Top Costa Rica Unique Experiences

On this Jaco off-road ATV tour, it’s all about the journey—and the destinations. Take a thrilling ride through rugged mountain terrain en route to a vista point and two waterfalls, one of which has a 15-foot (4.5-meter) jump to try (if you dare). Be sure to bring a swimsuit to refresh yourself in the natural pool either way.

Chocolate lovers flock to this incredible tour from La Fortuna that includes the sweetest rainforest experience and unearths the hidden secretes of local chocolate production. Visit a farm where cocoa is grown, processed and produced. This hands-on experience lets travelers eat as much chocolate as they want while learning about history, culture and traditions of this popular Costa Rican sweet.

Indulge your sweet tooth and discover the secrets of La Fortuna's best chocolate. This small-group tour starts out in an organic cocoa plantation where you'll see the cocoa flower and trees, as well as the cocoa bean fermentation and sun-drying process. Afterward, in the ranch, you can roast and grind the cocoa beans and also, ultimately, make your own chocolate bonbons.

Discover the sounds and sights of the rainforest after dark on a night hike. Follow your guide along an easy trail and watch out for bats, nocturnal birds, and mammals rustling in the treetops and on the forest floor. Search for red-eyed tree frogs and glass frogs, among other species. Then enjoy a traditional dinner prepared on a wood-burning stove before returning to your hotel in La Fortuna.

No prior experience is required on this small-group bioluminescence kayaking tour from Puerto Jiménez. After a magnificent sunset, watch the water light up with glowing microorganisms with every stroke of the paddle as you maneuver over calm waters with your guide. You can even dive in for a swim to see what the bioluminescence looks like from within the water.

RSVP to the biggest party in Monteverde with this nocturnal tour of the area's famed wildlife by moonlight, when nearly 80 percent of Monteverde's mammalian residents come out to play. Join a guide who will help you spot animals such as two-toed sloths, reptiles, and more as they come out after dark.

Foodies and anyone with a sweet tooth will love this chocolate-themed activity. See cacao trees growing before touring the chocolate-making kitchen. Learn all about what it takes to turn cacao into a bar of chocolate, and even have a go at grinding the beans and separating the shells yourself. Make some chocolate to take home with you and share with your friends–if you don’t eat it all first.

Explore the rugged landscape and forested depths of Costa Rica’s Lost Canyon. Rappel down into four waterfalls and have the chance to cool off in refreshing pools. Hike through a thick rain forest teeming with life and scramble over rocks as you uncover hidden secrets of this amazing area. Then sit down to a tasty all-you-can-eat buffet of Costa Rican cuisine.

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.

Learn how to navigate Tamarindo’s waves during this roughly 1.5 hour surf lesson. Choose the group size that works for your budget, with private, small-group, and larger group options. Practice paddling, popping up, and riding with guidance from your instructor. More experienced surfers can also practice their technique by surfing alongside an instructor.

On this guided tour of the Butterfly Conservatory, which is dedicated to the preservation, growth, and study of the rainforest, with a focus on butterflies and other tropical rainforest species, experience a live demonstration of the butterfly life cycle, see poison dart frogs and other species of amphibians from the Arenal rainforest, and explore the botanical gardens and medicinal herb gardens.

Adventure awaits in Jaco. Make unforgettable memories during this half-day tour combining off-road ATV action, zip lining, a hike to a waterfall and a deliciously authentic lunch in a quintessentially Costa Rican setting.

Get out of the city and experience Costa Rica’s rich wildlife heritage with this half day private tour to the Toucan Rescue Ranch. What started out as a rescue facility for toucans has expanded to include other charismatic species such as sloths, monkeys, parrots, and owls. Learn all about them from the dedicated staff committed to their care.

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.

When you book this La Fortuna hanging bridges and canyoning tour, you’re signing up for a day of guaranteed adventure. Walk across the Mistico Hanging Bridges for stunning views of the surrounding mountains—plus Arenal Volcano—and then head to a canyon for a chance to rappel down waterfalls, rock climb, and zipline across the gorge.

When you come to Costa Rica, you want to see and do it all! Make the most of your time during this action-packed half-day ATV tour from Jaco. Hit the trails and climb up into the mountain rainforest for spectacular panoramic views and a waterfall swim. Relax and refuel with a deliciously authentic lunch before continuing on for more nature immersion and adventure before returning back to headquarters.

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.

Jaco is known for its beaches and nightlife, but its natural beauty should not be missed. Enjoy a visit to a nearby rainforest via 4x4 vehicle, and learn about the ecosystem from your naturalist guide. Stop by a series of waterfalls for an exhilarating plunge, then relax during lunch while taking in the lush jungle views.

Manuel Antonio may best known for its beautiful beaches, but another world comes alive in its jungles at night. Get an up-close look at nocturnal creatures like spiders, frogs, snakes, and bats on a private night hike through a nature reserve. A certified naturalist guide knows just where to find these creepy crawlers and ensures the safety of your group on this educational adventure.

Learn all about the Macaws on Punta Islita on this half day tour from Playa Samara. You’ll visit the Macaw Recover Network which is a conservation area. Visit the Macaw Refuge and Breeding Center and hear about the wonderful research, including how the once extinct Scarlet Macaw is now back in Guanacaste, and about the numbers of Macaws being bred and released into the wild.

Costa Rica is famous for its coffee and chocolate and this half-day tour takes to a plantation that grows both. Head to the Monteverde Cloud Forest, where the plantation is located, to learn about the processing and production of these two lucrative crops. Your tour culminates with a tasting of the final products with views of the Nicoya Gulf.

Costa Rica is known for its lush scenery, but getting around—and seeing the best the country has to offer—can be a challenge without your own transportation. On this full-day tour, experience both forests and volcanoes in a single day as you combine a guided nature walk in Rincón de la Vieja National Park with a refreshing waterfall swim. Hotel transfers and lunch are provided for a seamless experience.

Get a taste of authentic Costa Rican life and cuisine as you join a local family for a cooking class and home-style meal. Along with a guide, visit the home of your hosts outside of La Fortuna and learn about household customs and cooking techniques for a cultural experience that takes you well beyond just dining out. Join in the preparation of a typical meal, and then savor the fruits of your labor alongside new friends.