Things to do in Costa Rica

Arenal - Nocturnal Experience with typical dinner

Discover the nocturnal wonders of Costa Rica. Begin your experience with a 30-minute drive through the charming town of La Tigra, where the Mendez Family will greet you. This traditional Costa Rican family lives off the land, committed to plant and wildlife conservation and protection. Follow the estate's trail alongside a small patch of regenerating forest with water mirrors that facilitate the observation of nightlife such as birds, nocturnal mammals, amphibians, bats, and other wildlife. Meander around the water mirrors and reach the frog sanctuary, where you see numerous species of frogs such as the bullfrog and spectacular glass frogs in their natural habitat. After this enchanting experience, sit down and relish a traditional Costa Rican dinner prepared over a wood-burning with the nocturnal lights of the San Carlos plains lighting up the evening.

San José / Central Valley - Rainforest hiking and boat trip to Costa Rica’s Corcovado National Park

As you approach the Osa Peninsula by sea, get your camera ready for views of the Pandora-style rainforest that's painted over the area. You'll start with a gentle two-hour hike through Corcovado National Park, one of the most intensely biodiverse places on Earth, where your expert guide will help you spot native wildlife like tapirs, iguanas, monkeys and more. After recharging with a picnic lunch, you'll have some extra time to explore this lost-world-like landscape before your 90-minute return boat ride to Uvita. Keep an eye out for dolphins and whales along the way.

Arenal - White-water rafting and quad biking experience from La Fortuna

Roar through Arenal's rainforest trails together on your quad bike for two. After your safety brief it's full-throttle over the rugged terrain of the canyon walls, then zoom past tropical fields of bananas and papayas – all with the Arenal Volcano as your striking backdrop. The thrills continue as you head to the Balsa River for two hours of white-water rafting over medium grade rapids. Stop for a swim and the chance to spot the local wildlife before paddling on towards a hearty lunch.

Arenal - Sarapiqui River white-water rafting with picnic lunch, from La Fortuna

Twist and turn your way down the jungle-fringed Sarapiqui River for an adventure to satisfy nature lovers and adrenaline seekers alike. After a full safety briefing from your experienced guide, you'll launch your boat and tackle your first rapids together. Beginners are welcome on this route, taking on a range of easy to medium rapids. After around 90 minutes of rafting, you'll be ready for some dry clothes and a picnic lunch by the river, where you could spot toucans, sloths and howler monkeys.

Guanacaste - Pura Vida Sunset Cruise

See a Costa Rican sunset in style with an evening aboard a swanky sailboat. But before watching nature's nightly show, you'll spend the day sailing by beautiful beaches and dropping anchor to swim, snorkel and explore onshore. What's more, there'll be premium drinks and snacks served throughout, plus a tasty lunch on board.

Guanacaste - Sloth Adventure Tour

Set off on an adventure in Costa Rica's great outdoors with a tour that ticks off waterfall swims, wildlife-spotting and more. You'll trek into the jungle searching for sloths, splash around in the pools of a thundering waterfall and feast on a typical local lunch. Then, you'll delve into the heart of some of Costa Rica's most famous exports – coffee and cocoa – with tastings of both.

Arenal - Maleku Indigenous Reserve

Bienvenidos at the Maleku Indigenous Reserve. This ecological haven nestled in the Northern Region of Costa Rica consists of four different towns: Palenques, Margarita, Tonjibe and El Sol, with a small local population of 1000 habitants who speak the Maleku Jaica dialect. Embark on a cultural tour where you'll learn about the indigenous lifestyle, traditions and customs. Drive through the northern grassland and receive a warm welcome at Margarita Palenque. After a short and entertaining presentation, you'll go for a stroll through the traditional ranch to learn important details of the village such as the inhabitants' rituals, types of palenques, craftsmanship and agriculture. Discover how the Maleku cultivates cocoa and how they tailor their traditional clothing. Follow the small path that leads to the forest where you'll learn about medicinal plants and knowledge about trees passed on by their ancestors. You'll also get to practice traditional archery and ancient hunting methods used by those who came before. Experience a Maleku rite dramatized with its dances, songs and music, the soul of their culture. Finish off your experience with a local Costa Rican lunch consisting of a fish-based dish wrapped in banana leaves, steamed and accompanied by locally grown vegetables and a natural fruit juice.

Monteverde - Selvatura Park Zipline, Hanging Bridges & Sloth Sanctuary

A trio of the best things to do in Monteverde await on this visit to Selvatura Park. Start in the treetops of the cloud forest for a ziplining adventure, before a self-guided hanging bridges hike. Then, it's off to the sloth sanctuary for an in-depth look into Costa Rica's most iconic animal. Learn about these tree-dwelling mammals with the park's experts, as well as their conservation efforts.

Puerto Viejo / Cahuita - Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge hike with lunch and transport

Ready to explore Costa Rica's wild side? You're about to hike 10km through the stunning Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge – think lush rainforests, gorgeous beaches, and cool wildlife like monkeys, sloths, and toucans. Your guide will share the inside scoop on local ecosystems and culture, while you'll soak in jaw-dropping views of the Caribbean Sea from the Manzanillo viewpoint. It's serious wow. And to top it off, a delicious Caribbean lunch awaits.

Arenal - White-water rafting and canyoning from La Fortuna

Spend an adrenaline-filled day scrambling, rappelling and rafting your way through Costa Rica's tropical rainforests, with the impressive Arenal Volcano framing your adventure. With expert guidance and equipment, you'll trek to a waterfall, take a deep breath and begin your canyoning with a thrilling descent. After more climbing scrambling and zip-lining, you'll hop in a 4x4 to take you to the river for white-water rafting down medium grade rapids. Finish your morning with a well-earned traditional lunch.

Arenal - White-water rafting and zipline experience from La Fortuna

Flash through the air at up to 43 miles per hour before you disappear into rainforest canopies on this adrenaline-pumping zipline tour. Zip down Arenal's seven extreme cables, the highest starting at a 54-foot tower where you'll want to snap those 360° views of the rainforest and volcano. Then feel the rush as you soar above La Fortuna Waterfall on a half-mile-long zipline. Continue your jungle adventure by water as you hit the rapids of the Balsa River for two hours of white-water rafting. Recharge and reflect on an exhilarating morning with a traditional Costa Rican lunch.

Manuel Antonio - Half-Day Savegre River White Water Rafting Experience with transport

When it comes to whitewater rafting adventures, they don't get wilder than those on the Savegre River. Grab a paddle and try to tame this savage waterway full of twists and turns where around every corner, there could be another heart-stopping drop. And after a two-hour tour led by an expert guide, a Costa Rican lunch completes the experience.