Things to Do in Costa Rica: Traveler Favorites
Rainforests, volcanoes, ziplines, and white water rafting are just a few of the things you can do in Costa Rica.
July 27, 2026
10 minute read
Costa Rica is packed with amazing experiences. You can zipline through the rainforest or raft through it, cross lava fields, search for wildlife on safari, visit cocoa plantations and coffee farms, or spend time along the coast.
In this guide to Costa Rica we’ll share some of the many experiences travellers enjoy on Collette’s Costa Rica tours and provide a quick list of things to do in popular destinations. Get ready to feel excited about Costa Rica!
Quick Guide to Costa Rica for Adventure, Nature, and Culture
Costa Rica is one of those places that has it all.
Adventure: Add a Little Adrenaline to Your Trip
Zipline through the rainforest.
Cross lava fields to view Costa Rica’s best-known volcano.
Go white water rafting.
Nature: Explore Costa Rica’s Wild Side
Stay in the middle of the jungle and wake up to the sound of birds and monkeys just outside your room.
Go on a rainforest safari and search for caimans, river otters, sloths, monkeys, river turtles, exotic birds, and rare butterflies.
Visit the coast to see which animals like seaside habitats.
Culture: Connect with People and History
Visit a cocoa plantation and a coffee farm to learn about harvesting and production.
Enjoy a farm-to-table lunch that celebrates the country’s culinary traditions.
Learn how to make candy with a coconut and enjoy a sweet treat.
8 Top Things to Do in Costa Rica
Based on traveller feedback and experiences featured on Collette tours, here are our top things to do in Costa Rica (presented in no particular order).
1. Explore Arenal Volcano and the Surrounding Region
Arenal Volcano, located in northwestern Costa Rica is one of the most visited places in the region. The volcano rises five thousand feet to loom over the surrounding area. Here you can hike across lava fields formed by the 1968 eruption for closer views and learn about one of the country’s best-known natural landmarks.
On Collette tours, travellers typically stay at Lomas del Volcán Hotel for multiple nights to enjoy other activities in the area like hanging bridges, ziplining, and the hot springs fuelled by the area’s volcanic activity.
2. Experience a Costa Rica Rainforest and Wildlife Safari
Costa Rica is home to an impressive number of animals and one of the best ways to see them is on a guided safari in one of the many parks and refuges. Travellers can choose from a variety of nature tours including guided walks, river boat safaris, and even crocodile safaris.
On Collette’s tours, we include local guides who are masters at spotting animals and full of facts that make searching for green macaws, glimpsing jaguars, manatees and ocelots, and spotting sloths in the canopy even more fun.
“Our tour guide (Martha) was EXTREMELY knowledgeable about all of the wildlife or as she called them 'critters,' vegetation and culture in Costa Rica. She shared with us her personal life experiences growing up in Costa Rica.” — Angela B., Traveller on Costa Rica: A World of Nature.
3. Visit Tortuguero National Park
Tortuguero National Park protects over 350 species of birds and mammals, plus amphibians, reptiles, and many endangered mammals, making it one of the most rewarding places to visit in Costa Rica for wildlife lovers. You can travel here by boat or small plane and stay in the middle of the jungle at an eco-lodge. In the mornings, you wake up to the sounds of monkeys and birds right outside your room.
On Collette tours a boat serves as your jungle safari vehicle. A local guide steers the boat through winding waterways and shares their knowledge of Tortuguero’s wildlife while you peer into the vegetation to see what animals might be looking back.
“The whole tour was amazing! Our first stay at Evergreen Lodge was so beautiful. I enjoyed the rustic feel, the frogs and critters that put us to sleep at night and the morning howls of the monkeys and the songs of the birds. The boat tours were wonderful and the Turtle Research Station was so interesting.” — Rosemary M., Traveller on Costa Rica: A World of Nature.
4. Walk Through the Monteverde Cloud Forest
Monteverde is one of only four places in the world with a cloud-forest ecosystem making it one of the most unique Costa Rica attractions. A cloud-forest ecosystem is where dry forest air meets humid, hot rainforest air to create a blanket of cloud and near-constant moisture. It gets less rain than Costa Rica’s rainforests, creating a cooler, mistier ecosystem with different flora and fauna to explore.
People compare Monteverde to Ferngully, Tarzan, or Pandora because everything around feels oversized and thick with green. Trees grow to heights of 100 feet, and the vines look like something you could swing from.
It’s one of the best places in Costa Rica to spot exotic birds such as toucans, trogons, bellbirds, and hummingbirds. Its most famous resident is the quetzal, a bird with feathers that were considered more valuable than gold in ancient Mesoamerican cultures.
5. Soar Over the Jungle on a Zipline
Ziplining remains one of the most popular Costa Rica activities for travellers looking to add a little adventure to their trip. Ziplining is available in several locations throughout Costa Rica allowing you to fly through nature instead of just looking at it from below. It’s a soft adventure that adds excitement to your Costa Rica trip.
Travellers with Collette have the option to do a canopy zipline adventure in Monteverde. It's one of the longest zip line routes in Costa Rica with 19 platforms and lines ranging from 120 to 2,000 feet long. Riders soar 60-400 feet above the forest floor and if you’re really daring you can reach speeds of up to 35 miles per hour.
6. Go White Water Rafting on the Sarapiquí River
The Sarapiquí River is one of the best places in Costa Rica to go white water rafting. Flowing through lush rainforest, the upper sections offer class III and IV rapids perfect for thrill seekers who want to navigate rushing rapids, twists and turns while being surrounded by a rainforest.
You can choose this as an optional experience in the Arenal region on Collette tours.
“I loved all the opportunities to see and experience Costa Rica. I white water rafted for the first time in my life and had a blast!” — Janice B, Traveller on Costa Rica: A World of Nature.
7. Visit a Coffee Plantation or Local Farm
Visiting a plantation or local farm places the emphasis on local growers, sustainability, and the connection between the land and livelihood. Travellers are often surprised at how much they enjoy these cultural moments.
Collette is known for including unique cultural experiences on our tours. In Costa Rica this includes a private tour of a local coffee plantation in the Central Valley. You meet local growers, walk the rows of coffee plants, learn the craft and history of harvesting and roasting, and enjoy a fresh cup brewed right at the plantation.
“I also thoroughly enjoyed the trip to the organic farm in La Fortuna. I am a very good cook and I enjoyed talking with the staff preparing the meal to get ideas for cooking natural foods when I got home.” — Brenda H., Traveller on Tropical Costa Rica.
8. Relax Along Costa Rica’s Beaches in Guanacaste
Located on the Pacific coast in the northwestern part of Costa Rica, Guanacaste is known for its fine sandy beaches and ocean views. For travellers looking to relax Guanacaste is one of the best places to visit in Costa Rica for beaches, sunsets, and coastal scenery.
On Collette tours, travellers typically stay near Playa Carrillo and visit nearby Sámara for local culture and one of Costa Rica’s standout sunsets. You can also extend the experience with optional dolphin watching, snorkelling, and mangrove kayaking.
What Unique Experiences Can You Have on a Guided Tour?
Collette’s guided tours are crafted by locals who take pride in showing off everything their country has to offer. Their local connections help us offer travellers experiences that can be hard to plan on your own.
In Costa Rica these include experiences like:
Learning how locals harvest coconuts and make traditional candy with fresh pulp.
Discovering the history of Costa Rican coffee on a private tour of a working plantation.
A tranquil riverboat cruise through the Caño Negro Refuge.
Visits and meals with the hosts at family-owned farms.
With decades of experience in tour design and lots of feedback from travellers like you, Collette has become an expert at designing tours that fit in a variety of experiences at a comfortable pace. That means you see more of the country without being too tired to enjoy it. Learn more about the benefits of guided tours.
“The most enjoyable aspect was the diversity of destinations and excursions. Visiting the Caribbean coast, central highlands, and Pacific coast highlighted the diversity Costa Rica, and we had many opportunities to see spectacular wildlife.” — Pilar F., Traveller on Tropical Costa Rica.
FAQs About Things to Do in Costa Rica
What are the absolute must-do activities for a first-time visitor?
For a first trip, a few experiences come up again and again for good reason: ziplining in Monteverde, crossing lava fields near Arenal Volcano, visiting a working farm or plantation, and eating at a local soda.
Can I see a volcano, rainforest, waterfall, and beach in one trip?
Yes — on Collette’s Costa Rica tours, it is possible to combine many experiences in one trip. You see the volcano in Arenal, trek through rainforests and cloud forests in Tortuguero and Monteverde, and get beach time at Playa Carrillo.
Should I book tours and excursions in advance or wait until I arrive?
If you’re travelling during peak seasons, it’s smart to book major activities three to four months ahead. That’s one reason people choose guided tours. On Collette’s tours, the must-do experiences are already built into the trip, which means you spend less time making reservations. Just book your tour and you’re pretty much done.
Do I really need to hire a guide for national parks?
If your goal is to see wildlife, a local guide is worth it. Some animals stay tucked into the trees, hide along the riverbanks, or are well camouflaged. A guide with a spotting scope can make the difference between seeing the animals on your wish list and walking right by them.
How does the rainy season affect outdoor activities?
The rainy season does not mean your whole day is washed out. In many parts of Costa Rica, heavier showers tend to build in the afternoon, leaving time for activities in the morning. Get tips on choosing when to go to Costa Rica.
How difficult is it to drive a rental car to remote excursions?
Driving yourself around Costa Rica can be challenging. Some of the best experiences are in remote areas only reached by boat, plane, or with a local guide.
See More of Costa Rica on a Guided Tour
Costa Rica offers a lot in one trip — volcano views near Arenal, time in the cloud forest in Monteverde, rainforest stays in Tortuguero, beach days along Playa Carrillo, and local stops where you can learn about coffee, cocoa, and village life.
Planning and coordinating all that on your own can be daunting, and you often don’t know how much time you need in each location to really enjoy it. Collette’s guided tours take all the guess work out. You can explore the tour itinerary before you book, choose from different options (in case white water rafting and ziplines aren’t for you), and see how we where build in extra time for you to explore on your own.
