Top Costa Rica Half-day Tours

Hop on your own ATV and explore the jungles in Jaco. First, learn how to operate your ATV and complete some laps on the practice track. Then, head off toward the area waterfalls, where you will have time to swim and enjoy the natural surroundings. Plus, a professional photographer will be along for the ride, capturing pictures of your adventure, which will be available for purchase.

This Tortuguero Canals tour is a Limon classic. Drive along the coast, visit a fruit stand and banana plantation, and take a quick stop at the beach on your way to the Tortuguero Canals, a popular wildlife destination full of tropical plants and animals. Going with a guided tour keeps you on-time and organized for easy sightseeing.

Pick a morning or afternoon start time that suits your schedule and then head to Selvatura Park to begin your fun-filled zipline adventure. Get started with a safety session, during which you'll receive a harness and learn the basic park safety procedures to ensure a fun, but protected experience. You’ll then have access to the park’s range of 13 different zipline cables and 18 platforms, along with an optional ride on the Tarzan Swing. You’ll walk through the park between a series of 3-kilometer (1.9-mile) tree walkways that traverse Monteverde’s cloud forest, crossing between eight different bridges, with some lengths up to 510 feet (170 meters) and some as high as 180 feet (60 meters). After enjoying an action-packed day suitable for all ages, you’ll end your experience in the park and head to your next destination.

See the highlights of Limon on a full-day tour. Set off from your meeting point and visit a local fruit stand. Then, head to the rainforest to learn more about the area’s biodiversity. You’ll also see a banana plantation and explore the Tortuguero Canals, which teem with wildlife and vegetation. Finally, take a city tour of Limon with a stop at Playa Bonita.

Go off-roading in the Papagayo Gulf on an ATV tour that takes you far off the beaten path. Though the area may be famous for its sandy beaches, there’s also plenty to explore in the forests and mountains via unpaved trails, plus typical Costa Rican villages. Take the driver’s seat in your very own sturdy ATV, and hang on for a wild ride through Guanacaste’s unspoiled countryside.

Spend a half day touring the Arenal Volcano with a guide, learning the history of the volcano from its first eruption in 1968. You’ll have a moderate walk of about 1.5k to the viewpoint, where you’ll have views of the Green Lagoon and Lake Arenal. Along the way you’ll see the wildlife of the rainforest, including turkeys, toucans, monkeys, orioles, and snakes!

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.

If you've been eyeing Costa Rica's national parks like Manuel Antonio, don't skip Rainmaker Conservation Park. 1,500 uncrowded acres, Rainmaker sits in the heart of the Quepos Biological Corridor, with lush views and epic wildlife around every turn. On this guided tour, you'll spot hard-to-find creatures, walk in the treetops, cross suspension bridges, and take a dip in a natural pool, swimming in Costa Rica's unparalleled beauty.

Ideal for travelers interested in a day in the rainforest packed with activities, this experience includes a safari and seven adventure park sports. Start with a drive into the rainforest on a 4WD vehicle, exploring the adventure park’s protected land. Afterward, head to the adventure course for rappelling, ziplining, tree climbing, “monkey drops,” and more. Finish the day with a *comida tipica*—a typical Costa Rican meal.

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.

Sip and sample your way through Costa Rica's best beach breweries on Guanacaste's only craft beer tour. Travel safe in an impressive 4x4 limousine as you bar hop among local breweries in Playas Tamarindo, Flamingo, and Grande. Sample up to 12 beers made using local and seasonal ingredients, and get a behind-the-scenes tour to learn about the brewing process. Finish strong at a beachfront brewery where you can purchase dinner and groove to live music.

Irazú Volcano National Park is one of Costa Rica’s most scenic natural destinations, but given its size, it can be hard to know where to start. Streamline your visit with a guided tour from San José, joining a local guide to tackle the park’s trails. Venture up to a viewpoint where, on a clear day, you can see both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

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.

Experience Costa Rica’s Manuel Antonio National Park on this guided ATV adventure. After a convenient hotel pickup, participate in a quick safety and tour briefing, then enjoy activities that include cruising through plantations and past picturesque waterfalls, trekking along rainforest trails in search of sloths, toucans, and squirrel monkeys, and swimming in a magical natural pool. Enjoy a traditional Costa Rican meal along the way.

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.

Experience one of Costa Rica's most beautiful regions from the water on a kayaking tour of Lake Arenal. Learn basic paddling techniques from an instructor and guide before setting off on the calm man-made lagoon surrounded by rain forest. Enjoy amazing reviews of Arenal Volcano looming nearby, and look for migratory birds like kingfishers and flycatchers on the lake, plus howler monkeys swinging just offshore.

Soar over 11 waterfalls on this thrilling zipline adventure, less than one hour from the Puntarenas cruise port. Experience 18 zipline cables, a Tibetan bridge crossing, waterfall rappelling, and a refreshing dip in a natural pool. With stunning views of the Gulf of Nicoya, blends of adrenaline and nature in a short time frame that's ideal for cruise ship passengers.

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.

Get a taste of San Jose’s culture and cuisine on this walking tour that includes snacks. Explore Costa Rica’s capital alongside a guide who alleviates the hassle of navigating, and learn about the city’s history, architecture as you taste. Explore the produce stalls of two traditional markets and discover what makes Costa Rican coffee so delicious as you sample some local brews.

Experience the ‘pura vida’ of Costa Rica’s traditional farming lifestyle on this half-day nature and agriculture tour that takes you beyond the tourist hot spots. Learn about sustainable farming practices used on the farm; try your hand at milking a cow; extract cane juice to make refreshing drinks; and create artisanal cocoa using indigenous tools. At the end of your tour, taste the bounty of the land with a farm-fresh lunch of local, organic products.

Explore the sandy beaches, secluded bays, and jungle-clad shorelines around Playa Hermosa on this afternoon catamaran cruise. Admire the views as you sail along the coast, look out for dolphins and whales, and stop to swim and snorkel in a picturesque bay. While onboard, enjoy a tasty BBQ chicken lunch, grab yourself a drink from the open bar, and watch the sunset as you cruise back to shore.

Explore Manuel Antonio en esta excursión guiada a caballo. Diseñada para no más de 10 personas, esta excursión le permite recorrer un rancho local para observar la fauna y flora de la zona. También incluye una caminata donde tendrá la oportunidad de visitar una cascada. Se proporciona además un delicioso almuerzo costarricense.

Kids and adults alike will enjoy this fun and relaxing cruise through the mangroves of Isla Damas. As well as enjoying views of the biodiverse mangrove forest, keep your eyes open for local wildlife, including monkeys, sloths, various birds, and more. Learn about what you see from your knowledgeable guide and take some great photos.

Immerse yourself in Costa Rica's lush landscapes on a relaxing river float in the La Fortuna region. Join a small group and gently paddle down the Peñas Blancas River and keep your eyes peeled for local wildlife like monkeys, sloths, iguanas, and crocodiles. Hotel pickup is included for added convenience.