12 Hikes & Treks in Costa Rica Worth Booking

1.Hike 10 waterfalls in Jaco lunch included

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 136 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $55Our pick

This three-hour hike at Finca Los Solís takes you through streams, steep jungle paths, rope-assisted rock climbs, and ten waterfalls. Guides such as Jorge, Dustin, Marwin, and Coco are known for patient help and local plant knowledge. Lunch, fruit, water, photos, a dry bag, parking, showers, and WiFi are included.

“Extremely fun and pleasant tour guides. They ensured our safety while insisting that we had fun. I would recommend this tour to anyone who wants to enjoy themselves!”

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2.Hiking Tour of La Leona Waterfall with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 106 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $79

From Tamarindo, you’ll ride to Rincon de la Vieja for a private guided hike along Rio Blanco. Expect rocks, roots, pools, caves, rope sections, and a short swim to La Leona Waterfall. Life jackets, lunch, drinks, admission, and pickup are included. Guides such as Jason, Dylan, Steven, and Noel are often praised for their patience and local insight.

“Hike and waterfall was very good. Guides were very helpful, knowledgeable and fun. The meal provided was decent. Our only complaint was the ride from the tour office to the start of hike. They had to shuttle us in a small vehicle, which took awhile.”

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3.Manuel Antonio National Park Hiking Tour from Jacó

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

Leave Jacó at 6:30 am for Manuel Antonio National Park with a bilingual guide such as Jeremy, Ronald, or Sylvia. Walk mostly flat rainforest trails, use a guide’s scope to spot sloths, monkeys, birds, and reptiles, then swim at Manuel Antonio Beach before lunch and the ride home.

“This was our last excursion in Costa Rica before heading home on Sunday after two weeks in country. As my wife told our guide Jeremy, it was the best day ever. Our driver and Jeremy picked us up on time and made our trip from Jaco to the park an educational one. We learned all about the history of the area as well as a couple of stops for a great breakfast (not mentioned in the description) and to see a few animals along the road. Guillermo our driver spotted a red macaw and a sloth after breakfast and before the park. At the park we saw all the monkeys,…”

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4.Miravalles Volcano: Hike Secondary Crater & Hot Springs Jungle

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 91 reviews · 7 to 9 hours (approx.) · from $176

Start from Liberia at 7:00 a.m. for Llanos de Cortes Waterfall, then continue to Miravalles for jungle trails, hanging bridges, hidden waterfalls, volcanic mud pools, a sauna, and hot springs. Guides such as Andy add helpful commentary and take photos. Expect a full, active day with time to change and bathe.

“Absolutely amazing experience!! Guide was phenomenal... kept everyone engaged and provided some knowledge as well!”

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5.La Leona Waterfall Hike and River Tubing

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 90 reviews · 4 to 5 hours (approx.) · from $90

Spend 4 to 5 hours near Curubandé hiking through forest and river channels to La Leona Waterfall, then tubing for about 90 minutes. Expect ladders, rock crossings, a rope-assisted cave entry, swimming, and rapids. Guides such as Ronnie, Brandy, Victor, and Diego focus on safety and helping less confident swimmers.

“Ponchino was an amazing tubing and hiking guide! We saw toucans, howler monkeys, and a bat cave during our experience. We would highly recommend this company as all of the guides are very professional and safety is a priority! Thanks Ponchino :)”

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6.Full Day Tour with Safari Float, Waterfall and Volcano Hike

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 89 reviews · 9 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $210

Start near La Fortuna with a calm safari float on the Peñas Blancas River, where guides such as Tony, Pepe, or Isaac may point out sloths, monkeys, iguanas, and toucans. Swim at La Fortuna Waterfall, eat a home-cooked Costa Rican lunch at a family ranch, then walk old lava trails near Arenal Volcano. Hotel transport, park fees, snacks, and lunch are included.

“Learned how to howl at the monkeys ! Had a nature loving guide who showed us the habitat of many local animals.”

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7.Pure Trek Canyoning & White Water Rafting in La Fortuna

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 83 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $204

Spend about eight hours combining Pure Trek’s waterfall rappelling, rock climbing, and zipline in a rainforest canyon with class 2 to 3 rafting on the Balsa River. Hotel pickup, lunch, drinks, and guides are included. Expect a physically demanding day, a 45-minute transfer, and possible bus changes between the canyoning and rafting operators.

“There was a little miscommunication on the transportation to the excursion, but the guides were very accommodating and made sure we were taken care of. The rappelling was amazing and maybe the best part of our trip to Fortuna.”

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8.La Leona waterfall adventure hike half day

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 79 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $50Best value

You’ll ride a 4WD truck to the trailhead, then hike about 1.3 miles each way through shaded forest, streams, rocks, ropes, and narrow passages to La Leona Waterfall. Guides such as Pablo, José, Ramses, and Carlos adjust the route to your fitness and comfort. Swim, take photos, and enjoy fresh fruit afterward.

“The waterfall was stunning, but our tour operator and guide made the experience truly special. They were incredibly knowledgeable, super friendly, and patient with our whole family. The hike was exciting, water refreshing, and the tour ended with the best pineapple I've ever had in my life (no joke). Highly recommend!!”

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9.Arenal Volcano Hike

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 76 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $73

Walk Arenal’s old lava fields near La Fortuna with a guide such as Byron, Aaron, Diego, or Ricardo. Expect a roughly three-hour outing with transport, park entry, fruit, and drinks included. The route can be adjusted to suit your group, with steep steps, loose lava rock, forest paths, and views toward Arenal Volcano and Lake Arenal.

“The tour guide was brilliant. Really friendly and happy to help. Took us up to see the lava flows and then we had a lovely fresh fruit lunch afterwards. We haven’t seen a sloth by this point so they took a detour on the way back to find one for us.”

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10.Pure Trek Canyoning & Sky Trek Zip Line Combo

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 73 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $259

Spend about eight hours pairing Sky Trek zip lines with Pure Trek canyoning near La Fortuna. Soar above the rainforest, then rappel four waterfalls, tackle the Monkey Drop, and climb a canyon wall. Guides provide equipment and safety support, while lunch, selected hotel transfers, lockers, and canyoning photos are included or available.

“Rappelling tips. Chacos or Keens work best. They have free lockers & wifi. Don't wear eyeglasses (unless you can't see without glasses). Wear the longest shorts you have. I would have preferred to wear capris or long pants that dry quickly. We all wore shorts, which worked okay, but pants would have been better. There's more uphill walking than I expected. It's manageable but a little exhausting. It's shady enough you don't have to obsess about sunscreen. I wouldn't bring an iphone/camera on the rappelling. They take lots of pics for a reasonable cost. Zipline tips- Wear capris or long pants. Shorts work okay, but not as well as pants.…”

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11.Arenal Hanging Bridges Hiking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 69 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $66

Walk a 3.1-kilometer rainforest circuit in La Fortuna with a guide, crossing 15 hanging and stationary bridges. Expect canopy views, short climbs, wildlife spotting with a scope, hotel pickup, snacks, and about four hours with Ecoterra Expeditions. Guides such as Andres, Harvin, Daniella, and Minor have been praised for finding animals hidden in the trees.

“We had a wonderful time on this tour! Our guide was Andres and he was fantastic!! We signed up for the group tour but unexpectedly got our own private tour. Andres was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. He helped us take several great pictures. I would most definitely recommend this tour!!!”

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12.3-in-1 Monteverde Cloud Forest Waterfalls, Wild Trekking and Horseback Riding

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 56 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $116

Expect a demanding 5 km downhill trek through Monteverde’s cloud forest, rustic bridges, four waterfalls, and a possible river swim. Then ride a calm horse uphill for about 30 to 35 minutes before lunch with wide views. Pickup is included from Monteverde and Santa Elena. Miguel may guide the horseback section.

“It is a hard hike, not recommended for anyone with any foot, knee or hip issues, very steep up and down hiking”

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