Top Central Valley Sightseeing Tours in 2026

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.

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.

One of the most popular activities in La Fortuna, a guided hanging bridges tour is a fool-proof way to spot wildlife and learn more about the Costa Rican rain forest. This nighttime hanging bridges tour in Mistico Park puts a twist on the classic excursion by introducing you to the forest's nocturnal residents, such as honey bears, barn owls, and over 4,500 species of nocturnal butterflies (twice the number of daytime butterflies!). This tour includes pickup and drop-off from some centrally located La Fortuna hotels.

See how La Fortuna transforms after sunset with this guided walking tour. Your guide will take you and your party into a natural area, where you'll learn about local crepuscular and nocturnal creatures and maybe see some yourself, such as owls, snakes, and colorful frogs—if you’re lucky, you may even spot a red-eyed tree frog.

Get onto the Penas Blancas River and gently kayak through the water, learning all about the local wildlife and landscape as you go. Your guide will make sure you know how to use your kayak and feel safe, and then you’ll be on your way. You’ll be with a small, intimate group, so it will keep costs down. Together you’ll find monkeys, iguana, birds, and more.

Take home frame-worthy photos of Costa Rica’s sublime rain forest and its inhabitants with a photography tour at Arenal Natura Ecological Park in La Fortuna. Bring your camera and snap away among the unspoiled natural setting of this private reserve, where a naturalist guide will lead you along jungle trails and though diverse wildlife habitats. Capture all the details of incredible animals like crocodiles, red-eyed tree frogs, snakes, and butterflies, plus delicate orchids and other tropical flora.

Ideal for travelers searching for outdoor adventures, this zipline experience includes access to hot springs and swimming pools. Your guide picks you up from your Fortuna area hotel, takes you to the Los Cañones Canopy adventure park, and helps holster you up to zipline through the jungle canopy. After soaking in hot springs, choose to visit a butterfly and amphibian conservatory or crocodile farm—perfect for families with children.

This La Fortuna ziplane canopy tour is a great choice for seeing the area's famous rain forest environment in a new way. Fly down nine zippiness and take a 164-foot (50 meter) rappel. This tour also includes a chance to learn about Costa Rica's indigenous Maleku culture.

Join the rain forest’s late night crowd on this nocturnal wildlife tour at Arenal Mundo Aventura. Use lanterns to light your way down a trail and catch sight of animals like the red-eyed tree frog, pit vipers, and mottled owls—your guide points them out along the way so you don’t miss a thing.

Calypso Adventures has a firm and unwavering commitment to sustainability, local community support, and personalized service. As the only female-owned watersports tour operator in the region and the only provider with a female guide for water activities, we offer a unique and empowering experience. Our founder, Bethshiva Lester, brings over a decade of expertise and innovation, ensuring every tour is both safe and memorable. We tailor our diverse array of tours and activities to meet each customer’s unique needs, showcasing Costa Rica’s breathtaking flora and fauna while promoting eco-friendly practices. With top-notch customer service, personalized packages, and a dedication to natural conservation, Calypso Adventures provides an authentic and unforgettable journey into the heart of Costa Rica.

Wildlife enthusiasts love this tour of Arenal’s only frog sanctuary. Tour the wildlife sanctuary at night for chances to see rare and colorful tropical frogs in their natural habitat; a guide leads the way and helps you spot frogs and other creatures that only come out at night. Tours even include pickup and drop-off from La Fortuna so you don’t have to worry about driving at night.

Active travelers will enjoy the opportunity to hike through the lush Costa Rican rainforests, in the shadow of Volcan Arenal. With a small group of like-minded travelers you’ll trek through the jungle to the foot of the volcano while learning about the unique ecosystem and wildlife from your guide.

If you’re wanting to see some of Costa Rica’s most beautiful sights, but trying to avoid major crowds, this Lake Arenal Sunset Cruise is a great choice. You’ll cruise out on Lake Arenal with views of the Arenal Volcano and local flora, fauna, and wildlife. Plus, you can relax as you ride while sipping on Costa Rican moonshine and sampling tasty snacks, with convenient hotel pickup included.

Experience a small group guided hike through the lava flows formed by volcanic activity at the Arenal Volcano. The hike is just under a mile, and is easy to moderate level. Learn the history of when the volcano erupted in 1968, and hear how the town was rebuilt afterwards, out of almost total destruction. You can visit the hot springs at the end if you wish.

Mountain bike along one of the best routes in Costa Rica with this Pedal and Paddle Adventure near Lake Arenal. You’ll see the Volcano, go through rainforest, and see the amazing wildlife living along this route. The duration is about 6 hours, the path is dirt and gravel, and bikes, guides and lunch are included on this ride.

Costa Rica’s home to multiple volcanos and Poas is one of the most active. See this stunning, smokey stratovolcano during a guided trip to Poas Volcano National Park. Walk through lush forests, keeping your eye out for diverse wildlife sightings. Discover a waterfall in La Paz and pass by the serene Sarapiqui riverside before visiting a coffee farm. During the tour, you’ll also stop for a delicious, local lunch.

Experience the rainforest at night without the risk of getting lost in the dark. Meet your guide at the entrance of the Ecocentro Danaus reserve and follow trails through secondary forest. Your naturalist guide will tell you about the reserve’s biodiversity and point out animals you may miss otherwise. Learn to recognize the sounds of animals before you see them.

With its cascading waterfalls and abundant wildlife, the Pacuare River is rightfully famous for its natural beauty. Paddle through the river gorge, navigating 52 Class II-IV rapids as you go, on this 12-hour trip from San Jose. Take in views of the tropical rain forest and wildlife such as sloths, parrots, and toucans as you ride the river (and your adrenaline rush) over the course of the day.

Explore Costa Rica's renowned ecological park, EcoGarden Arenal, in search of sloths. This guided tour is a great opportunity to spot the charming creatures in their natural habitat, as well as alligators, turtles, and many more species. As you explore, your naturalist guide will tell you everything about the animals and birds you see.

Immerse yourself in Costa Rican culture and history on this guided tour of the capital city. Highlights include the National Theater, the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum, the University of Costa Rica, the Supreme Court, and Central Market. A bilingual guide is on hand to answer questions and provide insight about what you see along the way.

Hike a scenic trail to a river spot, where you can swim, relax, or sunbathe for as long as you want. Join a tour guide for the 25-minute hike through primary forest that surrounds the Celeste River, effort that earns you access to a clean and pristine location that won’t be overcrowded.

Raft 9 miles (14.5 kilometers) down the Balsa River with more than 30 continuous rapids, while leaving plenty of time for swimming and eating Costa Rican fruits. Afterwards, your guide rewards you with water, towels and takes you to lunch at a local restaurant in La Fortuna. Rio La Balsa is also surrounded by lush vegetation, giving you the opportunity to observe a variety of wildlife during the tour, including sloths, iguanas, toucans and monkeys.

Get on the Pejibaye River totally worry-free with this all-inclusive tour. After pickup from your hotel, you’ll hop into your private car for a ride to the river—and a stop for a traditional Costa Rican breakfast. Once at the water, your guides will set you up for an exciting 3-hour float through the jungle, complete with photos, water, and towels provided.

Soak up views of Costa Rica’s tropical rain forest and waterfalls during a thrilling whitewater rafting adventure down the Sarapiqui River. Slip on your provided helmet and life vest, and safely navigate the river's rapids, twists, and turns with a guide. Refuel with a freshly prepared buffet-style lunch at an organic farm. Round trip transport from your hotel in La Fortuna is included.