Things to do in Costa Rica
Hanging Bridges in La Fortuna27 optionsLa Fortuna Zipline22 optionsTortuga Island Tours19 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: Sloth Park Walk & Coffee, Chocolate, Sugar Cane TastingYou’ll wander La Fortuna’s rainforest trails at sloth pace with a local guide, spotting wildlife up close before tasting fresh Costa Rican coffee, chocolate, and sugar cane on a working farm. Expect laughter over new flavors and stories shared under shelter if rain comes — this day’s about slowing down and soaking up real moments.
Tamarindo & Conchal: ATV or Buggy Beach Tour with Local GuideYou’ll ride ATVs or buggies from Tamarindo or Conchal with a local guide, crossing rivers and dirt trails to reach wild beaches—including Blackstone’s black sand. Expect real driving (with a test ride first), fresh fruit breaks, and stories from locals who know these coasts inside out. It’s messy fun—the kind you’ll remember for ages.
La Fortuna: Balsa River Rafting & Local Lunch with PickupYou’ll paddle through lively class II & III rapids on the Balsa River with a local guide, float past jungle where monkeys and birds call overhead, snack on fresh fruit mid-river, and share a Costa Rican lunch with volcano views. Expect laughter, splashes, maybe a nervous moment or two — but mostly just pure fun in good company.
Jaco: ATV Jungle Waterfall Tour with Two Swims & PickupYou’ll ride an ATV through Costa Rica’s rainforest trails near Jaco, splash in two wild waterfalls—including a jump at Pura Vida Falls—and catch glimpses of ocean from mountain lookouts. With a bilingual local guide leading the way and pickup included, expect mud, laughter, and moments you’ll want to replay long after you’re dry.
La Fortuna: Coffee & Chocolate Tour with TastingsYou’ll trace coffee from seedling to steaming cup and get your hands sticky making real chocolate bars in La Fortuna. With friendly guides and easy-access trails (even if it rains), you’ll taste fresh brews and rich chocolate while hearing stories from locals who live it every day. The smells alone might stick with you longer than you expect.
Costa Rica: Diamante Animal Sanctuary Ticket & Traditional House TourYou’ll wander among Costa Rican wildlife at Diamante’s animal sanctuary, learning their stories from local guides. Then step inside a traditional house for hands-on tastes of chocolate, coffee, and sugar cane—all included with your entry ticket. Expect real moments: laughter with guides, quiet time with animals, and flavors that linger long after you leave.
Sarapiquí River white water rafting: Class IV rapids, 2 hoursWhite water rafting on the Sarapiquí River is a Class IV activity where you paddle a six-person raft through continuous rapids and waves for over 2 hours, guided by a professional bilingual guide. The river flows through the La Selva Biological Station, one of the three most important neotropical research reserves in Costa Rica, where you'll spot sloths, monkeys and toucans during the descent. Pickup from hotels within 6 km is included; the tour departs daily at 8:30 am and returns by 2:30 pm.Is it for me?Most rafting in the region runs gentler water; this one is continuous Class IV rapids where you paddle hard for two hours straight. Book it if you want the adrenaline and the physical challenge, not a scenic float.
Waterfall Ziplining & Canyoning in Quepos: 10+ elementsWaterfall Ziplining & Canyoning near Quepos combines more than 10 activities—zips, rappels, a Tarzan swing and a free fall into a waterfall pool—in a single morning adventure inside a private rainforest reserve. Hotel pickup from Manuel Antonio or Quepos, bilingual guide, all equipment, snacks and lunch are included. Minimum age is 6; moderate fitness required.Is it for me?The course demands a moderate level of fitness and comfort with water—you'll be wet, suspended and moving through a waterfall—so it suits travelers who want an active morning rather than a gentle one. The fixed schedule and included transport mean you don't arrange logistics yourself; the guide handles the technical side, so you focus on moving through the course.
Manuel Antonio: Wildlife Day Trip & Beaches from San JoseYou’ll taste fresh tropical fruit at sunrise stops, watch wild crocodiles from above, search for monkeys and sloths on rainforest trails in Manuel Antonio with your guide, then swim or relax on white sand beaches before sharing lunch with new friends overlooking the jungle. Expect a day full of color and small surprises — Costa Rica’s energy stays with you.
Quepos: Savegre River Rafting Class II-III & WaterfallYou get picked up from your hotel, driven to the Savegre River, and spend roughly four hours paddling Class II and III rapids through jungle canyon, stopping at a waterfall midway. Lunch and all gear—helmet, life jacket, certified equipment—are included, and the driver brings you back to your hotel by afternoon. No need to arrange transport, find the river, or figure out what to eat after.Is it for me?Book this if you want the rapids and the scenery without arranging your own transport or timing—the pickup and return handle the logistics, and the small group size means you're not competing for the guide's attention or the raft's space.
Poas Volcano, La Paz Waterfalls & Coffee Day Trip from San JoseYou’ll taste fresh coffee in Alajuela’s hills, stand above steaming Poas Volcano, and wander among rescued animals at La Paz Waterfall Gardens. Expect laughter with your guide, mist on your skin from waterfalls, and that feeling you get when you see something wild for the first time.
Make chocolate bonbons in La Fortuna: Farm to finished pieceMake chocolate bonbons at Eden Chocolate Tour in La Fortuna, a hands-on class where you roast and grind cocoa beans, watch the conching and refining process, then craft your own finished pieces. The tour runs about an hour and 45 minutes on an organic farm with a live guide in English or Spanish, and includes a tasting of the chocolate you help make.Is it for me?The class asks for a moderate level of activity—you're on your feet roasting and grinding, working with your hands through the whole process—so it suits an afternoon when you have energy and want to make something tangible rather than watch a demonstration. Book it if you land in La Fortuna with a free few hours and want to leave with chocolate you built yourself.
La Fortuna Coffee Chocolate Sugarcane Class: Learn ProcessA hands-on class in La Fortuna where you learn the complete process of coffee, chocolate and sugarcane—from seed to cup—with tastings of what you've made. Pickup is included, and the experience runs about 90 minutes. The class covers the history and traditional methods behind each crop, with time to see the different stages and varieties of cocoa.Is it for me?If you're staying in La Fortuna without a car, the included pickup means you can book an afternoon and show up at your hotel—no transport to figure out. The 90 minutes leaves room in your day for other plans.
Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna Waterfall & Hanging Bridges Day TripYou’ll hike down to feel La Fortuna Waterfall’s spray on your skin, walk ancient lava fields near Arenal Volcano with a local guide, cross rainforest canopy bridges (if your legs don’t shake too much), enjoy lunch and two swims—including time soaking in a natural hot springs river before heading back relaxed and maybe a little changed.
Rincon de la Vieja Volcano Hike & Hot Springs Tour from TamarindoA full-day guided tour from Tamarindo through Rincón de la Vieja National Park combines a moderate 2-hour hike through volcanic terrain with swimming at Oropendola Waterfall and soaking in Río Negro Hot Springs, including a volcanic mud bath. Hotel pickup and drop-off, park entry, lunch and a bilingual naturalist guide are included; you can also arrange to meet the group at the park entrance instead. A minimum of two people per booking is required, and the tour runs 12 hours from pickup to return.Is it for me?Book the shared transportation option if you're arriving without a rental car and want the guide to handle the route and timing; choose the self-drive option if you have a car and prefer to meet the group at the park entrance at 9:00 am and skip the pickup fee.
Manuel Antonio: Wildlife Walk & Beach Time with Early EntryYou’ll start early in Manuel Antonio, walking shaded trails as wildlife wakes up all around you. With a local guide leading the way, you’ll spot monkeys and birds before crowds show up, then spend an hour relaxing on one of Costa Rica’s most loved beaches. Expect real conversation, salty air, and moments that stick with you long after you leave.
Tamarindo: Surf Lesson for Beginners & Stand Up GuaranteeYou’ll paddle out into warm Tamarindo waves with a friendly local instructor who keeps things relaxed but knows his stuff. Learn safety basics on the sand, then try standing up — if you don’t manage it, you get your money back. Expect laughter, soft sunsets, and that wild feeling when you finally catch your first wave.
Sloth and bird wildlife walk in La Fortuna: 100% sloth guaranteeA 1.5-hour guided wildlife walk through primary forest near La Fortuna where you search for sloths, exotic birds, frogs and insects with an expert guide and telescope included. The operator guarantees you will see sloths or offers a refund. The guide speaks English or Spanish.Is it for me?The guide speaks English or Spanish, so you can follow the commentary and the animal identification in whichever language you prefer. The walk suits any fitness level and moves at a pace that lets you stop and look, so it works whether you are a keen photographer or just want to see the animals without strain.
La Fortuna Waterfall: Skip-the-Line Ticket & 70m SwimYou skip the entry line and descend 500 forest steps to a 70-meter waterfall fed by mountain streams. Swim in the clear pool at the base, surrounded by rainforest and volcanic rock formations. The ticket includes entry only; last admission is 4pm, and children under 8 are free. Plan for moderate physical exertion and wet gear on the return climb.Is it for me?Right for travelers with moderate fitness who want to swim in a mountain waterfall without waiting in an entry line, and who can handle a steep forest descent. Not suitable if you have spinal issues, heart conditions, or limited mobility — the 500 steps are the core of the experience.
Tamarindo Estuary Boat Safari: Mangrove Wildlife & PickupYou get picked up from your Tamarindo hotel, ride two hours through the mangroves of Las Baulas with a local guide spotting monkeys, crocodiles and birds, and return with water and knowledge of how the estuary actually works. The shaded boat and short drive from your hotel mean no long day of travel — just the wildlife and the water.Is it for me?Right choice if you want to see Tamarindo's wildlife without a long drive or complicated logistics — pickup is from your hotel and the guide handles the spotting. Plan for the tour time to shift based on tides, which is what keeps the estuary conditions right for seeing animals.
