Costa Rica is easily one of the best destinations for a tour to Central America. It’s a country full of adventure, delicious food, biodiverse wildlife that’s worth exploring, and beautiful beaches, rainforests, river valleys, and more. There’s so much to explore in Costa Rica, one of the best ways to do that is to book one of the best tours to Costa Rica.
Though traveling independently you might be able to save some money, guided tours have many great advantages. For one, you’ll be able to see all the best sights and you’ll have enough time to enjoy them. Not to mention transportation is provided for you, and in some destinations, this is a big benefit. You also save a lot of time because it takes research to plan everything yourself; with a tour, everything’s set and you only have to show up and enjoy the wonders of Costa Rica.
Another great thing about tours is they allow you to meet similar people and spark a friendship. You also won’t have to deal with language or cultural barriers because an English speaker will be with you and help you have a great experience. The tour itineraries are also designed by professionals who know how to maximize your time also providing security so you can be safe. If you’re convinced and you’re looking for the best tours to Costa Rica, today we will narrow the options down so you can choose the right one for you!
10 Best Tours in Costa Rica That Offer Great Value
Explore Costa Rica By G Adventures
The first option on the list is from G Adventures and it’s a 14-day tour that will allow you to have a memorable journey and discover Costa Rica’s diverse and gorgeous landscapes. This is one of the best tours to Costa Rica because you won’t only explore great places, you’ll also learn a lot. They include a lecture from a researcher at the Monteverde Institute, you’ll visit a local family home where you’ll learn to make tortillas, you’ll enjoy the amazing volcano views and soak in hot springs, and you’ll even visit the Sea Turtle Conservancy and learn all about these lovely animals.
The Explore Costa Rica tour includes quality accommodations and they include meals, different activities, and private transport as well. It’s suitable for most fitness levels and is not too challenging since you will engage in light walking and hiking, which is something most people can handle. This tour is done in small groups and it provides comfort all the way.
Costa Rica Adventure Plus By G Adventures
Next, we have another G Adventures tour and it’s one of the best Costa Rica tour packages you can find. This tour is a lot more focused on action and adventure, so you’ll be able to hike through the cloud forest, enjoy the incredible beaches, spot wildlife, visit a coffee plantation, and savor the local cuisine, among many other things! This is a 16-day tour that’s packed with activities, it offers comfortable accommodation with a bit of character and they combine private and public transport to get to the different locations.
You can expect some light hiking, walking, rafting, kayaking, and biking in this tour, so it will require a certain fitness level and a love for physical activity. The tour is organized in small groups and you will get a bit of everything. You’ll visit some of the highlights, be immersed in the culture, and you will have the opportunity to live unbelievable and memorable moments at a decent price.
Classic Costa Rica By Intrepid Travel
Here’s another one of the best tours in Costa Rica and it’s a 15-day adventure that begins and ends in the city of San Jose. The Classic Costa Rica tour by Intrepid Travel is focused on exploring, so the journey will take you through the jungles, beaches, and farmlands so you can have an exciting adventure. You also get to experience the culture by staying with a local family, working on a sustainable farm, soaking in the local springs that are fed by La Fortuna, an active volcano, spotting a variety of wildlife, and so much more.
This tour is done in small groups and it can also be individual. Most of the activities are outdoor activities, so you will be able to immerse yourself, but be prepared for rustic conditions and insects. It also requires a moderate level of fitness and you’ll need sturdy shoes. You’ll visit Tortuguero National Park, La Fortuna volcano, Rio Celeste, Lake Arenal, and so much more! It’s the perfect tour for people who love outdoor adventures and it’s one of the best excursions in Costa Rica.
Cost Rica Experience By Intrepid Travel
This is another great tour from Intrepid Travel and they offer another great adventure where you’ll be able to discover a bunch of natural diversity, enjoy your time at lovely beaches, and get familiar with the culture. You’ll visit the cloud forests of Monteverde, visit Quepos, a rustic beach town, explore La Fortuna volcano, you’ll also get to know locals and help on their rural farm stay, and much more in this 9-day tour.
You’ll enjoy wandering through the Plaza de la Cultura before you get started with all the outdoor adventures. This tour requires a moderate fitness level because most of it takes place in nature and you should also be prepared for rustic conditions and insects as well. The tour is done in small groups but it can also be individual if you’d like to go on this adventure on your own. It’s one of the best tours in Costa Rica for adventure and nature lovers, and it’s available at an affordable price.
Trek Hidden Costa Rica By G Adventures
Now we have another great tour from G Adventures. This time, it’s a 12-day tour that will take you to the heart of the jungle where you’ll live with three families and discover the diverse land and wildlife. You’ll also learn about medicinal plants that are native to the area and how to make sugarcane candy! This tour is packed with outdoor activities, such as rafting in the Savegre River, swimming in three natural pools, exploring amazing trails and hiking to a local waterfall, waterfall rappelling, surf lessons in breathtaking beaches, exploring caves, horseback riding, and so much more.
You’ll stay in simple and clean hostels and hotels, and they offer a combination of private and public transport to get to the locations. You’ll also be happy to know there are many optional activities available throughout the tour and it’s done in small groups with an average of 10 people. The Trek Hidden Costa Rica tour is one of the best excursions in Costa Rica and it’s very physically demanding, so you need a good fitness level.
Costa Rica Eco Adventure By Trafalgar
Here you have another one of the best Costa Rica tour packages available out there. It’s an 8-day adventure that can be done in small to large groups, but you can also do it privately if you wish. The Costa Rica Eco Adventure by Trafalgar is a great tour for nature lovers as you will be able to enjoy thermal pools, explore the rainforests, and get in touch with locals. The tour includes everything; an expert guide that will take you through the locations, transport, delicious meals, hotel accommodations, and more.
You’ll visit places such as Braulio Carrillo National Park, Tortuguero National Park, visit a palm plantation where you can connect with locals and enjoy a special BBQ, you’ll enjoy hikes and spot a variety of wildlife, including the endangered great green macaw, and you’ll spend a couple of days exploring the Monteverde Cloud Forest, which is just incredible. There’s also a variety of optional activities you can engage in, such as kayaking on Lake Arenal, hiking to the Arenal volcano, horseback riding, white water rafting, and much more. Overall, this is one of the best tours in Costa Rica for nature lovers and it requires a moderate level of fitness.
Essential Costa Rica by Destination Services
The Essential Costa Rica tour is a great way to discover all the beauty Costa Rica has to offer. This 10-day adventure begins and ends in San Jose and you’ll visit Tortuguero National Park, Arenal, the Arenal Volcano National Park, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio National park, and you’ll be able to enjoy many different outdoor activities. The tour includes everything; hotel accommodations, bilingual and licensed local guides, meals, transport, and additional services that will allow you to expand your adventure if you see fit.
This tour will allow you to enjoy amazing mountain scenery and discover quaint villages, go through the jungle by boat, cruise the rivers and canals along the way, explore beaches, connect with locals, spot exciting wildlife, discover tropical forests, and so much more. The Essential Costa Rica tour is perfect for people who love outdoor adventures and who want to discover all the essential spots. It requires moderate fitness levels because it’s an active tour, so make sure to keep that in mind!
Costa Rica Family Experience By G Adventures
We come back to G Adventures because they have some of the best Costa Rica tours for families. This 7-day tour starts and ends in San Jose and it provides an engaging lesson plan where children will learn a lot more about biology and ecology than they would from a textbook. After all, there’s no better way of learning than through experience. You will explore the flora and fauna of the cloud forest and the Manuel Antonio National Park as a family, and you’ll have a great time.
The tour is packed with adventures such as swimming, rappelling, rafting, surfing, and horseback riding so no one will be bored. The activities are age-appropriate and the tour provides quality accommodations, meals, private transport, and even optional activities. It requires a light fitness level, so it’s not too challenging even though you’ll engage in walking and hiking. The Costa Rica Family Experience is done in small groups and children should be 6 years old or older. Overall, it’s one of the best family tours to Costa Rica and you’ll have a memorable time.
Costa Rica Family Journey From Rainforest To Coast By G Adventures
If 7 days are not enough for you, G Adventures has another great family tour you can enjoy. The Costa Rica Family Journey From Rainforest to Coast is a 9-day adventure where you’ll visit the rainforest and spot amazing creatures, enjoy beautiful beaches and visit many different spots where you’ll have a great time. The tour starts and ends in San Jose and it offers quality accommodations, meals, private transport, and much more.
This is one of the best Costa Rica tours for families because it offers a unique opportunity for families who love adventures and the great outdoors. The tour is done in small groups and children should be 7 years old or older. It’s a physical tour, but it requires a light fitness level, so it won’t be too challenging. You’ll enjoy activities such as hiking, walking, horseback riding, surfing, and so much more. The Costa Rica Family Journey From Rainforest to Coast is definitely one of the best options to consider!
Costa Rica Raft, Surf & Kayak By Intrepid Travel
Last but not least, we have another one of the best tours in Costa Rica by Intrepid Travel. The Costa Rica Raft, Surf & Kayak tour is an 8-day adventure where you’ll be able to visit the Pacuare Rivers and enjoy some whitewater rafting, the Gandoca Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge where you’ll spend time with monkeys, macaws, toucans, reptiles, and more, and Tortuguero National Park, Manzanillo beach for some surfing, among other locations.
The tour starts and ends in San Jose and they offer private transportation, meals, and quality accommodations as well. It’s perfect for people who love a good adventure and it’s an active tour, as you can guess from the name, so you need a moderate level of fitness to enjoy all the activities it has to offer. Overall, it’s a great Costa Rica tour that will help you make incredible memories!
Now that you know what the best tours in Costa Rica are, you won’t have an issue choosing the right one for you. Tours offer many great advantages; for one, they’re less time-consuming than independent travel because they’re all set. You don’t have to do any research or planning or bookings; everything’s done for you.
Another great benefit is that you can learn a lot more about the locations you visit. Tours are not just about exploring and having adventures, they also teach you a lot about the culture, the fauna and flora, the locals, and more.
Costa Rica tours offer a ton of value as well. They may be a bit more expensive than independent traveling, but they offer quality accommodations, transportation, meals and there’s a guide with you every step of the way who speaks your language, so they can teach you a lot and also help you communicate with locals. Choose any of the best Costa Rica tours we’ve presented above and enjoy a great adventure!
