Top Central Valley How to Get Around - page 5

Explore a protected primary forest near La Fortuna on a guided wildlife tour focused on Costa Rica’s native species. Led by a guide, the experience combines nature, education, and wildlife spotting in an environment that has remained largely untouched by development. The tour offers a high chance of seeing sloths in their natural habitat, along with exotic birds, frogs, and other rainforest wildlife, while giving visitors time to take photographs throughout the experience.

Take the hassle out of organizing transportation by booking it in advance. This is a private transport service that will comfortably transfer you from SJO to Los Suenos, Jaco, in an airconditioned vehicle with Wi-fi onboard. They can also set you up with day tours and other adventures once you arrive- just ask!

Relax and unwind with a day at La Fortuna’s famous hot springs at the base of the majestic Arenal Volcano. On this tour, enjoy round-trip transportation from San Jose and relax at either Los Lagos or Baldi Hot Springs (depending on the option you've chosen), enjoying free time to rejuvenate at a pace that suits you. A delicious lunch at the resort is included, so you can focus on relaxing in the soothing thermal waters.

Experience the sights, sounds, and flavors of San Jose on an evening bus tour. Starting from your hotel, board a comfortable double-decker bus with a welcome drink. See over 25 of the city’s landmarks as you take a bus tour, and stop for bilingual guided tours at key locations, including the Costa Rican Art Museum. Enjoy an included dinner of local cuisine before drop-off back at your hotel.

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.

Visit the Irazú Volcano National Park in just half a day with this excursion from San José. Your driver will pick you up early in the morning and take you to the volcano, where you can see the crater and learn about the history of the area from a local guide. Next, you'll head to the Los Angeles Basilica, a church and museum with a holy water source.

Adventure-loving travelers won’t want to miss this combined zip lining, rappelling, and hiking tour. The Carpintera Hills are close to San Jose and offer the easiest way to go zip lining from the capital. Glide through the forest canopy on steel cables strung between 19 platforms. Rappel from as high as 130 feet. Enjoy the forest views along the way and look out for birds and animals.

Visit Costa Rica’s highest active volcano on a full-day trip from San Jose to Irazu Volcano, the historic Orosi church, and Jardin Botanico Lankester (Lankester Botanical Gardens). There are just a few places in Costa Rica where it's possible to stand at the summit of an active volcano, but you can at Irazu Volcano National Park, with views from the rim into the massive crater.

Explore the best of the Arenal National Park on an afternoon tour of the volcano and hot springs. Hike to the lava fields without the risk of getting lost as your guide will be by your side. Then, cool off with a swim in the lagoon, followed by a relaxing soak in natural hot springs on the river. Includes handy return hotel transfers from La Fortuna.

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.

Enjoy a one-of-a-kind way to discover Costa Rica’s lush jungle ecosystems and most striking views on this half-day, small-group tour of Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park. Pick from morning and afternoon tour times and, after hotel pickup, head to the park. There are more than a dozen hanging bridges to explore: as you go, look out for monkeys and wildlife, learn more about the jungle, and soak up impeccable views of the Arenal volcano.

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.

Jungle Crocodile Safari on the Tarcoles River Cruise along the Tarcoles River, one of the best places in Costa Rica to safely observe massive American crocodiles in their natural habitat. ✔ See crocodiles, iguanas, and exotic birds like scarlet macaws and herons ✔ Safe, comfortable covered boat with bilingual naturalist guide ✔ Perfect for wildlife photography and birdwatching Carara National Park Nature Walk Explore the transition zone between dry and humid tropical forest — a hotspot for biodiversity. ✔ Easy guided walk through the forest trails ✔ Opportunities to spot monkeys, toucans, coatis, butterflies, and more ✔ Learn about the unique flora and fauna of this ecological bridge Puntarenas Coastal Highlights Enjoy a relaxed scenic drive through Puntarenas town, including: ✔ Lighthouse & Paseo de los Turistas ✔ Local fruit stands or souvenir shops ✔ Photo stops at panoramic viewpoints

Explore Manuel Antonio National Park on this all-day tour from San Jose. On the way to the park, stop for a traditional Costa Rican breakfast. Then, once you arrive, choose to relax on the scenic beaches or hike one of the many trails throughout the tropical rainforest. Be on the lookout for monkeys, iguanas, birds, and three-toed sloths during your visit.

Leave the crowds behind and plunge into the wild heart of Costa Rica. This is not just a hike; it is an immersive journey through two of the most spectacular and unspoilt river canyons in the region. We will navigate emerald waters, hidden waterfalls and lush canyon walls that few travelers get to know. Get ready to get dirty and refresh your soul as we explore the untamed beauty of Rio Gata. Guided by local experts who know every stone and pool, this expedition is perfect for those looking for a real connection with nature. Are you ready to discover the turquoise secrets of the jungle?

Travel along the Peñas Blancas River on this relaxed rafting tour. Along the way, spot a variety of flora and fauna such as sloths and monkeys in the surrounding forest that's located in the northern region of Costa Rica. Plus, visit a local farm where you’ll be able to learn about farming practices and enjoy a snack.

Feel like a jungle explorer as you venture into the lush rainforest around Arenal Volcano on a horseback ride from La Fortuna. Mount your horse and follow a guide along a scenic trail that hugs a river canyon, stopping to admire the Pino Blanco and La Fortuna waterfalls. Cool off with an optional swim, and learn about Costa Rica’s indigenous culture at the Maleku Village.

Step inside a nature documentary with this private tour of some of Costa Rica’s most spectacular attractions. First you will visit the Místico Arenal Hanging Bridges, surrounded by lush rainforest and colourful wildlife. Next be whisked by air-conditioned vehicle to La Fortuna Waterfall, be prepared to get wet! After lunch, hike across lava fields and through regenerating forest, among animals uniquely able to make homes in this environment.

Arenal is an active volcano whose glowing red heart is best viewed from a safe distance. Perfectly positioned is Mistico Park, a series of 15 suspension bridges offering just such a view of the pyramid-shaped peak as well as the opportunity to experience the rainforest from up in the canopy. Enjoy learning all about the area's rich biodiversity during this half-day tour from a professional naturalist guide leading the way.

Visit one of the top beaches in Costa Rica even if you have limited time with the convenience of a full-day tour from San Jose. Manuel Antonio National Park encompasses a rain forest that is home to monkeys, sloths, and other wildlife, and white-sand beaches on the Pacific Ocean. Get an early start to make the most of the day on a tour that includes two meals and transportation.

Get closer to nature while still experiencing thrills during a fun-filled day in the jungle at the Rainforest Adventures Costa Rica Atlantic eco-reserve. Your multi-pass gives you access to six different activities, so you can ride an aerial tram, encounter native critters at a butterfly and frog garden, cross a hanging bridge, and explore the jungle on a nature hike at your own pace. Get your adrenaline pumping as you soar through the treetops on ziplines, including one of the longest and fastest in the country.

Explore Arenal’s famous hanging bridges on a 4-hour tour from La Fortuna, and get panoramic views of the dramatic Arenal volcano. Follow your guide along an easy, 1.9-mile (3.1-km) trail through a lushly forested reserve, and cross a series of six suspension bridges and nine fixed bridges for a bird’s-eye perspective of the forest floor. Watch for bright feathers and monkey tails as you walk through the jungle, and take in the sights and sounds of Costa Rica’s thriving wilderness.

Learn about Costa Rica’s most remarkable creatures on a 1.5-hour tour of a La Fortuna wildlife rescue center. Explore the center with a naturalist guide, get a glimpse at some of the center’s cutest inhabitants, and see how conservation efforts are saving vulnerable species from development and poaching.

This half day tour will walk you through nature, and over six hanging suspension bridges, where your guide will tell you all about the flora and fauna of the canopy of the forest. Look out for monkeys, sloths, snakes, birds, and all kinds of insects on this walk. The course is about 1.9mi (3km) long, so wear some comfy shoes.