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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ATV tour Costa Rica with waterfall swimmingA 3-hour ATV tour through rural Costa Rica where you ride mixed paved, gravel and dirt roads past villages and forest, swim in a 30-foot waterfall's natural pool, and stop at El Tigre Sightseeing for mountain views. A live guide leads in English or Spanish; children from age 15 are welcome. A refundable security hold is required before departure.Is it for me?This tour is built for riders with at least moderate fitness who want to move through the countryside on their own machine and end up in a waterfall pool—not a guided sightseeing trip where someone else drives.
Drake Bay: Night Rainforest Tour with Tracie the Bug LadyYou’ll step into Drake Bay’s rainforest after sunset with Tracie the Bug Lady and Gianfranco guiding your way. Expect close-up looks at frogs, spiders, bats (with high-tech detectors), plus stories that make bugs seem almost charming. With group viewing scopes and plenty of laughs along muddy trails, this tour leaves you thinking about the forest long after you’re back under regular lights.
Nauyaca Waterfall Hike & Swim: Jungle Trek with LunchYou’ll hike through Costa Rica’s jungle with a local guide, reach Nauyaca Waterfalls for swimming or cliff jumps (if you’re up for it), and share snacks on sun-warmed rocks before a relaxed lunch together. Expect laughter, cool water on your skin, and memories that linger long after you dry off.
Catalina Islands & North Island: 2-Tank Scuba Dive Tour CRYou’ll start your day diving off Flamingo with a local guide, exploring volcanic rock reefs around Catalina Islands & North Island. Expect encounters with tropical fish, rays or maybe even sharks as you descend up to 18 meters deep. Between dives, relax on deck with fresh fruit and cookies before heading back around noon — it’s those quiet surface moments that stay with you.
Palo Verde: Boat Safari & Farm Lunch with Pottery LessonYou’ll ride a small boat through Palo Verde’s wildest corners with a local guide spotting monkeys and crocodiles, then share a homemade lunch at a riverside family farm—with time to try your hand at pottery using traditional techniques. Expect laughter over tortillas and stories you’ll remember long after you leave.
La Leona Waterfall Hike at Rincon de la Vieja: Swim to the fallsLa Leona waterfall hike at Rincon de la Vieja is a guided rainforest trek that covers 3.3 miles of singletrack trail with elevation gain, cave passages, and a final swim to reach the cascade. The hike takes 3 to 4 hours total, includes entrance fees, dry bags and a life vest, and starts from the operator's office near Curubande, 20 minutes north of Liberia. Children from age 8 are welcome; guides speak English and Spanish.Is it for me?The 3- to 4-hour commitment means you can fit this into a half-day itinerary without eating up the whole morning or afternoon elsewhere. If you're based near Liberia or staying in the region, the timing leaves room for a meal or another stop before or after the hike.
Tamarindo: Surf Lessons with Video Analysis & Coffee BreakYou’ll start your Tamarindo surf lesson learning technique on land before heading into the Pacific for hands-on practice—wiping out is half the fun here! With a certified local instructor guiding you (and video analysis after), you’ll laugh at mistakes over coffee and leave feeling braver than when you arrived.
Manuel Antonio National Park: Guided Tour & Park EntryYou walk the trails of Manuel Antonio National Park with a certified guide using telescope equipment to spot three monkey species, sloths, frogs, and birds. Park entry, fruits, drinks, and professional photos are included. The tour ends with free time on a white-sand beach before heading back to Quepos.Is it for me?Pick this tour if you want to see Manuel Antonio's wildlife without arranging your own transport, buying a separate park ticket, or navigating the trails alone — the guide's telescope and local knowledge are what turn distant animals into something you can actually see and understand.
Liberia Airport to Guanacaste: Private Transfer, Drinks & Flexible PickupYou’ll step out of Liberia Airport to find your driver waiting—no guesswork or stress—and settle into an air-conditioned car with cold drinks on hand. Enjoy small local moments along the way as you head through Guanacaste toward your hotel or rental. It’s simple comfort but somehow feels personal—especially when someone else is keeping track of time for you.Is it for me?Your driver meets you at baggage claim with a sign—no hunting for taxis or waiting around after landing at Liberia.
ATV Beach and Mountain Tour near Playa Flamingo: Ride the CoastAn ATV Beach and Mountain tour near Playa Flamingo takes you on a two-hour ride starting from Playa Brasilito, covering white sand beaches and coastal viewpoints with a local guide, helmet and hotel pickup included. The guide speaks English or Spanish, children from age 6 are welcome, and a minimum of two people per booking is required. Hotel pickup serves Conchal, Flamingo, Brasilito and Potrero areas.Is it for me?Ride the Flamingo coastline and mountain viewpoints in a morning—your guide navigates while you control your own pace between stops.
Gold Coast Catamaran Snorkeling & Sunset Sailing TourA 4.5-hour catamaran snorkeling and sailing tour departing from Playas del Coco along Costa Rica's Gold Coast, with time in the water for snorkeling and swimming, followed by a BBQ lunch and open bar as you motor back to shore at sunset. Life vests, snorkel gear and stand-up paddle boards are available; the boat stays anchored in a secluded bay while you're in the water, and those who prefer to stay dry can relax in the shaded main salon or on the open deck. An English or Spanish-speaking guide is included.Is it for me?At 4.5 hours, this tour fits into an afternoon without consuming your whole day—you leave at 1:30 pm and return after sunset, leaving the morning free for other plans. The snorkeling and swimming happen in one anchored bay, so there's no rushing between stops; the pace is leisurely and built around the sail and the light.
Catalina Islands: 2 Dive Trip for Certified Divers & GearYou’ll join a small group of certified divers for two guided dives at different Catalina Islands sites near Tamarindo, with all scuba equipment provided plus snacks and drinks between dives. Expect friendly guides who handle every detail from pickup to gear checks—leaving you free to focus on underwater moments you’ll remember long after you’re back on shore.
Monteverde: Rain Forest Night Walk with Wildlife SightingYou’ll wander Monteverde’s rainforest at night with a local guide, searching for sloths, frogs, toucans, and even glowing fungi using provided optic gear and flashlights. Expect close-up wildlife moments you can’t get during the day — plus small surprises along the way that make you feel part of the forest’s secret life.
Tamarindo Zipline: 10 Cables & Tarzan Swing for Kids 2+You climb into a Guanacaste tree, zip across ten cables through the canopy, swing on a rope between platforms, and take a 23-meter free-fall jump — all while your kids do the same thing next to you. Safety gear and water are included, and the guides walk you through every step. Plan for a few hours in the forest, and expect to be out of breath and grinning when you're done.Is it for me?Right for families with kids 2 and up who want to do something together without anyone sitting it out. The course is paced so younger kids stay safe and older ones get the adrenaline rush — that's what makes it work for mixed ages in one group.
Limón: Tortuguero Canals, Banana Farm & Playa BonitaYou get a guided city tour, a working banana plantation visit with fruit samples, one hour cruising the Tortuguero Canals in a covered boat, time at Playa Bonita beach, and a stop at a local market — all with port pickup and drop-off timed to your ship's schedule. The guide handles the route and the timing so you don't have to.Is it for me?Book this if you're docked in Limón and want to see the region's main attractions — bananas, canals, beach — without arranging transport or timing yourself around a ship departure. The four-hour window and port pickup are what make a full inland trip possible in a port stop.
Night Walking Tour Monteverde: Nocturnal Wildlife with GuideA small-group night walking tour in Monteverde starts at dusk and runs two hours through forest trails with a live guide who locates and identifies nocturnal wildlife using a powerful spotting scope. The guide carries flashlights for the group and speaks English or Spanish; children from age 4 are welcome. You arrange your own transport to the meeting point.Is it for me?The two-hour walk starts at dusk and moves at an easy pace, so it suits travelers who want to see nocturnal wildlife without a strenuous hike. You arrange your own transport, but once you arrive the guide handles the route and all the wildlife spotting work.
Playa Conchal: Jet Ski Tour & Hidden Beaches with Local GuideYou’ll jet ski along Playa Conchal’s untamed shoreline with a local guide, weaving between secret beaches and rocky islands. There’s time to pause for wildlife spotting (turtles if you’re lucky), plus photos in wild places. Bring your own snorkel if you want to swim—the rest is pure adrenaline and salty air.
Monteverde Night Tour: Glass Frogs, Sloths & Cloud ForestYou get picked up from your hotel at 5:30 p.m., spend two hours in the cloud forest with a bilingual naturalist guide spotting nocturnal wildlife like glass frogs and sloths, and return before 8:30 p.m. The small group size (maximum nine people) and included flashlights mean you're not fighting for a view or fumbling in the dark. Hotel drop-off is included, so the whole evening is handled.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see the cloud forest's nocturnal side without arranging your own transport or guide — the early pickup and late return mean you're not managing timing, and the small group size is what makes it possible to actually see and hear the animals instead of just walking past them.
Quepos: Parasailing Manuel Antonio & Ocean LandingYou receive a brief safety overview, get fitted with a harness and life vest, then walk into the air and float 400 feet above the Manuel Antonio coastline for your choice of 15 or 30 minutes. A guide on a wave runner waits below to bring you back to shore when you descend into the Pacific. All equipment is included, and you're back on the beach within an hour.Is it for me?A good fit if you want a view of Manuel Antonio that doesn't require hiking or a boat tour, and you're comfortable with heights — the flight is the whole point, so expect to spend 15 to 30 minutes suspended 400 feet above the water, which is what makes the view possible.
Tortuguero: Canoe Tour with Wildlife at Sunrise & Local GuideYou’ll paddle quietly through Tortuguero’s tangled waterways at sunrise with a local guide who knows every sound and shadow. Expect fresh coffee before you set off, close-up moments with monkeys or sloths if you’re lucky, and time to just listen to the rainforest breathe around you.
