Top Costa Rica Half-day Tours

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.

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.

Horseback riding to a waterfall, touring one of Costa Rica’s best coffee farms, munching on Costa Rican pastries—with this tour, you’re guaranteed a wild and wildly delicious experience. At the farm, you’ll explore the bucolic grounds, see how coffee is brewed from seed to cup, hoof it into the jungle, and finish up having tasted a true slice of Costa Rican culture.

Explore parts of Tortuguero National Park where even motorboats aren't allowed to go with this small-group canoe tour. Paddle down the park's smallest canals with your certified guide to see its nature and wildlife without disturbing the animals. The admission fees to the national park isn't included in the tour. Places on this tour are limited to 8 travelers.

Paddle Boarding along the scenic coastline of Manuel Antonio. We will pass by small islands which nest local sea birds, we will paddle alongside the volcanic rock cliffs that make up the coastline. This is truly an experience that should not be passed on while in Manuel Antonio

Find the best spots for swimming in Manuel Antonio National Park on this half-day guided tour from Quepos. Although the national park is one of the smallest in Costa Rica, it receives hundreds of thousands of visitors a year and has some of the most pristine beaches in the country. Playa Espadilla Sur beach and Playa Manuel Antonio beach, voted one of the most beautiful beaches in the world by a top media company.

Like much of the rainforest in central Costa Rica, the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve 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 entrance ticket to the reserve is included, increasing your ease of access.

Two activities to discover the two parts of Tortuguero National Park - the canals during the canoe tour and the trail during the hike! 5.45h Canoe tour through the National Park 11.00 am Walk through the National Park

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.

The Monteverde Cloud Forest is one of Costa Rica’s most memorable natural wonders. With this tour, venture to the heart of the cloud forest on a self-guided trek and enjoy magnificent views of the Arenal, Rincon de la Vieja, Tenorio, and Miravalles volcanoes. Cool off with a swim beneath a waterfall, tuck into a typical Costa Rican lunch, and enjoy a short horseback ride. Hotel pickup and drop-off from Monteverde and Santa Elena are included for convenience.

Get ready for an adrenaline-pumping adventure with our ATV Adventure tour. Explore the picturesque Manuel Antonio countryside areas, unlike any other tourist. Feel the thrill while driving your ATV through the mountains, where you'll witness the lush greenery of the rainforest and an array of wildlife. Not only will you ride through the lush jungles of Costa Rica, but you'll also appreciate excellent views and can take amazing pictures of the beautiful landscapes. After experiencing the amazing ATV adventure, you will enjoy a unique nature experience at Rainmaker Park, a magical corner where lush rainforest meets the thrill of outdoor adventures. This park offers a stunning backdrop that immerses you in the rainforest. The constant murmur of water in Rainmaker Park accompanies you as you walk, creating a relaxing atmosphere and connecting you with the pure essence of nature. You will encounter majestic waterfalls that break the serenity with their comforting roar.

Sail into the sunset on this Tamarindo catamaran cruise aboard a comfortable 40-foot (12 meter) deck. Swim and snorkel as you enjoy the last rays of the afternoon at Playa Huevo—there’s a good chance you won’t see anyone else at the under-the-radar location—and then head back to Tamarindo while watching the sunset. Plus, an open bar means your cup is never empty.

Perfect for outdoor adventures, this Playa Flamingo Hidden Beaches Half-Day ATV Tour is a must. Book ahead and guarantee your experience on the day you prefer to go. This fun tour takes you to Playa Puerto Viejo, Playa Bahia de los Piratas, and Playa Minas. Plus, it combines time for hiking, swimming, and relaxing, too.

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.

See what life is like outside of the city on this horseback riding tour through the countryside. Alongside a guide, ride a well-trained horse through small towns and forested land en route to a tucked-away waterfall, followed by a typical Costa Rican lunch.

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.

Explore the forest around Tamarindo on an ATV during this tour. Suitable for novices and experienced drivers, this tour goes off-roading to search for local wildlife and flora. Plus, all equipment and instruction is provided.

Soak in the atmosphere of San Jose after dark on this bar crawl package. If you don’t know where to go for a fun night out, this activity is for you. Meet up with your guide as they take you to a selection of popular watering holes found downtown. Meet new people, try local drinks and get into the party spirit. A great way to introduce yourself to a new city.

San Jose is filled with amazing attractions to see such as the National Theater of Costa Rica and the Metropolitan Cathedral, but if you’re not familiar with San Jose, it could take you ages to see everything on your list. Take this San Jose nighttime city tour and travel with a guide who knows their way around under the city lights. Plus, dinner and round-trip transport are both included.

Explore picturesque Costa Rican villages, mountains, and tropical rainforest on a guided half-day ATV tour. After a convenient pickup from select hotels and tutorial, hop on your vehicle and follow your bilingual guide down rugged mountain trails. Learn about the area’s culture and unique ecosystem, stop at villages, watch for wildlife, and take a dip at a waterfall. Enjoy a traditional Costa Rica included in the tour price.

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.

Spend a day exploring Costa Rica’s beauty away from the beach on this guided shore excursion from Punta Arenas. Head out with a guide and a small group of 15 people or fewer to discover the region’s highlights, including the tropical fruits grown in nearby “fruit towns,” a wildlife area known for its population of white-faced monkeys, and a sail down the lush Tarcoles River. Tour includes entrance fees and all transportation with port or hotel pickup and drop-off.

Enjoy an action-packed adventure in the shadows of the iconic Arenal Volcano with this great-value 2-in-1 combo tour. First, take to the treetops for a thrilling bird’s eye view of the rain forest as you walk the Arenal Hanging Bridges, then get your camera ready for a visit to the beautiful La Fortuna Waterfall. After cooling off with a swim beneath the falls, tuck into a typical Costa Rican lunch (included) before heading back to the city.

Explore a protected tropical rain forest on a half-day hanging bridges tour from La Fortuna, and hike a circuit that crosses a series of 15 bridges with extraordinary views of the jungle canopy. Increase your chances of spotting birds, monkeys, boars, and jewel-toned frogs as you follow your guide through the forest, and listen to the sounds of tropical birdsongs and trilling insects.