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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Arenal Waterfalls Hike & Swim with Local GuideSpend a day hiking through Arenal’s rainforest to three wild waterfalls — Pinta, Pandora Canyon, and Yellow Bull Falls — with a local bilingual guide leading the way. Swim in blue pools, spot wildlife, and hear stories from someone who grew up nearby. It’s an unfiltered Costa Rican adventure you’ll remember long after your shoes dry out.
Guanacaste: Turtle nesting night tour with local guideYou’ll walk quietly along a Guanacaste beach at night with a local guide, using special red lights to spot Green Sea Turtles or Olive Ridleys nesting in the sand. Learn about their habits up close and maybe catch a glimpse of rare Leatherbacks if you’re lucky—an experience you’ll carry long after you leave Costa Rica.
Tamarindo Snorkeling Boat Tour: Private Catalina Islands AdventureA private snorkeling boat tour from Tamarindo Beach targeting the Catalina Islands, with a small crew, full snorkeling gear, and underwater photos sent after the tour. The exact route depends on ocean conditions and visibility, so the captain may choose a closer location if needed to keep everyone safe and comfortable. Snacks, drinks, and a guide in English, Spanish or French are included; optional drone footage is available at checkout.Is it for me?Book this if your group wants to snorkel without sharing a boat with strangers — the private setup means the captain can adjust the route to match ocean conditions and your comfort level instead of following a fixed schedule. Choose the optional drone package if you want aerial footage of the islands and the boat as a keepsake.
Central Valley tour: Markets & coffee farm, half-day privateA half-day private tour of Costa Rica's Central Valley that skips the resort loop and moves through working communities, local markets, and hidden spots a guide chooses based on your preferences. The route includes stops at places like Hacienda Alsacia coffee farm, Sarchí's artisan workshops, or a wildlife shelter, with a live guide in English or Spanish and hotel pickup included. Food stops and the exact itinerary are built around what interests you, and entrance fees stay optional so you control the spend.Is it for me?Book this if you have a morning or afternoon free and want to see how people actually live in the Central Valley, not a highlight reel. The half-day length leaves the rest of your day open, and the private format means the stops shift to match what you're curious about instead of following a bus-tour script.
Half-Day Sport Fishing Tour in Playas del Coco, GuanacasteIf you want to experience real Costa Rican sport fishing without any fuss, this half-day trip from Playas del Coco is perfect. You’ll get expert tips from locals, try your luck with different fish species, and enjoy some time on the Pacific—all in good company.
Monteverde Cloud Forest Birdwatching Tour: Small Group ExperienceIf you’re curious about Costa Rica’s wild side, this birdwatching walk in Monteverde is for you. You’ll spot rare species with an expert guide and soak up the cloud forest atmosphere in good company.
Palo Verde National Park boat safari: Private wildlife tourA private full-day boat safari through Palo Verde National Park on the Tempisque River, where a naturalist guide helps you spot birds, reptiles and mammals in the dry forest and mangroves. Hotel pickup at 7am, a 1 hour 45 minute drive to the park, the boat safari with lunch included, and return transport—the whole day arranged so you move through one of Costa Rica's most biodiverse ecosystems without organizing the logistics yourself.Is it for me?The 7am start and 1 hour 45 minute drive mean an early morning commitment, but that timing is what gets you on the river when wildlife is most active and the light is best for spotting and photography. If you want to see the park's full range of animals without building the day yourself, the private format and fixed schedule hold everything together.
Flamingo Beach: Golf Cart Rental for Beach Days & Local TripsYou’ll cruise through Flamingo Beach with your own golf cart rental—perfect for sandy beach mornings or quick trips into town. Expect easy pickup, room for friends and gear, and friendly local faces along every route. It’s less about speed here—more about catching those little moments between palm trees and surf.
Tortuga Island & Bioluminescent Snorkel: Spider Monkeys & 2 IslandsYou spend the morning spotting spider monkeys and snorkeling Tortuga Island's reefs, break for a grilled lunch on the beach, then return to Tambor Bay for a mangrove tour and sunset. The day ends with a night swim in bioluminescent water where plankton light up with each movement. All gear, food, and drinks are included; your group stays private with one guide and captain the entire time.Is it for me?Book this if you want to pack three distinct ecosystems and activities into one day without coordinating separate tours and timing—the private format means your group moves together, and the all-inclusive meals and gear remove the logistics from your morning.
Jaco: Private Tortuga Island Boat Tour & SnorkelingYou board a private speedboat at 7:30 and arrive at Tortuga Island's snorkel site before the larger groups. You'll fly underwater with Subwings, spot spider monkeys from the boat, and spend the afternoon in a beach chair with fresh fruit and a hot cooked lunch. Snorkeling gear, paddleboards, and drinks are included; the return is around 3:45 pm.Is it for me?Book this if you want to reach Tortuga Island's best snorkel site before the big tour groups arrive and prefer a flexible itinerary you can shape with your own music and requests — the small private boat is what makes both possible.
Tortuguero to Moin Boat Transfer: Wildlife, River & Local CaptainYou’ll travel from Tortuguero to Moin by boat with a local captain who knows every bend in the river. Watch for monkeys overhead, crocodiles in the shallows, and flashes of color from toucans or herons as you glide through 86 kilometers of winding canals. It’s not just wildlife — it’s sharing laughs and stories with fellow travelers while soaking up Costa Rica’s wild side.
La Fortuna: Venado Caves Underground Tour & Fruit BuffetYou descend into the Venado Caves with a professional guide, flashlight, and full safety gear, walking through underground chambers past stalactites, stalagmites, and bat colonies. The tour includes hotel pickup, bottled water, towels, and a fresh fruit buffet afterward. Plan for a half-day commitment and expect to get wet and muddy — that's built into the experience.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see something genuinely underground without arranging transport, equipment, or timing yourself — the private guide and included gear mean you show up and descend, nothing else to figure out.
Private Transfer Quepos to La Fortuna | Air-Conditioned Van ServiceIf you want an easy ride from Quepos to La Fortuna without any hassle or crowds, this private transfer is worth it. You’ll get picked up at your hotel, travel in comfort, and even spot crocodiles along the way.
Rainforest canopy zipline tour: Fly through the treetopsA rainforest canopy zipline tour near San Ramon combines ground-to-air training, multiple zipline runs between platforms, and primary forest views, all led by a bilingual certified guide with full safety gear and insurance. Pickup from your location is included; the minimum group is 4 passengers. Not suitable for travelers with spinal injuries, cardiovascular concerns, or during pregnancy.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to experience the rainforest from above with a guide handling the logistics and safety setup—the training and certified equipment mean you can focus on the flight itself, not on figuring out how to stay safe.
Guanacaste: Private Photo Session with Local PhotographerYou’ll feel instantly at ease during this private Guanacaste photo session—no modeling experience needed. With gentle guidance from a local photographer, you’ll get both candid shots and natural poses in a relaxed setting. Walk away with digital images that capture your real self—and maybe even a few unexpected laughs along the way.
Pacuare River rafting: Class III-IV white water from San JosePacuare River rafting from San Jose is a full-day activity where you navigate 19 miles of Class III-IV white water through Costa Rica's rainforest, with hotel pickup, a professional guide, breakfast, lunch and all safety gear included. The river runs warm year-round and passes waterfalls, wildlife and dense vegetation throughout the route. Minimum age is 12; moderate fitness required.Is it for me?Book this if you're ready for a full day of active paddling through Class III-IV rapids—you'll need to follow guide commands throughout and handle moderate physical exertion in the boat.
Tortuga Island Sunset & Bioluminescence Tour Santa TeresaYou board an air-conditioned boat at 4pm and ride 45 minutes out to Tortuga Island, where you snorkel with provided gear and eat fresh-cooked fish tacos as the sun sets. After dark, the ocean comes alive with bioluminescence — glowing organisms that light up when disturbed — and you watch from the boat as the water pulses with blue-green light. The whole trip takes 7 hours and includes two beers, filtered water, and a guide who knows the marine ecosystem. You're back by 11pm.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see something genuinely unusual — bioluminescent water — without spending the whole night arranging transport, timing the sunset yourself, or figuring out where to eat. The 7-hour window and fixed schedule handle all three, and the boat leaves late enough that you're not rushing your afternoon in Santa Teresa.
Ziplining in Monteverde: 13 cables through cloud forestZip through the cloud forest canopy on 13 cables spanning 3.22 kilometers at Selvatura Park in Monteverde, with a guide, hotel pickup and a butterfly garden visit included. The zipline is built entirely within the forest; between cable sections you walk platforms and have the option to swing on a rope from a high platform. After landing, you spend time in a climate-controlled butterfly pavilion with over 20 species and a hummingbird garden. Children from age 7 are welcome; the whole experience runs about four hours.Is it for me?The canopy tour demands a high level of physical fitness and involves walking between platforms and zipping through the forest for two and a half hours, so it suits travelers comfortable with sustained activity and heights. The whole experience stays at Selvatura Park, which means no time lost to transport between sites—you move straight from the zipline to the butterfly garden without leaving the grounds.
La Fortuna Night Tour: Private Rainforest Wildlife WalkA 2-hour private night walk through the rainforest near La Fortuna, led by a bilingual naturalist guide who tailors the pace and focus to your group. You'll spot sloths, red-eyed tree frogs, owls, basilisks, turtles and other animals active after dark in a quiet setting built for observation and photography. Flashlights and cold water are provided; wear closed shoes on the forest floor.Is it for me?The guide speaks English and Spanish fluently, so if your group is bilingual or Spanish-speaking, you'll follow the commentary without translation gaps. A private group also suits families or couples who want to move at their own pace and linger over sightings instead of keeping up with a larger tour schedule.
Horseback Riding & Crocodile Safari in PuntarenasA guided horseback riding tour through Costa Rica's rainforest on a private property, followed by a 60-minute boat safari on the Tarcoles River. You ride gentle, well-trained horses along maintained trails through primary and secondary forest, then board an eco-boat to watch American crocodiles, howler monkeys, scarlet macaws and aquatic birds in their habitat. Pickup from the pier, professional guide in English or Spanish, and bottled water are included.Is it for me?You're riding for 2 hours on maintained trails at a steady pace, so moderate fitness and comfort in the saddle matter—this is not a walk-through tour. The boat portion requires no physical effort, making the day manageable for riders who tire easily on horseback.
