City: Costa Rica
Top Things to do in Costa Rica
Top Hotels in Costa Rica
- 1. Shana By The Beach Manuel Antonio
- 2. Tulemar Resort
- 3. Nayara Gardens
- 4. Arenal Manoa Resort Hotel & Hot Springs
- 5. The Westin Reserva Conchal, an All-Inclusive Golf Resort & Spa
- 6. Jardin del Eden Boutique Hotel
- 7. The Royal Corin Thermal Water Spa & Resort
- 8. The Springs Resort and Spa
- 9. Tabacon Thermal Resort & Spa
- 10. Hotel Lomas del Volcan
What to do and see in Costa Rica, Costa Rica: The Best Day Trips from
Coordinates: 10°N 84°W / 10°N 84°W / 10; -84
Restaurants in Costa Rica
1. 4-in-1 Arenal Volcano Tour: Hanging Bridges, La Fortuna Waterfall, Volcano Hike, and Tabacon Hot Springs
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 43 reviews
Join this 4-in-1 tour where you get to see the best of Costa Rica in 12.5 hours. Channel your inner bravery and cross the Arenal Hanging Bridges to catch unbelievable views of the forest. Observe the stunning La Fortuna Waterfall and partake in a thrilling Volcano Hike. Visit Tabacon Hot Springs and enjoy a traditional Costa Rican meal in a local home. We know there is not always enough time to do as much as desired... but we can do it with you!
Inclusions: Hotel pickup and drop-off only from La Fortuna/ Arenal, Lunch, Local guide, Dinner, Air-conditioned vehicle, All Fees and Taxes
Exclusions: Hotel pickup and drop-off outside La Fortuna/ Arenal, Gratuities
Reviewed By shannonwE5057TA
Without a doubt, the highlight day of our first trip to Costa Rica was our 3-in-1 tour with RainForest Explorers. We had Carlos as our guide and driver for the first two stops - Mistico Hanging Bridges and hiking at the base of the Arenal Volcano. Carlos was truly an amazing guide and such a fun person to spend the day with. He was excellent at spotting animals and super knowledgeable about everything we saw. Mistico was beautiful, but I think without Carlos we would have walked through it in half an hour and not seen a single animal. Instead, we saw two different troops of monkeys (Spider and Howler), a tarantula, a viper, bats, Blue Jeans Poison Dart Frogs, many birds and butterflies, and on and on. It was a wonderful tour! He used his Swarovski scope to give us a great look at the animals, and also took photos and videos through it with our phones. At the end of our walk through the Hanging Bridges, Carlos cut up a fresh pineapple to snack on before we got back in the van. Even the pineapple came with a lesson, where we found out that pineapple is a multiple fruit. Next, we drove to the base of Arenal Volcano to hike up some of the old lava rocks. We got our geology lesson for the day, saw some more beautiful animals, and took some great photos. Apparently Arenal rarely shows her full face, but we had an absolutely clear view of the Volcano throughout the entire day. After Arenal, Carlos drove us to the private restaurant owned by RainForest Explorers. Yuliana, the founder of the company (who does a great job running the scheduling and customer service), and her mom Ileana welcomed us warmly to the restaurant. Ileana taught us how to make tortillas, but our results shouldn’t be representative of her teaching skills, ha! After we made tortillas, we were fed a delicious lunch of casado tipico (protein, salad, gallo pinto, avocado, and plantains - amazing), guanabana juice, and coffee made in a chorreador. It was our favorite meal of the entire trip. We hung out for a little while after lunch (and got up close and personal with a sloth that was hanging out on a fence on their property), said a sad goodbye to Carlos, and then Yuliana’s brother Edgardo drove us to Eden Chocolate Farm for a tour. After the chocolate tour (also a great tour), Edgardo picked us up and drove us back to our hotel. It was the perfect day! We would recommend RainForest Explorers for anyone looking for a touring company in the Arenal region.
2. Sky Walk Tour with Hanging Bridges and Nature Preserve
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
Located on the slopes of the Tenorio Volcano, there will be a two-hour hike with many stops to see the variety of flora and fauna in the surrounding tropical rainforest. You will walk on 3 hanging bridges over the forest canopy ranging from 35 to 40 meters in height. This is an excellent opportunity for observing, birds, butterflies, bromelias, orchids and become immersed in the splendor of the tropical jungle.......
Inclusions: Bottled water, Lunch, All activities, Local guide, Hotel pickup and drop-off, Transport by private vehicle or Mini Bus with A/C
Exclusions: Drinks, Gratuities, Souvenir photos (available to purchase)
Reviewed By MNApril
We booked a private excursion with Pininos for the Mega tour - Ziplining, Horse backriding and then white water tubing. With 4 teens it is hard to "thrill" them but we had a great time on this excursion. We booked "private" because we did not want to share a van with anyone else or stop at multiple hotels to pick up people - since we are 6 people this worked out great for us. The Ziplining is done back and forth over a river canyon and there are 8 ziplines. There is an opportunity to repel down a wall and climb back up after the ziplines but only our youngest (13) elected to do that activity due to the heat (the rest of us watched). The horse back ride was about 30 minutes and brought us to the river. The tubing was refreshing and you sit in a tub with a seat - warning here that this has lots of rapids and a waterfall that you go over - perfect for my 13, 15, 17 and 17 year old teens. We had multiple guides in the river who were keeping everyone safe - it was exciting but you never felt in danger. (If you have small children you should work with Pininos to see how this is handled because the waterfall drop is about 7 feet). At the end of the tubing you have lunch and then a short walk to the hotsprings for a soak. IT was a blast and I would highly recommend Pininos - they made sure that everything ran smoothly for us. On the way home they stopped at Walmart at our request so we could shop for drinks and misc. An adventure to thrill 4 teens that parents also enjoyed is worth the money. Thanks Pininos!
3. Sloth Discovery from Playa del Coco Area
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 24 reviews
Discover the natural habitat of the amazing Costa Rican Sloths amidst the lush Tropical Forest of the Tenorio Volcano. Along the way, Mother Nature may show up with colorful Toucans or even the world famous Red Eyed Tree Frog. This is an adventure of discovery to explore the richness of the nature and wildlife of Costa Rica.
Inclusions: First class transportation, Professional bilingual guides, Entree to parks and sites, Typical lunch., All taxes, Dinner
Exclusions: Not included: gratuities to chauffeur and guides (recommended)
Reviewed By N1347DTvickya
My group of 9 did ziplining and the floating river tour. Both were awesome and the guides were exceptional. We use this company again. I also went another day to do horseback riding and atv and again the service and views of the wild life and sights were so gorgeous. The guides know what people want to see because everyone was in awe. Love this company and will use them again
4. 1 day excursion to Hanging Bridges + Thermal Spa in Arenal
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
This tour in Arenal is the best option from San José if you want to combine the best of two experiences in one day, our tour offers the possibility of taking a tour of hanging bridges in the middle of the rainforest and then enjoying a delicious 100% thermal bath natural in an exclusive thermal resort, with more than 25 different pools. There are 9 suspension bridges and 11 normal bridges, we walk through the rainforest for 3.2 kilometers, we will have panoramic views of the forest and animal watching. Our Thermal Spa is located right next to the volcano and the water that they have in their pools comes directly from the Arenal Volcano with an average temperature of 36 to 37 degrees Celsius, it is the perfect temperature to relax after a walk, the water has properties rejuvenating and you can appreciate the difference in the smoothness of the skin after finishing the tour, in addition the water helps to remove all impurities from the skin of the body.
Inclusions: Lunch, Private transportation, Air-conditioned vehicle, Bottled water, Suspension Bridges Admission, All Fees and Taxes
Exclusions:
Reviewed By suzannek544
The six hour tour only took two. The dept of health had closed down the city due to a COVID outbreak. Everything was closed. Can’t really blame the operator. Probably also went faster because there were just the two of us.
5. Palo Verde National Park Boat Tours
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
Palo Verde is a beautiful place, you can see incredible animals of Costa Rica, monkeys, sloths, all kinds of birds, we assure you that the fauna of Costa Rica serves as therapy for your brain because this natural beauty helps you to forget all your problems and take a beautiful time in Costa Rica
Inclusions: Lunch, Bottled water
Exclusions: Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase), Tips
Reviewed By JaneMH67
We had an amazing day with the Buena Vista Mega Combo tour. Ricardo was our guide and picked us up from our hotel. He was truly wonderful! He was so informative about Costa Rica and gave us lots of interesting info and facts. Ricardo and Liz accompanied us through the day with zip lining, horse riding, water slide and mud/hot springs. The lunch was delicious! I would highly recommend this company for your Costa Rica Tour experiences as they can organize every kind of trip. Melvin was very communicative and Ricardo was the best! I would definitely book directly with them and don’t go through a third party like Viator as we had originally done. Viator were completely disorganized but thankfully Melvin was extremely fast in setting up the tour for us with little notice. Again, I highly recommend and will book direct through this company next time we visit beautiful Costa Rica!
6. Monteverde Cloud Forest Waterfalls, Wild Trekking and Horseback Riding
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
You will get the chance to visit a beautiful viewpoint that let you see 4 volcanoes: Volcán Arenal, Volcán Rincón de La Vieja, Volcán Tenorio y Volcán Miravalles. If the weather is nice you can also see part of the Guanacaste Province and the Arenal Lake. At the beginning of the hike, you will take the snack right next to the river and at the end of the excursion, you will enjoy a delicious Costa Rican typical lunch.
Inclusions: All Fees and Taxes, Driver, Guides, Entry/Admission - Monteverde Waterfalls, Entry/Admission - Monteverde Horseback Riding, Hotel pickup and drop-off from Monteverde/Santa Elena only, Snacks, Lunch
Exclusions: Gratuities, Hotel pickup and drop-off outside Monteverde/Santa Elena
Reviewed By 570benq
Highly recommend! This was one of the best parts of our trip. The views were stunning. The guides were friendly. We enjoyed being able to go at full gallop at times. It made it more exciting than the Extreme Zipline parks we had done earlier in the day. We were treated to a bonus sugar cane tour with a hands on experience at the end.
7. Typical Rancho Don Juan, Horseback Riding tour from Manuel Antonio
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 108 reviews
We decide to do a special and personal tour with no more than 10 persons, our idea is you can enjoy every second in our ranch and can learn and make any questions about the nature during our trip and be part of our family.
Inclusions: Lunch, Air-conditioned vehicle, Waters, Refreshing towels, Ice Tea, Photos, All Fees and Taxes
Exclusions:
Reviewed By sachag480
Wow! Where to even begin?! My husband and I booked a horse riding tour with Randall and we were blown away! This was so much more than just a horse ride. The ranch is Randall’s family home where himself and his father have tons of beautiful horses and cattle. We went on an epic ride in the mountains hills rivers and open field where we could ride a little faster. Randall was soooo knowledgeable, friendly and made this the most memorable experience of my life! The views are hard to describe and you feel so connected with nature! We stopped in the jungle and went for a hike where Randall and his father showed us tons of fauna and amazing trees and animals, frogs lizards snakes etc. it was fascinating and great to hear about the wonders of CR We Also got to go swimming in a beautiful waterfall. I recommend bringing a bathing suit and water shoes/sneakers. It was so refreshing after a long hot riding morning. We had lunch at a cute restaurant with authentic CR food. I highly highly highly recommend this tour, you will not be disappointed. Thank you Randall & family for making my birthday so special!
8. 3-in-1 Arenal Volcano Combo Tour: River Safari Float with La Fortuna Waterfall and Volcano Hike
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 36 reviews
Start the day with a unique experience at Penas Blancas River and join a safari float! See wildlife in their natural environment during your 2-3 hour float. Afterwards, visit La Fortuna Waterfall, a perfect place to take pictures, swim in the pristine water, and look at the wonderful scene. Enjoy a late lunch and hike before heading back to your hotel.
Inclusions: Hotel pickup and drop-off only from Arenal/La Fortuna, National Park fees, Lunch, All activities, Driver/guide
Exclusions: Gratuities, Hotel pickup and drop-off outside Arenal/ La Fortuna
Reviewed By shannonwE5057TA
Without a doubt, the highlight day of our first trip to Costa Rica was our 3-in-1 tour with RainForest Explorers. We had Carlos as our guide and driver for the first two stops - Mistico Hanging Bridges and hiking at the base of the Arenal Volcano. Carlos was truly an amazing guide and such a fun person to spend the day with. He was excellent at spotting animals and super knowledgeable about everything we saw. Mistico was beautiful, but I think without Carlos we would have walked through it in half an hour and not seen a single animal. Instead, we saw two different troops of monkeys (Spider and Howler), a tarantula, a viper, bats, Blue Jeans Poison Dart Frogs, many birds and butterflies, and on and on. It was a wonderful tour! He used his Swarovski scope to give us a great look at the animals, and also took photos and videos through it with our phones. At the end of our walk through the Hanging Bridges, Carlos cut up a fresh pineapple to snack on before we got back in the van. Even the pineapple came with a lesson, where we found out that pineapple is a multiple fruit. Next, we drove to the base of Arenal Volcano to hike up some of the old lava rocks. We got our geology lesson for the day, saw some more beautiful animals, and took some great photos. Apparently Arenal rarely shows her full face, but we had an absolutely clear view of the Volcano throughout the entire day. After Arenal, Carlos drove us to the private restaurant owned by RainForest Explorers. Yuliana, the founder of the company (who does a great job running the scheduling and customer service), and her mom Ileana welcomed us warmly to the restaurant. Ileana taught us how to make tortillas, but our results shouldn’t be representative of her teaching skills, ha! After we made tortillas, we were fed a delicious lunch of casado tipico (protein, salad, gallo pinto, avocado, and plantains - amazing), guanabana juice, and coffee made in a chorreador. It was our favorite meal of the entire trip. We hung out for a little while after lunch (and got up close and personal with a sloth that was hanging out on a fence on their property), said a sad goodbye to Carlos, and then Yuliana’s brother Edgardo drove us to Eden Chocolate Farm for a tour. After the chocolate tour (also a great tour), Edgardo picked us up and drove us back to our hotel. It was the perfect day! We would recommend RainForest Explorers for anyone looking for a touring company in the Arenal region.
9. 4 In 1 Sloth Water Falls Rain Forest Volcanoes
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 20 reviews
Get an up close look at Costa Rica's hidden natural wonders with the Celeste River, Tenorio rain forest, Miravallesand Tenorio volcanoes, Llanos de Cortes waterfall and Finca verde Sloth's wild habitat tour. Follow an expert local guide through breathtaking scenery, rugged trails and truly beautiful attractions. This is the perfect way to explore outside the city and see what makes Costa Rica a top attraction for nature lovers. Highlights Tour of Rio Celeste, Llanos de Cortes Waterfall and the beautiful Sloth habitat at the finca verde private farm. Experience the beauty of Costa Rica's natural landscapes.
Inclusions: National Park fees, Bottled water, Lunch, Driver/guide, Local guide, Hotel pickup and drop-off, Private tour, Transport by private vehicle
Exclusions: Gratuities
Reviewed By swarrenjohnson
The tour was incredible. Johnny was a great guide. Very knowledgeable and super friendly. We visited some great locations and enjoyed every one. 100% would recommend.
10. Caño Negro by Boat
Overall Ratings
4.9 based on 16 reviews
The Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge is considered to be one of the best sites on the continent for bird watching. In addition to an abundance of birds, Caño Negro is also home to many exciting animals, such as sloths, three types of monkeys, caimans, lizards, bats, and a variety of flora native of the wetlands.
Inclusions: Bottled water, Lunch, Professional guide, Hotel pickup and drop-off
Exclusions:
Reviewed By Hershbar
We really enjoyed our horseback riding experience at the foothills of the Arenal Volcano. Jarvin was our guide, and he was fantastic! 10 minutes into the ride and he spotted a sloth at the top of a tree. He was very knowledgeable about the wildlife, the biodiversity and the history behind the famous volcano. He was an excellent guide, very attentive and kind. The horses were calm. I can't think of a better way to get up close and take in that breathtaking view of that majestic volcano. Highly recommend this tour and Jarvin. Thoroughly enjoyable!
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