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 José to Manuel Antonio: Private Transfer 3 HoursYou get picked up at San José airport or your hotel and driven directly to Manuel Antonio in a private, air-conditioned van. The three-hour route includes optional stops at Tarcoles River for crocodile spotting and typical restaurants, plus WiFi and cold water on board. The driver can help arrange activities once you arrive, and the price is locked in before you travel.Is it for me?Right choice if you land at San José and want to reach Manuel Antonio without arranging a taxi or waiting for a shared shuttle. The three-hour drive is part of the journey, and the stops along the way — especially the Tarcoles River for crocodile spotting — turn the transfer into a small part of your trip rather than just a ride.
Santa Teresa: 1.5-Hour Horseback Riding & Hidden BeachYou ride from Playa Organos into Santa Teresa's interior and along the coast to a hidden beach few visitors find, with a guide who knows the horses and the terrain. Small groups mean the guide can adjust the pace to your skill level. Kids ride according to age, and insurance is already paid. Bring sunscreen and book at least a day ahead.Is it for me?Book this if you want to ride to a beach most Santa Teresa visitors miss without arranging your own transport or worrying about insurance — the small group size is what makes the guide able to take you off the main trail and adjust the pace to your riding level.
La Fortuna: 7-Cable Zipline & Waterfall Canopy TourYou board a Jungle Bus to the canopy top, hike 20 minutes with a guide spotting wildlife, then zip across seven cables—including a 980-meter line directly over La Fortuna Waterfall. The tour wraps at a Maleku village where you meet indigenous locals. Gear and water are provided; the optional waterfall hike adds another hour if you book it in advance.Is it for me?Book this if you've ziplined before and want to skip the beginner setup—you'll go straight to the cables without practice runs or hand-holding, which is what makes the 980-meter waterfall line and the full canopy sequence possible in one morning.
La Fortuna to San Jose Airport: Private Transfer 3 HoursYou're picked up at your La Fortuna hotel at a time you choose, then driven three hours to San Jose Airport in a private air-conditioned minivan with bottled water included. The driver can stop for coffee or souvenirs along the way if you want, and all taxes and fees are already covered. You arrive with time to spare before your flight.Is it for me?Book this if you're leaving La Fortuna and want to skip the shared van schedule and the negotiation at pickup — you choose the time, the driver handles the route and the luggage, and the price is fixed before you get in.
Zip Line, Rock Climbing & Rafting: Cañon de la Vieja comboA guided combo activity in Cañon de la Vieja pairs canopy zip lining, rock climbing and rappelling through the canyon with Class I and II white water rafting on the Colorado River, all in one seven-hour day. Hotel pickup and drop-off from selected Guanacaste properties are included, along with professional guides in English or Spanish, lunch, and all equipment. Minimum age is 6; children must be accompanied by an adult, and a moderate level of physical fitness is needed for the full day.Is it for me?Book this if you want to try four different canyon sports in one day with a group following a set schedule; choose a single-activity tour if you'd rather focus deeply on one sport or control your own pace.
Arenal Volcano Eco Adventure & Lagoon Activities Half-Day TourWalk volcanic trails with a local guide, paddle or kayak across a natural lagoon, and try fun activities like zip lines and swings—all in Arenal Volcano Park. It’s a half-day packed with nature, stories, and just enough adrenaline to make it stick in your memory.
Limon: Cahuita Park & Banana Plantation with Wildlife WalkYou get a naturalist-guided walk through Cahuita National Park spotting monkeys, sloths, and toucans, a snack stop in the local town, a working banana and cocoa plantation tour, and souvenir shopping — all with port pickup and drop-off timed for cruise ship schedules. Park entry and transport in an air-conditioned coach are included.Is it for me?Built for cruise passengers with a few hours in port who want to see actual rainforest and wildlife without the stress of arranging transport and timing themselves — the fixed schedule and included park entry mean you walk off the ship and into the coach, not into a negotiation at the dock.
3-Day Pacuare River Rafting & Rainforest Lodge AdventureIf you want real adventure mixed with rainforest calm, this 3-day Pacuare River trip is it—rafting wild rapids by day, sleeping in a jungle lodge by night, plus hikes to waterfalls only locals know about. You’ll come back tired but grinning.
Gandoca Lagoon: Kayak Mangroves & Wildlife with Local GuideYou’ll paddle through Costa Rica’s only Caribbean mangrove forest at Gandoca Lagoon with a local guide, spotting monkeys and sloths along quiet waterways. Enjoy included snacks on the shore and learn about local wildlife as you kayak far from any crowds—just you, nature, and that peaceful green light.
Playa Flamingo: Rio Blanco Waterfall Hike, Lunch & Hot SpringsYou hike 2.5 hours along Rio Blanco past nine named pools and caves, swimming in the blue lagoons and reaching La Cueva de la Leona at the top. A bilingual local guide leads you, lunch and drinks are included, and afterward you soak in Rio Negro's natural hot springs. Park entry, transportation from Playa Flamingo, and all gear are covered—you just show up ready to move.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want a real morning in the rainforest without arranging park entry, transport, or a guide separately—the fixed itinerary and local ownership mean you're moving with someone who knows the river, not following a rotating script.
Arenal Observatory Lodge Day Pass: 11km of trailsYou get access to eleven kilometers of marked trails, two observation towers with volcano views, suspension bridges, the Danta Waterfall, and the Volcano History Museum — all without booking a room at the lodge. The day pass excludes pool and restaurant access but includes everything else on the reserve. Bring water and plan for a half-day minimum to walk without hurrying.Is it for me?Right for anyone near La Fortuna who wants to spend a few hours in the forest and on observation towers without committing to an overnight stay or paying for meals you won't eat. The day pass is the budget option and it covers everything that makes the reserve worth visiting.
Playa Hermosa: Sloth Encounter, Waterfall & River SafariYou get a private guide, hotel pickup, and a full day moving between three ecosystems—waterfall, river, and rainforest—with time to actually see wildlife instead of just passing through. Lunch and water are covered. The pace is slow enough that sloths and birds stay visible, and the guide rows the raft so you can focus on spotting instead of paddling.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see sloths and rainforest wildlife without joining a large group tour—the private format and slow pace are what make the wildlife actually visible instead of a blur from a bus window.
Tortuga Island Cruise from San José: Catamaran & Beach LunchYou're picked up from your San José hotel and driven to Puntarenas, where you board a catamaran for a 12-nautical-mile crossing to Tortuga Island. The day includes swimming in turquoise water, lunch on the beach, and time to explore the protected forest or simply rest on deck. The return drive gets you back to San José by evening.Is it for me?Right for travelers based in San José who want a full beach and water day without arranging their own boat or driving to the coast — the early pickup and long return drive are what make a remote island visit possible in one day from the city.
Vandara Hot Springs: Zip line, horseback riding, mud bathVandara Hot Springs combines zip lining on 10 cables, horseback jungle riding, a 400-meter waterslide, volcanic mud baths and a sugarmill-and-coffee demonstration into a single full day with private transport, a guide in English or Spanish, and a typical Costa Rican lunch buffet. The minimum group is four adults; children are welcome from age 2. Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnancy or cardiovascular concerns, or those without moderate physical fitness.Is it for me?Book this if your group is at least four adults and you want to pack multiple activities into one full day without stopping to decide between them. The fixed itinerary and private transport mean the morning and afternoon flow without gaps or negotiation—you move from one activity to the next with everything arranged.
Sunset Catamaran Sailing & Snorkeling in Playa FlamingoA four-hour sunset catamaran in Playa Flamingo combines sailing, snorkeling, kayaking and paddleboarding in one outing, with round-trip transportation, an open bar, light lunch and all gear included. The boat departs in late afternoon and returns after dark. Live guides speak English and Spanish. Pickup is available from select hotels (Four Seasons, Andaz, Secrets, Riu, Planet Hollywood, Villas Sol) or arranged from other locations.Is it for me?Book this one if you want to be on the water at sunset without arranging the boat, the gear, the food or the ride yourself—everything is there, and you just show up and choose between snorkeling, kayaking or paddling as the afternoon unfolds.
Liberia Airport to JW Marriott Pinilla: Private Mercedes TransferYou get picked up at Liberia airport with a name sign, driven in a cool Mercedes van to your Hacienda Pinilla hotel by a bilingual professional driver, and offered complimentary drinks and snacks along the way. Your flight is tracked automatically, so delays don't trigger extra fees or confusion. The return to the airport is just as straightforward — meet the driver at your hotel, arrive on time, done. Book the round-trip if you need both directions.Is it for me?Book this if you land in Liberia and want the airport-to-hotel leg handled without negotiating with a taxi driver or waiting for a shuttle van — the driver meets you by name, the vehicle is reliable, and the price is locked in before you arrive.
Tortuga Island Catamaran from San Jose: Snorkeling & Beach DayYou're picked up from your San Jose hotel at 6am, driven to Puntarenas with breakfast, then board a catamaran with live music and snacks for a 1.5-hour crossing to Tortuga Island. Spend four hours swimming and relaxing on the protected island's white-sand beach, enjoy lunch included, then return by boat and bus to your hotel in the evening. The fixed schedule means you skip the logistics of getting to the coast and timing the boats yourself.Is it for me?Pick this if you want a full beach day on a protected island without arranging your own transport to the coast or timing the boats — the early pickup and fixed schedule handle all of that, and you just show up at your hotel at 6am.
Sarapiqui Night Frog Tour: 35+ Amphibian SpeciesA guided night tour in Sarapiqui's humid tropical forest where you walk through different amphibian habitats to find and observe over 35 frog species. A live guide in English or Spanish leads the search, providing lanterns for each person and explaining the role these ecosystems play. The tour runs 1 to 2 hours and suits all fitness levels, though closed shoes or rubber boots are required.Is it for me?The 1- to 2-hour window means you can fit this into a morning or evening without reshaping the rest of your day, making it work whether you are staying in Sarapiqui or passing through on a longer itinerary.
Costa Rica: Private Rainforest Yoga Class by River PlatformYou’ll practice yoga on a riverside platform deep in Costa Rica’s rainforest, guided by a local instructor who adapts each session to your level. Expect gentle stretches, mindful breathing with the sound of water nearby, and all equipment provided—even if you’re new or traveling light. It’s peaceful, grounding, and honestly feels different than any studio class.
San Jose to SJO Airport: Private Minivan Transfer & Meet-GreetYou're picked up at your San Jose hotel by a professional chauffeur in a private minivan, avoiding taxi lines and language barriers on the way to the airport. The driver meets you, handles your luggage, and includes bottled water and 15 minutes of waiting time. You arrive at Juan Santamaría International Airport relaxed, with your flight details and phone number confirmed at booking.Is it for me?Right choice if you're leaving San Jose without a car and want to skip the taxi negotiation and language barrier. The fixed price and fixed pickup time mean you're not arranging transport on the morning of your flight.
