Top Activities on the Ground in Costa Rica - 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.

Explore Monteverde's magnificent cloud forest from the air, and from multiple angles, on this combination canopy tour. Cross the rainforest on a series of hanging bridges; glide through the treetops in a gondola, and then soar through the misty canopy on a thrilling zipline course. No need to choose between activities: do all three in a single day with this complete package.

Fly through the Costa Rican rainforest on this guided eco-friendly canopy tour. The ziplining adventure takes place at the Vista Los Sueños Adventure Park, which features a course that includes 12 platforms and 10 cables with a total distance of 2.2 miles (3.5 kilometers). During your journey, catch views of Herradura Bay and Island, as well as the Nicoya Gulf.

Jungle adventure meets family fun on this canyoning and whitewater rafting tour from La Fortuna. Tour the rainforest, rappel down waterfalls, and bounce down class II and III rapids on the Balsa River, stopping along the way to swim and spot wildlife. This tour even includes a professional photographer so you can leave the camera somewhere safe, live in the moment, and purchase pictures after.

Connect with nature and immerse yourself in the lush rain forest of Corcovado National Park on this full-day adventure from Drake Bay. Hike about 12.5 miles (20 kilometers) through different environments and non-traditional trails, stopping along the way to swim beneath a waterfall, spot local wildlife, and enjoy lunch in the rain forest.

This night hike is a wonderful way to explore Nativos Corcovado in Drake Bay. You and your guide and small group (no more than 6) will venture out on the family farm, Rio Agujitas, which is located just 15km from the beach, to explore the forests. You’ll get a chance to look for nocturnal animals like frogs, snakes, kinkalou and perhaps an ocelot or puma and tapir!

Test your limits on an extreme canyoning expedition in Costa Rica. On this thrilling, half-day tour from La Fortuna, journey to a remote rain forest canyon where you rappel down cliffs, leap from waterfalls, and trek through a jagged, slippery landscape. Prepare to get soaked as you splash into jungle pools and swim under cascades in an extraordinary natural playground. This is the ultimate choice for thrill seekers in La Fortuna.

Experience the thrill of flying through the air on a zipline course in Monteverde. You'll cross 14 cables, ranging in height from 246 feet (75 meters) to 492 feet (150 meters). Plus, you'll have the chance to rappel almost 100 feet (30 meters) and take flight on a Tarzan swing.

Immerse yourself in the culture, nature, and adventure of Costa Rica on this all-day experience. First, learn about coffee, sugar cane, and ceramics, then head out on a ziplining adventure or traverse the hanging bridges. Go for a horseback ride through the forest. Finally, relax in a natural hot water pool and slather yourself in volcanic mud.

Slip into a natural thermal pool with a full day pass to La Fortuna’s hot springs, with the option for an onsite lunch or dinner. Explore a lush tropical garden between visits to the steaming pools and waterfalls, relax in a shady private hut or try a luxurious hydro-massage. Enjoy clean, well-appointed facilities and a full range of body treatments, and take in stunning views of the Arenal volcano while you relax in this tropical haven.

Explore the jungle at night, when the temperatures drop and nocturnal wildlife comes alive. Your guide team is a biologist “Bug Lady” and an animal “spotter extraordinaire” armed with spotting scopes and echo bat detectors. Search for unique animals and insects while learning about their history and lore: learn to harvest silk from giant spiders, how toxic toads were used in mind-control studies, and why the US military enlisted cockroaches in the Vietnam War.

Experience the best of Costa Rica’s adventure in one action-packed day at a private 850-acre river valley near Jaco. Ride horseback through lush jungle, soar across zip lines, rappel beside waterfalls, and rev up on an ATV ride—all led by expert English-speaking guides. Watch for monkeys and macaws, then enjoy an authentic Costa Rican lunch in a Jurassic Park-like setting.

Spend your day on a hiking adventure through the Arenal Volcano National Park with a small group. Experience the natural beauty of La Fortuna as you navigate the trails and passes that wind through its stunning landscapes. When the day is done, relax and unwind with a dip in a natural hot water river before returning to your hotel.

Certified and most important a very passionate guide will be leading you through different spots in the area to show you as many birds as possible.

If you’ve explored Monteverde’s cloud forests by day and are wondering what comes out at night, this guided night walk is ideal. Look out for nocturnal animals without getting lost after dark. Your guide will help you identify the sounds of the forest at night, when different animals and birds are active. Tour with a small group so you get personalized attention from your guide.

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.

Experience the classic Costa Rican thrill of ziplining, riding through nature on horseback, and swimming in a refreshing natural pool. Ride a tractor up a mountain and then soar back down on a high-speed zipline course. Back on solid ground, mount a well-trained horse for a scenic ride through the rainforest, then take a short hike to a waterfall and natural swimming hole, where you can cool off.

Tap into you inner jungle explorer with this waterfall hiking tour in the mountains above Jaco. Ride a 4x4 deep into the rain forest, and then hike along a vertical river, stopping to splash and swim in tropical waterfall pools along the way. If you’re feeling extra adventurous, jump off of rock ledges into the natural pools below for a true taste of ‘pura vida’!

Take this private full day waterfall experience in Curubande where you can do some tubing, cliff jumping, swimming, cave exploring, hiking, and enjoy a delicious lunch, too. You’ll have a few stops today, including the Rio Blanco, La Leona Waterfall, Curubande town for a local casado lunch, and the Llanos de Cortes waterfalls for cliff jumping and swimming.

Combine hiking, waterfall swimming, and local cuisine with this tour in Las Monas Rainforest. You'll spend time learning about local plant life and cooling off in waterfall pools, with the option to jump from the top of some of the falls if you dare. You'll then head out to La Casita del Sabor for a local meal before returning to your hotel.

Two popular Costa Rica adventures come together into one adventure-packed day with this white-water rafting and canyoning tour from La Fortuna. During the canyoning portion, rock climb, rappel down a waterfall, and zipline—all under the watchful eye of your guide. Then, head down to the Balsa River for a 2-hour white-water rafting tour with class II to III rapids. When to action ends, wind down with a typical Costa Rican lunch.

Head into the rain forest of Costa Rica and discover the Arenal Volcano on a half-day tour. Trek past lava formations, swim in a lake created by the volcano, and take a dip in the warm hot springs of the Tabacon River. Enjoy a delicious Costa Rican lunch while taking in the views of the volcano and enjoy your day in the rain forest.

Fly from treetop to treetop in a lush jungle reserve on this zipline adventure tour from Jaco. Hike to a training center in the forest, then strap in and soar through eight thrilling ziplines. Watch for tropical birds and ancient trees, complete the series with a 600-meter ride from the valley crest to a clear river, then finish with juice and fresh tropical fruit at a nearby ranch.

As one of Costa Rica's biggest exports, coffee plays a big role in Costa Rica's economy—and its culture, too. Learn about artisanal Costa Rican coffee from bean to cup complete with harvesting, roasting, and grinding on this tour of a family-owned coffee farm near Arenal Volcano. As a bonus, try other favorite Costa Rican crops such as chocolate and sugar cane.