Top Costa Rica On the Water

This group tour near Manuel Antonio takes you into the jungle for a yoga and hiking excursion, followed by lunch and even learning to make corn tortillas. You’ll start with a hotel pickup to keep things running smoothly, then your guide will organize yoga, a hike, a waterfall visit, and a well-earned lunch in a local’s home.

Active, nature-loving travelers will enjoy a day of kayaking on the Gandoca Lagoon, a mangrove forest on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast. Your guide will keep you going in the right direction and will point out animals you might otherwise miss, such as caimans, sloths, and more. Enjoy the peace and quiet in an uncrowded natural area, and get the chance to ask your guide questions.

Challenge yourself with an exciting half-day adventure on the Naranjo River with this small-group excursion that is designed for more experienced paddlers. Tackle class III/IV rapids as you ride along the wild river as it makes a steep drop from mountain to sea level and through the Naranjo canyon.

Board an artisan panga for a scenic dolphin-watching tour of the Playa Samara coast. As you cruise along, look for sea turtles, dolphins, stingrays, and even whales during migration season. Relax on board as nature unfolds around you, and enjoy delicious snacks served by your crew to complete this unforgettable experience.

Floating peacefully below Arenal Volcano, Lake Arenal also sits within Arenal National Park. Glide along the tranquil waters during this relaxed kayaking or paddleboarding experience. Your bi-lingual guides are ready to give you a SUP or kayaking lesson so you’re prepared for a fun afternoon on the water. Depending on your ability, you can paddle for miles or keep it easy with a low-impact, short ride.

Active, nature-loving travelers will enjoy this half-day kayaking tour around Damas Island. After you’ve experienced the biodiversity of the Manuel Antonio National Park by land, check out the marine life and wildlife of the mangroves. Get personalized attention on a small-group tour and go at your own pace, according to your experience. Hotel pickup is included from select hotels around Manuel Antonio.

Costa Rica is one of the most biologically diverse areas of the planet and the Guanacaste region’s tropical dry forests are stunning. Discover this beautiful patch of forest yourself as you glide down the rapids of the Tenorio River. Challenging rapids await you as 10 miles of twists, turns, and drops take you through the jungle. An intense experience for adventurers, it’s an exciting way to see Costa Rica’s natural beauty on a thrilling ride.

Get your pulse racing on an exhilarating 5-hour ATV tour from Playa Flamingo, then cool off along the coast. Learn how to operate your ATV, then set off on a fun route, weaving through forest trails, juddering down rainforest tracks and squelching through muddy streams. Then, dive into the warm waters of Costa Rica’s Pacific coast to swim and snorkel among the colourful corals and tropical fish of Flamingo and Brasilito beaches.

Get an up-close look at oceanic life during this sea kayaking experience from Manuel Antonio. Paddle the waters surrounding small islands and quiet bays on this popular tour that put travelers in touch with Costa Rica's wild side.

Spend the day in the stunning natural scenery of Costa Rica on a small-group kayaking tour along the Manuel Antonio coastline. Get a closer look at marine life as you paddle in a sea kayak and a beach to enjoy a delicious snack. This excursion is suitable for new kayakers and includes lunch, snacks, equipment, and round-trip hotel transportation from select areas.

Escape to a secluded beach paradise on a day cruise to Playa Fantasia, a hidden stretch of sand on the Nicoya Peninsula that's only accessible by boat. Enjoy the 40-minute catamaran ride from Jaco Beach, and spend several hours relaxing on beach hammocks or trying water sports like surfing, snorkeling, and boogie boarding. Stay refreshed with included tropical cocktails and a fresh chef’s lunch prepared right on the beach.

Barrel down the Naranjo River on a half-day guided adventure for seasoned paddlers. After a convenient hotel pickup, travel into the Quepos mountains with a professional, first aid- and mountain rescue-trained guide. Get your thrills with steep drops and rushing rapids. Marvel at the lush scenery and enjoy a homemade lunch included in the tour price.

Go hiking and snorkeling, and visit an animal sanctuary, all in one day without the hassle of booking multiple activities on this day tour to Cahuita National Park and the Sloth Sanctuary from Puerto Viejo de Limón. Enjoy a boat ride, then snorkel and hike in Cahuita National Park. Afterwards, learn about all about sloths and enjoy a canoe tour at the sanctuary.

Explore the vibrant underwater world at Tortuga Island with this full-day snorkeling adventure. Begin with a scenic 50-minute boat ride where you may spot playful dolphins and majestic rays. Once on the island, dive into crystal-clear waters teeming with beautiful marine life, including angelfish and spotted eagle rays. Enjoy a delicious BBQ lunch on the stunning white sand beach before your afternoon of relaxation or adventure. Whether you choose to hike, swim, or rent a kayak, the day promises to be filled with fun under the sun. - Full-day snorkeling tour including transportation from Mal Pais, or Santa Teresa - Bilingual guides and all snorkeling gear provided - Enjoy a BBQ lunch featuring fresh fish, chicken, or veggies - Relax on the beach or engage in various activities after snorkeling - ZumaTours official operator

If you’re short on time in Costa Rica but want to see the country’s famous biodiversity beyond the concrete capital, this day trip to the Tortuguero National Park is ideal. Travel through the canals and lagoons on a boat and look out for toucans, crocodiles, sloths, iguanas, and much more. The highlight, though, is seeing the sea turtle nesting sites on the beaches, which give the park its name.

Learn how to surf like a local in Tamarindo, Costa Rica—a popular destination for hanging ten. During the lesson, you will learn the basics, including how to paddle out by yourself. Rash guards, boards, and bottled water are included. Choose to depart from either your hotel or the surf shop.

Hang ten with a surf lesson in Uvita, Costa Rica. No matter what age or ability, this lesson can be tailored to you. It will be about two hours. A few beaches could be used, like Dominical or Playa Hermosa, all gorgeous, just dependent on the conditions. You’ll learn from a professional about riding the wave, undercurrents, body position, safezones, and much more.

Considered a hotspot for beginner surfers, Tamarindo can quickly fill up with surfers hitting the waves. Book a surf lesson in advance to make sure that you can squeeze the experience into your trip. Whether it's your first time on a board or you're just brushing up, this lesson can be catered to fit your needs with a small-group ratio of only three students per instructor.

This Catalina Islands tour offers a day of relaxation out on the water and the chance to see dolphins, turtles, and more in the wild. Sail from Tamarindo or Langosta to two diving spots known for aquatic life like manta rays and tropical fish, and use the included good-quality diving equipment to explore underwater. Between sites, relax on board with fresh fruit and drinks.

Leave the beach behind to experience the best of Rincon de la Vieja National Park on this dual hiking and tubing adventure from the Guanacaste area. Walk down the Las Pailas Trail with a guide to see bubbling geothermal activity and wildlife like howler monkeys and iguanas, and then change into your swimsuit for a tubing trip down the Rio Negro.  This tour includes all transportation, activities, and meals as per itinerary.

Explore a lush jungle on a 4-hour adventure tour from Jaco, then ride, rappel and soar through groves of ancient trees. Steer your Costa Rican stepping horse along a forested path to El Encanto waterfall, then learn the basics of safety and technique before rappelling off the edge of the 180-foot (55-meter) cascade. Hop from pool to pool as you lower yourself along the cliff face, then continue to a series of eight thrilling ziplines, and soar through the forest canopy before hiking to a nearby ranch for refreshments.

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.

Discover Cahuita National Park on this all-day private tour. For those arriving via a cruise ship, travel from the port in Limon to Cahuita where you’ll go snorkeling with a guide, as well as take a short hike through the park. Cahuita National Park is home to a reef that’s filled with over 240 marine species including wildlife such as tropical fish, mollusks, and nurse sharks. Also, head to Puerto Vargas beach for more snorkeling opportunities.

Take in Costa Rica’s natural beauty and diverse wildlife from a safari float along the Sarapiqui River. Traveling on the water gives you a unique vantage point for spotting wildlife and makes it effortless to reach otherwise inaccessible jungle locations. Along the way, a guide points out flora and fauna you would likely miss on your own.