Top Costa Rica On the Water - page 6

Explore the vibrant world beneath Costa Rica's waves on this half-day tour from Playa Tamarindo. After a brief kayak lesson, paddle to Captain Island where snorkeling brings you face to face with such marine life as colorful fish, stingrays, and octopus. Choose to ride in a single or double kayak with use of snorkeling gear included.

From La Fortuna de San Carlos, experience the wildlife of the area from a raft, where your guide will point out all the animals. You’ll float along the Penas Blancas River, and learn all about the rainforest river ecosystem. This is approximately a 4-hour adventure, where pick up and drop off to your hotel is included for most hotels. Snacks and safety gear are provided.

Spend an unforgettable morning inshore fishing off Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula with a private fishing charter. The experienced crew knows the best waters to catch yellowfin tuna, mahi-mahi, roosterfish, wahoo, snapper, and more, so you can maximize your haul. Plus, look for other marine life such as dolphins and whales, and see remote parts of the coastline unknown to most travelers.

Take a whitewater rafting trip down the Pacuare River with a professional guide to lead the way. You'll travel around 29 kilometers (18 miles), conquering a variety of rapids ranging from class II to class V. At the end of your tour, you'll sit down to dine on a typical Costa Rican lunch.

The Balsa River is one of the best spots in Costa Rica to try white water rafting, and this 6-hour tour from La Fortuna is suitable for complete beginners. Tackle the Class II and III rapids, enjoy spectacular views as you cruise through the rainforest, and look out for wildlife such as monkeys, sloths and toucans. Hotel pick-up and lunch is included.

Floating peacefully below Arenal Volcano, Lake Arenal also sits within Arenal National Park. Glide along the tranquil waters during this relaxed kayaking or paddleboarding experience. Your bi-lingual guides are ready to give you a SUP or kayaking lesson so you’re prepared for a fun afternoon on the water. Depending on your ability, you can paddle for miles or keep it easy with a low-impact, short ride.

Ideal for travelers interested in learning how to surf, or beginners who haven’t brought the right gear, this surf lesson provides boards and everything you need to improve your surfing skills. Meet your instructor directly at Hermosa Beach, considered one of the top surf spots for beginners, and start with stretching exercises and short lessons on surf etiquette and rules. Then, get in the water and learn to catch your first waves.

Anna Holala offers a fully private catamaran experience in Guanacaste, focused on quality, comfort, and authenticity. Unlike crowned tours, every trip is designed for a small group, with fresh homemade food, carefully prepared drinks, and a relaxed atmosphere. This experience is ideal for couples, families, and travelers looking for a more personal and premium way to explore the coastline of Playa del Coco and Papagayo Bay.

Surf the waves of Manuel Antonio Beach. Start on land where an instructor will lead a dry lesson before jumping in the water. Launch into the ocean where an a an experienced guide promises to assist you to stand up on the board. Continue the adventure and keep practicing afterwards. Or relax and enjoy the rest of your beach day with chairs, umbrellas, water and fruit waiting on the shore.

Navigate powerful Class IV to V rapids on the Naranjo River with this white-water rafting tour from Jaco. Test your adrenaline threshold on the short but intense section of the river known as El Chorro; a guide makes this trip suitable for even first-time rafters in good physical condition and over 16 years old. Tour includes pickup and drop-off from your Jaco lodging.

You don’t need any technical expertise to enjoy the rushing rapids of Arenal RIver on this tubing tour from La Fortuna. Grab a helmet and high-quality tube for a wild ride down the river, looking out for wildlife along the way. Afterward, have a chance to learn about local culture on a visit to a Maleku village.

Costa Rica is one of the most biologically diverse areas of the planet and the Guanacaste region’s tropical dry forests are stunning. Discover this beautiful patch of forest yourself as you glide down the rapids of the Tenorio River. Challenging rapids await you as 10 miles of twists, turns, and drops take you through the jungle. An intense experience for adventurers, it’s an exciting way to see Costa Rica’s natural beauty on a thrilling ride.

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.

Enjoy the wild side of Limon with this hiking and kayaking tour. Join a small group and follow your guide as you navigate the local ecosystem on foot and by river—a great way to see the area from a unique vantage point on the water. Surrounded by rainforest and beaches, spot a wide variety of wildlife, including iguanas, monkeys, and sloths. Perfect for nature-lovers, as well as those who like to keep active on vacation.

Costa Rica has some of the best spearfishing spots in Central America—if you have the required gear and know-how. This small-group introductory spearfishing is ideal for beginners who want to get a foundation in water sports. After meeting your instructors at the diving school, head to the boat to learn everything you need to know to dive and catch your own dinner: diving techniques, speargun use and safety, how to choose and stalk fish, and other secrets of the sport.

With its cascading waterfalls and abundant wildlife, the Pacuare River is rightfully famous for its natural beauty. Paddle through the river gorge, navigating 52 Class II-IV rapids as you go, on this 12-hour trip from San Jose. Take in views of the tropical rain forest and wildlife such as sloths, parrots, and toucans as you ride the river (and your adrenaline rush) over the course of the day.

Join this small group tour that takes you on a guided adventure though canyons where you’ll hike, swim, and explore until you reach La Leona Waterfall, deep in the canyon. The tour starts with convenient pickup near Guanacaste in an air-conditioned vehicle. Relax until you reach the start of your adventure, and then enjoy the natural beauty.

Embark on an exciting tubing adventure on the Celeste River, perfect for those looking for an unforgettable experience. Glide through the crystal-clear waters of this iconic river, surrounded by lush nature and impressive landscapes. Immerse yourself in the serenity and splendor of natural pools and volcanic clay, all while enjoying the thrill of the descent. Our tour includes a certified bilingual guide who will accompany you at all times, guaranteeing your safety and enriching the experience with his local knowledge. Plus, we'll capture every moment with GoPro cameras so you can relive this adventure over and over again. Don't miss the opportunity to combine fun, adventure and the natural beauty of the Celeste River in a single tour. Book now and create memories that will last a lifetime!

This group tour near Manuel Antonio takes you into the jungle for a yoga and hiking excursion, followed by lunch and even learning to make corn tortillas. You’ll start with a hotel pickup to keep things running smoothly, then your guide will organize yoga, a hike, a waterfall visit, and a well-earned lunch in a local’s home.

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.

The Costa Rican province of Puerto Limon is known for its rich biodiversity, local food culture, and sandy Caribbean beaches. Experience Puerto Limon’s highlights in just a few hours during this shore excursion, which allows you to easily tour the city and see top attractions such as the Tortuguero Canals, a Banana Plantation, and Playa Bonita. Along the way, your guide provides helpful commentary.

Kayaks, snorkeling equipment, and unobscured views of the Guanacaste coast make this perfectly timed sunset catamaran cruise a must when in Tamarindo—and the open bar certainly doesn't hurt. End your day with sea, surf, and sunshine out on the ocean before coming closer to shore in time for a panoramic view of the sunset.

Take a tranquil journey through Costa Rica's amazingly biodiverse rain forest on this half-day safari float down the Peñas Blancas River near La Fortuna. Paddle through the calm waters without a motor so you can appreciate the many sounds of the jungle and observe wildlife like sloths, turtles, birds, and monkeys without disturbing them. Travel with a professional guide, who will point out passing plant and animal species and enhance your appreciation of the incredible ecosystem.

Discover the magic of this wonderful beach, Playa Tortuga, located in the Gulf of Nicoya, 12 nautical miles from Puntarenas, Playa Tortuga (called by the indigenous Tolinga) has an area of 120 hectares and is maintained as a protected forest; which has enjoyed the Ecological Blue Flag for more than five years. This distinction is awarded to beaches in our country that have pollution-free waters. Due to its geographical characteristic, its waters are turquoise in color and are ideal for swimming.