Top Central Valley How to Get Around in 2026

Get out of the city and experience Costa Rica’s rich wildlife heritage with this half day private tour to the Toucan Rescue Ranch. What started out as a rescue facility for toucans has expanded to include other charismatic species such as sloths, monkeys, parrots, and owls. Learn all about them from the dedicated staff committed to their care.

Rappel down waterfalls in the shadow of Arenal Volcano on this exciting rainforest adventure just outside of La Fortuna. Head into the forest, where guides will help you gear up for a thrilling course featuring a rock climb and rappelling, including the "Monkey Drop" and waterfall descents. After conquering this natural playground, head back to HQ for a delicious lunch of Costa Rican cuisine.

Spend your day on a hiking adventure through the Arenal Volcano National Park with a small group. Experience the natural beauty of La Fortuna as you navigate the trails and passes that wind through its stunning landscapes. When the day is done, relax and unwind with a dip in a natural hot water river before returning to your hotel.

Explore Costa Rica’s beautiful nature and famous biodiversity on a fun full-day small-group trip to La Fortuna Waterfall, Arenal Volcano, and the Mistico Hanging Bridges. Start with an invigorating hike and refreshing swim at the waterfalls, then continue the hike to the volcano, followed by a traditional Costa Rican lunch. Conquer any fear of heights at the hanging bridges, and end this active day with a hot springs soak.

Learn all about the coffee growing and making process on this private tour of the Starbucks chain’s Hacienda Alsacia Coffee Farm. Explore the farm on a guided tour where you’ll visit the tree nursery, wet mill, drying patio, and roasting machine. Learn about sustainable farming practices, and about the people who produce the coffee you drink every day. An educational tour that travelers with a range of interests will enjoy.

Max out the adrenaline (and the fun) during this full-day adventure combining a white-water rafting trip and zipline excursion. Zoom through the rain forest canopy during a series of heart-pounding zipline rides, some on cable spans as long as 3,200 feet (980 meters). Then battle the Class II and III rapids of the Balsa River. Lunch, snacks, and rafting gear are all included.

Combine three adventurous activities in a single tour: a hike to Arental Volcano, visit to the Hanging Bridges, and exploration of La Fortuna Waterfall. This full-day tour from La Fortuna, perfect for nature lovers, includes hiking and swimming amidst Costa Rica's beautiful natural scenery. Hotel pickup and drop-off included.

Arenal Volcano National Park’s massive size and unique natural setting can make it an easy place to get lost in, if you don’t already know the area. This Arenal Volcano National Park Hiking Tour from La Fortuna allows you to explore one of the park’s beautiful trails with a guide who can navigate the steep slopes and volcanic landscape well. Plus, take in views of Lake Arenal, while your guide talks about the volcano’s history and forest formation processes.

Heading deep into Arenal's rainforest typically means renting a car and navigating unfamiliar roads. This small-group tour lets you skip the self-drive stress and takes you to directly to the area's highlights. Walk across the rainforest over a hanging bridge, wander along trails through lava fields for excellent views of Arenal Volcano, and, finally, rejuvenate in a natural hot spring.

Get to know the Peñas Blancas River ecosystem with a naturalist boat captain. Glide through the tranquil forest and spot arboreal and aquatic animals like monkeys, sloths, iguanas, turtles, and alligators, along with birds such as herons, cormorants, American darters, and passerines. Keep an eye out for the basilisk lizard, known for walking on water. Drift beneath ficus, luehea, and kapok trees, where dense foliage creates shaded tunnels rich with lianas and epiphytes.

Experience the best of La Fortuna on a full-day combo tour that blends nature, adventure, and relaxation—the perfect way to check plenty off in one go. Begin with a visit to the stunning La Fortuna Waterfall. Journey down a 500-step jungle trail for a refreshing swim in the fall's crystal-clear pool (weather permitting). Continue to Arenal Volcano for a guided hike through lush trails in the Ecological Park, and gain insight into the region’s unique geology. Finally, tuck into a typical Costa Rican lunch and unwind in the soothing waters of El Choyin hot springs. This all-in-one tour promises incredible landscapes, local flavors, and natural wonders.

Take a pause from a busy vacation and schedule in some rest with this full-day pass to La Fortuna’s hot springs. Enjoy access to all of the facility's natural hot spring pools and hot tubs, and rejuvenate in their warm waters. Customize your experience and add-on an optional meal or massage treatment to suit your preferences.

Get the inside scoop on a pair of Costa Rica's most famous exports on a combo tour of the Doka Estate coffee plantation. Learn how coffee beans are grown, harvested, and roasted to perfection, and then follow the sticky-sweet journey of sugar cane at a working sugar mill. Finish the flavorful visit with a tour of the estate’s inedible natural treasures, including hundreds of miniature bonsai trees, colorful orchids, and butterflies.

Get up close to Costa Rican wildlife on this morning safari float along a river beneath imposing Volcan Arenal. Be prepared to get wet as you’ll be in an inflatable vessel, close to the water. Look out for animals including sloths, snakes, and a variety of birds. Take a short hike to an organic farm, where you’ll collect your lunch ingredients.

Get a taste of Costa Rica’s famed biodiversity without straying too far from the city with this all-access day pass to La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park. Prebooked entry saves you from waiting around in long ticket lines, so you have even more time to explore its attractions. Choose whether to tackle family-friendly hiking trails through the cloud forest, visit a rescued jungle cat educational program, or spend time at the site's numerous specialty wildlife exhibits.

Experience the natural beauty of Costa Rica, and get an up-close look at some of the nation's most colorful birds. Enjoy scenic transfer to Caño Negro from La Fortuna, where you cruise by boat into the Rio Frio. Search for native birds, mammals, and flora before heading back to land for an authentic lunch.

Design your own perfect day in La Fortuna on a customizable combo tour. Cross the rainforest canopy on hanging bridges, swim beneath La Fortuna Waterfall, hike in Arenal Volcano National Park, and soak in geothermal hot springs. Take your pick of activities or do them all for a full day of fun and relaxation. Optional lunch add-ons provide a taste of authentic Costa Rican cuisine. Hotel pickup and drop-off are also included from added convenience.

Get your adrenaline pumping and explore the rain forests of Costa Rica as you embark on this adventure tour. Head to a reserve and start your adventure walking across a series of hanging bridges, with some dangling from 200 feet (60 meters) high. Then, enjoy a heart-pumping zipline tour across several cables and platforms.

The lush rainforest and white-sand beaches of Isla Tortuga are part of the Islas Negritos Biological Reserve, and are located along the eastern coast of the Nicoya Peninsula. With this tour, you'll set sail aboard a large cruise ship, admire views of Isla San Lucas and Isla Tortuga from the water, and enjoy time on the island to swim, snorkel, or relax on the beach.

Explore Irazú Volcano, the highest volcano in the area, reaching 11,000 feet (3,432 meters) above sea level, on this full-day combo tour. After visiting the volcano, descend to the city of Cartago, the former capital of Costa Rica, where you will stop at the Basilica of the Angels. Also see the Orosi Valley, known for its diversity of crops, such as coffee and sugar cane. Next, explore the ruins of one of the oldest ruined churches in Costa Rica in Cartago.

Get onto the Penas Blancas River in La Fortuna with your naturalist guide and kayak for a half day and see all the wildlife you can, and then finish with a local ranch tour and snacks from the garden. You'll be picked up from your hotel, then taken to the river to look for crocodiles, lizards, sloths, and monkeys. Then get to the ranch for coffee, sugar cane, and chocolate.

As one of the most popular parks in Costa Rica, Manuel Antonio National Park is a must for visitors. This guided tour from San Jose makes visiting on a time crunch a cinch—your guide takes the guesswork out of deciding which trails are worth the effort, plus helps you spot wildlife along the way. This tour includes breakfast and lunch, and is specifically timed to avoid the crowds, helping you have the best possible experience exploring.

Costa Rica is famous for its coffee, natural wonders, and diverse wildlife, and this full-day tour from San Jose combines all three. Learn how Costa Rican coffee is made on a guided tour of the Doka Coffee Plantation, enjoy magnificent views of the Poas Volcano crater on a scenic walk, and spot wildlife around the La Paz Waterfall, including a visit to the country’s largest butterfly observatory.

Spend a day exploring Costa Rica's rich wildlife on this tour to a coffee plantation, waterfall, and volcanic lagoon from San Jose. After learning how coffee is harvested and roasted on a coffee farm tour, head to Poas Volcano National Park and La Paz Waterfall Gardens for a chance to see animals like birds, butterflies, and monkeys in their beautiful natural habitats.