If you’re a seasoned traveler, you may shrink back from excursions and decide to go to locations by yourself as a substitute. I get it: I additionally benefit from the freedom to go the place I would like, once I need, as a way to keep away from crowds.
However, there are advantages of reserving excursions, particularly if it’s your first time in a brand new place. One of them is having a information who can reply your questions and supply significant context to what you’re seeing. Another massive perk is that hopping on a tour can probably prevent cash, as lots of them embrace meals and transportation.
I totally loved the excursions I went on in Costa Rica. Especially contemplating the spectacular biodiversity there, it’s tremendous useful to have an professional with you who can level out totally different crops and animals that you simply may in any other case miss.
I’ve put collectively an inventory of one of the best Costa Rica excursions, together with free and finances ones, and luxurious and multiday excursions. Some stellar choices await you:
Budget Tours
1. San José Bites and Sights Walking Tour
I did this tour on my first day in Costa Rica, and it completely set the scene for the whole month I spent exploring the nation. I realized about totally different sorts of fruits, bought a full rundown on particular customs and different cultural norms, and loved among the finest meals that San José has to supply. My information was an professional in all issues San José, from its historical past and structure to one of the best locations to eat and the right way to get probably the most out of the town. You can learn all about my expertise right here to get a greater concept of what you possibly can anticipate from the tour.
- Where: Downtown San José
- Duration: 3 hours
- What’s included: Local information, fruit & vegetable samples, espresso, and different small bites
- Price: $38 and price each penny! Book right here.
2. Jungle Night Tour
There are few experiences which might be fairly like strolling by a pitch-black jungle at evening. I did this Manuel Antonio jungle evening tour on my first evening there, and I couldn’t imagine how fascinating it was. The sensation of listening to the nonstop rhythmic sounds at evening felt surreal. My information had a eager eye for bugs, spiders, frogs, reptiles, and different critters, pointing them out for us as we hiked. There have been so many animals that I had by no means seen earlier than; I needed to do a double-take to actually take of their magnificence.
Not solely was the hike itself a terrific expertise, however the tour included dinner and transportation, making it a stellar finances choice. You can learn extra about my expertise on this tour right here.
- Where: Rainmaker Conservation Park, close to Manuel Antonio
- Duration: 3 hours
- What’s included: Naturalist information, dinner with drinks, transportation, and park entrance payment
- Price: $59; contemplating the upper value of meals in Manuel Antonio, the included dinner made it value it. Book right here.
3. Waterfall, Arenal Volcano, and Hot Springs Full-Day Tour
There’s lots to do in La Fortuna, and it may be tempting to attempt to squeeze every little thing into a brief interval. That’s why I like to recommend hopping on this full-day tour to benefit from the time you might have right here. I booked this tour as a result of I didn’t lease a automotive and was overwhelmed by the trouble of attempting to get from place to put once I realized that La Fortuna doesn’t precisely have a sturdy public transportation system. Plus, taking taxis all over the place would have been dearer than the tour and even renting a automotive for the day.
This tour began early, round 7am. I hopped on the bus, met my guides, and buckled up for the journey. During the 10-hour journey, I bought to go to the La Fortuna Waterfall, hike on volcanic rock close to the Arenal Volcano, and take a dip in some steamy sizzling springs afterward. There was even a beneficiant lunch included, with some drinks on the sizzling springs as nicely. For me, it was nicely well worth the value.
- Where: La Fortuna, Arenal Volcano National Park
- Duration: 10 hours
- What’s included: Local guides, lunch and drinks, park entrance charges, sizzling springs entrance payment, and transportation
- Price: $90, which is lower than it will price to do all of these items by yourself. Book right here.
4. Río Celeste and Tenorio National Park Tour
This exercise was my favourite factor I did close to La Fortuna. Río Celeste is a sky-blue river that runs by the Tenorio Volcano National Park. Here you’ll discover an abundance of wildlife, together with sloths, toucans, monkeys, and extra. Plus, the crown jewel of the park is the large Río Celeste waterfall, which crashes into one of many bluest swimming pools you’ll ever see.
This tour, very like the Arenal tour above, was nicely well worth the value. Considering that the park is a 90-minute drive from La Fortuna, the transportation alone makes it a terrific bang to your buck. Plus, I had a blast studying in regards to the distinctive ecosystem and dipping into a close-by sizzling river. Read extra about my expertise right here.
- Where: Tenorio Volcano National Park
- Duration: 8 hours
- What’s included: Naturalist information, lunch, park entrance payment, and transportation
- Price: $89, which is about the identical value as it will be to lease a automotive for the day to get there, so it’s value it. Book right here.
5. Rainforest Chocolate Tour
Cacao, the plant that turns into chocolate, is native to Costa Rica. There are cacao plantations all through the nation, a few of which you’ll go to on a tour. This is the best possible solution to be taught in regards to the harvesting and processing of cacao from begin to end, as you’ll have the ability to see the totally different levels and style the ultimate product on the finish.
- Where: close to La Fortuna
- Duration: 1.5-2 hours
- What’s included: Local information, chocolate tastings, and entrance charges to the plantation
- Price: $30. Book right here.
6. Organic Farm Visit & Farm-to-Table Cooking Class
So you already did the San José meals tour, and now you’re itching to discover ways to make these delicious empanadas. Connecting with the way in which Costa Ricans put together typical dishes is an superior solution to be taught in regards to the tradition and admire it by meals. I really feel like I missed out by not doing this tour and can e-book it subsequent time I go to.
- Where: La Fortuna
- Duration: 2 hours
- What’s included: Guided tour of the farm, cooking class, a meal ready by you
- Price: $45, which is greater than a meal would price at a restaurant, however you get a studying expertise as nicely. Book right here.
7. Lake Arenal Stand-up Paddleboard or Kayak Rental
Paddleboarding with a big volcano as a backdrop sounds fairly epic, proper? Lake Arenal is on the base of a volcano of the identical identify. Its waters are tranquil and excellent for a paddle, making this exercise a must-do whereas in La Fortuna. Some even say that one of the best view of the volcano is from the lake, so don’t miss out on the chance to see what all of the hype is about!
- Where: La Fortuna
- Duration: 1 hour
- What’s included: Rental of paddleboard tools
- Price: $20, which is the usual value per hour to lease a paddleboard. Book right here.
8. Cloud Forest Night Walking Tour
If you learn my information to Monteverde, you already know already that this was one among my favourite locations in Costa Rica. The cloud forest is nothing in need of magical, what with its mossy bushes, thick foliage, and abundance of untamed animals scurrying about. Similar to what I discussed above in regards to the Manuel Antonio jungle evening tour, this one is crucial to any Monteverde itinerary. The forest is totally totally different at evening, and having a information there to level out totally different animals makes it nicely well worth the value, as lots of them are tough to identify. The parks closed at evening, so that is the one solution to see them after darkish.
- Where: Monteverde/Santa Elena
- Duration: 3 hours
- What’s included: Naturalist information, entry ticket to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve, and transportation
- Price: $28.25, making it one of the reasonably priced actions on the record. Book right here.
9. Aquiares Estate: 2-Hour Coffee Tour with Tasting
Have you ever puzzled what it takes to make a cup of scrumptious espresso? Costa Rica is likely one of the espresso capitals of the world, as a result of it has the best local weather for the crops to thrive. Many Costa Ricans make their dwelling harvesting, processing, and promoting espresso, so plantations are ample right here. Take it from me; you possibly can’t depart Costa Rica with out visiting one among these — it was one of the eye-opening experiences I had there. I would dare to say that touring one made me increase the bar for what I take into account to be a superb cup of joe.
- Where: Aquiares, Limón Province
- Duration: 2 hours
- What’s included: Expert information, entrance payment to the farm, espresso tasting
- Price: $35, which is fairly commonplace for excursions like this one. Book right here.
Luxury Tours
10. ATV Quad Bike Adventure Tour (±Snorkeling)
So many stunning locations in Costa Rica are solely accessible by way of ATV or on foot due to how dense the jungles will be. Tamarindo is a seaside city, but additionally has some unimaginable forests with streams and waterfalls, and this ATV tour is the best solution to attain these spectacular, off-the-beaten-path locations. Prepare your self to get sandy and muddy throughout this wild journey by Costa Rican seaside and jungle landscapes.
- Where: Tamarindo
- Duration: 2.5-3 hours
- What’s included: Local information, transportation to and out of your lodging, ATV rental (you get to drive), snorkel tools (in the event you select the snorkeling choice)
- Price: $170 with out snorkeling, $220 with snorkeling. Book right here.
11. Paragliding Flight
Costa Rica’s Pacific coast is known for its breathtaking sunsets. Though admiring them from the shore has its perks, there’s nothing fairly just like the panoramic view whereas parasailing. This is a dear exercise, however many individuals who’ve accomplished it describe it as surreal and the closest factor you possibly can really feel to flying like a fowl.
- Where: Jacó
- Duration: 40 minutes
- What’s included: Paragliding flight with skilled pilot
- Price: $230, making this a little bit of a splurge however value it for the once-in-a-lifetime expertise. Book right here.
12. Day Trip to Tabacon Hot Springs & Arenal Volcano
If you’re dying to take a look at the recent springs in La Fortuna however solely have sooner or later for it in your itinerary, take into account today journey from San José to Tabacón sizzling springs and Arenal Volcano. Tabacón is probably probably the most well-known sizzling river in Costa Rica. It will get its steamy temperature from the geothermal exercise of Arenal Volcano.
Compared to different sizzling springs in La Fortuna, Tabacón is pricier and extra luxurious. It’s one of many solely locations that has a soaking space that’s half of the particular river, whereas different sizzling springs are man-made swimming pools. This tour begins off with a hike close to Arenal Volcano, one of the iconic locations within the nation, and finishes with the recent springs.
- Where: San José to La Fortuna
- Duration: 13 hours
- What’s included: Tour information, round-trip transportation from San José to La Fortuna, entrance to Tabacón Thermal Resort, lunch and dinner
- Price: $232, which is certainly value it as a result of a day cross on the resort is round $70 alone. Book right here.
Multiday Tours
13. 3-Day Tortuguero National Park Excursion (2 nights)
Tortuguero National Park, on the northern Caribbean coast, is actually a protracted, skinny island with a community of canals on the mainland facet and the Caribbean Sea on the opposite. It was one of the shocking locations I visited and the place I noticed probably the most wildlife. It will get its identify as a result of the island is a hatching floor for a number of species of sea turtles, which you’ll find there at totally different instances of the 12 months.
A 3-day tour like this one is a good alternative to get probably the most out of Tortuguero in little time. Having a information is a giant plus, as they’re consultants in recognizing wildlife and giving recommendations on the place to go and what to do. Plus, having transportation to and from San José takes the stress off of determining the right way to get there, as the general public buses will be unpredictable at instances and the journey is kind of lengthy. Find out extra in regards to the itinerary right here.
- Where: San José to Tortuguero
- Duration: 3 days, 2 nights
- What’s included: Guided excursions, all meals, 2 nights’ lodging
- Price: $500, which is kind of affordable contemplating that you simply don’t have to fret about lodging, meals, or transportation. Book right here.
14. All-Inclusive Package for 7 Nights (8 Days)
If you need to get pleasure from one of the best websites on this stunning nation with out having to plan a single factor, an all-inclusive tour is a good choice. This one is a spotlight reel of among the finest locations to go to in Costa Rica, together with Poás Volcano, Manuel Antonio, La Fortuna, Monteverde, and extra.
These varieties of excursions should not for everybody, however in the event you don’t thoughts going with the stream and following another person’s itinerary, it may be stress-free to not must plan each exercise. It’s additionally fairly good to have the ability to pay one flat payment that covers virtually every little thing.
- Where: San José, Manuel Antonio, La Fortuna, Monteverde, Irazú Volcano and extra. Find the complete itinerary right here.
- Duration: 8 days, 7 nights
- What’s included: Tour information, transportation, 7 nights of lodging, admission tickets, breakfasts, and lunches
- Price: $1,430, relying on the season (costs could also be larger from December to April). Book right here.
Free Tours
15. San José Walking Tour
Chances are that you simply’ll fly into Costa Rica’s capital metropolis, San José. Though most guests aren’t tremendous enthusiastic about spending a lot time within the nation’s solely actual concrete jungle, this metropolis may shock you. It actually was a lot extra fascinating than I believed it will be, and I truly wished I had spent extra time there. Consider becoming a member of a free strolling tour of San José (aka El Chepe or Chepetown) to get the inside track on its historical past, tradition, and meals scene from the angle of a neighborhood information.
- Where: Downtown San José
- Duration: 2.5-3 hours
- What’s included: Local information
- Price: Free, however tipping the information is advisable. Book right here.
16. La Alegría Waterfalls Tour
Finding free excursions like this one is fairly uncommon. The free waterfalls tour in La Alegría will take you to a secret waterfall the place you possibly can go for a swim with out the crowds you’d discover at different, extra touristy locations. You’ll additionally have the ability to try some unbelievable jungle vistas from a viewpoint towards the Reventazón lagoon. The information is an expert in ecological tourism and can have the ability to level out birds, mammals, and different crops and animals alongside the way in which.
- Where: La Alegría, Limón Province
- Duration: 4.5 hours
- What’s included: Transportation to and from the waterfalls and a information
- Price: Free, however tipping the information is advisable (most give $10-50). Book right here.
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The finest Costa Rica tour for you is the one which excites you, matches your finances, and may make your journey right here further particular.
Which one will you select?
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