Top Costa Rica Half-day Tours - page 5

Like much of the rainforest in central Costa Rica, the private Curi Cancha Wildlife Refuge is home to special plants and wild animals—if you’re able to find them. With this small-group tour, explore the reserve with a guide who knows intimately where to find the best flora and fauna, and carries a professional spotting scope to help you see them. The tour is offered in English and Spanish to accommodate more travelers.

Stopping at Curi Cancha Reserva, this guided birding tour will show you the diversity and multitude of species in each one. For half a day, try to find the most birds you can. This is a small-group tour and your guide and driver will arrange all the logistics. Upgrade to a private tour for more flexibility and a more personalized experience.

Turn your vacation vibes up a notch with this catamaran tour from Jaco to the secluded Fantasia Beach. Relax in a premium catamaran as you sail out on the ocean, and then catch sight of wildlife like turtles and monkeys while eating a lunch prepared by a private chef on a forested beach only accessible by boat. This tour even includes a bar for the ultimate in relaxation.

Appease your appetite for adventure during an exhilarating 3-hour rafting session on the Sarapiqui River from Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui . With an experienced guide, conquer the Class II and III rapids on the river’s most intense section and feel your adrenaline levels surge. During calmer periods, marvel at the abundance of exotic wildlife on the banks of the Sarapiqui River and listen to fascinating commentary from your guide.

Get off the beaten path in Tamarindo on a kayak tour to Las Baulas National Marine Park. Latin America's largest mangrove estuary is only accessible by water, so you're sure to escape the crowds. No kayaking experience is necessary, as a nature guide shows you the basics and leads you on a peaceful paddle and hike to spot native Costa Rican wildlife like howler monkeys, iguanas, and exotic birds.

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.

Explore the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve with your private guided tour. You’ll easily meet your guide at the reserve, then head into the tropical cloud forest. There’s no need to deal with large tour groups, and you can feel free to walk at your own pace. This is a private tour for you and your group, so take your time and focus on what interests you.

Bird watching in La Fortuna gives you the chance to see a rich diversity of birds from tropical woodpeckers to rare umbrellabirds, and this bird watching tour is a great choice for making the most of your outing. A guide helps you spot birds that you might miss on your own—plus takes you to all the best spots that locals know for catching sight of favorites—and even provides a spotting scope to better see the birds you came to find.

Spend an evening enjoying a delicious dinner while taking in panoramic views of San José. As you dine, enjoy typical Costa Rican entertainment, including a folkloric dance and comedy show, and learn about the country's history and culture. The buffet-style dinner includes two alcoholic beverages, such as wine or beer.

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.

Check out the amazing animals and plants that habitat the Monteverde Cloud Forest on this small-group, yet intimate, tour. You can use provided telescopes and field guides to spot some of the multitudes of birds in the area, and your field guide to identify the local plants and flowers. You’ll keep costs down with this group tour, but still have plenty of attention from your guide.

Take in Tamarindo’s coast at sunset with this cruise package. Set off in the afternoon, and enjoy ocean views, snorkeling stops, and relaxing on a private beach. If you’re lucky, you might spot turtles or dolphins. Then, tuck into a buffet dinner as the sun sets over the water. Perfect for a romantic outing or simply celebrating a special vacation.

We will visit the sanctuary of the white-faced capuchin monkeys, the most intelligent species of monkeys in the new world. Our visit will be safe and informative for everyone, from children to adults. We’ll learn about their family organization, alphas, and betas, and how to calculate their age. During these tours people are not allowed to touch the animals, but animals if they feel comfortable allowed to touch people. They are still wild animals and we are not violating their habitat. We don't allowed to feed them as well We’ll then see the crocodiles of Rio Grande de Tarcoles and enjoy the local souvenir sale and a buffet-style restaurant. We can choose to admire the crocodiles from the bridge or take a boat tour for an extra $43. The boat tour lasts approximately 1:40 minutes and includes bird watching and a naturalist guide. We’ll then go to a hidden beach in Jaco to see the sloths. We’ll sit on chairs, have a table, and I’ll serve drinks and snacks.

Arenal Volcano Rainforest & Natural History Tour – ( HANGING BRIDGES TOUR ) This is the quintessential Arenal Volcano tour to do when you’re in La Fortuna! Discover a natural paradise of trails and hanging bridges as you stroll along the beautiful natural paths of the Mystic Park. Connect with nature and observe the flora and fauna from a more intimate perspective while you have the opportunity to walk through the forest, hang from the branches or fly above the treetops like an eagle. Admire the stunning views from La Catarata Bridge and learn more about the rainforest with the help of a naturalist guide. Hear about the animal life, geography, history of the region and admire stunning views of the volcano, depending on the weather. This tour is adventure in the rainforest in Arenal, where you can explore and see animals, plants, and take lot pictures.

Experience all the best of what Costa Rica's Caribbean side has to offer during this 6-in-1 tour from Puerto Limón. Part history, part wildlife, part city, part nature, you'll have a chance to delve into the Afro-Caribbean culture that defines the region and enjoy the tropical landscape in which it's set.

Paddle past the giant twisted root systems that characterize mangrove forests on this kayak tour of the largest mangrove ecosystem in Central America at Damas Island. This biodiversity hotspot is home to tons of birds, reptiles, and aquatic animals that you can spot easily with the help of your guide. This tour includes round-trip transportation from your Manuel Antonio or Quepos lodging as well as lunch or dinner.

Head out into the jungle of Costa Rica for a morning of soaking in natural thermal hots springs with this tour. There are five hot springs pools in total, with natural clay deposits by the water so that you can give yourself a makeshift face mask. After your soak, you'll sit down to an included Costa Rican lunch before returning to your hotel.

Check out the high elevation reserve, Curi Cancha, and see how many native species you can see. Look for agoutis, spider monkeys, coatis, and much more. You’ll keep costs down by booking this small group tour, but still have an intimate experience, since the max number per group is six. Meet your naturalist guide at the reserve, then begin your nature walk.

Discover the incredible birds and biodiversity of Palo Verde National Park on this boat tour with lunch. Spot native wildlife such as crocodiles, iguanas, monkeys, and a colorful parade of bird species during a 1-hour and 20 minutes cruise down the Tempisque River led by a naturalist guide. Afterward, discuss your sightings with fellow travelers over a traditional Costa Rican lunch at a local restaurant.

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.

Your catamaran adventure begins at Flamingo Marina, where you’ll board a spacious sailing catamaran and cruise along Costa Rica’s beautiful Guanacaste coastline. Enjoy views of tropical beaches, rocky cliffs, and lush landscapes as you sail across the Pacific. During the tour, the boat will anchor in a calm bay where guests can snorkel in clear water and explore coral formations and tropical fish. Kayaks and paddleboards are also available for those who want to explore the bay from the surface. Highlights of this experience include: • 4-hour catamaran cruise along Costa Rica’s Pacific coast • Guided snorkeling with equipment provided • Kayaking and paddleboarding in calm waters • Open bar with beer, margaritas, and rum punch • Fresh wraps, fruit, bruschetta, and light snacks prepared onboard • Chance to spot dolphins and other marine wildlife After relaxing in the bay, the catamaran sails back toward Flamingo Marina while you enjoy the ocean breeze and coastal scenery.

Sea turtles nest on hidden beaches purposely kept off the beaten track near Tamarindo. This half-day tour takes travelers to one such undisturbed beach near Playa Minas in search of ridley and leatherback sea turtles and their nests. Get the chance to observe the animals deposit their eggs and return to the water while respecting government conservation rules at all times.

Located in Mistico Park, Arenal Hanging Bridges is known as one of Costa Rica’s most beautiful environmental projects—a combination of trails and bridges through the rain forest near Arenal Volcano. On this tour you can travel through the park and across elevated bridges, see views of the volcano, and enjoy close-up encounters with native flora and fauna. Your guide, a wildlife specialist, provides helpful narrative along the way.