10 Things to Do in Costa Rica: My Personal Guide
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I have had the pleasure of visiting Costa Rica twice now, and honestly, it is one of those destinations that I could continue to visit over and over again. The lush rainforests, the waterfalls, and the wildlife, will never get old in my opinion. I love nature and the outdoors, and if you are anything like me, then Costa Rica will be the spot for you! In this guide, I will walk you through the best things to do in Costa Rica based on my personal experiences, and share my insider tips, to ensure your trip to Costa Rica is as unforgettable as my two trips have been.
Introduction: Best Things to do in Costa Rica
Even though Costa Rica is a smaller country in Central America, it is still jammed packed with amazing natural wonders and beauty. From the lush green rainforests to the massive volcanos, to the pristine beaches, there is absolutely not a short age of things to do. In this guide, I have curated the best things to do in Costa Ria based on my personally experiences regardless of what type of traveler you. Now, let’s dive in!
1. Arenal Volcano Hike: Hike & Hot Springs
One of the best excursions that I was able to do on my first trip to Costa Rica was visiting the incredibly majestic Arenal Volcano. Just standing at the base of this volcano, you could feel it’s energy and power. We did a small hike around the base, that was moderately challenging, but the trek through the lush rainforest and the panoramic views, made it so worth it. The terrain is slippery, so you need to make sure you were appropriate hiking shoes/sneakers. The best part after the hike? Soaking your aches and pains way in one of the hot springs. The warm mineral enriched waters literally melt everything away, and my friends had to pry me out, because I was so relaxed, and the water felt like perfection.
2. Zip-Line Over the Monteverde Cloud Forest
One excursion that never gets old for me, is ziplining. On both of my trips to Costa Rica, ziplining was a must. I have ziplined in countless places, but by far, Costa Rica is the best. There is something about zipping through the lush rainforest across thousand-foot drops with amazing views of the lush, green tree-tops. Costa Rica has some of the longest and highest ziplines that I have ever been on, and the zipline crew is the best!
Pro Tip: Go early in the morning when the clouds are rolling in and to avoid some of the crowds.
3. Swim Beneath La Fortuna Waterfall
One of the most incredible waterfalls in Costa Rica is the La Fortuna Waterfall. This breathtaking waterfall will leave you both drenched and in awe of its beauty and roar. Visiting this waterfall on a hot summer day is recommended, because the pool below the waterfall is extremely icy. The current is strong here, so be cautious as you are in the water. If you want some calmer water for swimming, walk downstream a bit, and there is a perfect place to swim. Make sure you bring water shoes for the falls as the rocks are extremely slippery to walk on.
4. Cruise Through Selvatura’s Hanging Bridges
If you really want to experience Costa Rica’s jungle, then you need to visit the Selvatura’s Hanging Bridges. Costa Rica’s jungles are filled with these bridges, and it’s the best way to spot wildlife and be right in the middle of the jungle action. On my most recent trip, I spotted monkeys, toucans, and sloths in the trees as I walked across all of the various bridges. These bridges sway, and can be a little nerve-racking, but take your time. This is the best place to slow down, soak in the natural beauty that Costa Rica has to offer and just enjoy.
Pro Tip: Bring your binoculars and have you camera/phone ready at all times.
5. Surf or Relax on Manuel Antonio Beaches
After a busy day exploring, it’s nice to have some down time to relax and recharge. One of my favorite beaches in Costa Rica is the Espadilla Beach at Manuel Antonio. If you are interested in surfing or just learning, this is the perfect beach for beginners. I don’t surf, but I found it to be a great place to relax, read, and get some sun. I saw lots of monkeys on this beach (guard your belongings though, because they are cute, but they are also kleptos), the sand is powdery soft, and the national park beach is absolutely stunning.
Pro Tip: This national park beach closes early, so stay as late as you can and catch the amazing sunset from the public beach.
6. Discover Rio Celeste Waterfall
One of the most jaw-dropping waterfalls I have ever seen was the Rio Celeste Waterfall. This waterfall is located deep in the Tenorio Volcano National Park, and while the hike to the waterfall is muddy, the waterfall is surreal. The water is a turquoise color, that I have seen at only at one other waterfall in my life: Havasupai Falls. The color of this waterfall is caused by the volcano and the chemical reaction that occurs.
Pro Tip: Wear your hiking boots, bring water hiking shoes, and a poncho
7. Spot Wildlife in Tortuguero National Park
If you are looking for a different perspective of Costa Rica, then add Tortuguero National Park to your itinerary. I visited this national park on my first visit to Costa Rica, and this national park, which is only accessible by boat, offered a completely different perspective of the country. We saw more howler monkeys than I can count, and while I didn’t see any sloths on this excursion, they are apparently super common to see here. My first visit was in April and my second was in January, but if you come during July-October, it is turtle nesting season, and you can actually witness sea turtles laying their eggs at night.
Pro Tip: Bring bug spray, because the bugs here, unreal!
8. Visit a Coffee & Chocolate Plantation
If you are anything like me and thoroughly enjoy both coffee and cholate, then you must make sure you add a visit to the coffee and chocolate plantation to your list of places to visit. On both of my trips to Costa Rica, I visited both plantations. Walking through the plantations, smelling the beans, and sampling both the coffee and chocolate, was some of the best I’ve tasted. Not only did I get to try some amazing coffee and cholate and learn about their processes, but I saw several Tucoucans flying around and hanging out in the trees.
9. Scuba Dive or Snuba off the Caribbean Coast
While I was too nervous, and as not certified to scuba, my friends did scuba dive, while I did a snuba dive. If you aren’t familiar with snuba, it’s like scuba, except you have a tank floating in the raft above the water and you can go about 30-40, feet, which honestly for me, was perfect. The water was perfect, we saw tons of fish, and my guide was absolutely incredibly. This is a great excursion if you want to get into the water and see some amazing underwater life!
10. Ride the Rapids on Pacuare River
Pacuare is no ordinary whitewater trip, it’s a full adventure. We tackled class III-IV rapids surrounded by waterfalls and thick jungle. But what made this special was the overnight at an eco-lodge hidden deep in the rainforest. I hiked to hidden pools, spotted jaguar tracks with our guide, and fell asleep to the sound of rushing water and frogs. It’s perfect for thrill-seekers who want to go off-grid for a bit.
Pro tip: waterproof EVERYTHING.
Conclusion: Best Things to do in Costa Rica
There is honestly no place like Costa Rica. It’s the destination where adventure and relaxation meet. Whether you want to be adventurous and hike the volcano and zipline through the rainforest, or chill on a beach and see some waterfalls, Costa Rica has something for everyone! If you are ready to embrace the Pura Vida life, I am happy to help you plan/book your next trip and make it as memorable as mine have been!