The 15 Best National Park Tours in Costa Rica

1.All Inclusive National Park Manuel Antonio with Binoculars

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 134 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $80Our pick

Walk Manuel Antonio National Park with guide Ariel, using binoculars to spot three monkey species, two kinds of sloth, birds, and other wildlife. This small-group tour lasts about 2.5 hours, includes Quepos transfers, and ends at the park beach, where you can swim, relax, or take the shuttle back.

“Ariell was incredible!!! He was so knowledgeable and passionate about the rainforest. We were able to see so many animals that we would have never seen if we had gone on our own! Best excursion we did while in Costa Rica!”

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2.Manuel Antonio National Park from San José

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 131 reviews · 12 to 13 hours (approx.) · from $155

Travel from San José to Manuel Antonio in an air-conditioned vehicle, stopping for breakfast in Orotina before walking through the rainforest to the beach. The full package includes park entry, breakfast, lunch, soft drink, water, hotel pickup, and a guide. Expect a 12 to 13-hour day with roughly three hours on the road each way.

“every things incredible especially the tour guide she very knowledgeable and very hospitable and responsible,”

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3.Customized Nature Walk in Manuel Antonio National Park

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 125 reviews · 1 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $25

Walk Manuel Antonio National Park with a certified English-speaking guide, using a telescope and quality wildlife-viewing gear to find sloths, monkeys, birds, and reptiles. Javier is praised for his sharp eye, patient explanations, and family-friendly pace. Park admission costs extra, and groups are limited to 12 people.

“An incredible tour with Javier! Not only was he very knowledgeable, he also went to great lengths to ensure our daughters are engaged, interested, and having fun! We wouldn't have been able to see even a quarter of the animals we saw without Javier and his expertise. Can't recommend this tour strongly enough!”

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4.Irazú Volcano National Park (Half Day)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 104 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $99

Leave San José early for Irazú Volcano, where you’ll walk around the crater at 3,432 meters and look across Costa Rica’s Central Valley. Then visit Cartago’s Basilica of the Angels. Air-conditioned transport, WiFi, snacks, and hotel pickup are included. Guides such as Hayro, Raquel, and Donald are praised for clear English and local insight.

“A get experience to see the volcano. Driving there can be difficult; so a guided tour makes it easier, and our tour guide was very informative and entertaining. IF POSSIBLE check the weather to of there on a good day.”

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5.Manuel Antonio National Park Hiking Tour from Jacó

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 93 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $135

Set out from Jacó at 6:30 a.m. for Manuel Antonio National Park with a bilingual nature guide such as Jeremy, Ronald, or Sylvia. Walk easy rainforest trails, use a guide’s spotting scope to find sloths, monkeys, toucans, and reptiles, then swim at Manuel Antonio Beach before lunch and the ride home.

“We had the best day with Jeremy. He was so knowledgeable and found animals we never would’ve seen otherwise. Highly recommend the tour if you’re an animal and nature lover”

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6.Small-Group Tortuguero National Park Night Walk in Costa Rica

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 91 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $28

Meet at 6:30 pm near Tortuguero’s main wharf for a two-hour night walk with a naturalist guide. You may spot sloths, frogs, toucans, iguanas, and snakes as your guide scans the forest with a flashlight. Warren and Diego have earned praise for sharp wildlife spotting. Boots, shoes, raincoats, and transport are not included.

“This was a good tour. Saw sleeping sloths A pair of snakes breeding and other things. Walked the beach hoping for a leatherback as one was seen the previous week. Just starting to return to the nesting area.”

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7.Tortuguero National Park and Canals Day Trip from San Jose

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 81 reviews · 12 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $230

Leave San Jose at 5:30 a.m. for Tortuguero National Park, passing coffee farms and Braulio Carrillo cloud forest. A guide such as Al, Jerry, Edgar, or Arturo leads the canal boat ride, wildlife search, village visit, and optional stair climb. Breakfast, Caribbean lunch, park fees, and air-conditioned transport are included.

“Outstanding. Still remember the river ride and the amazing birds, animals we saw. This was very much like a ride through the amazon in Brazil. Highly recommended.”

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8.Kayak to the Heart of the National Park

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 79 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $65

Paddle from Pangas Beach Club into Las Baulas National Marine Park, then leave your kayak for a guided forest walk and climb to an indigenous archaeological site. Guides Luis and Tom point out birds, monkeys, crocodiles, trees, and local history. Bring extra water, mosquito spray, and sturdy walking shoes.

“The experience was okay. My girlfriend and I picked it based on other positive reviews on Viator. The guide didn't really say anything to us for the first hour of kayaking (or on the return trip, and in fact, it felt like a race to keep up with him. Also, my girlfriend and I brought some water, but not too much, since the ad and the confirmation email said the guide would bring some. Although he did have a 1.5 liter bottle, we asked for some of it 2 hours in (after 1.5 hrs of kayaking in 100 degrees and 30 minutes hiking in the jungle), and he then poured…”

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9.Poas Volcano National Park Half Day tour from San Jose

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 69 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $135

Start early from San Jose for Poas Volcano National Park, where a guide such as Arturo, Edgar, or Ricardo explains the crater, geology, plants, and local history. The tour includes transport, breakfast, bottled water, park admission, and often a coffee plantation stop. Expect a small group of up to 15 people and changeable mountain weather.

“Got a private tour with my brother on accident so that was fun. The tour guide was really knowledgeable and a funny guy.”

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10.3-hour canoe tour through Tortuguero National Park

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 68 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $24Best value

Paddle through Tortuguero National Park for about three hours with guides such as Pablo or Abel. The small-group canoe trip looks for birds, crocodiles, caimans, monkeys, snakes, and plants along the canals. Canoe, paddles, life vest, and guide materials are included, but park entry costs $17 extra.

“Abel was a great guide. Very knowledgable, excited to show us the amazing wildlife. We saw an American crocodile, caiman, many birds, a vine snake, white faced capuchin monkeys and much more. Fantastic experience.”

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11.Sirena Station, Corcovado National Park Day Trip from Quepos.

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 63 reviews · 14 hours (approx.) · from $395

Leave Quepos at 5:00 am for Sierpe, breakfast, and a boat ride through mangroves and the Pacific to Sirena Station. Two bilingual naturalist guides lead rainforest and beach walks, with Swarovski spotting scopes, lunch, park entry, transport, and guide-captured photos and videos included. Expect heat, mud, long transfers, and serious wildlife watching.

“Picked up from our hotel at 4:45 and taken to sierpe where we had a big breakfast. We then caught the boat through the mangroves and across the ocean to get to San Pedrillo Station. We were in a group of 18 so we were split into two groups with two separate guides. Guide was very knowledgable and the tour was great! We saw monkeys, sloths, coatis, macaws, crocodiles, snakes, spiders and even a tapir! The guide takes videos on his phone and then airdrops them after so you get more time on the hike! We had lunch at the station before heading back on the boat and getting picked…”

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12.Full-Day Adventure to Manuel Antonio National Park from San Jose

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 59 reviews · from $163

Leave San Jose early for Manuel Antonio National Park, with breakfast, lunch, transport, and admission included. A local guide leads a rainforest walk where you might spot monkeys, sloths, iguanas, and birds, followed by time at Playa Manuel Antonio. Guides such as Jose, Jorge, Erick, and Eduardo have received especially warm praise, but traffic can make this a very long day.

“Several hours on the way on the Bus 6:00AM to 1:30 PM We had only one hour on the beach. From 2:00 -3:00. We were Kicked off the beach at the 3:00 by Park staff. Our Tour guide did not share. This happens every day. Don’t waste your time on this.”

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13.Canoe experience exploring Tortuguero National Park

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 54 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $30

Join Andrew for about two and a half hours on Tortuguero’s waterways, using a canoe or small boat, oars and a life vest. Look for caiman, sloths and birds while learning about the park’s nature, culture and history. The group is limited to six people. Park entry, costing about $15 to $17, is extra.

“Andrews told us a lot about the animals we saw during the tour. We saw caiman, sloth, several birds (including a very rare herron). It was raining a little bit, but Andrews still found the animals.”

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14.Small Group Tortuguero National Park Canoe Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 53 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $35

Meet at 5:30am for coffee, tea, biscuits, and fruit before paddling Tortuguero National Park by canoe. Guide Kevin explains the rainforest and its wildlife as you move quietly through the canals. The tour lasts about two hours, carries no more than 10 people, and includes binoculars and a dry-bag. The $16.95 park fee is extra.

“Guiden Kevin, kunnig och otroligt mycket positiv energi. Vi hade hoppats på att få se fler och större kajmaner och apor. Mycket fokus på fåglar.”

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15.PRIVATE Guided Walk to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 49 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $68

Spend about three hours walking Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve with a private certified naturalist guide. Guides such as Jason, Loandry, José, Rodiber, and Marvin help you spot quetzals, tarantulas, vipers, monkeys, hummingbirds, and forest birds, often using a telescope to capture clear phone photos. Transportation and the reserve entrance fee are separate.

“We saw the Quetzal ! Thanks to our knowledgeable guide, Rodiger! We had a great day ! The cloud forest was incredible !”

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