Day Trips & Excursions in Costa Rica

This private combination tour from the Guanacaste region includes a horseback ride, zipline, and hot springs soak, so you can bring up your adrenaline with a rain forest adventure and then relax at the end of the trip. Hotel pickup and drop-off is included from most hotels along the Guanacaste coast, making transportation a cinch, and lunch is included, too, to keep you fueled throughout the day.

Explore the pitch-black maze of an underground river on an extreme caving adventure from Arenal. Grab a flashlight and strap on boots and a helmet to enter the Venado Cave system, where a guide leads you on a wet and winding route deep inside the labyrinth. Get ready to squeeze through passages, encounter bats, and pass through mysterious waterfalls while learning about Costa Rica's ancient geologic history.

Make your way to Tortuguero National Park and see where green turtles lay their eggs between July and October. This stunning rainforest is a mecca for the species and also the perfect place for travelers who want to get in touch with nature and spend a day outside of the city. Follow an expert guide through all the sights and learn about the biodiversity that exists in this Costa Rican wonderland.

Get a bird's-eye view of Arenal's amazing biodiversity on a hanging bridges hike. Cross a series of 15 suspended and swinging walkways engineered for safety, moving at a leisurely pace to observe native wildlife including lizards, snakes, monkeys, sloths, and hundreds of bird species. You'll get the vantage point of a canopy tour while being able to slow down and really appreciate life in the Costa Rican rain forest.

Discover Costa Rica's historic sites, natural wonders, and native wildlife on this full-day tour from San Jose. Learn more about Costa Rica's former capital at the Cartago ruins, admire views of Irazú Volcano, spot crocodiles as you cruise down the Sarapiquí River, and take in the highlights of the Braulio Carrillo National Park. Tour includes hotel pickup, lunch, and all activities.

Get an up close look at Costa Rica's hidden natural wonders with this Rio Celeste and Llanos de Cortes waterfall tour from Tamarindo. Follow an expert local guide through breathtaking scenery, rugged trails and truly beautiful attractions. This is the perfect way to explore outside the city and see what makes Costa Rica a top attraction for nature lovers.

Embark on a jungle safari through the wetlands and tropical forests of Palo Verde National Park on this full-day adventure from Guanacaste. Look for abundant birds and other wildlife on a cruise down the Bebedero River, and sun or splash in the idyllic pools of the Llanos del Cortes waterfall. You'll also have a chance to explore Guanacaste's urban charm with a shopping and city tour of Liberia and enjoy an authentic Costa Rican lunch.

Cruise a lush jungle river and tour a coffee plantation on a full day trip to Palo Verde National Park that takes in the best of northwest Costa Rica's wildlife, nature and culture. Enjoy pickup from your Guanacaste hotel, then spot monkeys, iguanas and crocodiles as you navigate the wetlands of Palo Verde, and watch flocks of bright birds soar across the tropical sky. After lunch, learn how coffee is produced and processed at a nearby facility and sample a cup brewed from local beans before returning to the coast.

Ideal for lovers of the outdoors, this 8-hour tour of Rincon de la Vieja National Park combines rain forest hikes with the luxurious facilities of the Blue River Hotel and Hot Springs. During a morning hike, you'll see the smoking El Rincon volcano and trek through a jungle rich with flora and fauna. Then, relax in the mud baths, natural pools, and hot springs of the Blue River Resort. Lunch and hotel pickup and drop-off are included.

If you're searching for all-age fun, then this private 9-hour tour of Dino Park and the Blue River Resort and Hot Springs is for you. Marvel at life-sized dinosaurs at Dino Park, set amid lush rain forest, and enjoy access to the luxurious facilities of Blue River Resort, home to natural hot springs, a botanical garden, and butterfly park. Lunch and hotel pickup and drop-off are included.