Outdoor Activities in Costa Rica

Drive to Sarapiquí area, through the extraordinary rain forest of Braulio Carrillo National Park, one of the most important rainforest reserves of Costa Rica.

Gain admission to the hanging bridges, butterfly garden, insect museum, and herpetarium on an independent visit to Selvatura Park. This conservation park, located in Monteverde, lets you and your family explore the cloud forest of Costa Rica from all angles. A tasty lunch is included at the on-site restaurant.

Discover Costa Rica's rain forest from a unique treetop perspective with this aerial tram ride. Accompanied by an expert guide, you'll glide through the forest canopy in the Braulio Carrillo National Park, where you will have a chance to spot amazing native plants and animals. Round-trip transport from your San Jose hotel and a traditional Costa Rican lunch are included.

Take a walk in the clouds with this hanging bridge canopy tour at Monteverde's Selvatura Park. Observe treetop life from the vantage point of eight suspended bridges that rise up to 180 feet (60 meters) above the forest floor. Costa Rica's widest bridges make for a safe and comfortable way to explore the magnificent cloud forest that's suitable for all ages.

During your visit to Monteverde, see some of Costa Rica's most interesting insects at Selvatura Park's dedicated insect exhibition, which includes the 'Jewels of the Rain Forest' film showing multiple times per day.

Explore the remarkable ecosystem of Monteverde's cloud forest with this combo eco-tour at Selvatura Park. Walk across the treetops on a series of hanging bridges, and marvel at a variety of jewel-toned winged wonders on a tour of butterfly and hummingbird gardens. A typical Costa Rican lunch at the adventure park's on-site restaurant rounds out this day immersed in one of the world's most diverse habitats.

Admire some of Costa Rica's miniature wild wonders at Selvatura Park's hummingbird garden and insect museum in Monteverde. Walk through a beautifully landscaped garden that's home to more than 100 zippy, colorful hummingbirds, and then get an up-close look at thousands of native insect species with the 'Jewels of the Rain Forest' exhibit, curated by a world-renowned entomologist.

Swap the glittering Pacific waters of Playa Flamingo for the wild waters of the Tempisque River on this half-day tour of the Palo Verde National Park. Hop on-board a riverboat for a 2-hour cruise through the scenic wetlands and sprawling dry forests of Palo Verde. Along the way, keep a lookout for native wildlife, from crocodiles and iguanas lazing on the riverbanks, to monkeys and colorful birds flitting through the treetops.

See wildlife and vegetation on this guided, running and hiking tour in near Manuel Antonio. Pass creeks and waterfalls and marvel at birds as you jog along with your small group. Take a break to swim and have lunch and travel over a suspension bridge looking down on the river gorge below before hiking past the Savegre River on route to Manuel Antonio to watch the sunset.

Delve deep into the Costa Rican rain forest with his full-day tour to Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí. Take in views of lush tropical landscape and native wildlife during a leisurely riverboat cruise, and then experienced the thrill of swinging through the jungle canopy on a series of treetop ziplines. This action-packed day includes a traditional Costa Rican lunch and round-trip transport from your San Jose hotel.

Head out of the city and into the wild on this Rio Celeste Hike in Tenorio Volcano National Park. Journey to the blue river, known for its fairytale beauty that results from various volcanic minerals. This three-hour hike is ideal for active travelers due to its moderate terrain. Your expert guide will point out local wildlife, indigenous plants and other highlights along the way before your small group stops for a relaxing and well-earned lunch. Afterward, enjoy a a relaxing horseback ride to a private oasis where you'll have the chance to swim in the cool blue waters.

Hike though the tropical rain forest of Tenorio Volcano National Park to witness the enchanting blue waters of Rio Celeste on this full-day tour from La Fortuna. Trek with a guide along forested trails dotted with waterfalls and rich with native wildlife to reach the convergence of two mineral-rich rivers that together produce the mysterious aqua tint of the Rio Celeste. After the hike, reward your efforts and recharge with a traditional Costa Rican lunch.

A guided tour enriches your experience in Tenorio Volcano National Park by providing information about the park's plant and animal life and expert navigation down the pothole-ridden roads between the Papagayo Gulf and the rain forest. Perfect for hikers and photographers alike, this tour offers a stress-free way to visit one of Costa Rica's must-see destinations in just one day. To top it off, sloth sightings are practically guaranteed.

See the mystical blue waters of Rio Celeste on a full-day hiking tour in Tenorio Volcano National Park. Learn about native plants and look for Costa Rican wildlife on an intense trek through the rain forest that includes several steep elevation gains. Your efforts are rewarded by the sight of the brightly colored river and waterfall, which results from the convergence of two mineral-rich streams, and with a delicious Costa Rican lunch after the hike.

Trek through Costa Rica's lush rainforest on an adventurous day tour from San Jose. Start off with a bird's-eye perspective of the jungle canopy from aboard an aerial tram, and then descend to the forest floor for a challenging hike through this wildly diverse ecosystem. With the help of your guide, learn about the surrounding flora and spot native wildlife like tropical birds and howler monkeys. Stop for a swim in a natural tropical pool, and enjoy a replenishing riverside picnic along the way.

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, and then recharge with a traditional Costa Rican lunch and coffee break in Liberia.

Fly like a bird through Costa Rica's Monteverde Cloud Forest during this 3-hour zipline adventure. Discover a different world up in the trees as you explore the park's collection of 12 cables, 18 different platforms, and an optional 'Tarzan Swing.'

Visit the herpetarium in Monteverde's Selvatura Park, and get a personal introduction to Costa Rica's snakes, amphibians, and lizards on a guided, one-hour tour. Start times are available throughout the day, and your guide will share fun facts about Costa Rican wildlife, ecology, and history, as well as the unique characteristics of each creature you see.

Hike to the edge of a steaming caldera on a full-day trip to Rincón de La Vieja volcano, where bubbling mud, sulfurous ponds and simmering lagoons are warmed by underground activity. Follow your local guide on a 2-hour hike along the mountainside, and get an up-close look at the otherworldly features of this "gently active" volcano. Enjoy sweeping views of the Guanacaste mountain range, eat lunch inside the park, then finish your day with return transfer to your Guanacaste hotel.

Hike among the spectacular scenery and mystical aquamarine waters of Tenorio Volcano National Park. On a full-day trip from La Fortuna, discover the amazing biodiversity of Costa Rica's rain forests while accompanied by an expert naturalist guide. See the beautiful Rio Celeste waterfall that cascades into a clear turquoise lagoon, and watch the mysterious color-changing rivers of Los Teñideros. After your hike, re-energize with a tasty lunch at a local restaurant.