Top Activities on the Ground in Central Pacific

Make the most of limited time in Costa Rica with a guided half-day nature walk through Manuel Antonio National Park. Don’t waste time wondering what to see next; instead, head straight to the park’s highlights in the company of a naturalist guide and benefit from their animal spotting expertise and spotting scope to see creatures you might otherwise have missed.

Get ready for 3 hours of nonstop thrills with this inclusive combo tour at the 100% Aventura park in Monteverde. Test your adrenaline threshold as you complete all of the park’s most popular adventures, including a 10-cable zipline course, rope bridge, rappel, and ATV buggy ride. Channel two famously fast heroes on the Mega Tarzan Swing and the forward-facing Superman zipline — the longest and highest in all of Latin America.

Central America’s longest zipline runs for nearly a mile, with 14 tree platforms, three natural walks, six hanging bridges, and more. On this tour, you’ll experience it for yourself, zooming above the forest like a clay-colored thrush (Costa Rica’s national bird, of course). You’ll also sit down to a traditional lunch to fuel up for the adrenaline-filled day.

Rappel down waterfalls in the shadow of Arenal Volcano on this exciting rain forest adventure just outside of La Fortuna. Ride a 4x4 into the forest, where guides will help you gear up for a thrilling course featuring a rock climb and five rappels, including the ‘Monkey Drop’ and four waterfall descents. After conquering this natural playground, freshen up in a well-equipped ranch house and reward your efforts with a delicious lunch of organic Costa Rican cuisine.

Get your heart racing on this cloud forest adventure on a private reserve in Monteverde. Ride ziplines over the forest canopy, rappel down to the forest floor, climb inside of a tree, and more, for a family-friendly excursion that brings you closer to nature.

Go horseback riding, ziplining, waterfall rappelling, and ATV-ing on this adventure-filled all-day guided tour in the Jaco Jungle. Saddle up on a Costa Rican stepping horse and ride past giant trees, monkeys, and nesting macaws. Then, learn how to rappel down a waterfall before ziplining through the rainforest setting. Finish the day with an afternoon ATV ride. A Costa Rican lunch is also included.

Enjoy a combination of outdoor activities in Costa Rica during this zipline, ATV, and waterfalls tour. You'll have the chance to explore the rainforest scenery above and below as you zoom across the treetops and travel down muddy paths and along rivers. This adventure takes place about 10 minutes from Jaco Beach and Los Suenos Resort.

See the natural beauty of the jungle after dark with this night tour to Rainmaker Park. Your naturalist guide will take you and your group into the jungle for a two- to two-and-a-half-hour journey, where you’ll get to learn about the local ecosystem and maybe even spot some bats, spiders, owls, and colorful tropical frogs.

Exchange the sun and surf for for a high-flying adventure in the misty Monteverde Cloud Forest on this full-day combo tour. Fly through the forest canopy on a 15-cable zipline course featuring a gravity-defying Superman cable and a Tarzan swing, and slow down for a closer look at Monteverde's rich biodiversity while walking through the tree tops along a series of hanging bridges. In between adventures, replenish your energy with a typical Costa Rican lunch.

When staying in Manuel Antonio, take time to visit the private nature reserve of Rainmaker Park. Get different perspectives on the tropical rain forest and its wonderful wildlife as you cross one of Costa Rica's longest series of hanging bridges. Cool off with a swim in natural waterfall pools before recharging over a delicious restaurant lunch.

Feel the adrenaline rush of soaring over 11 different waterfalls on this small-group canopy tour at Adventure Park Costa Rica. Enjoy breathtaking views over the ocean, mountains, and rainforest on 25 zipline cables, the longest in Costa Rica. Led by a professional guide, this tour emphasizes safety and provides all the necessary equipment. Lunch and bottled water are included. Transportation to and from this Costa Rica zip line tour is an available option. Participants must be at least seven years old and weigh less than 280 pounds (127 kg).

Tap into you inner jungle explorer with this waterfall hiking tour in the mountains above Jaco. Ride a 4x4 deep into the rain forest, and then hike along a vertical river, stopping to splash and swim in tropical waterfall pools along the way. If you’re feeling extra adventurous, jump off of rock ledges into the natural pools below for a true taste of ‘pura vida’!

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.

Explore Monteverde's magnificent cloud forest from the air on this combo canopy tour at Sky Adventures. Cross the Costa Rican rain forest on a series of hanging bridges during the Sky Walk, glide through the treetops in a gondola on the guided Sky Tram, and then soar through through the misty canopy on the thrilling Sky Trek zipline course. No need to choose—do all three of the park’s top activities in a single day with this complete package.

Experience the classic Costa Rican thrill of ziplining plus a return to nature on horseback with this combo tour. Ride a tractor up a mountain and then soar back down on a high-speed, 10-cable zipline course. Back on solid ground, mount a well-trained horse for a scenic ride through the rain forest. Feel a world away from civilization with a short hike to a waterfall and natural swimming hole, where you can cool off in true ‘Tico’ style.

Fly through the Costa Rican rainforest on this guided eco-friendly canopy tour. The ziplining adventure takes place at the Vista Los Sueños Adventure Park, which features a course that includes 12 platforms and 10 cables with a total distance of 2.2 miles (3.5 kilometers). During your journey, catch views of Herradura Bay and Island, as well as the Nicoya Gulf.

Explore the Costa Rican rainforest on this guided horseback riding tour. At the 80-acre Vista Los Sueños Adventure Park, enjoy private waterfalls and natural swimming pools, as you spot local wildlife like toucans, scarlet macaws, and white-faced monkeys. Professional photographers will be on hand to capture the experience; photos will be available for purchase at the end of the tour.

Combine hiking, waterfall swimming, and local cuisine with this tour in Las Monas Rainforest. You'll spend time learning about local plant life and cooling off in waterfall pools, with the option to jump from the top of some of the falls if you dare. You'll then head out to La Casita del Sabor for a local meal before returning to your hotel.

Get your adrenaline pumping during this adventure tour in the Naranjo Biological Corridor of Costa Rica. Soar through the treetops on a zip line, come face to face with local wildlife like white-faced monkeys and tropical birds, and traverse an obstacle course with a series of platforms, suspension bridges, a Tarzan swing, and a rappel. End the tour with a delicious Costa Rican meal and traditional snacks.

Discover the beautiful cascading waterfalls of Nauyaca, deep in the Costa Rican jungle, during this full-day tour from Quepos. Join a small group and head to the park where you must embark on a short hike to reach the falls. Enjoy time to take a refreshing dip in the natural pools and capture photos of your surroundings before heading back.

Hike the trails of the Manuel Antonio National Park without the risk of getting lost when you visit with a guide. Your naturalist guide will look out for animals and birds hiding in the forest that you might miss if touring on your own. Spot sloths, monkeys, iguanas, and more and view them through your guide’s high-quality spotting scope. Both private and group tours are available.

Ziplining through forest canopies is a must in Costa Rica, and during this exciting activity you’ll be treated to fantastic ocean and mountain views at the same time. Zoom down 14 cables at up to 30 miles per hour, feeling like a bird soaring above the trees or a monkey swinging through them. A great activity to enjoy with friends.

Nature-loving travelers will enjoy this guided tour of the private Curi Cancha Wildlife Reserve. Learn more about the animals, birds, and plant life in this area of cloud forest than you would if visiting independently. Hear your guide clearly and get the chance to ask questions on a small-group tour. This is a fun family-friendly excursion.

The Monteverde Cloud Forest is one of Costa Rica’s most memorable natural wonders. With this tour, venture to the heart of the cloud forest on a self-guided trek and enjoy magnificent views of the Arenal, Rincon de la Vieja, Tenorio, and Miravalles volcanoes. Cool off with a swim beneath a waterfall, tuck into a typical Costa Rican lunch, and enjoy a short horseback ride.