Top Costa Rica Full-day Tours

Discover the natural beauty of the La Fortuna region on an action-packed full-day tour that is ideal for people who enjoy outdoors activities. Go on hikes through lush rain forest; visit a butterfly garden and Maleku Indian village; take a dip at La Fortuna waterfall; look for wildlife; and view the Arenal Volcano. Top off the day with a cocktail and a relaxing soak in a natural hot water river.

Heading deep into Arenal's rainforest typically means renting a car and navigating unfamiliar roads. This small-group tour lets you skip the self-drive stress and takes you to directly to the area's highlights. Walk across the rainforest over a hanging bridge, wander along trails through lava fields for excellent views of Arenal Volcano, and, finally, rejuvenate in a natural hot spring.

Trek deep into the canyons of Rincon de la Vieja Volcano to reach the impressive La Leona waterfall on this private, guided day tour. The tour starts with a convenient pickup, and then you’re on your way. You’ll take an intermediate-level hike along Rio Blanco, where you’ll pass by caves in order to reach your ultimate destination, La Leona waterfall.

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.

View several of Costa Rica's top scenic attractions in a single day, and leave all the logistics and planning to someone else, on this hassle-free day trip from San José. Traveling via air-conditioned vehicle, head first to Poás Volcano, an active volcano known for its vast crater and bubbling lake. Then, make a scenic stop at La Paz Falls before enjoying a tour and tasting at a local coffee farm.

Thrill-seekers will love trying many different activities on a private combo tour near Liberia. Start with an exciting zip-line course through the forest, followed by an epic 1,300-foot (400-meter) water slide. Refuel with a tasty local lunch, so you don’t need to pack boring sandwiches. In the afternoon, ride on horseback to beautiful hot springs in a lush garden, where you can soak any aches away.

Explore Irazú Volcano, the highest volcano in the area, reaching 11,000 feet (3,432 meters) above sea level, on this full-day combo tour. After visiting the volcano, descend to the city of Cartago, the former capital of Costa Rica, where you will stop at the Basilica of the Angels. Also see the Orosi Valley, known for its diversity of crops, such as coffee and sugar cane. Next, explore the ruins of one of the oldest ruined churches in Costa Rica in Cartago.

From San Jose, the easiest way to take a day trip to Arenal Volcano is on a guided tour. All transportation is included by private vehicle so you don't have to deal with slow public transit, and logistics such as lunch, dinner, and entrance fees are already planned and included in the ticket price. After visiting Arenal Volcano with a guide, head to Baldi Hot Springs to soak in thermal waters before returning to you San Jose hotel.

Experience the bio diversity and natural majesty of Costa Rica’s most-visited nature reserve on this full-day, guided tour to La Paz Waterfall gardens with safari boat tour on the Sarapiqui River included. Learn about and see exotic animals and insects living in the animal sanctuary. Relax during a boat cruise as your guide points out monkeys, birds, sloth, ocelots, jaguar and more along the shore line.

Take a trip to the beautiful Manuel Antonio National Park on a small-group tour. This park is known for its great surf, picturesque scenery, and abundance of flora and fauna. Choose your own activity for the day such as sunbathing, snorkeling, trekking or surfing—equipment is available to rent—and enjoy the beauty of the park. This tour is inclusive of breakfast, lunch, and park entrance tickets.

This guided tour is distinguished by offering a carefully organized adventure experience, combining nature, security and personalized attention in one of the most impressive natural environments of Guanacaste. Travelers enjoy a fully professionally guided tour, including nature trail hikes, river tours and a tubing section, always under strict safety standards. The experience allows access to a natural canyon and La Leone Fall, a site of great scenic beauty characterized by crystal clear waters and unique rock formations. In addition, the tour includes organized transportation, security equipment, professional accompaniment and lunch, ensuring a comfortable, safe and worry-free experience. The focus on well-served groups and efficient logistics make this guided tour an ideal choice for those seeking an authentic, safe and high-quality experience in Costa Rica.

San Jose is the cultural capital of Costa Rica and boasts a rich and varied history. Get acquainted with the city’s charms on a private tour, featuring a customizable itinerary of must-see attractions and private transportation through the city’s maze of trafficked avenues.

This experience offers a full day of outdoor adventure in an adventure park near Herradura. Your day includes three adventure sports: start with ziplining down a series of 12 platforms and 10 cables, and continue with an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) ride through the jungle. Finish with horseback rides to waterfalls nearby. This tour includes an option for a typical Costa Rican lunch.

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.

Experience the best of the Costa Rican rainforest on a combination canopy and hanging bridge tour, with entry to delightful butterfly gardens, too. Take a guided tour of the canopy, looking out for birds and wildlife and learning more about the biodiversity as you go. The hanging bridges provide unparalleled views of the canopy. Transfers from Monteverde hotels add extra convenience.

Get a taste of San Jose’s culture and cuisine on this walking tour that includes snacks. Explore Costa Rica’s capital alongside a guide who alleviates the hassle of navigating, and learn about the city’s history, architecture as you taste. Explore the produce stalls of two traditional markets and discover what makes Costa Rican coffee so delicious as you sample some local brews.

Design your own perfect day in La Fortuna on a customizable combo tour. Cross the rainforest canopy on hanging bridges, swim beneath La Fortuna Waterfall, hike in Arenal Volcano National Park, and soak in geothermal hot springs. Take your pick of activities or do them all for a full day of fun and relaxation. Optional lunch add-ons provide a taste of authentic Costa Rican cuisine. Hotel pickup and drop-off are also included from added convenience.

This private tour is the perfect option for those who want to experience it all without the need for extensive hiking. The hike to Llanos de Cortes waterfall is just a 5-minute walk, and visiting the chocolate and coffee plantation, as well as the sloths and wildlife park, does not require strenuous hiking; it simply involves a stroll through the jungle. Rest assured, you will still be able to enjoy the beauty of these attractions effortlessly, as we have curated a selection of the most stunning sights for your convenience. During the tour, you will explore the rainforest, learn about the cultivation of chocolate and coffee beans, and admire the diverse array of animals. By the end of this private tour, you will have the opportunity to sample chocolate and coffee, marvel at the beauty of the rainforest, savor a delicious meal, and observe butterflies, sloths, toucans, and waterfalls.

Costa Rice is known for its lush scenery and incredible biodiversity, but you need your own transportation to get off the beaten track and find the most scenic locations. On this multi-stop full-day tour, soak up Guanacaste’s nature as you visit Tenorio Volcano National Park and Celeste River, and get a peek at slow-moving sloths.

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.

Visit three Costa Rican highlights in one day on this guided tour from San José. First explore a Starbucks-owned coffee farm, learning all about how your morning brew is grown, harvested, and roasted. Next, visit the Poas Volcano Crater and marvel at its powerful geysers and bubbling lake of aquamarine water. Then, experience La Paz Waterfall Garden–a lush rainforest that boasts spectacular waterfalls and exotic wildlife. Finally, stop by another coffee plantation and enjoy a lunch of traditional Costa Rican fare.

On this full-day tour for nature lovers, cruise through the largest mangrove system in Central America to the richly biodiverse Corcovado National Park. Sail from Sierpe through the Térraba-Sierpe wetlands to reach the park, where a nature guide leads a trek along forested trails. Look for wildlife on the way to the refreshing San Pedrillo waterfall, and recharge with a provided picnic lunch.

The Guanacaste province is known not only for incredible beaches, but also pristine jungle landscapes—however, to get around, your own transportation is indispensable. On this full-day combo tour, make the most of Costa Rica’s scenery with a horseback ride through tropical forest, kid-friendly zipline experience, and volcanic hot springs and mud bath, with hotel transfers and a traditional lunch included for easy planning.