50 Best Things to Do in Costa Rica

Costa Rica is known for its beautiful beaches, lush rainforest, fantastic outdoor adventure and abundant wildlife.

With over 25% of its land protected, Costa Rica is one of the best destinations in the world for nature, outdoor adventure, wellness and wildlife watching!

Some of the top attractions in Costa Rica are Arenal Volcano, Manuel Antonio National Park, La Paz Waterfalls, Papagayo Peninsula, Tamarindo beach, Rio Celeste, Monteverde Cloud Forest and Corcovado National Park.

Top things to do in Costa Rica are hiking, waterfalls, surfing, ziplining, yoga and fishing.

If you plan to visit Costa Rica and are wondering what to do in Costa Rica, here is our list of 50 best things to do in Costa Rica.

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What to Do in Costa Rica

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Also, if you want to do any of these activities, get our exclusive Costa Rica tours discounts in La Fortuna, San Jose, Guanacaste, Manuel Antonio, Tortuguero and more!

1. Ziplining

Ziplining is a MUST DO in Costa Rica. Costa Rica is world famous for its long cables and spectacular views of the rainforest.

The best places for ziplining in Costa Rica are Monteverde, La Fortuna and Guanacaste. However, there are many ziplines throughout the country.

You can find beginner and family friendly ziplining tours to adrenaline ziplines with extra superman cables and tarzan swings!

Some recommended zipline tours are Vista Los Sueños (Jaco), Hacienda Baru in Dominical, 100% Aventura in Monteverde, Guachipelin in Hacienda Guachipelin, Sky Adventures in La Fortuna, Selvatura Park in Monteverde, Treetopia in Monteverde, and Diamante Eco Adventure Park in Guanacaste.

This specific Arenal canopy adventure with tarzan swing is one of the best for families in La Fortuna.

Tip: In Costa Rica, we call ziplining tours “canopy tours” so if you see the word “canopy”, that is the same as ziplining.

2. Sunset Sailing Cruise

If you’re planning a beach vacation, you must book a sailing cruise!

Sunset cruises are one of the best things to do for families, friends and couples in Costa Rica. Sail underneath a beautiful sky while watching the sun go down.

These type of cruises are shared, so you’ll share the boat with anywhere from 30-50 other people, depending on the company.

You can find sunset sailing cruises in nearly all tourist beach towns on the Pacific coast such as Playas del Coco, Flamingo, Potrero, Tamarindo and Samara.

We did a catamaran cruise in Manuel Antonio which was really fun.

Sunset sailing cruises run from around $75-110 USD per person and usually include snorkel equipment, fruit, water, drinks, snacks or lunch.

3. Scuba Diving

Costa Rica has excellent scuba diving, depending on the time of year and location.

The best place to dive in Costa Rica is Cocos Island National Park. However, it’s over 500 kilometers from the coast, requires a 36 hour journey to get there via a liveaboard and divers must be advanced level.

For scuba diving without a liveaboard, the best dive sites are Bat Islands, Las Catalina Islands, Gulf of Papagayo, Tortuga Islands ship wrecks, and Caño Island Biological Reserve.

You don’t need to be certified as there are “Discovery dives” which are specifically for non-certified divers. These cost around $200 USD and include 1 hour of pool instruction before the dives.

A PADI certified 2 tank dive costs around $145 USD.

The best towns to stay at for scuba diving are Drake Bay, Flamingo, Playas del Coco, Uvita, Playa Ocotal and Tamarindo.

Book your Catalina Islands scuba diving tour from Flamingo in the link!

What About Snorkeling in Costa Rica?

Snorkeling is not the best in Costa Rica. It doesn’t compare to Hawaii or Belize and snorkeling off the beach is generally not very good. Don’t expect crystal clear waters like the Maldives or vibrant coral reefs like in the Red Sea.

However, there are some decent spots, but the best spots are boat access only.

Cahuita National Park is home to some of the biggest coral reefs in Costa Rica and visitors can take a snorkeling tour to the reefs. The weather is finicky on the Caribbean side, so you can only go if the weather is good.

Catalina Islands off of Flamingo beach in Guanacaste has decent snorkeling. Book your Catalina Islands snorkeling tour here!

For the best snorkeling experience, take a snorkeling tour at Caño Island from Drake Bay or Uvita. The island is off the coast and is a biological reserve with excellent snorkeling and scuba diving.

But if you’re not visiting Uvita or Drake Bay, you can book a private boating and snorkeling tour from places such as Flamingo and Playas del Coco.

Book your Caño Island snorkeling tour from Uvita here!

4. Private Boating Tour in Gulf of Papagayo

The Gulf of Papagayo up in the north Pacific coast of Costa Rica, one of the most beautiful places in Costa Rica.

Since te Papagayo Gulf has a myriad of boat access only white sand beaches, the best way to experience it to the fullest is a private boat tour.

It’s one of our favorite things to do in Costa Rica and always on the itinerary whenever we have friends or family visiting!

One of our best friends runs a boating tour in Playas del Coco and we love going boating with him since he knows the best snorkel spots and hidden beaches.

Check our link to read more about it and request a boat tour!

5. ATV Tour

Add some adrenaline to your vacation on an ATV tour!

Drive through forests and jungle to reach beautiful viewpoints, stop at rivers and waterfalls and trek through muddy rainforest trails.

You can find fun ATV tours in many places like La Fortuna, Tamarindo, Flamingo, Jaco, Santa Teresa, Uvita and Manuel Antonio.

The La Fortuna ATV tour went to a river, a view point of the volcano and a stop at the Maleku indigenous community. They also offer a 3 hour tour which goes to a very close view point of Arenal Volcano. Bok your La Fortuna/Arenal ATV tour here!

Diamante Eco Adventure Park (North Guanacaste) and Vista Los Sueños adventure park (Jaco) both have ATV tours inside their property.

6. Surfing

People from all over the world come to Costa Rica just to surf as it has some of the best waves in Latin America.

Some of the best surf spots in Costa Rica are Pavones, Jaco, Santa Teresa, Playa Hermosa (Jaco), Playa Cocles, Dominical, Playa Matapalo (Osa Peninsula), Nosara, Playa Avellanas, Playa Tamarindo and Playa Grande.

However, this is just a small sampling of the great surfing beaches here.

7. Canyoning

Canyoning (rappelling down waterfalls) is an incredible adventure activity in Costa Rica.

It’s one of my personal favorite things to do in Costa Rica since it’s a heart pumping adventure in the middle of a beautiful rainforest. So exhilarating!

One of our favorite canyoning tour is the canyoning tour in La Fortuna. The first waterfall they take you to is nearly 200 feet tall!

The same canyoning company in La Fortuna offers a second, more adrenaline filled tour called Rainforest Falls. You rappel down a beautiful waterfall, jump in the pristine river and swim in the crystal clear pools.

For a full day of fun, you can combine the canyoning and Rainforest Falls in one day for the ultimate rainforest river adventure!

8. Try a Copo/Churchill

A copo is a sweet Costa Rican beach treat that you must try. It’s shaved ice with kola syrup, powdered milk and condensed milk.

Some versions called the churchill are more intense with ice cream and fruit added on top.

You can find copos in nearly all beach towns and tourist destinations. Look for a man or woman pushing a cart that says “COPO” on it.

The town of Puntarenas is famous for churchills so the best place to get one is there. If you take the ferry from Puntarenas to Paquera, you can grab one while you wait.

You can’t get a more local dessert than that and it’s a yummy way to beat the heat!

9. Enjoy the Fiestas Civicas (Local Parties)

Experience culture, fun and food during the fiestas civicas, or the local parties. The fiestas have rides, games, food, music, dancing and bull riding, perfect for experiencing local culture.

These fiestas are held all year long throughout the country as they are like a moving circus. The most common months are December, July, February and March.

If you’re in the Brasilito/Tamarindo area, the fiestas are usually mid March. December has epic ones for Christmas parties in a district called Zapote in San Jose.

Other popular festivities are the Palmares Fiestas and Puntarenas Carnaval.

One of the highlights of the parties is the bull riding, a long standing Costa Rican tradition.

Costa Rica does not partake in bull fighting. Instead, they ride bulls and then once the rider is bucked off, they let the bull run around the ring and chase people for entertainment.

Once the bull is bored chasing people, they do not kill it. They put him back in the corral and bring in the next rider.

10. Cruise Through the Gulf of Nicoya to Tortuga Island

The Gulf of Nicoya is home to several beautiful islands and you can take a day trip to Isla Tortuga, which has a stunning white sand beach and pristine forest.

The day trip cruises 1.5 hours through the Gulf of Nicoya for spectacular views. Then you’ll enjoy the island for 5 hours and then cruise back at sunset.

The Tortuga Island cruise is an excellent day excursion from San Jose, Puntarenas and Jaco.

Get our Tortuga Island cruise discount here!

11. Take a Cooking Class

Delight your taste buds and learn about Costa Rican food and traditional cooking methods on a Costa Rica cooking class.

A great experience is the La Fortuna cooking class and farm to food tour. It takes places on a small locally owned family farm, and they take you around to learn about traditional Costa Rican farming practices, sustainable farming techniques and seasonal produce.

Then after picking your ingredients from the organic farm, you head to a traditional Costa Rican kitchen to cook up your meal!

Book the La Fortuna pura vida cooking class with our discount!

If you love food tours and are interested in learning about Costa Rican food culture, then you have to take a cooking class!

Cooking classes are popular in La Fortuna, Sarapiqui and Manuel Antonio.

12. Go On a Bioluminesence Kayak Tour in Paquera

Punta Cuchillos by Paquera is the best place to see bioluminesence in Costa Rica. You can take a bioluminescence kayak tour to see this incredible natural phenomenom.

The best time is the dry season, since you need clear skies, and then check the moon chart as it’s best during a new moon. I went in February and had the clearest skies and fantastic weather. The best months would be January through April.

The kayak tour is around 2 hours long and you can do it from Paquera, Montezuma, Tambor and Santa Teresa.

13. Rincon de la Vieja Combination Adventure Tour

In the Rincon de la Vieja area, there are several adventure parks that allow visitors to experience the best of the tropical dry forest and volcano in one day.

We love the Guachipelin 1 day adventure combo tour which is a full day of ziplining, horseback riding, lunch, river tubing, hot springs and mud baths. The river tubing is super fun!

Book the Guachipelin 1 day adventure tour with transportation here!

Other fun adventure parks that offer similar activities are Rio Perdido, Buena Vista and Rincon Thermals & Adventures.

Buena Vista and Rincon Thermals both have a waterslide which is a total hoot if you’re going with a big group of family and friends.

The parks are about a 1.5 hour drive from Gulf of Papagayo and Tamarindo/Conchal area and definitely worth a day trip. If you rented a car, you can purchase park passes and visit on your own.

We offer a discount for the Rincon Thermals & Adventures day passes!

If you don’t have your own transportation, the best way to visit is by booking a tour that includes roundtrip transportation, activities and a bilingual guide.

14. Stand Up Paddle Board

Stand up paddle boarding is very popular in Costa Rica. It’s a ton of fun, great exercise and a fun way to enjoy the ocean.

Many SUP tours will go to a beautiful secluded beach or through a bay for nice views.

I did a 2 hour SUP tour from Playa Agujas. We stand up paddle boarded to Playa Mantas and the beautiful white sand beach Playa Blanca.

You can also SUP on rivers and lakes! You can do a SUP tour on the Baru River by Dominical or stand up paddle on Lake Arenal.

15. Llanos de Cortes Waterfall

This is one of the best waterfalls in Guanacaste, the stunning Catarata Llanos de Cortes.

It’s one of our favorite things to do in Liberia, Costa Rica since it’s only 20 minutes from the city and the best way to cool off on a hot day.

You can swim, have a picnic and take lots of very nice pictures at this waterfall. It’s only a 5 minute walk down from the parking lot so it’s easily accessible for everyone.

Here is our guide to visiting Catarata Llanos de Cortes.

16. Del Toro Waterfall

Catarata del Toro is a stunning 270 foot (83 meters) waterfall in an extinct volcano crater in Bajos del Toro.

The Del Toro waterfall is one of the tallest waterfalls in Costa Rica and is a must see for those who love waterfalls and visiting off the beaten path destinations.

This waterfall is in the small rural town of Bajos del Toro, about 2 hours from San Jose. The town is a non-touristic destination with tons of excellent waterfall hikes.

You can stop by on your drive from San Jose to La Fortuna but we highly recommend to stay a couple nights in Bajos del Toro if you love hiking and waterfalls.

The beautiful El Silencio Lodge is in Bajos del Toro and is a fantastic place to stay to rest, unwind and enjoy a gorgeous lodge.

For more information, check out our post on Catarata del Toro.

17. See Sea Turtles at Ostional Wildlife Refuge

Costa Rica is home to some very important sea turtle nesting beaches.

Furthermore, Costa Rica has two beaches that experience mass turtle nestings, known as arribada in Spanish. One of them is open to visitors, the Ostional Wildlife Refuge.

The best time to visit Ostional Wildlife Refuge is June through December as that is when the biggest sea turtle nestings occur.

Visitors can book tours to enter the refuge and see hundreds of mother turtles laying eggs or baby turtles hatching. Reservations with guides required, no exceptions.

Learn more about where and when to see turtles in Costa Rica here.

18. Visit the Jaguar Rescue Center in Puerto Viejo

If you want to learn more about the wildlife of Costa Rica, the Jaguar Rescue Center is one of the best places to do so.

It is a rescue center in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, on the Caribbean coast, that takes in injured animals, rehabilitates and releases them back to the wild.

Visitors can take a guided tour to can learn about the Costa Rican wildlife and the importance of conservation. A popular tour in is the Jaguar Rescue Center + Punta Uva Rainforest walk.

Other excellent rescue centers and animal sanctuaries to visit are Toucan Rescue Ranch, Centro de Rescate Las Pumas, Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary and Proyecto Asis.

Some centers offer volunteer opportunities for visitors to learn more about wildlife.

19. Fishing

Costa Rica is one of the best countries for fishing with healthy waters and knowledgeable locals.

Sport fishing in Costa Rica is purely catch and release and you can catch fish like marlin, rooster fish and sail fish.

If you go in shore fishing and catch tuna snapper or mahi mahi, you can keep it. Many restaurants will cook the fish for you too which is nice.

Best places to go fishing in Costa Rica are Playa Flamingo, Tamarindo, Playas del Coco, Quepos, Paquera, Playa Herradura, Mal Pais, Puerto Jimenez, Golfito and Drake Bay.

20. Take a San Jose City Tour

Although San Jose isn’t a huge capital city, it’s the best place to get a glimpse of the typical city life. Over 1 million Costa Ricans out of of a population of 5.3 million live and work in San Jose.

You do not need a lot of days in the city. 1 day is enough to experience San Jose and on that one day, we highly recommend a San Jose city tour.

You’ll visit interesting cultural sites like the Central Market and National Theater and learn about the history of Costa Rica from a knowledgeable local.

21. Jet Ski

Jet skiing is getting popular in Costa Rica and you can jet ski on Lake Arenal or in the ocean!

The most popular places to jet ski are Papagayo Gulf, Conchal, Tortuga Island and Manuel Antonio. You can rent them by the hour to go on your own or book a tour to go with a guide.

We loved the Lake Arenal jet ski tour. Our guide took us allllll around Lake Arenal for about 1 hour and 15 minutes and we had time to rest and jump in the lake to cool off. All with Arenal Volcano as our backdrop which was super cool!

You can book a Lake Arenal jet ski tour or for even more fun, book a jet ski and ATV combo tour in La Fortuna!

22. Kayak in Tortuguero National Park

Tortuguero National Park, or the “Amazon of Costa Rica” is a place like no other in the country, famous for turtle nestings and rainforest canals, with only access by boat or plane.

Once in Tortuguero, you can take boat rides through the national park to see wildlife but our favorite way is to go by kayak Kayaking allows you to go to areas that motored boats can’t go and you won’t hear the sounds of an engine.

Furthermore, you don’t disturb the wildlife so you can get very close as you glide quietly on the water, surrounded by lush jungle with no one around.

Kayaking in Tortuguero is one of our favorite things to do in Costa Rica!

The best time to visit Tortuguero is August, September, and October the weather is better on the Caribbean coast for those months and it’s the peak time for turtle nestings.

Get our Tortuguero tour packages discount here! Includes roundtrip transportation, meals, activities, lodging and bilingual guide.

23. See a Volcano

Visiting a volcano is a MUST SEE in Costa Rica! Thanks to Costa Rica’s location and its tectonic plates, there are many inactive and active volcanoes in the country.

The easiest volcano to see is Arenal Volcano National Park, but you don’t necessarily need to visit the national park to see Arenal Volcano.

On a clear day, you can see Arenal Volcano from everywhere in La Fortuna. Some hotels also have epic views of Arenal Volcano!

Poas Volcano National Park has one of the biggest craters in the world and it’s only 1 hour from San Jose International Airport with a well paved walking path (20 min) to the observation point.

Irazu Volcano is another great option, but it is not quite as impressive as Poas or Arenal, since it’s a dry crater. Poas Volcano has a blue colored crater lake and Arenal Volcano is a near perfect cone shape.

Turrialba Volcano is also a near perfect cone shape, but the national park has very strict visiting rules since it is active.

24. Ride a Tram Through the Rainforest

There are a few trams in Costa Rica that take you through the forest up to stunning views.

For those who aren’t big hikers or can’t do a lot of strenuous movements, the tram is the best way to experience the lush tropical rainforest.

Along the way, it’s possible to see various birds, monkeys and other wildlife and it’s great to go with a guide who can point out the different plants and flowers you see.

Rainforest Adventures Park Atlantico has a wonderful tram. Veragua, a research center and adventure park on the Caribbean coast has an aerial tram too.

If you go ziplining at Treetopia in Monteverde or Sky Adventures in La Fortuna, you will have to take the aerial tram up to the beginning of the ziplining tour. You do not have to go ziplining to take the aerial tram, you can just book the aerial tram.

25. White Water Rafting Pacuare River

For a full day of fun and adventure, the Pacuare river white water rafting tour packs all that and more.

Paddle through class 3 and 4 (and 4+) rapids in the canyons of Costa Rica, bathe in the cool fresh waters and experience a trip of a lifetime.

This is my favorite tour I’ve ever done in Costa Rica and there are also multi-day white water rafting trips for the more adventurous ones.

You can even go white water as a way to get around Costa Rica as many companies pick up in San Jose and drop off in La Fortuna or Puerto Viejo!

This is definitely one of the top adventure activities in Costa Rica.

If you want to do the tour, we have a Rio Pacuare white water rafting discount!

26. Explore Mangroves by Boat or Kayak

Mangroves are an incredibly important in this natural world as they support coastal and marine ecosystems. They are home to a myriad of wildlife such as birds, crocodiles, snakes, crustaceans, fish and much more.

In Costa Rica, there are many mangroves that you can explore by boat or kayak. Our favorite is by kayak, since it’s so quiet and peaceful and you can navigate through the smaller channels that don’t fit motorized boats.

Popular mangrove tours are Damas Island Mangrove in Manuel Antonio (boat or kayak), Rio Baru (kayak/SUP), Sierpe Mangrove (boat), Preciosa Platanares Wildlife Refuge (kayak), and Las Baulas National Park (boat/kayak) in Tamarindo/Grande.

27. Take a Guided Walk at Manuel Antonio National Park

Manuel Antonio National Park is one of the best places in Costa Rica to see wildlife thanks to its lush rainforest and small park size.

A visit to Manuel Antonio National Park is a must do if you are visiting the Central or South Pacific Coast.

You can visit Manuel Antonio National Park on your own or book a guided tour which is the easiest option. Your guide will point out different wildlife around and also share information about the rainforest.

Guided Manuel Antonio National Park tours include roundtrip transportation, park tickets and a bilingual guide. Click the link to get our tour discount!

28. See Rio Celeste Waterfall and River

One of Costa Rica’s most magical places is Rio Celeste, a sky blue river in Tenorio Volcano National Park.

This bright blue river is stunning and it’s even more beautiful in person. It’s hard to believe the water is that blue but it really is!

You can hike through Tenorio Volcano National Park to see the waterfall and the union of the two rivers which creates the blue color.

We also highly recommend to stay a night or two in Bijagua, the town that is the gateway to Rio Celeste. It’s a beautiful, small rural town that is excellent for birdwatching, nature and wildlife.

Also don’t forget to visit the Rio Celeste Free Pool to swim in the sky blue river!

Rio Celeste is one of the MUST SEE places in Costa Rica!

29. Wildlife Watching Safari

One of the best things to do in Costa Rica for families is a wildlife watching safari float. The most popular place for a safari float is in La Fortuna, as there are many rivers nearby.

Floating down the river in a raft allowed us to get up close to animals without disturbing them.

There are two safari floats from La Fortuna: Peñas Blancas, the most common one and the Pure Nature safari float which is operated exclusively by one of our tour partners. Both are wonderful!

If you’re short on time, Peñas Blancas is the best choice. For a more intimate and personal experience, Pure Nature is quite special.

In Guanacaste, there is a safari float down the Corobici river which offers the same experience. In Sarapiqui, the wildilfe watching safari cruise down Sarapiqui River is similar.

You can also do motorized river boat rides like in Palo Verde National Park, Damas Island in Manuel Antonio or at Hacienda El Viejo in Guanacaste in a motorized boat.

In case you have babies/infants or seniors that cannot sit on a raft, you will have to book a boat tour.

30. Learn about Costa Rican Coffee

Costa Rica grows some of the best coffee in the world and if you’re a coffee lover, you’ll want to take a tour of a coffee plantation to find out why it’s so darn good.

Since coffee grows best in higher altitudes, the best places for coffee tours are San Jose, Alajuela, Heredia, Grecia, Heredia, Turrialba and Monteverde.

Coffee tours are a must do in Costa Rica if you love coffee or food.

It’s an incredibly educational and enlightening experience as you learn how a cherry gets from the plant into your cup. Plus you get to sample delicious coffee at the end!

One of our favorite coffee tours is Doka Coffee Estate but there are many others.

Golden Bean in Turrialba, Cafe Britt in Heredia, Coopedota in San Gerardo de Dota, Espiritu Santo in Naranjo, Diria Coffee Tour in Hojancha and El Trapiche in Monteverde.

You can even visit Hacienda Alsacia, Starbucks’s coffee plantation.

31. Take a Chocolate Tour

In addition to coffee tours, a chocolate tour is an excellent cultural experience. For the past several years, Costa Rica has seen a resurgence in their chocolate production.

Cacao grows very well in the tropical climate and you can take tours to see how they grow and process cacao to make chocolate.

The best places to take a chocolate tour is Puerto Viejo and La Fortuna.

We did a chocolate tour with the BriBri indigenous community outside Puerto Viejo which was fascinating since cacao plays an important part in the BriBri culture. The Bribri chocolate tour is a MUST DO in Puerto Viejo!

We also did Rainforest Chocolate Tour and North Fields Coffee and Chocolate tour in La Fortuna and Costa Rica Best Chocolate in Sarapiqui which were all really fun and informative.

32. See the Crocodiles at the Crocodile Bridge

The Crocodile Bridge is famous for one reason which you can guess: crocodiles.

As you walk across the bridge and look down, you can see up to 10 or 15 giant reptiles laying around just a little below you.

The bridge is in the town of Tarcoles, a little bit before Jaco and it’s worth stopping to see the giant crocodiles.

33. Walk to the Whale’s Tail at Marino Ballena National Park

Inside Marino Ballena National Park is a section where two beaches come together. In low tide, it looks like a whale’s tail!

And this part of the national park is appropriately named “Whale’s Tail” because Uvita is one of the best places in Costa Rica to see humpback whales!

Make sure you visit during low tide so you can walk to the whale’s tail.

Another nice thing about this national park is that it’s not very popular but it is very big. You will feel like you have the entire beach to yourself and the sunsets there are spectacular.

34. Try Gallo Pinto and Salsa Lizano at a Local Restaurant

Food is for us, the ultimate way to know a country’s culture.

So when you are in Costa Rica, make sure to go to a soda, which is what the locals call a traditional restaurant. They’re usually a small, open air family run restaurant serving only Costa Rican food.

As for what food to eat, the most traditional breakfast is gallo pinto, which is rice and beans. This is usually paired with eggs, plantains, a tortilla and cheese.

You will also see a brown sauce on the table called “Salsa Lizano.” It’s Costa Rica’s classic sauce and I recommend to put some on your pinto. Delicious!

Then if you go for lunch or dinner, you can order a casado which is a plate of rice, beans, salad, meat and usually plantains or a picadillo or some sort.

35. Go to a Local Bar and Get an Imperial and Chifrijo

A fun local experience is visiting a local Tico bar in a lcoal town.

There, you can have the ultimate Costa Rican bar experience, surrounded by local workers enjoying a beer after a hard day’s work and singing old Spanish ballads on karaoke night.

To pair with the Imperial or Pilsen (Costa Rican beer), we recommend a chifrijo which is a mix of rice, beans, pico de gallo and chicharrones (fried pork) with chips.

This is a classic Costa Rican bar food!

You can find it on the menu at most Costa Rican bars and sodas but it may be under another name. If you don’t see it, just ask.

A chifrijo and Imperial beer is just about as Costa Rican as you can get at a bar.

36. Eat Rice and Beans

If you go to the Caribbean side of Costa Rica, particularly Puerto Viejo, you’ll be surprised to see that the culture, food and people are completely different thanks to the Afro-American influence on the Caribbean coast.

Instead of gallo pinto, they eat rice and beans which has coconut milk in it.

Their culture is highly influenced by the nearby Caribbean islands so you’ll find plenty of jerk chicken and other yummy dishes.

37. Beach Hopping

All beaches in Cosat Rica are public by law so it’s one of the best cheap activities to do in Costa Rica.

The coasts of Costa Rica are full of gorgeous beaches and you can find beaches of all characteristics: white sand, dark sand, turquoise waters, clear waters, and much more.

Make sure you take a day to explore up and down the coast to see the stunning beaches in Costa Rica whether you go by car or boat.

The best part is that no beach is ever so full that you can’t find a spot to lay down and if you explore a bit, you may even have a beach all to yourself.

Find out what the best beaches in Costa Rica are!

38. Enjoy the Hot Springs in Arenal

La Fortuna has some of the best hot springs in the country with the Tabacon river supplying natural hot water to the springs.

There are many hot springs resorts and hotels that have their own pools and springs.

Tabacon, Baldi, Ecotermales, Paradise, Hot Springs Pura Vida and the Springs are some of the most popular hot springs in Arenal.

So if you’re visiting La Fortuna, going to the hot springs is a must! You can read more about the best hot springs in Arenal in this post.

39. Go Whale Watching

Costa Rica has the longest humpback whale watching season in the world so your chances are pretty good to see these magnificent creatures.

If you love whales, this is a must do activity in Costa Rica.

The best places for whale watching is down in Uvita, Drake Bay, Golfo Dulce and Gulf of Papagayo.

The best months are January, February, August and September but in you have a chance to see them from July – November and January – March.

We have seen humpback and pilot whales in the Gulf of Papagayo, Las Catalinas and Uvita. It was amazing!

Uvita is said to be the best place to see humpback whales in Costa Rica. They even have a national park, Marino Ballena National Park, that was created specifically to protect the marine life!

40. Try a Cold Coconut Water (Pipa Fria)

You’ll see signs for cold coconut (pipa fria) at every beach town and you definitely want one. It’s cold coconut water and is oh so delicious on a hot day!

You can even upgrade your coconut and get a coco loco with rum.

41. Go Bird Watching

With over 800 species of birds living in Costa Rica, any bird lover will be in paradise.

Snap photos of hummingbirds, toucans, macaws, parrots and other gorgeous tropical birds all throughout the country.

Wildlife and bird lovers have to put a bird watching tour on their “things to do in Costa Rica’ list.

And if you’re a birder who wants to see the Resplendant Quetzal, February – April are best times in Monteverde, particularly the Curi Cancha Reserve.

For a more “off the beaten path” birding destination, check out San Gerardo de Dota, San Ramon or San Vito.

For the hardcore birders, stay at one of the eco lodges built specifically for birding such as Trogon Lodge, Arenal Observatory Lodge or Selva Verde Lodge.

We especially love Maquenque Eco Lodge for birding in an off the beaten path destination. Use our “mytanfeet” promo code on their website to save 5%!

42. Hang Out in the Town Square

To experience a bit of local life, head to the town square and park. Here is where you’ll see locals hanging out and relaxing in the evenings.

Usually the local park is right in front of the main church in the town square.

Other places we like to people watch is at Plaza de la Democracia in San Jose, the park in Playas del Coco, topiary gardens in Zarcero, the park in front of the red church in Grecia and in front of Amy’s Restaurant in Monteverde.

43. Go on a Night Walk

The jungle changes drastically when the sun goes down and the best way to experience it is to go for a guided night walk.

Guides will point out creatures that are only seen in the dark such as insects, spiders, frogs, snakes and more.

The best night walks take place in tropical rainforests, not the dry tropical forest like the Guanacaste coast and Nicoya Peninsula.

We’ve done several night walks in Costa Rica. In La Fortuna, we did an exclusive night walk which was super cool and we saw lots of frogs and snakes.

In Osa Peninsula we did a night walk at Leona station with La Leona Eco-Lodge, in Braulio Carrillo we did a night walk with Rainforest Adventures and in Monteverde, we have done three: Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, El Enigma de la Semilla and Children’s Eternal Rainforest.

Manuel Antonio is another fantastic place for a night walk to see nocturnal tropical wildlife.

44. Watch a Futbol Game at the National Stadium in La Sabana

Futbol is a huge passion of all Costa Ricans and there are games held in the stadium year round.

Cheer for the local teams and experience one of the country’s favorite past times.

La Sabana in San Jose is their biggest stadium but they also have stadiums in Heredia, Puntarenas, Alajuela, Limon and Cartago.

We watched the Panama vs Costa Rica game in La Sabana (qualifiers for World Cup) and it was really fun to see all the Ticos cheering and going crazy!

45. Try Costa Rican Local and Craft Beer

Costa Rica has a few locals beers to try, Pilsen and Imperial are the most popular. But Costa Rican craft beer has gotten super popular and there are a bunch of different ones.

Micro-breweries are popping up all throughout the country which is great for beer lovers.

46. Nauayca Waterfalls

I’ve already mentioned a few waterfalls in this post but I can’t forget the majestic Nauyaca waterfalls!

These two stunning waterfalls lie deep in the rainforest up in the mountains of Dominical and it’s an incredible place to visit!

You can hike (4 kilometers or 2.5 miles) one way, take the local horseback riding tour or ride their 4×4 truck.

Definitely a must if you’re in Manuel Antonio, Dominical, Uvita or Ojochal.

47. Visit Corcovado National Park

As one of the most biologically diverse places on earth, Corcovado National Park is an absolute must for wildlife lovers.

Corcovado National Park is in the Osa Peninsula, which holds around 6% of the world’s biodiversity. You’ll feel like it’s a different world with the sheer amount of wildlife around.

You can do a one day trip to the ranger stations such as La Leona, San Pedrillo and Sirena but the ultimate way to experience the national park is an overnight stay at Sirena Station.

We boated from Puerto Jimenez to Sirena Station and stayed one night. In that one night stay, we saw 5 tapirs, a bunch of spider monkeys, toucans, parrots, birds of prey, and much more.

For the hiking lover, you can do the 12 kilometer 4.5 mile) hike from Carate to Sirena Station and stay overnight at the station for the ultimate Corcovado National Park experience.

48. Walk the Hanging Bridges in the Monteverde Cloud Forests

Walking the hanging bridges in Monteverde gives you a great view of the cloud forest. You can see lush green forest all around you and even some wildlife if you have a good eye. It’s an unforgettable experience and let’s be real.

The bridges are one of the most instagrammable places in Costa Rica! All these bridges are very stable and is one of the best ways to take in the forests.

Many of the adventure parks have their own hanging bridges like Selvatura and Treetopia in Monteverde.

There are hanging bridges parks in other places in Costa Rica such as Mistico Hanging Bridges in La Fortuna, Rainmaker by Parrita, San Luis adventure park in San Ramon, Villa Lapas near Carara and Heliconias Lodge in Bijagua.

Sky Adventures in La Fortuna also has their own hanging bridges trail too.

49. Take Lots of Pictures of the Wildlife

When you see wildlife, feel free to take LOTS of photos! We highly recommend to bring at least a 400 mm lens.

For birding photography, you’ll need a 600 mm lens. It’s a big lens to carry but you’ll be happy you have the extra length. We use a 300 prime with a 2x extender and we also have a Sony 200-600 mm lens.

If you are not a photographer, bring a pair of binoculars. You don’t need to be a birder or wildlife enthusiast to have a pair of binoculars, trust me.

You’ll wish you brought your own pair when you realize that sloths, monkeys and birds prefer to stay up in the treetops!

Also please remember – do NOT touch, manipulate, or feed wildlife. Please do not feed the monkeys as funny as it sounds. No hugging sloths. No poking the crocodiles!

50. Enjoy the Pura Vida Life!

Pura vida is the slogan of Costa Rica and directly translated to English it means pure life. Costa Ricans use this as a way to say anything good.

Life’s good, pura vida. That guy’s my friend, he’s very pura vida.

They also say it as hi, goodbye, thank you and you’re welcome. So above all, the most important thing to do in Costa Rica is to enjoy the pura vida life.

Costa Rica is a country full of love and peace and their people know how to live and enjoy.

They’ll teach you how to be grateful for what you have and you’ll take all those things with you when you go back to your home country.

Hopefully your trip here will give you a new perspective on life and to appreciate what is given to you.

Need some Costa Rica travel planning tips? Check these articles out!

Best destinations in Costa Rica for 1st timers

10 mistakes to avoid traveling in Costa Rica

15 things to know before you visit Costa Rica

2 week Costa Rica itinerary for first timers

Costa Rica Vacation Checklist

• First time to Costa Rica? Read our First Time in Costa Rica guide.
• Read our How to Get Around Costa Rica guide to find the best transportation method for you.
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• Check our Costa Rica destinations map and Costa Rica restaurant map.
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