who shares stories about monkeys, birds, and butterflies along the way. Expect laughter (and maybe muddy boots), snack breaks under shady trees, and hands-on moments caring for your horse—a day trip you’ll remember long after you’re home.
Tamarindo Catamaran Sailing: Dolphins & Snorkeling TourA private catamaran tour from Tamarindo with a bi-lingual crew aboard a 40- or 50-foot sailing catamaran, running 4.5 hours north along the coast with stops for swimming, snorkeling, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding in a cove near Playa Huevos. Breakfast or a light meal (depending on morning or afternoon departure) and all beverages are included; the crew handles the boat while you handle the water.Is it for me?Choose the private charter if your group wants to set the itinerary and pace in the cove rather than follow a fixed schedule with other passengers.
Savegre River Tubing: Rapids, Waterfall Stop & Local GuideYou’ll float down Costa Rica’s Savegre River with a local guide, bouncing through Class II rapids surrounded by jungle sounds and bright birds. Pause for fresh fruit by a hidden waterfall before tackling more waves and swimming in natural pools. It’s messy fun — expect laughter, cold water, and moments that stick with you long after.
Snorkeling at Catalina Islands: Sharks, rays and manta raysSnorkeling at the Catalina Islands is a seven-hour activity where you jump in with an expert guide to search for sharks, rays, manta rays and reef fish around the rocky facades. The guide leads the snorkel in one spot; you bring a moderate fitness level and comfort in the water. Pickup from your hotel, snorkeling equipment, water and snacks are included; the ocean conditions between December and April can be rough, which affects visibility and what you see.Is it for me?Book this if you have a free afternoon and want to get in the water with a guide rather than watch from a boat — the snorkel is one spot rather than multiple sites, so the focus stays on what's below. Not the right fit if you're not comfortable in the ocean or if you're visiting between December and April when rough conditions can limit what you see.
La Fortuna Waterfall Guided Hike: Swim beneath the cascadeYou hike to a 70-meter waterfall in a protected forest, swim in the river below, then tour an organic farm and eat lunch there. Your guide manages the route, timing, and all entry fees, so you show up ready to move. The steep path and river swim mean you need good fitness, but that's what makes the whole day possible in one morning.Is it for me?Right for travelers with solid fitness who want both nature and culture in one morning — the steep hike and river swim are what let you reach the waterfall's base and understand the forest around it, while the farm visit adds the agricultural story that makes the landscape make sense.
