Top Costa Rica Safaris

This was hands down the BEST excursion we have ever been on. The 5 activities in 1 - Full day was sooooo worth it. Started the day with a tractor ride to the waterfall rappel - 10/10! Then we zip lined through their sprawling farm where each one was better and more thrilling than the last. After that we had the most delicious homemade lunch. After a quick break was the ATV rides through the trails for an hour and then we went back, and got on horseback to so another 1hr trail ride. We got pictures videos and the learned some really cool facts about the animals, vegetation and farm life! We will be back to do this again and hopefully the new amenities (pool and glamping cabins) are available for us once completed! Jesus, Luis, & Ricardo were amazing guides. Tips: Bring small bags to carry items (waterproof is best) Wear clothes to get wet and comfortable closed tied shoes/watershoes Suncreen/bug spray a must! Know some common Spanish sayings to assist but the guides spoke English as well.

This is an amazing experience, but if you get motion sickness, you will need to take precautions or skip this excursion. A great portion of the drive is around Lake Arenal with extensive twists and turns, which can cause motion sickness. So, if you are prone to motion sickness, do whatever helps to prevent it, as the trip is totally worth it. The 1st stop at Cafe Macadamia has an amazing view of the lake and excellent food. The vibe there was chill with reggae music playing, cool/dry air, great service and convenient gift shop. The 2nd stop at Mystic Bridges was my favorite part. The rainforest did not disappoint with the variety of plants and creatures; we even saw a moving sloth! The walk across the 3 hanging bridges was such a unique experience and allowed you to see the depths of the rainforest. The clouds prevented us from seeing the volcano which was disappointing, but you’re either lucky or not. The 3rd stop at the hot springs was beautiful and relaxing, and we enjoyed drinks from the bar. The changing rooms are clean and they supply clean towels. The 4th stop for lunch at the hotel near the base of Arenal was beautiful, with delicious food and a much closer look at the volcano. The service was excellent and grounds were landscaped with tropical plants. Then, it’s a 3.5 hour drive back to Guanacaste hotels. Since there are no activities to break up the drive, this is where the twists and turns can really get to you. It’s a lot of time in the van throughout the day, but so worth it!

Absolutely incredible day on the river. My family (2 kids 8 and 11, 2 adults) and I were lucky to be escorted down the river by Ulysses who was a source of knowledge about everything, not just rafting: nature, geology politics, history. It was a pleasure to spend the day with him. The rafting was great fun, we all loved especially the kids who had a great time being flung around, and also backflipping into the river. We had a perfect day and the waterfall was breathtakingly beautiful. Can’t possibly recommend highly enough.

Our tour guide Steven was amazing, he was so informative on every place we stopped. He even stopped along side the road to see a sloth in a tree and also some birds. I would definitely recommend this tour. Also, the driver was so incredibly nice and did an amazing job at driving safe in the weather conditions.

A blast. The sights? Breathtaking. Zip lining over a mile, for as high up as we were, was unforgettable. Great picture opportunities. The only thing, when doing the atv portion: give yourself some space between you and the person in front so you can rip the gas and get some real speed. Be careful.

I took my 3 year old on this boat ride by myself and it was absolutely wonderful. We saw over 10 small crocodiles and two large crocodiles, one of them completely out of the water. We also saw a ton of cool birds, including rosette spoonbills. The guide was so kind and they were respectful to the animals. Highly recommend.

Great tour! Our guide Johnny was great at spotting all types of animals and was very knowledgeable. He accommodated our time schedule but still felt like we got our money worth. Also was great at taking pictures of us along the way. The waterfall itself is a decent walk up and down but worth it for the views. At the end of the hike we finished with fresh coconuts from the stand!

Our Gio Tours excursion from Puntarenas was fantastic, but honestly, our guide Juan was the absolute star and the reason it was so memorable. Without his incredible sense of humor and engaging energy, the day could have felt routine—he kept everyone laughing, relaxed, and fully involved from start to finish. The port pickup/drop-off was seamless, the fruit market stop was delicious (those fresh mango samples were out of this world!), the Tarcoles River pontoon cruise delivered wild crocodile sightings and many birds, and the authentic Costa Rican lunch was plentiful and tasty. Juan brought the wildlife, culture, and history to life with fun facts and great stories. Gio Tours delivered a perfect mix of adventure and local flavor, but Juan’s witty personality turned it into something special. Highly recommend—5 stars, especially for him! 🌴🐊 Thanks, Juan!