Top Costa Rica Wildlife Encounters in 2026

Get out of San Jose on a day tour to the Arenal Volcano region, where you’ll get a glimpse of Costa Rica’s famous biodiversity and natural beauty. Travel through scenic farmland and villages to reach the volcano. Stop at a coffee plantation, waterfall, and look out for wildlife en route. In the shadow of the volcano, soak in natural hot springs for a refreshing experience, before returning to San Jose.

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.

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.

If you like to contact nature, this is the opportunity to do it. Imagine walking in a magical place full of hanging gardens in the trees, with a great variety of organisms. That place is my green office, which is very large, and an environmental interpretation walk in the cloud forest is a unique experience to understand the specific interactions of flora and fauna in a complex and exuberant ecosystem such as the neotropical cloud forest. The forest is like a book that is waiting to be read and interpreted, let's go! And join me to read each page of that beautiful book called the Monteverde cloud forest.

Discover San Jose’s hidden delights with this unique evening tour of the Costa Rican capital. Get up close and personal with the nightlife in San Jose, starting with the Morazán Park where you'll learn post-colonial Costa Rican history. From there, gain an appreciation for San Jose’s historical architecture, with a walk by the Metallic Building, then on to Spain Park for a fantastic view of the Yellow House (now the Ministry of Foreign Affairs). Continue to charming Barrio Escalante, one of the oldest residential areas in San Jose.  Finish the night with a tasty traditional meal (and wine or beer) at a gourmet Costa Rican restaurant.

Max out the adrenaline (and the fun) during this full-day adventure combining a white-water rafting trip and zipline excursion. Zoom through the rain forest canopy during a series of heart-pounding zipline rides, some on cable spans as long as 3,200 feet (980 meters). Then battle the Class II and III rapids of the Balsa River. Lunch, snacks, and rafting gear are all included.

Explore an ancient landscape that comes alive with bubbling mud pits, steaming volcanic vents, and the screeches of howler monkeys on this hiking tour through Rincon de la Vieja National Park. Learn about the diverse habitats of Guanacaste’s tropical forests from a naturalist guide while trekking, without worrying about getting lost along the way.

Discover the lush landscape of Monteverde at night on the guided small-group evening tour. As you walk the grounds, be on the lookout for insects such as walking sticks, tarantulas, and leafcutter ants and mammals such as porcupines, opossums, and olingos. Depending on the weather conditions, you might also spot snakes and frogs.

Mistycal Pack: Canoe, Day Walk & Night Walk Discover Tortuguero’s magic with this 3-in-1 adventure that combines the best of the rainforest by water, by day, and by night. Perfect for travelers who want to experience the park’s incredible biodiversity in different ways.

We are a company of guides specialized in night tours, looking for the exceptional biodiversity of the Osa Peninsula, southwest Costa Rica. Night walk is the perfect option to combine with a Corcovado hike! Are you excited at the idea of discovering the extraordinary night life that takes place in the jungle while the village is fast asleep? Curious to see the strange world that has always inhabited your dreams and fantasies? Or is it just the desire to meet up with one of the many animals living in the forest, to experience an unforgettable face to face? At 6pm, we leave from Pizza Mail in Puerto Jiménez, where your guide will have the pleasure of greeting you. We will provide you quality headlights. If you don't have a car we can organize additional transport (extra cost). Tour duration: approx 2 hours

Experience the sights, sounds, and flavors of San Jose on an evening bus tour. Starting from your hotel, board a comfortable double-decker bus with a welcome drink. See over 25 of the city’s landmarks as you take a bus tour, and stop for bilingual guided tours at key locations, including the Costa Rican Art Museum. Enjoy an included dinner of local cuisine before drop-off back at your hotel.

Experience the thrill of rafting down Costa Rica’s Balsa River on this small-group white-water adventure. Following the lead of an experienced guide, navigate Class II and III rapids as you pass through a lush rainforest landscape for a safe and unforgettable journey. After working up an appetite paddling down the river, enjoy a delicious buffet-style lunch at our private restaurant located next to the famous El Salto swimming hole. Round-trip transport from your La Fortuna hotel is included.

Discover one of La Fortuna's more unusual nature experiences with a guided visit focused on Costa Rica's native stingless bees and the traditional uses of their honey. Learn about these important pollinators and the role they play in the local ecosystem, then sample different varieties of honey, including medicinal and monofloral options. The relaxed, educational format makes this a particularly accessible experience for families and travelers looking for something beyond the region’s typical adventure activities.

Discover the incredible birds and biodiversity of Palo Verde National Park on this boat tour with lunch. Spot native wildlife such as crocodiles, iguanas, monkeys, and a colorful parade of bird species during a 1-hour and 20 minutes cruise down the Tempisque River led by a naturalist guide. Afterward, discuss your sightings with fellow travelers over a traditional Costa Rican lunch at a local restaurant.

Get closer to nature while still experiencing thrills during a fun-filled day in the jungle at the Rainforest Adventures Costa Rica Atlantic eco-reserve. Your multi-pass gives you access to six different activities, so you can ride an aerial tram, encounter native critters at a butterfly and frog garden, cross a hanging bridge, and explore the jungle on a nature hike at your own pace. Get your adrenaline pumping as you soar through the treetops on ziplines, including one of the longest and fastest in the country.

You will be able to walk in the habitat of different mammals that inhabit our forests, such as the puma, tapir, mountain goat, among others. Our abundant vegetation will dazzle you and with luck you will have the experience of walking among the clouds. All this accompanied by expert guides who will ensure an unforgettable experience. We are located in the mountains of Coronado, San José, just 50 minutes from the center of the capital.

Your naturalist guide will tell you about the natural history of the park and will explain and provide amazing information regarding facts about the animals that inhabit this beautiful park. You may see some amazing species such as White Faced Monkeys, Howler Monkeys, Squirrel Monkeys, Toucans, Two and Three Toed Sloths, Scarlet Macaws and a lot more. You may also see bird species such as Toucans, Pelicans, Tanagers, Ospreys, Kingfishers and the Yellow Crowned Night Heron. It is also possible to see iguanas, lizards, snakes and countless varieties of insects. These are just some of the features of the reserve that make visiting Manuel Antonio National Park an unforgettable experience. We will also help you get the best nature photos using your own digital camera through the lens of our professional telescopes.

Experience Costa Rica’s longest ocean view dual zipline with admission to Diamante Eco Adventure Park, where you can ride side by side with family and friends. Your experience includes access to the 4,461-foot (1,360-meter) zipline, as well as a ‘Quick Jump’ free fall and a hanging bridge that dangles over crocodile-infested waters.

Visit the Irazú Volcano National Park in just half a day with this excursion from San José. Your driver will pick you up early in the morning and take you to the volcano, where you can see the crater and learn about the history of the area from a local guide. Next, you'll head to the Los Angeles Basilica, a church and museum with a holy water source.

Adventure-seeking travelers will love going off-road on a private ATV tour at Witch's Rock Canopy Tour WRCT Adventures in Guanacaste. After getting set up with safety gear and learning to drive, you’ll explore parts of the Costa Rican landscape inaccessible by other means. Be prepared to get a bit dirty while having fun and seeing the sights. Hotel pickup and transfers from select hotels are included.

Make the most of your time in Palo Verde National Park by touring with a guide. Travel through a range of habitats, including rivers and mangroves, and look out for the special bird and animal life in the area. Learn more about what you see with a guide, and receive personalized attention from them as this is a small-group tour. Hotel pickup is now included for added convenience.

Discover the beautiful natural attractions of Costa Rica on this all-day tour from San Jose. Fly over the rainforest canopy via a zipline course and rappel down 150 feet (50 meters) at an adventure park. Visit two waterfalls and admire the local wildlife including iguanas. Stop at a coffee plantation where you'll learn how it's cultivated and harvested. Finally, relax in thermal mineral hot springs at the base of Arenal Volcano.

Get off the beaten path and visit parts of the Costa Rican countryside that you can’t access any other way on a rugged ATV tour. After a thorough orientation, you’ll head out onto the ATV course in tandem with your guide. Ride along trails that aren’t accessible by normal car and get a close-up look at the landscape while having fun.

Avoid the disappointment of struggling to see wildlife in Manuel Antonio National Park by going with a guide. Learn more about the park’s rich biodiversity than you would wandering around alone. Your guide will find where animals such as sloths and frogs are hiding, and you can get a closer look through the provided spotting scope.