The 12 Best Private Tours in Costa Rica

1.Private Transfer Liberia Airport

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 227 reviews Our pick

Travel privately between Liberia Airport and your Tamarindo-area hotel with On The Road Costa Rica. Your driver meets you with a name sign, provides a clean, air-conditioned vehicle, and may have cold water, sodas, or beer ready. Drivers including Harnan, Rafael, Bianco, and Anthony are praised for friendly service and local advice.

“The communication and attention to detail was wonderful. Everyone we dealt with was friendly and knowledgeable. I would recommend this service to anyone. In addition to transportation, they also offer tours, excursions and can even help you find accommodations. We goRead more”

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2.SJO Airport Private Shuttle to San José

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 121 reviews · 20 to 35 minutes (approx.)

Book a private ride from Juan Santamaría International Airport to a San José hotel for up to three people. Your driver tracks your flight number, sends arrival instructions, and provides a roughly 20 to 35 minute transfer with WiFi, taxes, and hotel drop-off included. Confirm the meeting point carefully before you fly.

“Driver never showed up or answered had to take a taxi at 11pm to my destination after waiting and calling for 45 minutes outside”

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3.Private Direct SJO ↔ Jaco Beach/Los Sueños Transfer Service

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 91 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $73

Ride privately from San José International Airport to Jaco Beach or Los Sueños, or return to SJO, in an air-conditioned vehicle with WiFi and refreshments. Your English-speaking driver meets you with a name sign, handles luggage, and stops at Tárcoles Bridge to view crocodiles when daylight and weather allow. Drivers may include Gio, Randall, Moises, Jimmy, or Javier.

“Randall was prompt and very very accommodating! He made us feel safe and secure on the 1hr and a half drive from Los Suenos to SJO! He was so awesome! Highly recommend him to anyone!!”

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4.Private Transfer La Fortuna To Int. Airport Liberia From 1 to 6 passengers

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 82 reviews · 3 to 4 hours (approx.)

RideCR’s private transfer takes your group of up to six from a La Fortuna hotel to Liberia Airport in about three to four hours. An air-conditioned minivan, hotel pickup, airport drop-off, local taxes, and a driver-guide are included. Give your airline, flight number, departure time, and hotel details when booking.

“Harold was a wonderful driver and even though we had a communication gap (he spoke Spanish and we spoke little Spanish), he did his best to make sure we had a comfortable trip”

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5.Private tours and transfer Costa Rica

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 82 reviews · 1 to 7 hours (approx.) · from $150

Start at Tamarindo Beach for a private, roughly six-hour trip to the Tempisque River. Expect about 90 minutes by boat to look for birds, crocodiles, monkeys, and other local species, followed by a meal prepared by a Costa Rican family and a pottery demonstration by local artisans. The tour returns to Tamarindo.

“I tried to contact the tour operator for a week. The first time 6 days before, then 5 days before, and finally the day before and said if I didn’t hear back by noon I would have to cancel because he could not confirm details of the trip, or pick up and drop off. He never responded. When I reached out to Viator for help they couldn’t get a hold of him either. The operator never confirmed details of trip, pick up or drop off. And his phone number was out of service. Viator denied my refund request. I was told I would get a refund unless this operator could…”

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6.Lake Arenal Private Paddle Board Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 78 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $70Best value

Join Jose for a private 2.5-hour stand-up paddleboard outing on Lake Arenal near La Fortuna. You’ll receive a safety lesson, paddle in sheltered areas, look for birds, turtles, fish, and otters, and enjoy fruit, photos, and video. The pace is friendly and adaptable, with assistance available for participants with disabilities.

“Jose was a very friendly and professional guide. He taught the basics of supping very patiently and made us feel confident on the paddle board”

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7.PRIVATE Buena Vista: Zip line, Horseback, Hot Springs + Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 76 reviews · 9 hours (approx.) · from $275

Spend about nine hours at Buena Vista with a private guide such as Eugenio, Elial, or JB. Ride horses, tackle eight zip lines, try the water slide, sample Costa Rican treats, paint on volcanic mud, soak in hot springs, and finish with lunch. Pickup is available from Tamarindo-area hotels on the guided option.

“Our guide (sorry if I butcher the spelling) Eli was incredible, the staff in general was incredible, and the food was incredible. If you want an amazing experience that is exciting, delicious, and relaxing then there’s no other choice!”

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8.Tortuga Island Private Full-Day Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 74 reviews · 8 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $203

Leave Jaco early for a private speedboat trip to Tortuga Island with Captain Robert, Eric, or Jordan. Expect snorkeling, a Subwing ride, possible spider monkeys, fruit, drinks, beach chairs, SUP boards, and a fish, chicken, or vegetarian lunch. The Pacific crossing can be rough, but the private boat lets your group set the pace.

“Robert is an excellent communicator and does a great job of making guests feel welcome right away. This tour is a great choice for groups with a mix of experienced snorkelers/divers and older kids/first timers. Great job finding spots that balanced the current, visibility, and things to see. Robert went out of his way to stay close to the kids added safety when the current pushed their limits. Great way to experience Tortuga Island for lunch as well. Robert and his crew have the whole process dialed in. There were only 4 of us but paying for the 5 person minimum was well worth it for amenities that were organized…”

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9.OneWay Private Transfer – Liberia Airport To Your Selected Location

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 68 reviews · 1 to 2 hours (approx.)

Book a private Liberia Airport transfer for up to four people, with hotel drop-off, air conditioning, Wi-Fi, and a 35-minute courtesy stop for food, groceries, or restrooms. Drivers such as Johnny, Bianco, Jose, Eduardo, and Ariel have helped passengers reach Tamarindo and other destinations with local tips along the way.

“Friendly service, on time, excellent experience, great price. Clean van. Would definately use it again and recommend to friends or family.”

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10.Private Guided Walking Tour in Hacienda Baru TICKET NOT included

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 68 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $88

Walk Hacienda Barú near Quepos with a private bilingual guide such as Freddy or Pedro. Over two to three hours, you may spot monkeys, sloths, toucans, agoutis, peccaries, coatis, and forest birds. Your guide carries an HD telescope that attaches to your phone, making distant wildlife easier to photograph. Park admission costs $17 extra.

“The tour guide, Freddy, did an excellent job, explaining the flora and fauna, and spotting several animals. In a two hour hike we were able to see agouti, peccary, coati mundi, white face monkeys, and several birds, among others. Great tour and value, and we avoided the crowds in Manuel Antonio.”

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11.Surf Lesson in Tamarindo: Private and Group

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 68 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $70

Meet Blue Wave Surf & Tours on Tamarindo Beach for a two-hour lesson with instructors such as Andric, Jonathan, Johnny, and Pablo. You’ll get beach practice, equipment, safety guidance, and plenty of time in the water. Private instruction suits families, first-timers, and surfers ready for focused coaching.

“We had a great time! We opted for private lessons so there was an instructor for each of us. They taught us the basics and got us in the water right away. They are so patient and very professional.”

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12.3 Hour ATV + Waterfalls, Private Beach & Panoramic Ocean Views

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 63 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $99

Start with bilingual safety instruction and practice laps, then ride an ATV across rivers, jungle trails, farms and lookout points near Jaco. Stop at private waterfalls for swimming, with a panoramic sky platform and private beach visit possible if time allows. Guides such as Mary, Glen and Dorian help beginners feel at ease.

“Glen was awesome! He made us feel welcome and comfortable from the moment we arrived. We only had 4 people in our group (myself and one other were more experienced) and the two others were beginners. Glen made this tour extremely fun for all of our skill levels. We never felt bored and the beginners never felt out of control. Lots of fun hill climbs, riding through streams, and fantastic views! Thanks Glen!”

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