Top Costa Rica Wildlife Encounters in 2026

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.

Set sail and take in views of the Costa Rican coastline on this sunset tour. On board a catamaran, you’ll have the chance to spot local sealife such as whales, dolphins, turtles, rays, and seabirds. The tour also includes time to swim and snorkel or simply relax on the boat, plus a hearty lunch of BBQ chicken, black beans, and fresh fruit, and an open bar featuring premium drinks. On the sail back to Playas del Coco, you’ll catch sight of the sunset from the water.

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.

If you’re looking to escape the routine, connect with nature, and observe wildlife up close, this experience is perfect for you. During your walk, we’ll explore the main trails of the park, seeking a variety of animals while learning about each species and its role in the ecosystem. Join us in one of the most beautiful places in the world, where mountains meet the sea in a breathtaking display of natural harmony. This National Park is a unique blend of ecosystems, creating the perfect environment to spot a wide range of wildlife, including mammals, birds, and amphibians. The tour concludes at one of the most famous and pristine beaches in Costa Rica’s Central Pacific. After the hike, you’ll have time to relax on the golden sands and enjoy the stunning surroundings. Throughout the tour, photos and videos will be taken and shared with you, so you can relive these unforgettable moments.

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.

Voyage through the rich wetlands ecosystem of Palo Verde National Park on this full-day tour from Tamarindo or Papagayo Bay. Look for monkeys, crocodiles, iguanas, and other wildlife on a cruise down the Tempisque River — also a birdwatcher’s paradise. Later, explore the area’s culture and cuisine with a homemade lunch and handicraft demo in the artisan town of Bolson.

We are a company of multilingual guides specialized in night tours, looking for the exceptional biodiversity in the Tortuguero area, Caribbean wetlands of Costa Rica. Night walk is the perfect option to see unique wildlife! Are you excited to discover 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 the main pier of Tortuguero, where your guide will have the pleasure of greeting you. We will provide you quality headlights. If needed we can organize additional boat transport from/to your hotel to pick you up (extra cost). Tour duration: approx 2 hours

Spend a full day exploring Costa Rica’s notoriously active crater on this 3-in-1 Arenal combo adventure. Hike through the jungle surrounding Arenal Volcano on a series of nature trails and hanging bridges, and trek down to the base of La Fortuna Waterfall to appreciate the height and power of the cascade and swim in a natural pool. Finish with a majestic perspective as you explore the lava fields of former eruptions and look for native wildlife along the trails of Arenal Volcano National Park.

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.

See the Costa Rican cloud forest from a different perspective, and spot animals in their natural habitat, by booking this guided tour. Stroll over suspension bridges that lead you through the jungle surrounding the Monteverde Cloud Forest on a series of nature trails that provide views of the park's natural wonders and such wildlife as spider monkeys, macaws, and more.

Immerse in an authentic Costa Rican horseback riding adventure with an exclusive farm tour. Guided through the breathtaking Papagayo dry forest, you’ll encounter a vibrant array of wildlife and livestock in their natural surroundings. Watch out for grazing cows and horses alongside native creatures like frogs, iguanas, howler monkeys, white-faced capuchins, and vibrant butterflies. Bird enthusiasts will enjoy spotting colorful species in the trees. This unforgettable ride offers a close-up view of Costa Rica’s stunning biodiversity and serene landscapes.

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.

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.

Crossing and/or upriver to observe wading birds, water lizards and maybe the Crocodile! Exploring the jungle and the wonderful forest of Guanacaste and its wildlife: Koatis, howler monkeys, armadillos, birds and multicoloured butterflies… Shower for ponies after the walk. Childrens and adults will be on horseback. The guide keeps the ponies of the little ones on a leash. The stools are adapted. We have helmets and ponies very, very docile. Multiple informations about the fauna and flora. Photo break. Snack break Trained and passionate guides Totally Safe tour Carefully groomed and Pampered horses Selected points of interest : River , Jungle , Animals (monkeys, butterfly, birds, crocodile) More than 1000 satisfied cutomers

Costa Rica is home of 5% of all biodiversity of the world. Therefore Monteverde is consider as a wildlife paradice and the night walk is not an exception. So, if your are looking foward for a magical experience in contact with nature this the one, don't miss up these great opportunity.

Explore the Costa Rican capital’s rich history, landmark buildings, and modern culture on a combo bus and walking tour of San Jose. Get a great introduction to city highlights like the National Theater and Art Museum, and stop to walk through bustling markets and public plazas to feel the pulse of this modern Central American metropolis. Get an extra boost of Costa Rican culture by listening to traditional folkloric music onboard the bus.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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