20 Best Things to Do in Costa Rica (2026 Guide)

The best things to do in Costa Rica are as diverse as the country itself! You can hike around Arenal Volcano, swim in naturally heated hot springs, spot sloths and the three kinds of monkeys in Manuel Antonio National Park or watch the sea turtles coming out of the ocean to lay eggs in Tortuguero.

This tiny Central American country contains 5% of the world's biodiversity in a mere 0.03% of the Earth's land area, offers volcanoes, cloud forests, two coastlines, and fantastic wildlife all within a few hours' drive of each other.

So, here is a list of the 20 top experiences that will serve as the foundation of your trip, and a breakdown by region so that you can match the activities with the areas where you will be staying.

One of the reasons Costa Rica is so special is that it offers so much diversity in such a small area. Being able to climb a volcano in the early morning, stroll a moss-rich rainforest inhabited by toucans and sloths, and cap the day with a sunset over the Pacific can all happen in one day. The country boasts two coasts and 5% of all the world's species!

Activities in Costa Rica range from volcano trekking and exploring the cloud forests, to visiting the parks for wildlife watching to surfing. Here are 20 of the most wonderful experiences. They include a few of the most famous sights, such as Arenal and Manuel Antonio, and a couple of off-the-beaten-path activities like indigenous chocolate-making!

Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica's tiniest and most popular national park, extends over a total of 1,983 hectares (4,900 acres) in the Central Pacific area and has attracted over 4.3 million visitors in the last decade. Here you will find 109 mammal species, 184+ birds, and three of the country's four monkeys, making it one of the top spots for nature and wildlife experiences in Costa Rica. Also, it's the best location for sloth-sighting.

Located at 1,440m above sea level, in the Tilarn Mountains, Monteverde is a misty, magical cloud forest where you will find over 100 mammals, 400 birds, and 2,500+ plants. It is the best part of Costa Rica to spot a Resplendent Quetzal. Go to Curi-Cancha Reserve during the breeding season (February - July) for a greater chance to see it.

Arenal Volcano with a nearly perfect cone of 1,670m is the most prominent feature of Costa Rica's northern plains. Though its last major eruption was in 1968 and a resting phase started in 2010, you can still hike the 4-km lava trail loop inside Arenal Volcano National Park and afterward, you can stay in La Fortuna which is known as the country's unofficial capital for adventure travel in Costa Rica, including hot springs, waterfalls, and rafting.

Famed as the "Amazon of Costa Rica", Tortuguero consists of 76,937 hectares of jungle canals which are only accessible by boat or small plane. From July to October, green sea turtles come ashore to nest at the beaches along its Caribbean coast. Boat trips on the waterways are a wonderful way to spot caimans, monkeys, sloths, and more than 300 bird species while enjoying wildlife tours in Costa Rica.

Corcovado is often referred to as the "most biologically intense place on Earth" by National Geographic. The park contains the wildest and most extensive nature of Costa Rica. It is the only place where you can see all four species of native monkeys along with tapirs, peccaries, and scarlet macaws. Sirena Ranger Station deep in the park acts as the main hub for multi-day wildlife explorations.

The turquoise-blue Ro Celeste inside Tenorio Volcano National Park owes its color to the scattering of volcanic minerals. If you want to swim, try La Fortuna Waterfall (200ft, 500 steps down but don't go into the water near the base. The current is dangerous), two-tiered Nauyaca Falls near Dominical, or the curtain-like Llanos de Corts in Guanacaste.

Costa Rica is the starting point of canopy zip-lining, and it’s one of the best things to do in Monteverde. 100% Aventura is the company that runs Central America's longest zipline 1,590m (5,220ft) along with a 35m free-fall Tarzan Swing. Selvatura and Sky Adventures are the other main operators, providing hanging bridges and cable-car combos.

The Pacuare is one of the best rivers for rafting in the world, featuring Class IIIIV rapids that cut through jungle canyons on the Caribbean slope. Multi-day trips also comprise overnight stays at secluded jungle lodges which can only be reached by river. For less turbulent water, Ro Orosi and Ro Naranjo present the gentler Class II options suitable for families and beginners.

One of the most exciting experiences that La Fortuna waterfall can offer is rappelling down waterfalls lined with lush vegetation. The highest drop is about 165ft. Pure Trek and Desafo are the two renowned orchestrators of the adventures, and they each provide round trip transportation, equipment, and a bilingual escort. You don't have to be an expert climber, just be reasonably fit and unafraid of heights.

You can surf on Costa Rica's Pacific Coast regardless of your proficiency. It’s one of the best things to do in Guanacaste, a place with warm water, gentle reef breaks, and lots of surf schools. Jaco is a major surf town located close to San Jose, only 90 minutes away, while Santa Teresa, on Nicoya Peninsula, has regular swells for skilled surfers.

You can hardly go wrong when it comes to diving on the Pacific side of Costa Rica. Cao Island, frequented by the inhabitants of Uvita and Drake Bay, has 15+ species of hard coral, stingrays, and turtles. Bull sharks are the main attraction at the Bat Islands, while the faraway Cocos Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a magnet for liveaboard divers who are after hammerhead sharks in large schools. Top underwater visibility: June - September.

Geographically isolated in Guanacaste's dry forest, Barra Honda National Park is home to a system of limestone caves leading to depths of up to 250m, with only 50% of it mapped. The vertical entrances require climbing gear and a certified guide, making it one of Costa Rica's most off-the-beaten-path adventures.

Standing at 3,820m (12,533ft), Cerro Chirrip is not only the highest mountain in Costa Rica but also the most challenging hike in the country. The 20km trail from San Gerardo de Rivas leads to an overnight stay at Crestones Base Camp (reservations must be done months in advance). On clear days, the summit provides the very rare sight of both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts at the same time.

The volcanic landscape of Costa Rica is an off-road paradise. ATV tours leave from Jaco, Tamarindo, Smara, Flamingo, Playa Hermosa, and La Fortuna, going through the jungle and crossing the rivers. Mountain biking enthusiasts should visit Rincon de la Vieja, where they will find trails that go by volcanic craters, or the Orosi Valley.

There are 14 hot springs resorts in the Arenal area, all of which are supplied by geothermal water at temperatures of 90F - 106F. Besides Tabacon, Ecotermales Baldi (25 thermal pools), The Springs, and Titok, there are five other well-known hot springs. As a no-cost alternative, locals go to Ro Chollin, which is a public stretch of thermal river below the road bridge near Tabacon.

At night, the rainforest in Costa Rica changes dramatically. Guided night walks let you encounter animals like red-eyed tree frogs, kinkajous, sleeping basilisks, glass frogs, and tarantulas, species which you will not find during a regular daytime hike. Drake Bay (Osa Peninsula), Monteverde, and Tortuguero are top spots, and most lodges are able to arrange a guided walk with a naturalist for two hours.

One of the most extraordinary adventures you can have in Costa Rica is to see the ocean turned a bright, electric blue by bioluminescent plankton when you disturb them. Kayak trips that leave Puerto Jimenez to Golfo Dulce and some parts of Nicoya Peninsula allow you to see them in the best way during moonless nights. The time when you will most likely see a lot is pretty late in the dry season and just as the rainy season starts.

Want to get super close to Costa Rica's fauna without hiking all day through the jungle? There are two animal rescue centers that will definitely impress you. The Toucan Rescue Ranch near San Jose is dedicated to taking care of and eventually releasing back to the wild sloths, toucans, and owls. At the Jaguar Rescue Center in Puerto Viejo, you will find orphaned monkeys, sloths, ocelots, and birds.

Thanks to the volcanic soils, Costa Rica is able to offer some of the finest coffees and chocolates in the world. You could visit Doka Estate, Finca Rosa Blanca, or Cafe Britt to learn about coffee centrally located in the Central Valley. In Monteverde and El Trapiche, apart from the regular coffee tours, you can go on combined coffee-cacao-sugarcane tours. But if you want to connect more with the local culture, going to a chocolate workshop with the Bribri community of Talamanca is your best bet for authentic cultural experiences in Costa Rica. Not only will you see the farm and do chocolate grinding, but you will also be supporting the Indigenous culture.

When you go to a soda, which is essentially a family eatery, you will be served a casado which consists of rice beans protein, a small salad, and plantain. All this is very inexpensive and costs only between $5 and $7 USD. If you happen to be there in the morning, you must try the gallo pinto. And at other times, you have to take the ceviche, chifrijo, and arroz con pollo. And after the meal, to complement the tasting, fresh refrescos like tamarindo go really well.

The best things to do in Costa Rica are located in areas with volcanoes, cloud forests, two coasts, and isolated peninsulas. Besides that, traveling between them takes longer than Google Maps suggests. Mountain roads, single-lane bridges, and afternoon rain can turn a two-hour drive into four. Trying to see everything one can hardly ever beat picking one or two regions per trip.

This is the adventure capital of Costa Rica, and the best thing to do in La Fortuna and Arenal is climbing the stunning Arenal Volcano. It is an ideal place for first-timers, couples, or those planning honeymoon travel in Costa Rica, offering a variety of experiences, including volcano hiking, hot springs, La Fortuna Waterfall, hanging bridges, and world-class rafting all within 30 minutes of the town. You should plan to spend 3 nights here.

The place is like a fairy tale. Flying among the clouds, immersed in nature. If you love nature, birds, and zipping through the jungle canopy, this is the place for you. Walk suspended hanging bridges through the canopy, catch a glimpse of the Resplendent Quetzal at Curi-Cancha, and enjoy a zipline ride on one of the longest ziplines in Central America. Because the roads are difficult and winding, plan to spend two nights to fully enjoy the experience.

A combination of wildlife and beach that is the easiest to access anywhere in the country. Quepos is the entry point: Marina Pez Vela is the top sportfishing location in Costa Rica, and most tours in the Manuel Antonio area, including catamaran cruises and mangrove boat tours, depart from here. Stay 2–3 nights and arrive at the national park at 7 AM.

Some of the best things to do in Puntarenas are marine activities such as day cruises to Tortuga Island, boat trips in Cao Negro, and ferry rides to the Nicoya Peninsula. You can combine these activities with a visit to Carara National Park, a famous place for spotting the vivid scarlet macaw or even make a short stop at the Torcholes Crocodile bridge.

Let’s see now some of the best things to do in Guanacaste, Tamarindo, Playa Hermosa and Liberia. The Pacific coastline of Guanacaste is home to some of the most beautiful Costa Rica beaches. The major airport for air travel is Liberia (LIR) which is also the starting point for Rincon de la Vieja National Park where volcano mud baths, canyoning at Rio Blanco, and river tubing are the main attractions. As for the travelers, most of them skip Liberia city itself and only go straight to the beach.

Here are the best things to do in Nosara, Samara and Santa Teresa. This part of the world is one of the five Blue Zones, which are areas that have been identified as locations where people live statistically longer and healthier lives. Here, you will find relaxed surf villages, yoga being done every day, long stretches of empty beaches, and a slower pace that is quite different from the rest of the country. Nosara is known as the place for wellness travel in Costa Rica, Santa Teresa is popular with surfers, and Samara is considered the most suitable for families of all places based on the main unpaved, slow roads.

The Afro-Caribbean coast of Costa Rica is so different that it almost feels like another country's beach where reggae music, coconut-rice casados, and calm turquoise water are what you'll find at Punta Uva and Playa Chiquita. Cahuita National Park has the best coral reef for snorkeling in Costa Rica, and the best thing to do in Puerto Viejo is visit its Jaguar Rescue Center, which is one of the most-storied and treasured animal sanctuaries in the country.

It is Costa Rica's wilder side, easily accessible by a short plane flight or a long car journey from San Jose. It's where the Corcovado National Park is situated, which is known as the most biologically intense place on Earth. Besides that, you can go whale watching at Drake Bay and diving at Cao Island. Ideal for those interested in nature and wildlife tours in Costa Rica, especially wildlife enthusiasts who are not averse to roughing it a little, in exchange for jaguars, tapirs, and scarlet macaws.

Generally, tourists passing through do not take the capital into consideration however it merits a day. Visit the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum, the National Theater and the Central Market for an authentic flavor of Costa Rica. The Central Valley which surrounds the city is a coffee area. Some of the best things to do in San Jose, is by using it as a base to take day trips to Doka Estate, Finca Rosa Blanca, Pos and Iraz volcanoes.

Several of the most enjoyable things to do in the country also make it perfect for family travel in Costa Rica. Let's see some more examples.

Wildlife encounters: Toucan Rescue Ranch and the Jaguar Rescue Center for hands-off animal education, the Butterfly Garden in Monteverde, and hummingbird galleries where dozens of species feed inches from your face.

Family-friendly adventure: Baldi Hot Springs' water slides and shallow pools, Mistico Hanging Bridges' easy 3 km canopy walk, and the Peñas Blancas safari float — a calm Class I boat ride ideal for spotting monkeys and sloths with young kids.

Beach days: Playa Conchal's crushed-shell sand and Playa Manuel Antonio's calm, lifeguarded waters are the two safest picks for swimming with children.

The best time to visit Costa Rica is in the dry season from mid-December to April. During these months, you can enjoy hiking, beach-hopping and wildlife spotting as it is mostly sunny. The green season between May and November is characterized by daily afternoon showers, lower prices, less crowd and beautiful green landscapes, which are perfect for budgeters and photographers. However, roads leading to remote parks such as Corcovado might not be easily accessible.

Altext: Aerial view of a tropical coastline with clear water and rocky reef formations

While Costa Rica will compensate you more for a longer journey, you are also able to visit the most famous attractions in a week. In case you have about 5-7 days, focus on 1-2 areas for the most part.

The usual combination is La Fortuna and Manuel Antonio or a beach in Guanacaste. Given you have 10 days, consider Monteverde to have a three-region itinerary, a pace that also suits senior travel in Costa Rica.

If you have 14+ days, you can explore the Caribbean or the very remote Osa Peninsula.

Those were the best things to do in Costa Rica! Volcanic hikes, cloud forest canopies, wildlife-packed national parks, and two very different coastlines merge into a small yet diverse country with a multitude of different activities!So, are you ready to experience Costa Rica the right way? Talk to Tailored by Locals. Share what kind of traveller you are, the experiences you're drawn to, and all your personal preferences. A local expert will then craft a personalized itinerary where every moment reflects exactly what you're looking for!