Things To Do In Costa Rica

Tortuguero National Park

Tortuguero National Park, on Costa Rica’s northern Caribbean coastline, boasts more than 300 species of birds and 60 types of mammals, including the elusive jaguar. Appreciate the beauty of this reserve on a kayak or boat tour through its network of waterways.

Spot monkeys, herons, caimans, and turtles. In season, amid the rich vegetation along the shoreline, you’ll spot leatherback, hawksbill, loggerhead, and green sea turtles. At twilight, the park’s nocturnal residents venture out to forage. On a guided night tour, ramble through the wilderness, and you may come across sloths, racoons, snakes, and frogs. 

Beaches 

With long coastlines along the Pacific and Caribbean, Costa Rica has some of the best beaches in the world, shaded by palm trees and surrounded by offshore corals. Beaches like Playa Conchal in the Guanacaste Province are ideal for swimming and snorkelling. On the Caribbean coast, you’ll find innumerable beaches with fine light sand and warm tropical waters.

Head off the beaten track onto a remote beach, where trained naturalist guides show you nesting turtles and explain sea turtle conservation. On the Pacific Coast, Uvita and Hermosa beaches on the Costa Ballena attract whale watchers, while Conchal Beach is great for snorkelling.   

Monteverde Cloud Forest 

Monteverde is known for its private nature reserves, Swiss-style farms, and tropical botanical gardens teeming with hummingbirds and butterflies. Here, low-hanging clouds hover like a fog over the forest’s upper canopy. The area supports six different life zones, hosting about 3,000 species of plants and hundreds of species of mammals and birds.

On guided day and night walks along the Santa Elana and Bajo del Tigre trails, you’ll notice trees covered with thick mosses, multiple layers of strangler vines, ferns, and drooping lianas. Amble across suspension bridges, past epiphytes and bromeliads with leaf-cutter ants and poison-dart frogs. The reserve also harbours endangered cats such as puma, ocelot, margay, and jaguarundi.      

Manuel Antonio National Park

Manuel Antonio National Park ranks among the top things to do in Costa Rica. Besides a thick tropical rainforest, it has mangroves, beaches and coral reefs. There’s a network of short hiking trails with opportunities to view wildlife. Find breathtaking views along the path that circles Punta Catedral.

The main trail Sendero El Perezoso goes down to Playa Manuel Antonio. You may encounter animals like coati, agouti, and two- or three-toed sloths along the way. Birds like green kingfishers, brown pelicans, and laughing falcons abound in this park, as do millions of colourful crabs.

Playa Manuel Antonio, which is the park’s best swimming beach, is frequented by white-faced capuchin monkeys, raccoons, and iguanas. The park is conveniently located south of the town of Quepos and is close to hotels and restaurants.

Hiking and Trekking 

Costa Rica’s national parks, wildlife refuges, and biological reserves have well-maintained hiking trails that take you deep into the rainforest and let you enjoy views of otherwise inaccessible places. Venture out on the short and unchallenging Poas Volcano trek and weave your way through the unique dwarf cloud forest.

Alternatively, walk along a paved road on the Crater Overlook Trail. While trekking along the challenging 20-kilometre Los Patos-Sirena route in Corcovado National Park, experienced trekkers may spot elusive animals such as the tapir and collared peccary. The remote, wildlife-rich Reserva Rara Avis has a network of trails that offer a variety of guided day and night walks ranging from 30 minutes to several hours.

Some other great hikes are the Arenal Volcano trail, and the river trail of Rio Celeste. The Bajos del Toro hike is a short hike with a tremendous reward, the massive Bajos del Toro Waterfall and a spectacular multicoloured, mossy-green canyon.

Rafting on the Pacuare River

A rafting adventure on the Pacuare River is one of the top things to do in Costa Rica. An overnight rafting trip is the most preferred option to paddle through Class II, III and IV rapids.

You’ll glide past cascades, explore the pristine rainforest, rest and picnic on the riverbank, and overnight at comfortable eco-lodges. Day-long trips are also available for those with less time on their hands.  

Birdwatching 

Costa Rica is a birdwatchers’ paradise. Around the country, visitors can spot over 400 bird species in its rainforests, including 50 species of hummingbirds, 17 types of parrots and 6 varieties of toucans.

Some notable spots for birdwatching are the Talamanca Highlands, with some of the highest peaks in the country, inhabited by resplendent quetzals, long-tailed silky flycatchers, and flame-throated warblers.

Tortuguero National Park, with its freshwater sloughs and swamp forests, is a haven for the great green macaw, green ibis, and purple-throated fruit crow. Carara National Park is known for its population of scarlet macaws, the largest of the parrot species, trogons, and jacanas.  

Coffee Tours and Tasting  

Costa Rica produces some of the highest quality and most environmentally friendly organic coffee. Visit a traditional coffee plantation to see how workers collect ripe coffee berries.

The beans are separated from the husk and then washed, dried and sorted. Learn about how some of the world’s finest coffee beans are grown, roasted, packaged, and distributed.

Get inspired by our Costa Rica multi-centre holidays and list of things to do in Costa Rica. Talk to one of our Destination Specialists for your tailor-made holiday plan.