Attractions and Special Tours in Costa Rica
More on: Costa Rica Destinations
Costa Rica has popular and famous tourist sites, considered "must-see" for any tourist in the country, for example: Poás and Arenal volcanoes, the town in the heights of the Monteverde cloud forest, and a tour of Manuel Antonio National Park. There are also "must-do" attractions such as "Canopy" (ziplining in the forests) or walking on hanging bridges.
But there is much more to this wonderful country beyond that. There is no need to go far off the classic track. Between the popular tourist destinations and right next to them, you can spend entire days in fascinating and unique tours and attractions.
Here are some selected tours that are highly recommended:
Cultour – Traditional Culture and Agriculture
The Cultour tour is a wonderful and highly recommended tour where you will learn about the local culture and traditional agriculture through personal experience and many tastings. The tour takes place in a village called Casona Rio Fortuna near the city of La Fortuna and the Arenal Volcano. The tour begins at an ancient farmhouse where a charming couple who organizes the tour resides.
First, you will prepare tortillas with them using ground white corn kernels. Upon completion of the preparation, you will eat your handiwork with the addition of cheeses and excellent local coffee, accompanied by guitar playing and local folk songs that the hosts will sing for you.
From there, you will go out to the farmyard where they will demonstrate (including tastings, of course) how sweet sugar water is produced from sugarcane using the "El Trapiche" (a machine harnessed to oxen) and how sweets are made from the sugarcane.
Afterwards, you will ride in a wagon harnessed to a tractor through the village to the local school. There, the students will welcome you with dances in traditional costumes and even involve you in dancing with them. Upon completion of the dance, you will talk with the young and curious dancers and also learn that the association conducting these tours contributes many resources to the school.
The next stage: a guided tour by a veteran farmer on his farm among medicinal plants (this is the smelling stage of the trip), fruit trees (more tastings...) and even a primary forest with giant trees and a variety of birds. At the end of the tour, you will be treated to exotic fruits and soft drinks.
Rambutan fruit:
From there, you will return to the starting point of the trip at the couple's home, where they will serve you an excellent traditional meal accompanied by a liqueur they made with their own hands from sugarcane.
During the meal, you can hear from the couple about life on the farm and also more melodies and songs.
Recommended hotels in the La Fortuna and Arenal area:
Nayara Springs – The most impressive and successful hotel in the area. A luxury boutique hotel overflowing with tropical vegetation, pools, amazing restaurants, and a spa site.
Tabacon Grand Spa Thermal Resort – A sprawling five-star level hotel including baths based on hot spring water, sauna, luxury spa treatments, and 5 swimming pools, all immersed in tropical vegetation.
Hotel Arenal Kioro Suites & Spa – A five-star suites hotel overlooking the Arenal Volcano. It also has pools based on hot spring water, beautiful pools, and high-quality restaurants.
Mountain Paradise- A four-star suites hotel near the Nayara Springs hotel, with successful pools, a spa, and spacious suites all overlooking the Arenal Volcano. Many suites have a double Jacuzzi on the balcony.
Arenal Springs Resort & Spa - A 4-star hotel whose rooms overlook the Arenal Volcano. The hotel has a pool, a spa site, and a restaurant.
Montana De Fuego – A hotel with suites and cabins at a four-star level spread over a wide area. The hotel has a restaurant with a wonderful view, a pool, and several pools with spring water.
Hotel Lomas del Volcan – Cabins all overlooking tropical gardens, at a three-star level. The hotel has a pool and Jacuzzi. The hotel has a restaurant. A beautiful 1.5 km long nature trail passes through it.
Tirimbina Chocolate Tour
An experiential tour teaching how chocolate is made. Located in a rainforest in Sarapiquí on the way between Tortuguero and Arenal or Lands in Love. An opportunity to "break" the long drive with a tasty educational experience. The tour starts with walking across the longest hanging bridge in Costa Rica and a fifteen-minute walk on a forest trail to the cocoa plantations.
There you will learn a lot about the interesting plant and step by step you will prepare with your own hands tasty cocoa and also high-quality chocolate.
Everything is accompanied by tastings and fascinating explanations. This is a non-profit institution where the tour funds are dedicated to research and ecological education. Additional tours are held at the site such as: night walk in the forest, tour following the frogs, tours following the bats, bird watching and more.
Fly like Superman at "Turu Ba Ri" Park
Action and adrenaline enthusiasts must not miss this experience: in a vast park on the road between Manuel Antonio and San José or Arenal (or Lands in Love) you can fly like Superman over a rainforest and over a winding river. They will connect you in a special harness to a cable about 1.2 km (!) long on which you will fly at a speed of over 70 km/h at a high altitude. A unique and safe gliding and hovering experience.
The way back you will do leisurely in a cable car that will give you an impressive view of the entire park.
Guided tours following animals, horseback riding trips, and canopy are also held in the park.
Superman at Lands in Love
No need to go as far as Turu Ba Ri park in order to fly like Superman. Lands in Love has its own Superman. Very successful and recommended. The length of the cable, along which you fly at a high altitude over a valley overflowing with thick tropical vegetation in an amazing landscape, is 750 meters. Before you go up to the starting point of the flight, you will be equipped with various accessories that will keep you safe and make the experience extremely safe.
You will reach the starting point after a short hike and climbing a tower that is not low at all...
Flying over the forests at Lands in Love:
The Superman can be combined at the end of the Canopy route (the popular zipline series) or perform only the Superman together with the two longest ziplines in Lands in Love.
Video on gliding like Tarzan over the trees:
Video on zipline over the trees:
Canoe trip in Caño Negro
Caño Negro is a vast river flowing between rich and dense tropical vegetation in northern Costa Rica on the border of Nicaragua at a distance of about an hour and a half drive from Arenal. The place is known for the wide variety of animals living in it, starting from an immense variety of birds, monkeys, caimans (a type of small crocodile), sloths, iguanas and various other reptiles. Most tourists sail in the river in a motorboat while watching the animals and hearing explanations about them. A much more special and successful way to visit the place is by a guided canoe trip.
To order from the Viator website:
♦ Recommended guided boat trip in a motorboat in Caño Negro: Wildlife Boat Trip Caño Negro The trip takes about 9 hours.
♦ It is more recommended to do the canoe trip in Caño Negro: Caño Negro By Canoe. Without the motor noise, with fewer people. Sailing downstream and paddling mainly for steering. A great nature experience! The trip takes about 8 hours including transportation from the Arenal area and lunch.
Without the roar and rattle of the engine, without the noise of other tourists, just you and your canoe accompanied by a personal guide. This way you will see all the animals up close while paddling 13 km down the river (takes 3-4 hours). Halfway through you will receive fresh cut fruits for refreshment and at the end of the journey a traditional meal.
Video on the trip in Caño Negro:
Guided jet ski tour in Manuel Antonio
In Manuel Antonio there are successful beaches and catamaran sailing tours including a meal and snorkeling. Those looking for some wet action, but at the same time well-organized and safe can join a guided group tour on jet skis (Jet Ski, Wave runner) departing from the marina of Quepos. After a short briefing, you will set out for a fast and energetic ride in the spectacular landscape of the National Park and its surroundings, of beautiful beaches and rocks and cliffs in the water. During the tour, you stop several times for rest, drinks, eating fruit and swimming in the sea. If you are lucky, you will be able to spot sea turtles, large fish and even dolphins.
A close guide on his own jet ski will accompany you and take care of all your needs for two full hours while you spend time in the middle of the sea.
Recommended accommodation in Manuel Antonio:
Parador Resort & Spa
5-star hotel, 3 pools, 3 restaurants, air-conditioned rooms. Free shuttle service to the beaches. Free internet in rooms, free parking.
Hotel La Mariposa
4-star hotel. Restaurant and pool. Air-conditioned rooms. Free internet and parking.
Gaia Hotel & Reserve
5-star hotel for adults only. Restaurant, pool, air-conditioned rooms. Free internet and parking.