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
Sort
Manuel Antonio: Private Wildlife Tour & Beach SwimYou’ll walk rainforest trails with a local guide in Manuel Antonio, spot monkeys and sloths through a pro spotting scope, then swim or relax on hidden beaches before enjoying fresh snacks. It’s personal—full of small surprises—and you’ll leave feeling like you’ve really been inside the forest for a while.
San Jose: Night Food Tour, Market Walk & Farm-to-Table DinnerYou’ll wander San Jose’s lively markets with a local guide, sip specialty coffee, try your hand at mixing cocktails in a historic home, and end with a four-course farm-to-table dinner. Expect laughter over shared plates and stories you won’t find in any guidebook—the kind of evening that lingers long after you head back into the city night.
San Jose: La Carpintera Zip Line, Rappel & Rainforest HikeYou’ll glide between rainforest trees on zip lines near San José, hike short forest trails with local guides, and try two rappels with valley views. Expect laughter, maybe a sloth sighting, and that weird mix of nerves and awe when you step off each platform — it sticks with you after.
La Fortuna: Balsa River Rafting Tour with Lunch & PickupYou’ll paddle through lively Balsa River rapids near La Fortuna with a local guide leading the way, pause for tropical fruit surrounded by rainforest sounds, then relax over a home-cooked lunch at Vida Campesina estate. Expect laughter, splashes, and small moments you’ll want to remember long after you dry off.
Rio Celeste hike from La Fortuna: Blue waterfall and volcanoThis full-day tour from La Fortuna takes you into Tenorio Volcano National Park to hike to Rio Celeste, a rare blue river created by a chemical reaction between two mineral-rich volcanic streams. The 4-hour hike is medium-tough and leads to a waterfall, a lookout point and the exact spot where the color change happens. Hotel pickup, a professional guide in English or Spanish, and lunch at a local restaurant are included; after the hike you have time to swim in the river before returning to La Fortuna.Is it for me?Book this if you're based in La Fortuna and want a full-day hike with a guide—the four-hour uphill trek suits hikers comfortable with sustained effort, and you'll see the rare blue river and volcano views most visitors miss.
Quepos: Surf Lessons Manuel Antonio Beach with PickupYou get picked up from your hotel, driven to Manuel Antonio Beach, and taught to surf by a patient bilingual instructor who breaks down the basics before you paddle out. The lesson includes equipment, a tropical fruit break under shade, and transport back to your hotel — all in about three hours, with no experience needed.Is it for me?Right for anyone curious about surfing but hesitant to try alone — the instructor handles the teaching and the minivan handles the logistics, so you just show up and learn. Expect three hours total, with time in the water split by a rest break, which is what fits a real lesson into a morning or afternoon.
La Fortuna: Coffee & Chocolate Farm Tour with TastingYou walk through coffee and cacao plants, watch the family process both crops from bean to finished product, then taste what you've just seen made. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included if you're staying within ten minutes of La Fortuna, and the whole experience is built around how the family actually works — not a performance staged for tourists.Is it for me?This works best if you want to understand where your coffee and chocolate actually come from and don't mind a slower pace — the family runs it the way they'd show a friend around, not as a tightly choreographed performance, which is what makes it feel real.
Rincon Day Pass: Horseback riding, canopy tour, hot springsThe Explore Day Pass at Rincon is a full-day activity pass combining horseback riding, an eight-cable canopy tour through Tizate canyon, a 400-meter jungle waterslide, thermal hot springs, a volcanic mud bath, and a garden-to-table lunch with drink and dessert. You move through the activities at your own pace across the 350-acre property next to Rincón de la Vieja National Park. The day runs about six hours and includes free parking and locker access.Is it for me?Book this pass if you want to pack multiple activities into one afternoon without arranging each one separately—the mix of adrenaline and relaxation, plus the self-paced rhythm, means you can ride hard when you want and soak when you need to rest, all on the same day.
Peñas Blancas River float: Wildlife watching near La FortunaA 4-hour float down the Peñas Blancas River near La Fortuna, Costa Rica, where you watch sloths, monkeys, iguanas, bats, lizards and birds from a raft boat as expert guides point out animals along the shoreline. The tour includes hotel pickup, water, snacks, a tropical fruit stop midway, and boat safety gear; guides speak English or Spanish.Is it for me?You're floating and watching, not hiking or climbing—the boat does the work and the guide does the spotting, so this suits anyone who wants to see rainforest wildlife without exertion. If you're traveling with children from age 5 up or prefer to stay dry and comfortable while animals come into view, the gentle drift and stable boat make this the right choice over a jungle trek.
Quepos: Mangrove Kayak Tour & Damas Island WildlifeYou paddle a kayak through Damas Island's protected mangrove forest with a naturalist guide who spots wildlife—crocodiles, macaws, howler monkeys—while you move through the roots and channels. Lunch and all gear are included. The tour time is set by the high tide, which you'll receive after booking.Is it for me?Book this if you want to paddle through one of Costa Rica's last intact mangrove ecosystems with someone who knows where the wildlife is, and you'd rather not arrange transport, gear, or figure out the tidal schedule yourself.
Horseback Riding in Jaco: You Control the HorseHorseback riding in Jaco, Costa Rica where you control the horse instead of following a guide's lead. The ride moves through rice plantations, forest trails, and a shallow river crossing before finishing on the beach; the guide has over 15 years of experience and teaches beginners everything they need. Duration runs 1.8 to 2.5 hours depending on your skill level.Is it for me?You're in control of the horse from start to finish—our guide teaches you to ride confidently on exclusive trails, whether you're discovering horseback riding for the first time or returning to the saddle.
Jacó Surf Lessons: Learn with Pro Instructors & BoardsYou arrive at Surfer Factory, get matched with a certified instructor, and spend your session learning to read the wave and pop up on the board. Equipment is included. The lesson adapts to your age and fitness level, and Jacó's beginner-friendly break means you'll actually stand up instead of fighting the ocean. Book directly with the school or arrange transport through the nearby public options.Is it for me?Right for anyone curious about surfing but unsure if they can actually do it — the instructors at Surfer Factory teach because they believe surfing changes how you see the ocean, and Jacó's waves are forgiving enough to prove them right on your first try.
Selvatura Park Canopy Tour Monteverde: Zip-line AdventureSelvatura Park's canopy tour is a zip-line adventure through the Monteverde cloud forest where you harness in and ride between treetops on a series of cables, guided by a professional who handles all the equipment setup. The tour runs 2.5 to 3 hours and welcomes children from age 4 onward, though moderate fitness and cardiovascular health are necessary. A guide in English or Spanish leads the whole experience.Is it for me?You're climbing, zipping, and navigating platforms yourself—the guide handles safety while you drive the experience.
Tamarindo Catamaran Cruise: Snorkeling, kayaks and sunsetA five-hour catamaran cruise from Tamarindo Beach on the Ti Marouba, a twin-hulled boat rigged for day charters with trampolines, a shaded salon and a full galley. You snorkel at anchor in the bay, swim in the coves, paddle a kayak or stand-up board if you want to, eat a chef-made lunch on board, and return under sail as the sun sets. The crew speaks English, Spanish and French.Is it for me?Book this for an afternoon or a last morning in Tamarindo when you want the water, the food and the sunset without arranging any of it yourself—the crew, the lunch, the drinks and the gear are all there, and the five-hour window fits between other plans.
Rainmaker Park Hanging Bridges & Waterfalls TourA guided walking tour of Rainmaker Park combines a canopy bridge system with rainforest trails, river observation and a swimming pool at a natural waterfall. The tour includes private transportation, a live guide in English or Spanish, and all taxes and fees; it runs four hours and requires moderate fitness. Infants ride on an adult's lap; the route is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to walk the canopy without arranging your own transport or worrying about the route — the guide leads you through the bridges and trails, and the private pickup means you start the day ready to walk instead of finding your way to the park.
Manuel Antonio: Wildlife Hike & Beach Walk with Naturalist GuideYou’ll wander rainforest trails with a naturalist guide who spots wildlife you’d never notice alone—think sloths, monkeys, maybe even those tiny red frogs—before reaching Manuel Antonio Beach for a swim or just some quiet toes-in-the-sand time. Expect laughter, local stories, and moments you’ll want to remember long after you’ve left Costa Rica.
Liberia Airport (LIR) to Hotel: Private Transfer, No Extra StopsYou land at Liberia, a driver meets you at arrivals with your name, and you're driven directly to your hotel in an air-conditioned vehicle with no stops in between. The rate is fixed before you book, and flight delays don't change the plan — they just adjust when the driver arrives. Wheelchair-accessible vehicles and child seats are available on request.Is it for me?Right choice if you land in Liberia without a rental car and want to avoid the taxi stand — the driver meets you at arrivals, the price is locked in, and you arrive at your hotel without negotiating the fare or making unplanned stops.
Tárcoles River crocodile tour: Largest crocs in Costa RicaThis crocodile and bird watching tour operates on the Tárcoles River near Carara National Park, where you watch the largest crocodiles in Costa Rica and observe birds from a boat with a professional guide. The guide speaks English, Spanish or French and has over 20 years of experience on this river. The tour lasts about two hours and includes the boat experience; all fitness levels are welcome, and the boat is wheelchair accessible.Is it for me?Book this tour for a morning or afternoon when you want to see the largest crocodiles in Costa Rica without arranging transport or a guide yourself -- the boat is wheelchair accessible and the pace suits all fitness levels, so it works whether you are traveling solo, with family or with children in a stroller.
Arenal: 7 Zipline Cables Over La Fortuna Waterfall & PickupYou’ll feel your heart race as you soar above La Fortuna Waterfall on seven zipline cables near Arenal Volcano. Cross a suspension bridge high above the canyon with a small group and local guide, then catch glimpses of waterfalls and rainforest below before heading back to town with new friends—and maybe muddy shoes.
Tamarindo & Flamingo: ATV or UTV Beach Tour with PickupYou’ll ride ATVs or UTVs from Tamarindo through dry forest trails, cross rivers, spot rare trees, and reach remote beaches like Playa Piratas and Puerto Viejo. A local guide leads the way, sharing stories while you get muddy and laugh more than expected. It’s fast-paced but there are quiet moments too — especially when you finally see those empty beaches stretching out ahead.
