Top Costa Rica Half-day Tours

Sip and sample your way through Costa Rica's best beach breweries on Guanacaste's only craft beer tour. Travel safe in an impressive 4x4 limousine as you bar hop among local breweries in Playas Tamarindo, Flamingo, and Grande. Sample up to 12 beers made using local and seasonal ingredients, and get a behind-the-scenes tour to learn about the brewing process. Finish strong at a beachfront brewery where you can purchase dinner and groove to live music.

Rappel down waterfalls in the shadow of Arenal Volcano on this exciting rainforest adventure just outside of La Fortuna. Head into the forest, where guides will help you gear up for a thrilling course featuring a rock climb and rappelling, including the "Monkey Drop" and waterfall descents. After conquering this natural playground, head back to HQ for a delicious lunch of Costa Rican cuisine.

Discover Costa Rica's enchanting Pacific rain forest from the air and water on this combo shore excursion from Puntarenas. Walk through the treetops on a series of hanging bridges at a private biological reserve, and then cruise down the Tarcoles River, home to a famous community of crocodiles. In between the eco adventures, enjoy time to shop and snack at a quaint replica of a Spanish colonial settlement.

Take a canoe tour through the Tortuguero wetlands, home to a wide variety of local wildlife, with this small-group tour, led by a professional guide. While it's hard to predict what kind of animals you might see on any given day, monkeys, sloths, alligators, and birds are all possibilities.

Set sail on the big blue Pacific with this deluxe catamaran cruise from Tamarindo. Sunbathe on the spacious deck and stop to swim and snorkel in the warm tropical waters. Enjoy lunch freshly prepared onboard by an attentive crew, and stay hydrated with unlimited drinks from an open bar. Cruise back into port just as the sun is setting for a memorable end to another day in paradise.

Go where standard vehicles can’t as you head off La Fortuna’s beaten path and into Costa Rica’s lush jungle. Drive an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) through Arenal Volcano Ecological Park (PEVA), along muddy trails and through dense rainforest. Along the way, stop in Maleku Village to learn about local indigenous culture.

Hiking in the Costa Rican rainforest can be a dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing. Book this La Fortuna Sloths, Coffee, and Chocolate Experience and go with a guide who will keep you safe and well informed. Set out through the rainforest to spot sloth and other wildlife before stopping at a chocolate and coffee farm for tastings.

Stopping at Curi Cancha Reserva, this guided birding tour will show you the diversity and multitude of species in each one. For half a day, try to find the most birds you can. This is a small-group tour and your guide and driver will arrange all the logistics. Upgrade to a private tour for more flexibility and a more personalized experience.

Pick a morning or afternoon start time that suits your schedule and then head to Selvatura Park to begin your fun-filled zipline adventure. Get started with a safety session, during which you'll receive a harness and learn the basic park safety procedures to ensure a fun, but protected experience. You’ll then have access to the park’s range of 13 different zipline cables and 18 platforms, along with an optional ride on the Tarzan Swing. You’ll walk through the park between a series of 3-kilometer (1.9-mile) tree walkways that traverse Monteverde’s cloud forest, crossing between eight different bridges, with some lengths up to 510 feet (170 meters) and some as high as 180 feet (60 meters). After enjoying an action-packed day suitable for all ages, you’ll end your experience in the park and head to your next destination.

Discover Ortega and the National Reserve Cipanci on this guided boat tour along the Tempisque River. Home to a wide variety of birds including the Scarlet Macaws and the Jabiru (the largest storks in the world), the wildlife refuge is an important nesting site. Following the tour, enjoy a traditionally made lunch with local cultivated ingredients.

Experience all the best of what Costa Rica's Caribbean side has to offer during this 6-in-1 tour from Puerto Limón. Part history, part wildlife, part city, part nature, you'll have a chance to delve into the Afro-Caribbean culture that defines the region and enjoy the tropical landscape in which it's set.

If you’d like to explore the many species of birds living in Monteverde with a private guide, then book this half day tour for you and your group. You can create your own itinerary, and won’t need to hassle with a large group tour. Use your provided HD telescope and field guide to find and photograph several species local to the Monteverde cloud forest.

The Arenal 1968 Trail Park affords spectacular views of Arenal Volcano and Lake Arenal with a choice of two scenic hikes. With this admission ticket, make your own way to the park and set out on a self-guided trek, following the marked trails along ancient lava flows and through lush rainforest to reach the viewpoints.

Embark on a scenic horseback riding adventure to Conchal Beach in Costa Rica's Guanacaste region, guided by experts through lush jungles and rolling hills while looking out for wildlife such as monkeys and iguanas. Arriving at Conchal Beach, enjoy its powdery white sands and crystal-clear waters, whether wading in the waves, or simply relaxing under the tropical palm trees. An unforgettable experience blending adventure, relaxation, and natural beauty for riders of all levels. All transportation with hotel pickup and drop-off included

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.

Discover the unique biodiversity of Costa Rica as you embark on a tour of the Manuel Antonio National Park, located just outside Quepos. Make your own way to the park and meet your private, naturalist guide to begin your tour. Enjoy a leisurely stroll through the grounds and observe several species like monkeys, sloths, toucans, lizards, and much more.

While traveling to La Fortuna in Costa Rica, many people explore the gorgeous and unique landscape using ATVs; however, many tours take you to public areas that are overcrowded. This Arenal Volcano ATV Experience from La Fortuna takes you on an ATV ride through a private trail of the jungle that allows you to experience nature, culture, and adventure all during just a few hours.

Snorkeling stops, sunshine, and unobstructed views of Costa Rica's shoreline make this sunset catamaran cruise the ideal way to end your day—and the open bar doesn't hurt. Join a friendly crew (as well as dolphins, turtles, and flying fish) to make the most of the day's last rays on this perfectly timed tour, which ends just as the sun sinks below the horizon. Hotel pickup is included for added convenience.

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.

Grab your passport and head over the border for a full-day tour of Nicaragua’s highlights from Costa Rica. Start with a scenic Nicaraguan breakfast and then take in the views from Catarina Volcano. Visit the active Masaya Volcano and stand near the crater. Explore the colonial town of Granada, where you can marvel over the historic architecture and admire views from La Merced Church, followed by a delicious lunch of typical Nicaraguan cuisine. Finally, set sail across Lake Nicaragua for a scenic cruise.

Explore Costa Rica's rainforests whilst getting a dose of adrenaline during this group activity package. Enjoy a comphrensive experience that includes logistics, lunch, and activities, allowing you to relax and fully immerse yourself in the day. Go ziplining and river tubing, and unwind in natural hot springs and volcanic mud baths afterwards.

This sampler adventure tour from San Jose fits the best of Costa Rica's rivers and rainforests into one action-packed day. En route, go croc-spotting at a famous overlook on the Tarcoles River. Then head to the jungle adventure park where you can choose two activities from a list of thrilling options, including ziplining, surfing lessons, an ATV adventure through the rainforest, or a chocolate experience.

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.

Experience the best of Costa Rica's wildlife, cuisine, and natural beauty, without the logistical hassle, on this full-day shore excursion from Puntarenas. Look for white-faced monkeys, crocodiles, and birds on a boat cruise down the Tarcoles River. Learn the history of Puntarenas port, taste fresh tropical fruit, enjoy a buffet-style lunch at a local restaurant, and shop for authentic Costa Rican coffee.