36 Best Stops Between Montezuma and San Jose (2024)

Nice sea, but not recommended for children, and honestly neither for those who are looking for some shade, as there are just few huts along the beach. And the surrounding area is covered in dust, which you are going to breath full time here. Definitely not a blue zone, not an healthy air, especially for children, and the most paradoxical thing is how overpriced all the area is. Honestly to me looks like a lot of unreasonable hype which is beneficial just for the few property managers who are riding the wave cashing in. Been traveling for 8 years in a row, circumnavigating the world, and there are places way nicer and healthier, and they are going to cost you 1/5. The best part is, you don't need to go too far from here to find them. Just sharing my experience as a long term traveler.

Super nice Black and Tan beach. A few hustlers, but not many. Sort of a yuppie family vibe. Feels pretty safe.

Stunning beach, lots of sun and space. Speak with tourists, locals and vendors while you walk the beach. There are some restaurants tucked in the trees along the beach. Great spot for horseback riding, walking, playing or sunbathing

Awesome beach, specially during low tide, were you can enjoy some natural pools. The magic of this beach happens with fewer people so please don't come, stay in Tamarindo or any other crowded beach 😁

If you’re a surfer, this beach is perfect. Good for beginners too and Nosara has places to rent gear and teach you. Nosara is a great walkable town to check out while in the area—howler monkeys throughout.When it’s at low tide at this beach, it is massive. Lots of room to explore, including the tide pools and rocks to the right side of the beach. It’s miles and miles long so I can’t speak for the whole space. It’s popular and a bit on the busy side especially once it’s high tide and there’s less sand to sit on, though I visited the week of Christmas which is going to be busy. It’s most busy at sunset.

It's a very nice beach mellow people and mellow waves

Beautiful beach with the warmest ocean water I've ever felt. Great surfing and snails, the sand is perfect.

4.7

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4.5

(1045)

Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica

2 lists

Amazing place for a short or even long vacation. I was living in Sàmara and I had the best times. I could definitely live there.The beach is great, the people are so lovely, the village is small but very nice.You find delicious restaurants or homemade food - it’s a perfect surfing spot for beginners, for intermediates in the surroundings also - great hiking spots - waterfalls nearby - the best sunsets - island life on isla chora :) - full moon parties - what else? :) I think Sàmara is one of the most beautiful places I’ve been!!!! ❤️❤️

Beautiful beach! Such a large beach that you will have no problem finding a spot away from people. So many little restaurants along the beach. Small park next to the police station has freshwater showers. If you need to escape the sun or heat there are quite a few trees that line the beach to set up under. Saw surfers and horses.

This beach was a great find. It is pretty touristy so be warned if you are looking for a more local-like atmosphere. There are also those freelance parking guys walking around so you might have to pay a couple hundred colones to buy some peace. We ate at La Casita de Mr Wagner and it was delicious. We also drinks at the restaurant with beach access and blue umbrellas directly across from that food courts. My friend and I both agreed they were the best versions of each drink that we had ever had (mojito and piña colada). What a good place and pretty good location. We drove from Monteverde no problem.

I almost don’t want to write a positive review because I love Playa Samara so much, I’m dreading some day it will lose it’s magical, small, locally-owned, bohemian beach appeal. The waves are great for surfing newbies to intermediates, playing in the sand or drinking a tropical beverage from one of the nice restaurants right on the beach. I ❤️ Samara 🏝️

Lovely not too busy beach and town. It has an small island and a rock/coral break to protect the bay from large waves. There's still waves good enough to work on your surf board skills. Lots of restaurants and accommodations for vacations. Many expats live there.

Fantastic beach, very clean, decent amount of parking. Very kid friendly. Great sunsets.

Great mix between tropical paradise, chill atmosphere yet very convenient with nice restaurants and a bit of shopping.

Very beautiful. Less crowded than other beach towns like Tamarindo. Very warm water. Worth the drive.

A nice and quiet beach, great for walking, lots of little beach restaurants. Watch out for jellyfish in the waters.

Fun beach with quite a few restaurants. Town is right near the beach. Walk the entire length of the beach during low tide. Occasional wild horses. Some decent fishing and shells.

Lovely beach with a relaxing atmosphere. Lots of nice bars and restaurants around as well.

In December the water is really nice and warm but not like a bath water so it's refreshing. Easy waves so you are able to swim or just float. I visited for the day and found an area under some trees with shade to sit on a towel. It looked like you could rent chairs and boogie boards on the beach. Not crowded on a Monday.

My favorite beach, not too busy, great selection of restaurants lining the beach, waves not too big that you can enjoy the water.

The water is really nice and you are able to swim . The water is warm . But there should be more sitting areas .bring a towel to sit on the floor . There are couple of stores and restaurants around the area .we stayed the resort near we tried to walk but it was unsafe the roads are to narrow and grass is on slant. Will recommend ask the resort to book a taxi for your travel there . It cost us $10 to get there .

Beautiful, vibrant, and spacious beach with a good number of people—not overly crowded. Many surf rental shops right by the beach, as well as beachside restaurants/bars. Volleyball and soccer fields available. A safe beach, perfect for beginner surfers and boogie boarding.

I LOVE working with Palo Verde Boat Tours. I facilitate an annual 1-week trip to Costa Rica through my my organization, Coastal Connections, and visiting Palo Verde Boat tours is the perfect last stop of our volunteer eco-tourism trip. This incredible family makes every boat tour unique and special. They will look for special birds and wildlife for you, honor special request and dietary needs at lunch, and they provide the real cultural experience of Costa Rica.This year, the family created the most fun farm tour and planting experience for our group. The tour of the family farm was the perfect add-on to learn more about organic farming and the hard work that goes into our delicious lunch.

4 of us went there for the river boat tour and lunch. A bit out of the way to find but great people right from the start. Lots of crocodiles, iguana and birds. Francisco and Caesar were our guide and captain. Very knowledgeable and personable. Then our meal was as good as it gets and totally authentic. Highly recommended.

Thank you Manuel! Manuel, our boat driver, was an excellent spotter! An amazing boat trip seeing an incredible amount bird species, crocs, and other wild life.We loved the restaurant! Best food on our entire trip to Costa Rica! Incredible friendly service. Great interaction with the entire family and the kids participated with the ladies cooking.All natural food and great tasting. "BLUE ZONE" life! Gotta love it. ❤

Our guides were phenomenal, knowledge of flora and fauna made the experience so much more than I ever expected. The only thing better than seeing all the incredible animals was getting to know Francisco Antonio Rueben and Patricia. The people were so warm and kind. Please tell Patricia hi for us if you book with them. Don’t skip on the lunch if you want a home cooked meal! I am so grateful to have been apart of this amazing experience.

The Palo Verde Boat Tour was an absolute delight! The people we encountered were incredibly kind, friendly, and knowledgeable. The lunch provided was exceptionally good, exceeding our expectations. Navigating through the stunning Palo Verde National Park, we were treated to an abundance of wildlife. Highly recommended for a memorable and insightful adventure.Thanks to Ruben, Francisco, Cesar and Josue for everything!

Great experience with the family. Boat tour was amazing. The guides Antonio & Ray was very knowledgeable and pointed out the wild life. Not to be missed. The lunch served was delicious. My favourite was the pork dish.

We loved our boat tour and lunch! Patricia, Ramon, Francisco, and Felix took such good care of us on this first experience of Costa Rica. Their friendliness, warmth and caring is much appreciated!We saw lots of crocodiles, playful monkeys, iguanas, a 'jesus' lizard and birds.I admire how they source and support local families.What a great day!P.s. give yourself lots of time to get there if driving. Signage from Santa Cruz is non-existent but locals were always helpful along the way.

Palo Verde Boat Tours is an all-around impressive company.Upon arrival, we were greeted by a very nice man who introduced us to the other staff; offered us coffee, FRESH juice, and cookies; and showed us the restrooms. He made sure we didn’t have any allergies (for lunch) and were satisfied with the menu. He was so kind and friendly, and helped me practice conversing in Spanish without passing judgement.We followed the tour guide to the river - maybe a 7-10 minute drive.Our boat captain was Manuel - he was awesome! I’m not sure if he was part of this company or if he worked for the national park. Either way, you will be lucky to be on his boat if you have the chance.Our tour guide from Palo Verde (I’m so sorry, I didn’t catch a name) was awesome as well - he spoke several languages fluently, and provided our tour in both English and French (and spoke with Manuel using Spanish!)Manuel and our guide worked as a team to identify many animals. We saw white faced monkeys, crocodiles, bats, blue herons, a flock of snow egrets (I think?), king fishers, sand pipers, tiger herons, Jesus lizards, etc.Manuel was great at stopping the boat motor and getting super close to the animals without disturbing them. I got so many great photos on my camera - just an old Canon Rebel T1i. The photos posted here are from an iPhone 6. You don’t need great technology to get great pictures since you get so close.After the boat trip, we headed back to the company/restaurant for lunch.WOW. Probably the best meal we had during our 12 day Costa Rica stay. The family atmosphere and the traditional cooking methods are humbling and inspiring.The food was down-right amazing. Chicken, patacones, rice, beans, squash medley, traditional tortillas, salad, and a pickle/onion/jalapeño mix... all of this for just my husband and I. (Due to covid they separate each group at different tables and prepare food separately for each table). It was a plethora of food, and we left stuffed.We ended up buying three things from their little gift shop too - they sell $10 5x7” originals from a local water color artist, one of which we bought, along with a decorated wooden gecko and mask for home decor.Overall, it was one of our favorite experiences. If you are hesitant, you won’t regret doing the tour - make sure you pay the measly $11 for the lunch too!!Thank you so much Palo Verde Boat Tours! We will see you again when we come back to CR.PURA VIDA

We (my girlfriend and I) loved this experience. We went during low tide and saw so many crocodiles, iguanas, birds, white faced monkeys and even some howlers. We were also lucky enough to see a pair scarlet macaws in their nest up in a tree. Would definitely recommend this if you like seeing wildlife. If however you weren’t able to see a variety of wildlife the staff has great hospitality and are very knowledgeable. The food was fantastic, maybe one of the best traditional dishes we had here. And we even got a demonstration on traditional pottery making. Recommended for all age groups!

Best pleasantly surprised experience in Costa Rica. While a 9 am boat float on brackish water was not the tour we looked forward to it was great. Francisco our guide helped us see howler Monkeys, birds galore, crocodile, baby crocs and a crock eating a fish. We also saw the white faced monkeys on each side of the river claiming territory and being very vocal to each other. The add on $11 for lunch was more than worth it, they were great with dietary restrictions. To add onto the great adventure we also watched them make it possible for wheelchair bound to go and they stopped to pick up trash in the river. I was glad we chose them as the operator.

Highly recommend. We did a private boat tour for birding photography and can’t say enough about our guide Rubin and captain Cesar. They both spotted so many different birds and wildlife. The lunch following our tour was amazing all authentic dishes and the food is locally sourced. The operation is family run and they employ many that live in the small town. There’s a true love for their community. Recommend booking directly with them, very accommodating.

We had a very nice time there! Our guide and boat captain were amazingly good at spotting wild animals and we definitely recommend a private tour!The lunch was really good as well and the pottery demo was really instructive!

Really fun for bird photography. The optional lunch was really great! One of the better lunches we had. These are just cell phone pics but I was able to bring my telephoto lens and tripod on the boat and got wonderful pics of many different species

I have been visiting this family business for more than 20 years, when they were taking their first steps in tourism, I discovered this beautiful family that works together and with the people where they cook authentic food for you. What they give you is a meal full of love, homemade food, they also count on you on the Tempisque River on the banks of the Palo Verde National Park where you can observe an enormous amount of life In this paradisiacal place you will be able to observe a lot of wildlife such as crocodiles, iguanas, monkeys, different birds, insects, trees and much more that will leave you needing more time to continue observing.I invite you to discover on your trip to Palo Verde National Park.

It was a very nice boat tour. We managed to see different animals and get so cose to them. The tour guide was very nice and fun. He helped us to see alot.

Authentic, local family-run business that really knows the area well!!! Super friendly too, such a great experience. Really glad to have done this tour, you see so much wildlife and hear about them with the guides!

4.7

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4.5

(392)

50302 Provincia de Guanacaste Ortega, 75 mts south of the local catholic church, 50302, Costa Rica

+8 other lists

4.5

(1066)

Puntarenas Province, Puntarenas, Costa Rica

Amazing ecosystem, lots of animals- tons of different herons, migrating and local birds, crocodiles, iguanas, monkeys, and even saw a deer. It can get hot and more dry than the majority of tropical Costa Rica, but makes for a unique ecological environment. Absolutely worth checking out, only about 1.5 hours from Lake Arenal, even closer to Volcan Tenorio National Park.

Great park, in total I saw three other groups of people on the day I went, I arrived first thing in the morning. I went on the first 2.1km hike which if I were you I’d pass on - very buggy and not much to see unless you stumble across wildlife. I also went to the lookout labeled #1 on their map, a short but tiring hike up. Bring lots and lots AND LOTS AND LOTS OF WATER. Hot! Also a lot of bugs so either a lot of bug spray or a long sleeve. I also did the boat tour which was cool, the guide had a great eye.All in all I say an array of wildlife.

The approximately two-hour boat trip is highly recommended; the guide and captain go to great lengths to show you some of the birds, monkeys and crocodiles that can be found in the national park.

Very interesting wetland national park. We saw a lot of wildlife and the trails were well maintained. Not very touristy (I think we were alone in the park!) Bring your bug spray and look our for crocodiles! We went all the way to the Tempisque river, such a calming hike.

Great park we took a tour with a boat ride and had a good time. I am not sure you would see anything without the boat. The dirt road getting there was fun and is an adventure in itself.

What else is there to say other than this place is absolutely breathtaking? An absolutely MASSIVE bird watching wetland is the central focus of this beautiful park.It is quite a way off the beaten trail, but with boat tours available, hiking trails, and a picturesque wetland how can one pass it up?It is also a beautiful display of the biodiversity of the area. On my way driving there, we went from a dense jungle down to a more arid landscape. The micro-biomes of changing flora are as much of a treat as the land itself.Make sure to educate yourself of the dangers of this land though, like the Acacia Tree, which maintains a symbiotic relationship with ants and will harm you if disturbed. Or the snakes that hide in the tall grass. Be prepared! And have fun exploring this magical place!

Very nice national park in Costa Rica. We did a 2 hour boat tour down the river and really enjoyed seeing all the wildlife. The boat captain was very good and had us up close and personal with the animals. A worthwhile trip.

We went here on a boat tour and it was awesome! Our tour guide Rodrigo was so knowledgeable of the area. We saw crocodiles, birds, iguanas and monkeys. Such a unique area to explore! Will definitely return.

It's hard to write a review of this place because in one hand you have beautiful nature, places to walk/hike around and great views; but in the other hand you have so many mosquitoes that will not leave you alone a second and will make you feel miserable! I recommend to go during January or so (when it's very windy!) so first confirm with the local station when is windy so you really enjoy it. The people is very nice, super friendly and the food is always delicious, however the infrastructure really need maintenance. The rooms and specially the bathrooms are very abandoned!

We travelled here mid February. We were not bothered by bugs at all, but recommend wearing long pants due to prickly plants along the trail. We drove in from the west side (Highway 922) and it was about 30km of gravel roads & potholes. You absolutely need 4 wheel drive to get in here or else go on a boat tour. The park entrance does lock the gate at 4pm so plan to be leaving the park much earlier to be safe. It's about $13.50 USD to enter the park if you drive in. There are 7 hiking trails under 2km in the park. There is also a research centre that staff and volunteers stay overnight at, the washrooms are located here as well. We saw several monkey species, scarlet macaw, lizards, wild ponies and so many different kinds of birds. 4/5 stars because the roads are so bad.

A great nature park with plenty of wildlife, great views and dense forest. Several trails, with lookout points, and plenty of roads throughout the park to see everything. In addition, there is a paid boat tour available at the far side of the park, with very friendly and knowledgeable staff. On our 80 minute tour we saw alligators, green herons, iguanas and monkeys. Highly recommend paying this park a visit.

The park is amazing, the tour was okay. We were only on the boys tour for about 40 minutes which wasn't enough time to see much, although we did see a fair amount. We were able to see bats, iguanas, monkeys, Jesus lizard, crocodiles, birds... The tour of the traditional (historical) sugar processing plantation was also interesting.

4.6

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4.5

(397)

9MM8+978, Guanacaste Province, Bagaces, Costa Rica

+9 other lists

Rocky trail. Hiking or water shoes, suggesting. No sandals.Water falls was great after a hot hiking. Moderate to hard (You need a good balance) botter line swimming was a plus!!Desde el comienzo, hasta la cascada, es rocosa, recomiendo usar zapatos de hike o zapatos para agua. No sandalias. También tener balance, pero lindo la cascada y poder nadar después de la caminata!.

Relatively simple and short (about 600m) hike to a waterfall. Parking costs 2000 colones. Quite busy so not the tranquil spot you'd hope! The waterfall is quite pretty. As nice attraction to spend an hour.Not suitable for flip flops. Wear insect repellant!

Beautiful falls with cool pools for swimming. The trail isn't easy in some places, where you have to use the provided ropes to keep from slipping. There are also steep paths and lots of stairs, and even though some rocks appear dry, their surfaces are slippery. But if you're fit enough (I barely was), it's worth getting at least to the lower falls, which are free. You have to pay 2,000 colones per person to go up from there.

we walked right on through even though the parking lot was chained off. at this point, i'm assuming they did not open the lot due to all the heavy rain in the rainy season. we took the left side route, made it so far, and could not cross the river safely. the map was easy enough to read. the parking lot is small and the street parking is minimal as well so get here early! rocky terrain, and crossing a river, so waterproof hiking boots are ideal. but im sure you can survive with tennis shoes. bring swim suit, towel, camera, food and hydration to enjoy it!

A place to enjoy and a great place to see. Two Waterfalls to discover (from out- or inside :-) )There are guides at the start of the trail for hire; not really necessary but can be helpful and entertaining. Be smart - negotiate a price in advance.Greetings to crazy Carlos ;-)

This is one of the best waterfalls in Costa Rica. You can climb behind the waterfall. So cool!

We were a group of six and we hiked to the first fall. It was middle of May so not much rain and we were able to hike the trail to the waterfall through the rocks. You start off at the parking lot at the trail head on the street level. Pay $2-3 US dollars to the “security”. Bring lots of water and even food for a picnic when you get to the waterfall. Cold yet super refreshing and murky at that time of year. Pura vida! 🇨🇷

WARNING: trail is not easy. Must use ropes in some spots to climb completely vertical areas of the trail. Also, using ropes and roots to rapel down.The place is beautiful. Its a pity the experience can be ruined by very bad organization of the trails.First of all, there is almost no signage at all indicating the way, or even to confirm that you are actually on the correct trail.The actual trail is just someone who decided to climb over rocks and trees and called it a trail. Not even something simple like little flags or signs to confirm that you are supposed to climb over those rocks and swing over the cliffs with a half worn down rope.The first waterfall is the only one that has an “easy” path. After that, forget about it. Hope you have good insurance in case of a slip.Once you make it to the other side and decide to go back the easy path, turna out the easy path is a “private trail”, which was never indicated when starting. And once again, random unofficial people sitting there charging 2000 colones if you want to go through. Not even a receipt.Worst part is that this is barely 5mins of steps, and then its back to the initial path. Which the only way to reach is by jumping over some rocks to cross the river.If you made it past all the ranting, the waterfall is very beautiful. Its really nice that you can also swim under it, and just relax and chill in the different waterfall areas.Many little pools and waterfalls in the different levels, if you can reach it.Would be a much more enjoyable experience if they actually used that money to make the trail better instead of just keeping it and not using it to improve the park.

We had an incredible time. The hike was easy getting to the first fall where we had fun climbing a rock and jumping in the refreshing waters. I would definitely recommend

Such a beautiful hike. We did the hard side and found it just slightly challenging.You can jump from the top waterfall (not the big one).On our way down we wanted to get down quick so took the easy route. They make you pay $2 per person to pass the trail.

Beautiful waterfall. We were told it might be dry for the season but it was perfect. Pool is deep but wouldn't recommend diving..jumping ok. They try to make you pay park in there parking & take a guide...neither is necessary. Its about a 20 min walk. Its a little difficult for ppl with mobility issues...but its doeable, Especially if you take the riverbed. Great swimming experience and it was 100% FREE!

Cool spot! 1000 to park, you do not need a guide to get to the waterfall! Just follow the beaten down path. It could be challenging for older people, or people with bad balance or weak legs.Go early in the morning to beat the crowd. That is the only downfall is that it gets very crowded.

Nice and cool. The path there isn't for the faint and it's not that easy to cross. There are rocks along the trail also. It's moderate to tough in places. The second and third falls, extremely tough. The first falls are really the best: about 30 meters of flow

We took our ATV’s from Santa Teresa to the Falls which was about a 45 min commute.There were 3 waterfalls as you go up the trail and we only hiked to the first waterfall. It took about 45 minutes to get to the first fall. Expect to get your shoes & clothes wet & muddy. You will need to go through shallow waters, climb up the side of the hills while holding onto guiding ropes. Wouldn’t recommend this for small children or bringing a pet.The biggest & most popular fall is the last one at the end of the trail (apparently 3 hour hike).We bowed out at the first. 😂 but, if you are an avid hiker or looking for a day of adventure you will enjoy!Some Tips:Wear waterproof / hiking shoesBring or wear swimwearPack lightly (no heavy bags)Bring lots of water & snacksParking was $1,000 COL.

4.5

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4.5

(1463)

MW2J+755, Puntarenas Province, Santa Fe, Montezuma Beach, Costa Rica

Stunning waterfall! There are unofficial guides that will offer to take you up to see the waterfall from behind and other vantage points. We were pleasantly surprised by the experience and knowledge provided on that walk and he even took quite a few photos and videos for us. There is no fee although cash tips are highly appreciated. There is a fee to enter that can be paid via cash or credit card.

We had the most amazing time. Our guides Amari, Jordan and Arturo were the best. They shared so much information about the area and ensured we were safe and had the best views. They also took really good pictures for us.

Beautiful but it is a difficult trek to get down to it and back up out of it. Steps are there but odd sized, hand rails are mobile in spots. I would go again but wished we had been informed about the hiking skills required prior to heading over.

Saw a hand painted sign for waterfall and the road was sketchy but doable. Well worth it though. Beautiful falls and great little beach. Great place to spend a day in the water.

Beautiful spot! Not too crowded on a weekday afternoon, water was so refreshing. Paid 4000 colones ($8) entry. Short gravel road to get to a rocky parking lot, any car can do it going slowlyEasy walk down to the waterfallBeautiful spot

Relaxing beach-like environment. Beautiful falls. Fun little hikes to and around.

Amazing waterfall, very tall , ot has bunch of small and tall falls and there is a big pool of water under the falls so you can swim.Very short hike from the parking lot (~4min)

A nice waterfall just outside of Liberia. It was dirty from the massive downpour the day before but our kids still enjoyed it.There were mini falls all around too. It was all just a bit muddy from the crazy rainstorm.There was staff on hand making sure people were safe.There is an entrance fee to help maintain the area.

The waterfall is nice and worth its price. The only thing I didn't really like was that the life guard forbid everything - swimming under/near the waterfall was forbidden, swimming on the side was forbidden, reaching the stones on the side was forbidden. Swimming at the very front was allowed..a bit disappointing. Everything else was great - the butterflies, the hike to the top of the waterfall, the clean showers. There was a lot of space to chill :-)

If going on the weekend the locals are there collecting money (donations) for parking and also ask for tips for escorting you to the lake without even telling you they are escorting for a tip. Fish actually plucked at me so I left . Seems like it’s a local band out spot too .

4.6

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4.5

(536)

GP84+9CC, De posada llanos del cortés 3 kilometro camino al pueblo de llanos llegan a la Esquina de la plaza de futbol a mano derecha 2.5 kilometros Guanacaste Bagaces llanos del cortes, Provincia de Guanacaste, Bagaces, Costa Rica

Nice rescue center, very easy access off the highway. Large natural enclosures and different areas to visit. Great for kids, easy to navigate and washrooms are never far. It's always a bit sad to see the big cats behind bars but the info at each animal's enclosure gives context about why they are there. During our visit, we saw a couple of new enclosures being built, which was encouraging. Definitely worth a visit and it's a valuable cause to support.A tip: wear long pants/sleeves and use bug spray... there are a lot of mosquitoes.

This place was very neat. We stopped ok the way back to Nicaragua. There aren't a lot of animals, but the price was fair and it looks like they are doing a good job of taking care of them. It was an enjoyable afternoon.

This sanctuary is doing incredible, thoughtful work to help the animals of Cañas and surrounding areas. The staff are knowledgeable and friendly, sharing the tragic stories of the animals you'll meet and the exciting stories of animals they were able to rehabilitate and re-release back to the wild. Highly recommend!!!

Good place to stop when driving from Liberia to La Fortuna. Took us about an hour to walk around. Signs tell why/where each animal was captured. We saw pumas, jaguars, jaguarundies, deer, parrots, toucans, several kinds of monkeys, rabbits, a sloth, etc. My daughter LOVED the green parrots that would say hola, hello, and even would repeat her name and mimic my laugh. We're glad they're rescuing these animals and enjoyed seeing them even if they were now in captivity. We liked supporting a good cause. Parking lot has a worker watching it.

A small little rescue centre that is on the main highway in Liberia, Costa Rica. It isn't too expensive and is definitely worth the visit if you like animals. All of the animals are rescues that cannot be re habilitated to the wild due to either injury or growing up in captivity. I'd recommend going during a cooler time of the day as the animals rest when it is too hot.

I highly can recommend to anyone who have the possibility to come here to do it!The work what the people are doing here is so important and amazing and I learnt a lot during my visit.Its really heartbreaking to see how cruel human can be, but good to know there are people who wants to do better and take care about these animal. If you can do, please donate to them🙏🏻

We were able to book a combination tour through Nacho tours which included a visit to Llanos de Cortez as well as Las Pumas which is just a short 20 minute drive from the waterfall. Nacho also set us up with a guide, Virginia, to take us around Las Pumas. Virginia took us on an excellent tour of Las Pumas, talking to us about the animals and the way Las Pumas rehabilitates and releases animals. We had tons of fun, getting the opportunity to see monkeys, jaguars, Pumas, ocelots, and many more. Definitely recommend supporting Las Pumas- the first rescue center in Costa Rica.

Beautiful place..Is amazing what they are doing!Is small but if you love animals you can stay around from r a while to observe them..I really admire these people protecting and taking care of them .,They have Pumas,but i have no pictures of them because they were sleeping quietly..And that means the place is peaceful for them

Such a great stop midway between Arenal and Guanacaste. The animals were beautiful, there were a lot of them and it wasn't a sad place like we had feared at first. It's actually really a beautiful environment that these animals, who otherwise wouldn't have made it, live in.

We came during feeding time and it was awesome watching the cats attack the meat. I also appreciated how the park educated people against taking in wild animals as pets.

Very good and very enjoyable, they are doing good for the animals.Quite small so you only need around 45 minutes nothing more to see all the rescued animals.5/5! Would come back next time I’m here.

Awesome for the price! Monkeys, cats, birds, even other wildlife stopping by to visit. Don't forget the donation boxes!We went early, so there was just us and one other family. The staff members were super friensly and working hard. Two members made it a point to attend the jaguars with treats qhen our group made it to that side, making sire the kids really got to see and learn more. Another staff member even noticed i passed by, not finding the snoozing sloth, to point him out! Very sweet.

A quiet and small animal rescue sanctuary. Seems like they put a lot of effort into rehabilitating animals and keep the ones that aren’t suitable for reintroduction to the wild. Animals seemed content and in good condition. The enclosures were clean and provided adequate space and enrichment for each of the species. Definitely worth a visit if you want to see many examples of native fauna.

This is a small rescue center. It’s just the right size to enjoy your visit. My husband was able to use his electric / motorized scooter / wheelchair fairly easy on the path. They even share written information on the reason certain animals made it to the rescue center and why they are there. Nice place to take the children to. Some of the local schools also take field trips here. The bathrooms were very clean. The place is nicely shaded as well.

A great place to see wildlife kept in a very ethical and thoughtful way. Most animals they take in get rehabilitated and released, but those that cannot for health reasons stay and are wonderful to see. This was a very worthwhile stop between Rincon and Arenal!

4.6

(1035)

4.5

(277)

FV3F+7VH, Guanacaste Province, Cañas, Costa Rica

1 list

Great Day....fabulous scenery and service is unbelievable. It's like a 1 day all-inclusive resort! Perfect to kick back and get spoiled for a day before returning to seeing the natural beauty the country has to offer. Food and drinks are plentiful. Snorkeling was awesome (I am a first time snorkeler so I have nothing to compare it to,but lots of different fish and underwater things..lol).Hiking was on a beautiful, very gentle trail so its good for anyone.Highly recommend this tour.

A delightful day trip to a paradise island! We snorkeled, road the banana boat, hiked, imbibed, ate a marvelous lunch and enjoyed the beach. On the way back, we saw manta rays jumping out of the water for extra entertainment.

I was looking for a perfect beach day, and this tour did not disappoint! We saw dophins and sea turtles while on the boat ride to the island and it was so exciting to watch them. The island itself offered plenty of very nice beach chairs ($8 each) and the sand beach was absolutely beautiful. The souvenir shop offered plenty of gifts to help memorialize this perfect island beach day.

Great experience and staff is the best. Food was really good and activity’s are worth the money. Beach was really nice and snorkeling was very cool. Will come back again in the future.

My husband and i had a wonderful time traveling to Tortuga island with Cosat Cat Company. The staff Eddie, Sébastien, Jordan, and the Captain were all wonderful. I am missing the other gentleman name - my apologies. But overall, we had an awesome time. We saw a humpback whale, dolphins, and peaco*cks. The buffet was great. The price is affordable and definitely worth the trip. We loved it!

Very cool place that is unspoiled. Everything must me taken(food and drinks) by the tour operator and then removed off the island when heading back. The boat ride is long as the boat goes really slow. I did the Island hike and the snorkeling. I highly recommend this tour.

We took the Costa Cat tour. We had a great time, staff are very attentive. The snorkeling was ok, water too rough for me. But a lot of fish to see. Lunch was great! Really enjoyed the grilled chicken and rice. You get what you pay for on this tour.

Boat itself was quite luxurious. Different places to sit and enjoy the view, relaxed ride to the beach. During this trip we got multiple small snacks (fruit, cake, fish thingy) and enough to drink. Bottles are not cooled however but rather chilled with ice cubes. So you either get cold watered down drink, or warm with good taste.The DJ that accompanied us was a bit too loud to our taste, luckily on the front deck it was better.In the beach itself it is nicely arranged. Own seats, some activities, bar, food. That was great!

A fun boat ride to paradise. Tortuga Island via the Costa Cat was a really great way to spend the day. They have a lot of activities (such as snorkeling) but I opted to relax at the beach, enjoy the warm ocean waters, and chat with people at the restaurant.Recommended to bring water shoes as the sand gets really hot and there is some rough stone and sharp shells a little bit out.

It's a beautiful island that, as far as I know, can only be reached by a boat tour. On the island, there isn't a lot to do as the beach is the primary area accessible to visitors. There is also an island hike, which we didn't undertake, and I'm not sure if a guide is required for that. Everything on the island comes with a fee, even the toilets. The water is warm, and further out, you can go snorkeling, which is a wonderful experience. All in all, in my opinion it's slightly overrated due to the high number of tourists and the limited options, primarily just one beach. There are nicer places in costa rica which are way cheaper and way more accessable :)

Had a lovely time at Tortuga Island. Highly recommend coming here and spending the day hiking, snorkeling, drinking, etc. The CostaCat crew was amazing with top notch service. They even brought drinks to you as you were swimming in the water!

You begin your trip with a boat ride. This was about 90 minutes. They offer complimentary rum punch as well as drinks for purchase. You are also offered fruit snacks, a simple ham sandwich, and fish ceviche on the way there. Once on the island there are chairs and umbrellas to use, a souvenir shop, and bar to enjoy while you bask in the sun or play in the ocean. Views are stunning as you truly feel secluded from the rest of the world as you enjoy the island life with the other guests. Depending on your specific tour snorkeling and banana boat rides are offered. You get a lunch and tickets for soda. Our lunch was salad, potato salad, rice, breaded fish, and chicken with the option for a glass of sangria. When you leave you take another 90 minute boat ride to shore where they continue to offer complimentary fruit and rum punch as well as having the bar to purchase drinks.You will need to bring lots of sunscreen, a towel, sunglasses, and hat as you will be in the sun A LOT.Beautiful and worth the price.

Tortuga island was beautiful!You start with the boat ride there, go snorkeling for couple hours & see pretty fish!We also saw dolphins on the boat ride there.To note - everything on the island costs money, if you want chairs, they were like $10US per chair. Also the bathroom cost money to use. Just assume everything costs something on the island ! But the water is beautiful & you can go for a little hike on the island too.

I give it a 4 and half stars rating. Would have been 5 if it was a little less crowded. Picturesque beach, beautiful white sand, great vibe. There're few bars on the island to purchase drinks. You can chill under the sun, swim in the beautiful, pristine water, and paddle board out to the other nearby island. There are plenty of things to do. To get here, you have to either charter a boat or book a snorkeling tour. We booked a snorkeling tour, $85 per person, including door to door service and a (castado) lunch.

This trip was Awesome on the Costa Cat! Cruise, Banana boat, Snorkeling, hiking with lunch included. Pull up a chair and do as much or as little as you please.

FANTASTIC! I highly recommend this trip. The catamaran ride is about 45 minutes, and we saw whales along the way. The setup on the island is terrific, and the staff is exceptional.The lunch served was excellent and the provided free drinks are okay. You can opt to purchase beer and other beverages from the bar.We enjoyed the snorkeling and the fish along the reef. There is also banana boat riding available if you choose to participate.Remember to bring water shoes!

Loved this tour. Used Zuma tours and they were amazing. Great snorkeling, lunch on the beach and everything you need on the island. Just bring cash.

Tortuga Island is a beautiful place to visit when you're in Costa Rica. Plenty of companies offer this tour, and the prices vary from USD$125 to $150, so make sure you select a reputable one. You definitely get what you pay for.They picked us up at our hotel at 6:30am, drove us to the Marina about 45min away and the boat trip to the island was about 1h30.The tour included a small breakfast, ceviche, fruit, and coffee on the boat, then a buffet type lunch (Costa Rican) on the island with unlimited rum punches!Other activities offered are snorkeling, banana boat, kayaking, and much more.The white-sand beach is beautiful and the waters are calm. There also is a small souvenir shop on the island.Thoroughly enjoyed this activity!

4.7

(3626)

4.5

(1031)

Q4F3+7RW, Provincia de Puntarenas, Puntarenas, Costa Rica

It was a long wait to get into the park after arriving around 9am. There was no shade and got quite hot standing in the sun. They only let so many people in at a time, which is nice for the hike not to get too crowded. The hike was pretty strenuous and parts were slippery. Didn’t see the volcano top, but the waterfall and rivers were a beautiful sight to see. We saw quite a bit of wildlife while on the tour too.

Beautiful National Park. If you’re looking to go Rio Celeste Waterfalls with the blue water, make sure to come here. The Google Map stop showing Rio Celeste is incorrect - a few cars were lost in this journey and ended up here at the park.Highly recommend purchasing tickets and booking time slot in advance. I would say the steps are more tolerable than La Fortuna waterfalls - it’s not as intense but a solid workout regardless.You are not allowed to swim in the park, but the bridge up, you will see a spot to get in the water and cool off.

Make sure you go early. Rio Celeste is a must see but to get there you hike in about 1km then walk down a hundred or so stairs. After seeing the waterfall you can walk another 2km into the park which is definitely worth doing. You will eventually come to the end of the trail where the rivers mix and will then have to walk the 3km back out along the same trail. It gets very very busy by 10am.

Definitely worth the hike! And you must go all the way to the end to see the mixing of two waters. The waterfall is of course amazing but seeing two rivers mix like that was special. We were lucky because there were no rain before so to the water so very blue! Where your hiking shoes and be prepared to climb some stairs!

The hikes are unmissable. We learned so much about Arenal and the nature is impressive. Don’t miss it!

Fun hikes, I saw people of all ages walking the trails. It’s located in the cloud forest. The waterfall and the blue waters are so special, the locals tell the story that when God was painting the sky, he dipped the paint brush in this waters and that’s how the river got its color 💙🙂. There’s a lot to see… animals, birds, nature, the union of two rivers where the blue color waters are born.There are some restaurants and stores outside the National park to get a refreshing natural juice after the hikes and also you can book other activities to do around there.

A breathtaking hike with a unique waterfall!We saw lots of wildlife there and took beautiful pictures. In the rainy season it’s not crowded at all. Unfortunately I got stung by a bee there, but the staff was very helpful and kind and offered to treat it.Keep in mind that you need an online-reservation before you can enter, which you can do right in front of the park but I would recommend to do it before that, especially if you travel during high season.

The park is really beautiful we maintained they do not let food, cigarettes, vapes etc inside there’s a checkpoint for every bag so avoid those items. The trail to go to the waterfall is paved with stairs.Outside the park there’s many shops to purchase drinks, food or souvenirs. I recommend getting there early since the park closes at 4pm and last admission is at 2pm.You can’t go for a swim so be aware of that before getting to the park there’s a bridge and below there you can stop for a swim many locals and tourists.

The official parking lot at the bottom of the hill is operated by the Red Cross and much easier than trying to park on the side of the road (the road is narrow and we saw two cars that had been hit). The shuttle can be slow.Unfortunately the bridge was closed when we were there but we had an enjoyable walk non the less.Animals can be hard to spot due to the dense forest but easy to hear.The trails can be very muddy so be prepared.

So worth the drive out to this place! We didn't end up going with a guided tour but we didn't end up needing one! Even though it was a cloudy day and had rained heavily for a few days the waterfall was still beyond gorgeous! Not as blue as the photos during the winter but still worth it none the less. WEAR GOOD SHOES! A portion of the path is paved but the many never ending steps down the the water fall are large and slippery. It is worth it to continue on with the hike to the end as well! You get to see where two rivers meet and where some natural minerals have created a almost middle line between both coloring rivers. Hike the whole thing if you go! You won't regret it!

Visited a few days ago and it was an amazing experience. The whole round trip hike took my husband and I about 2.5hrs. It was well worth it for the views we got. There’s plenty of parking and there’s also a restaurant and local people selling fruits and coconut juice. I will say, the bathrooms were a little jank, but nothing too bad. There are many stairs to get to the waterfall, but there are lots of spots you can stop at along the way to take a breather. One of the locals there told us that the water doesn’t look as blue when it rains, so def try to go on day there’s no rain on the forecast. Although it was hot, you can’t feel it very much on the hike since you’re covered by all the foliage. I recommend going to the end of the hike so you can see the bubbling spots and the end where the two different colored rivers meet. You can’t go in the water like you’re able to at Arenal waterfall, however there is a pot outside of the park at you’re allowed to go into the beautiful blue water, search Tenorio free pool.

The main attraction of this national park is the famous waterfall. At times it's a beautiful bright blue color. During periods of heavy rainfall, the water turns muddy and is no longer blue. That's the condition it was in when I visited, but the sheer power and size of the waterfall was impressive to observe, even if the color wasn't perfect.As many of the other reviews state, the hike to the waterfall is relatively short, but the terrain is challenging. Expect many rocks, lots of mud, and slippery terrain.This is a national park, and the fact that you're in a rainforest needs to be respected. We went with a guide, and they explained very clearly that there are vipers and other venomous snakes present, poisonous frogs, and wild monkeys that can attack in packs of 10+ if you have food they want. You really do need to be careful, as we encountered a baby viper and a pack of monkeys during the hike, just like the guides predicted. This is not a bad thing. In fact, it speaks to how well the habitat is maintained.I heard some guides and locals talking about how this waterfall is in the top 3 most visited sites in Costa Rica, and the sheer number of tourists visiting it is now overwhelming. 5 years ago, it was a much quieter park. Something to note if you visited a whole ago and expect it to be similar now - it is far more crowded.

Rio Celeste is a must see… If there hasn’t been much rain. Too much rain dulls the beautiful blue colors of this river. The paths are well maintained but you should be in good physical condition to manage the steep paths. I highly suggest bringing a walking stick or two. A guide is not necessary, but you will see more wildlife if you hire one.

The reviews for this amazing waterfall were so confusing. The booking process as well. But the trail and waterfalls were absolutely amazing. We saw an eyelash viper along the trail. Probably the most beautiful waterfall I’ve seen. Doable with a 4 and 8 year old if you just want to see the falls. I’ve been around a lot of CR and believe me you don’t have want to miss this if you have the chance! Pura Vida!

You can only buy tickets online through SINAC Costa Rica website. You have to create an account to buy tickets & choose time of entry. We chose the first entry 8-8:40 A.M. We didn’t get a guide as we wanted to do the hike at our own pace…the trails are clearly marked with signage that explains the attractions. We completed the hike in 4 hours. Rating the hike as moderate. The park was beautiful & well maintained. We hiked different types of trails; paved paths, bridges, rocky trails, tree roots & some mud. The 250 stairs down to the waterfall are in good shape and dry as we went in February. The waterfall was as mesmerizing as I anticipated. The local legend story & the science behind the milky blue colour are equally fascinating. Expect rain in the rainforest…it rained on us for the first half hour. Use the bathroom before the hike as there are none inside the park…It would be nice if there’s one. Tips: Bring a light rain jacket, water & proper footwear. Parking is 2000 crc. Bags will be inspected at the park entrance. No cigarettes, vapes, single use plastics, food…

Lovely experience. A true wonder. We did the whole hike and everything was perfect. We hiked it without a guide and glad we did it that way. We spent as much time as we wanted in each spot. Wear hiking shoes, poles were very helpful. Have a pan go for drizzle or rain. Go early am. Make reservations in advance. Number of people on the trail is very well controlled. 10 out of 10 experience!

What a beautiful park.This is the best bang for your buck when it comes to the park admission fee.The trail is well maintained and fairly easy to walk. There are some steep sections on the way that may be hard depending on the shape you are in. The way back is downhill.We didn't see any wildlife, unfortunately, and regret not hiring a guide.This is a must-see.You are not allowed to go in the beautiful water, but at about 1 km down the road, you will cross a small bridge.That's the spot where you can go for a dip.During rain or just after a rainfall, it would be a muddy trail, and likely, the water would be too polluted to render its natural beauty.Don't miss this trail.PS: we rented a scooter and rode from La Fortuna. Thankfully, we had clear skies, and everything was dry. I'm an experienced rider, so it wasn't too bad on the scooter.However, it was very uncomfortable for my wife in the back.The experience was priceless, though.

Such an amazing area with Rio Celeste. We saw lots of birds, snacks, the Costa Rican raccoon, monkeys, and the cool waterfall. The hike is moderately challenging with a steep incline on the way in. There are about 200 steps down to the platform for the waterfalls. You can't swim there. There mosquitoes. So, where bug spray and long pants and shirt.

we went in December and Just missed the rain as it started right after we hiked out! Perfect timing. I heard if it rains before you go, the water may be brown, but luckily for us it was very blue. The hike to the fall was beautiful. The funny thing is (and now I am learning its like this everywhere where instagram has made famous) is that there was a line to get down the stairs to the fall because everyone was getting their picture taken. But overall it was a nice day. Just remember to book you pass to enter BEFORE you get there online! It was a hassle to do once we got there because we did not do it ahead of time.

Awesome hike! Go do it! Bring water and hit the earliest enterance by reservation. If you like the stair master at the gym this is for you 😀

4.7

(1726)

4.5

(1740)

Guanacaste Province, Guatuso, Costa Rica

7 lists

We come to Jaco beach for kids friendly surfing 🏄‍♀️. It’s a great beach to learn. Sand is not the greatest as it is mixed with dirt and there are some stones while you enter the water but once you walk I in to the water a little bit stones disappear.

This beach was my least favorite beach to visit in Costa Rica, the grounds were not well-kept, the people seemed sketchy, at one point we saw, women, soliciting, sex, as well as we saw a person shooting up. The beach itself very packed, but not very clean not our favorite.

Seems like a lovely beach, we did not stay long because we had other places to be. We did not manage to find a restroom. The town nearby was very busy and touristy

Incredible vistas to stop doing the road. Walk down to the rocky beach for crabs and breaking waves along the coast.

This beach is nice but i have seen nicer.The beach is clean however nothing compared to manuel antonio. There you will find a lot of activities to do, surfing, flying, jet ski, or just spend the day in the sun.Here the sand is darker. There are waves that you can use for surfing and depending on the day is high vs low waves but definitely worth a visit if you are in the area. After you cross in the water, there is an area in the sand that is all big and small rocks which makes it harder to cross and play with waves or surf especially on a day with strong waves. However there are beach beds and umbrellas that you can rent and not a whole lot of vendors selling you the good stuff you will find in manuel antonio like cold coconut, shaved ice and other goodies.Recommend.

It’s a nice place to enjoy yourself. I didn’t like to see litter around.It’s accesible and you’ll get a nice walk. There are always surfing lessons going on as well as people riding horses with the tours available for.

Great water in February, nice waves for paddle boarding, water is murky so don’t see a lot of fish but crabs running around. The beach is not crowded at all. Black sand mixed with rocks. Very dirty seems like no security, cleaning or any investment from the shore hotels. Occasional local entrepreneurs not too pushy.

Was much nicer when it was a quiet blistering hot beach with a fishing village and no tourist infrastructure when I first visited there in 1990. Now an ugly mix of old new and unfinished, ugly casinos and everything grim that goes with it. Some nice parts and it's close to San Jose

Be aware of people trying to reapp you off. Parking is free. Don't stop to talk to the guy. Food is very mediocre here, just eat somewhere else.

Nice place. If your looking for a white sands don't expect it from Jaco. If you love surfing, you can get a not so big waves but good enough to have fun.

I had the pleasure of visiting Jaco Beach, and I must say it exceeded all my expectations! This pristine stretch of coastline is a true tropical paradise, offering a perfect blend of relaxation and adventure.The beach itself is stunning, with golden sands that stretch for miles and the inviting waves of the Pacific Ocean. Whether you're a surfer looking for the perfect wave or someone wanting to unwind with a beachside stroll, Jaco Beach caters to all.The surrounding area is filled with vibrant energy, offering a variety of restaurants, bars, and shops. I highly recommend trying the local cuisine, especially the fresh seafood dishes. The laid-back atmosphere of Jaco town adds to the overall charm, making it a fantastic destination for both solo travelers and families.One highlight was the breathtaking sunset over the Pacific. The colors were mesmerizing, and the view was simply unforgettable. I also appreciated the efforts made to keep the beach clean and well-maintained.For those seeking adventure, Jaco offers a range of activities, from zip-lining through the lush rainforest to exploring nearby national parks. The local wildlife is diverse and adds an extra layer of excitement to the experience.The hospitality of the locals was exceptional, with friendly and welcoming faces everywhere. The surf culture is vibrant, creating a unique and lively atmosphere that adds to the overall charm of Jaco.In conclusion, Jaco Beach is a hidden gem on Costa Rica's Pacific Coast. Whether you're a nature enthusiast, adventure seeker, or simply looking for a tranquil escape, Jaco has it all. I highly recommend this destination to anyone looking for an unforgettable beach getaway. Can't wait to return!

Jaco Beach is a lovely beach we've been coming to for over 12 years and there are some changes since our last visit 4 years ago. It's still a soft surf and easy to ride waves, people barbequing and families flying kites, people learning how to surf. It has become very popular over the years; the weekends it's gotten very crowded. I like seeing that there are lifeguard stations but we didn't see them being used this 3 week visit....not once. Horseback riding is here too. PLEASE TAKE CAUTION! Once the sun sets (some of the most beautiful you'll ever see). Go home to where you are staying. It's quite rough with people who might want to take advantage of you or want your money. During the weekends you'll find people wanting money saying "I watched your car for you". They might try showing you an obvious parking spot and want money. It's ALWAYS been free to park here but they will target tourists.

All kind of things to do! Sunset horse ride, surf, canopy, skating,ets.Also good restaurants and coffee places.

Good for surfing in the south end. However if you wanna enjoy the beach go more North where it's cleaner with less sticks and or people's trash.

A bit rocky at low tide in some places but a great view of the waves. The sand gets crazy hot.

Dirty beach south of the sewer river. North of bridge much cleaner. This time of year lots of wood debris. Nice sunsets.

Fabulous city setting, this beach is one block from the main drag. It has a bit dirty water and sand due to its location but still is one of my favorite places to visit

Very nice clean beach. Walk every day

Beautiful sunset and great waves for surfing. Aesthetically not my favorite beach because of the dark, murky sand due to the proximity to the volcano I believe. Too many rock ashore. Pretty rocks for rock collectors though.

4.5

(1576)

4.0

(1665)

Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica

+12 other lists

A wonderful nature preserve with amazing biodiversity. A typical tour takes between 2 to 2.5 hours but you can go as fast or as slow as you desire. Guides are available (for an extra fee) and can make for a more rewarding experience. We walked about 60% of the trails before kids started to complain they were tired. Trails are dirt, or mud, and can be pretty steep at some points. This is a great place to visit May-December when the temperature is slightly lower and animals descend to lower elevations.

This park has a lot to offer. The trails are fairly easy - not too steep for the most part. There are beautiful vistas at every turn. We saw many animals without trying too hard: a sloth, agouti, coati, birds... The labyrinth and garden are also lovely. This would be a great park to do if you are feeling a little tired after other hikes in Monteverde and want somewhere chill to spend your time outdoors.

The morning wildlife tour was one of the most enjoyable experiences I had in Monteverde! Our guide was Jorge, and he was so pleasant and eager to show us whatever wildlife he could. We saw hummingbirds, toucans, toucanets, white faced capuchin monkeys and heard wild boar. Jorge was kind enough to take beautiful pictures with our phones through his telescope. He explained about the sounds animals make and the relationships between them. We enjoyed conversing with Jorge a lot, he has so much knowledge. Definitely worth it.

Gorgeous reserve teeming with wildlife. We spotted a rare ornate eagle with our guide, Johnny Loves Nature- highly recommended to help you get the most of your visit! While the entry price is a bit steep at $20 per person, we are glad to support conservation efforts and local jobs, and felt it was worthwhile for the experience. Make sure to get there midday at the latest so you’re not rushed- they close at 3:00.

Very good experience as we saw the Queztal here and many other birds ! We had a very good guide (David) who explained with passion interesting things about birds, reptiles and animals in general. Our tour was at 8am. Still good hour to see many animals digesting their first meal of the day!

Our guide, Pablo, provided an excellent night tour. Our group was small, and we saw owls, a Pit Viper snake, a two-toed sloth, lots of Brown Jays, spiders, and a sleeping Toucan. His night scope allowed us to capture photos and videos with our phones of these amazing creatures. Great job, Pablo!

Beautiful preserve! Lots of well- maintained trails around ponds, valleys, and huge old trees. We saw the mokmok and got lucky with a late-season quetzal!

Peaceful, gorgeous reserve for several hours of hiking. We chose to explore without a guide, but still saw lots of wildlife on our own: butterflies, hummingbirds, a wolf spider, agoutis, etc.If you're interested in seeing all the birds, you should probably have a guide. Otherwise, just take your time and watch carefully.

Jorge was our guide. He was very knowledgeable on the all the wildlife and forrest. We would've never saw any animals without the guide. I definitely recommend a guide.

We enjoyed the most tranquil walk at Curi-Cancha Reserve. We did a self-guided tour, and spent about two hours slowly walking three miles through the park. We enjoyed the sounds of the forest, spotting animals and birds along the way. We arrived at 7:15am and saw only a few people during our time in the park. Would recommend starting your day here!

Curi Cancha is a wonderful preserve near Monteverde. We had a highly knowledgeable guide with good English skills. They preserve is well constructed with wide trails providing access to all the places you might see birds and other wildlife.This is a very highly rated birding site but if it wasn't for our guide, I would have missed most of them. The guides can easily identify birds by their calls, making it much easier to find them in the dense forest. As they do this daily, they know pretty much what birds are there and where to find them.If you are in the area and enjoy birds you won't want to miss this place.

We combined the night tour here with a natural history walk at the cloud forest reserve and must say this was really a good idea. This place is though no cloud forest, but is home to many interesting animals and birds that we could not see in the cloud forest. We saw tucan, tarantula , baby frogs, green viper, Scorpio. Our guide is 20 years in the business and super experienced. He explained a lot and told funny stories and helped us with taking photos. That is really wonderful experience we would recommend further definitely.

We went here to spot the Quetzal and other birds, but didn't hire a guide. We had heard from others to visit the avocado tree near the open gardens and we got there to find lots of people watching a few male quetzals fly around. It was amazing to spot them and watch them dart around! We really enjoyed the forest and did a full lap of the area, including the puma trail walk. We didn't see anyone else in this part of the forest and enjoyed the stunning views. We saw an armadillo at the end snuffling in the flowers. Highly recommend.

Excellent tour. We went with Roy and he was excellent. If you're going to go a Parque, be sure to go with a guide. We would have missed a lot if Roy hadn't been there to point things out

Great reserve off the beaten path which is worth the money. Less tourists means more nature, we saw so many Coatis, Agutis, White-Faced Capuccins and Colibris that we lost count. Park is really well-maintained

Enjoyed our walk. Very quiet and not very busy reserve. We didn't take a guide, but saw some birds, flowers, coati's and more. Just missed the quetzal, enjoyed the trek to the continental divide aka the window. Trails were wide and easy. Took the bus to the reserve from Santa Elena and walked back with good sidewalks.

This reserve is beautiful and you are able too see many animals. They have many trails and rest areas that you can enjoy going to. I would recommend going with a guide because they are able to spot animals faster and know were too look as they know their preferences. Also, we decided to go here instead of another reserve because the guide told us that because of the season there was more probability os seeing animals there.

Our group enjoyed our tour and night walk! We were able to see a variety of species. It’s a bit slow moving and you need to be in the right place at the right time. Wishing transportation was coordinated with the tour as we needed to call our own taxi to and from

We had the bird watching tour of a lifetime with David. Best guide ever. I can still sense his enthusiasm two weeks after our time with him. We saw 41 species in one morning. David made every effort possible for us to see the elusive Quetzal, but we would have to wait. We hardly got into the park for seeing so many birds. Insist on David as your guide!

We did a guided tour here (offered by the Park) and a guided tour of MonteVerde yesterday led by an independent guide. Both guides were excellent, but we enjoyed Curi-Cancha much more. It may have been the luck of the draw as we did see more animals at Curi-Cancha (Capuchin and Spider monkeys, agoutis, coatis, pelican, etc.), but also the park was not as crowded as Monteverde and has more secondary forests and open areas which makes it more conducive to see animals.

Very enjoyable visit. Saw a variety of birds & a Central American Coral Snake.The gardens at the end were well tended too.

Curi-Cancha reserve exceeded expectations! The diversity of bird species is astounding, and the natural beauty is unparalleled. For an even more enriching experience, I highly recommend the private birdwatching tour. The knowledgeable guide enhanced the adventure, providing valuable insights into the vibrant avian life. A must-visit for bird enthusiasts seeking an intimate and educational encounter with Costa Rica's incredible biodiversity.

4.6

(1221)

4.5

(1334)

300 m noroeste Fabrica de Quesos Monteverde, 60109, Costa Rica

Review of the zip line, as we didn’t stay at the hotel. As a rookie zip liner, wasn’t sure what to expect… the guides are great and you ease into things. Felt safe and secure the whole time. Beautiful route through pretty waterfalls while you hear the screech of howler monkeys waiting to jump off. The truck ride to the starting point is pretty intense with the rocky road. Wear bug spray liberally if you’re prone to bug bites.

Recovering from the pandemic, the small staff go out of for way to make sure you are happy and taken care of. It's a long, hard drive up the mountain but the view is so worth it. Given some time to continue to recover, this place could easily be 5⭐!

This review is mostly in regards to the management. The tour guides and the zip lines were amazing. However please make sure to negotiate and agree on final price before you making the trip up to this place. We were changed $71 initially for the ziline tour and then after they talked with our Driver decided to bump it up to $89 per person saying they made a mistake. I mean I get they have to share their profit with the tour guide for bringing customers there. But having to pay closer to extra $100 for 5 people is bit ridiculous. So just be careful and agree on the price before making the trek up that mountain. The 25 ziplines (yes 25!) do cross some waterfalls and has 2 decent rappelling over 2 waterfalls. However the lines are very short except for one. So I would prefer some other Ziplines with better management over this one next time especially given the fact this is totally out of the way of other attractions.

We stayed here for one night because I thought it would be different and fun compare to the normal hotels.I was wrong. The room itself is alright. It's almost too basic but at least it was clean. There is no wifi at all however. We went to the office asking about it. They told us to try to get on a different network then sent us back. There is NO another different network. I work in the IT industry... I know what I am doing! The office just wanted us to leave them along or they don't know what they are talking about. The hotel ground is not well maintained. The Advertised trampoline is not in working order. The pool looked not well kept and not inviting. The maze is over grown, obviously not loved.Now the worst part is the owner, a German lady. She has this insufferable attitude and made me feel very unwelcome. I thought it was me who she didn't like. Later on we verified from an independent source that is how she always is and treats everyone! She is on her 70s and maybe running this hotel is not her dream job. It really shows!The next day, we did zipline tour. That was good.But I would not stay here again and probably would not zip line here again due to the overall experience.

Checking in was great. Zipline was VERY good with 26 stations.- They let us check in early and gave us a nicer unit (blue room #21), which had beautiful ocean views, a very large patio with comfortable patio chairs.- Although the beds were comfortable, the top sheet on the Queen and King beds was much to small. The fitted sheet was fine.- There was no fridge or microwave in the unit. Ice was available from the restaurant.- There was a cone filter drip coffee maker, which we used. No coffee cups though.- The room safe didn't work- The wifi was VERY VERY spotty in the unit. It worked best by the pool.- My Kolbi SIM did not work at all here, neither data nor cell phone / text coverage. Seems it is to high in the mountains for coverage.- There is no warm or hot water for washing hands. The 1 shower did have warm water if you turned it on just right. The other shower only had cold water.- The wall mounted air conditioning unit worked well.- The ceiling fan worked but sounded like a dying penguin when it was running so unusable.- the flat screen TV worked but was small.- The on-site restaurant is decent. There is a nice variety available and the chef offers a seafood and a regular dinner special most days. Last night was shish kababs... 1 skewer each of beef, chicken and shrimp with salad for 8000 colones (~$16 CAD, ~$12 USD).- there are lights installed throughout the complex so that you can see at night walking from your unit to the restaurant and back.

The other places double booked, so we ended here. The local guy running the place is super friendly and helpful. He also arranged a driver to El Roble for us.The view from the restaurant is spectacular. The room was a bit worn out, and a dead bug on the floor could indicate that the cleaning was done several days ago.

Great family-owned place to go relax with an awesome view of Golfo de Nicoya. Food was great, and so was the Big Papa package, which me and my 7 year old enjoyed!

We were a group of 10 doing the canopy. It was lots of fun.

Wow! What an experience! We did the ziplines but wished we had stayed. The hotel looks very nice. The guides were great and the views were amazing! The ride up the mountain is an adventure on it's own. The waterfalls and views are awesome.

Super 👌 recommend the Canopy has beautiful sceneries..more than 2 hours going down the mountain with waterfalls ..If you like adrenaline you have to do this adventure..love it

We came here for the zip lining in April 2023. Beautiful spot at top of a mountain. Drive there is a little steep and bumpy but if we can make it in a Yaris, carefully, so can you.The guides were wonderful - loved their job and were so overall pleasant. Great sense of humor.

We did not stay at the hotel. This rating is for the zipline adventure. We drove 90 min to get there but it was definitely worth it. At least one guide spoke English. They gave good instructions.We had 24 lines running thru the rainforest with a water fall creek right under us. 1/3 of the way down, we got to stop and swim at the bottom of the falls. That was refreshing.

We didn’t stay at the hotel but we came for the zip lines. It was so fun. Wagner and the other guides were awesome. I loved when we got to swim in the waterfall. Amazing views and a memorable experience. The lunch was great and the lady cooking and serving the food was so nice.

After driving for 2 hours in mountainous terrain in the pitch black night of 11pm, we arrive at the hotel. They were extra thoughtful to stay up for us checking in late.We get our room, I wake up to daylight, and after opening the blinds, this is what I see. I was dumbfounded. The lounge like area had a beautiful view of mountains, goats, the ocean, wild birds, etc. Breakfast itself was satisfying.Overall we had a spectacular experience.

4.4

(340)

5.0

(218)

Tajo Alto 150, Provincia de Puntarenas, Miramar, 60401, Costa Rica

We went on the boat trip today and Adrian our guide was fantastic. We saw lots of crocodiles (adult and baby) and different wildlife. Adrian was really knowledgeable and shared some really interesting facts about Costa Rica and the animals. My children loved it. Thank you to Adrian and the team for a great morning. They even organised transport for us to get to the river, as we hadn’t hired a car. Highly recommend.

Pictures do not do justice how amazing this tour was and how much fun we had. Not only did we get to see a bunch of crocodiles but we also got to see a wide variety of birds and learn about them too. I feel bad for the only bird watching tour because they missed out on a lot more fun.Our guide was funny as hell always cracking jokes and so engaging that not once did I think the tour was boring. He was constantly talking and engaging with everyone. Explaining what's happening and what they are doing.I've got to give points to the the guy that coaxed out the crocodiles with the raw chicken. He's a crazy brave man.

Highly recommend Jose’s Crocodile River Tour! We saw a ton of crocs (happened to be the end of mating season and the start of the rainy season) and the staff was highly knowledgeable on the wildlife. We were lucky to be the the only ones on the tour, which was very nice of them to take us out on a private trip. We booked through WhatsApp the day of and the owner was very responsive. As of this review, it was $40 per adult and $30 for a child, and tour times were quoted at 10, 12 or 2 (last one of the day). Upon arrival we were offered coffee, water, wifi and the opportunity to use the restroom. FYI, the driver of the boat got out on the bank of the river and fed the crocs. You won’t be disappointed! (Visited 5/13/2022)

We had a great time on the boat. Our guide and boatman were very very knowledgeable and friendly. Hansel and Juan Carlos, thank you for showing us almost 30 species of birds and animals!

Had a great time on this tour seen so many birds and crocs. It's not long at all and get a bottle of water halfway thru. The kid feeding the crocs took my go pro and got some serious close ups during the feeding.

Wonderful experience. Me and my girlfriend went on a tour with them today and definetly the best of the best. Can’t even tell if the tour or the tour guides were better!

Fun boat trip. We didn't see many crocodiles, but the variety of birds was stunning. The boats were nice and clean, and the guide was very knowledgeable. There were clean restrooms at the gift shop. Prices at the shop were high

Great visit. Plenty of wildlife, lots of bird varieties, and 3 or 4 crocodiles too.Well worth a visit.

Great boat and guides, he knew the river well. Pointed out many birds species and several crocodiles.

Good tour of the river and its wildlife. Knowledgeable and friendly guide

Fantastic! Jose was a terrific guide, very knowledgeable about the crocodiles, birds and other wildlife we saw. The boat was clean and comfortable to be on, he gave us water to drink as well during the tour, definitely a must do in the area!!

This was so fun, and so worth the time and cost. Our tour guide, Jesus, and driver were able to show us some awesome animals, and they were so fun to talk with and listen to. The river was so peaceful and it was so great to be able to see crocodiles up close and personal. We were fortunate that they were able to get us on the next tour at short notice. Everyone was very friendly and it all combined to make a great experience.

4.7

(900)

5.0

(618)

Q9GF+R9X, Puntarenas Province, Tarcoles, Costa Rica

2 lists

Monteverde is a unique biosphere full of different species of birds and animals , some very unique to cloud forest. This place is quite isolated and could take time to reach depending on road and weather. However it’s totally worth it. You will be rewarded with extra ordinary views and scenery. If you want to find birds or snakes, it’s highly recommended to hire a guide, they exactly know how to find the right places to spot and also you learn a ton of things

These forests are so interesting and easy to navigate. Well maintained accessible paths lead you into another world. The canopy is teaming with life. Maybe, if you arrive early enough, you might catch a glimpse of the elusive camouflaged wildlife. Or just enjoy the diverse flora and fauna all around you.

Listen closely here...Hire a guide! You'll be glad you did. Ours, had 18 years experience and was incredibly helpful. We reserved online, and our guide was waiting for us at the entry gate. You'll need to park at the established parking lot down the road from the main gate area, (restrooms are available), where the shuttle will pick you up and drop you off at the entry and gate area. We spent two hours walking the trails...with our guide and his spotting scope...(looking straight up 99% of our time). Now I understand why there's a massage table at the lodge. Haha we didn't see as much as we thought we would. A sleeping Sloth, a coiled viper snake, and some interesting bird species, but nothing like we thought...and I guarantee...we wouldn't have spotted anything on our own. The canopy is just too thick and high...remember, hire a guide. It's worth the time, energy, and the pot filled gravel roads to come here though. It's a special place for sure...get here while ya can!

The Cloud Forest was a magical place. There is no parking by the way closer to the park so we paid $5 to park like 1.3km away and then we took a shuttle - but it was okay. The hike took us to a small waterfall to the left followed by a beautiful epic walk through the cloud forest to the right. The miradors are just phenomenal. Highly recommend.

Very beautiful park with good hikes. Unfortunately when we went, it was very cloudy and we could not see anything from the viewpoints. But hiking in between their reserve is amazing. You can make it a couple of hours visit, by just doing the main trail, or you can spend the full day there as well doing all the hikes. In the entrance they also have a good restaurant. They offer parking for additional 5 dollars. It is located about 5min before the park and there is a little bus taking people from the parking lot to the park entrance and vice versa. It is well organized.

Absolute MUST, MUST, MUST visit. The trails are well planned and safe. They’re not too difficult and rugged but you are still immersed in nature. We decided not to get a guide as we had limited time. We managed to do all of the trails in about 3.5 hours, of course stopping for pictures and to bask in nature. The top of the trail that leads to the Continental Divide is spectacular. There’s no jaw-dropping views because the views are CLOUDS! At the top, you are standing amongst the clouds, which I thought was pretty cool.Buy your tickets in advance, if you’re not with a tour group. If you’re driving, they have a parking area ($5 per car in advance when you book the ticket) about 5 minutes from the actual park. They provide the shuttle bus that comes every few minutes. There are free parking spots along the road leading up to the park on either side, but space is limited, not guaranteed and could be difficult to get in and out of, so proceed with caution if you decide that route.

Very interesting place! Even though (but maybe because) it was raining towards the end when we visited, the experience walking thru the forest with its very specific vegetation was great. The suspension bridge is a pretty cool place, walking high up above the ground. Really likes it.

We went on the 6am birding tour. Our guide was amazing and very knowledgeable. He helped us take pictures and identify the birds. We got there before the park opened and were able to park right outside the gate. Between the time the park opened at 7am and 7:40am, the park reached capacity, and they had to close their sales. Get there early! The hummingbirds are just outside the main park by the cafe.

If you are in the area, do not miss this. I highly recommend taking a guided tour. I was in a group of only two people with a terrific guide, Mauricio. He has worked there for about 15 years and he is just full of knowledge. He also has an uncanny ability to spot cool birds and set up his equipment so you can see them too. He was also very kind and fun. The surroundings are stunning, I learned so much about the local plant and animal life and the things that make the cloud forest so special and unique. Walking through there gave me a sense of the timelessness of nature and strongly clarifies how important these environments are to all life on earth. Beautiful and thought provoking experience.On the way out stopped at the hummingbird area and that was super fun. If you've never had hummingbirds whipping past your head, you will want that experience before you die.

Amazing!This was a beautiful park. We visited in September which is the rainy season but we got there early and so were able to hike all the trails before the afternoon rain. We opted not to pay for the tour or a guide and were still able to see a lot of different plants, animals, and insects. It was very peaceful and quiet and we didn’t see anyone else for the first hour we were there. I imagine that will be different in the sunny season. This is well worth the $25 each.

This was one of my favorite things we did in Costa Rica, top 3 for sure! Although I like this kind of stuff, it was quite, beautiful, and all the plants and fungi were amazing. We enjoyed our time walking around, just wish we had more time, I would say give yourself 2hrs to walk and see the bridge and waterfall and take in the beauty of the place.

We were probably rushing, but completed most of the trails ( waterfall, bridge and the deck with a view) within 2.5 hours. I recommend spending way more time in this beautiful reserve, but if you are short on time you'll still see a lot of cool things.

A rain free walk through the forest was enjoyed for about 4 hours. We didn’t get a guide, and we didn’t see much wildlife. But we enjoyed the forest and a keeping our own pace. Had a warm drink to break up the day. Parked at the trailhead for free no problem.

Beautiful tropical forest. We were able to see some animals while in the trails.Off street parking was easy on a weekday. Tickets are sold per day so worth going and spending the full day there.

We spent a wonderful wet and cloudy day in the reserve. We walked virtually all of the trails ( about 13km) and hardly saw any wildlife at all!Seriously, it was the perfect way to experience the Cloud Forest. Whilst some blue skies and a view of the Continental Divide would have been ideal, it was just amazing to be able to spend a day walking through the lush, green forest and ferns, and experience one of the rarest habitats on earth.We did see some spider monkeys very briefly and caught a glimpse of a pair of Resplendent Quetzals, but other than that, just greenery.If you really want to see wildlife, you maybe disappointed, especially if it's raining. Go to experience the forest.We got their early (7.30am) and paid at the reception to get in. ( Didn't need to book in advance) We didn't use a guide.The trails are really easy to follow and we'll signposted so it's very hard,if not impossible, to get lost. There are some less popular narrow and steep trails where we felt alone and very peaceful. We loved those!Your entrance receipt means you can go in and out as many times as you want in a day. So if you want to walk some trails, then come out and have lunch in the cafe, and go back in, that is allowed. The cafe has humming bird feeding stations so you can watch them while you drink your coffee!

Beautiful place! Must include when visiting Costa Rica. Well maintained and clear hiking trails. They have posted signs at various locations to educate you on local flora and fauna. I’d recommend Hiking shoes or shoes with non slippery soles.

Absolutely worth the trip up the winding, dirt roads to this ecological wonder. I didn’t do a guided tour, opting instead to hike and tour the grounds by myself. Interpretive trails still provide lots of information along your path. I spent about 3 hours exploring the trail system, listening for birds and observing the diverse array of nature that makes up the rare Cloud Forest. I would gladly go again and spend much more time here. Admission is $26 and parking is $5, unless you arrive early enough to park along the road.

We bought our tickets very early morning so we would have the whole place to ourselves. Took many great photos and the clouds looked like fog. The greenery was great and the red bridge fit perfectly in photos. Highly recommend getting tickets early morning. Also, there was a restaurant that had hummingbird feeders and we got many good pictures of hummingbirds.

Beautiful forest and not too crowded! Great views from the Mirador. Make sure to come in time as there are always 3h slots that fill up quickly. I think 7 am is the first and I went at 9 and had to wait till 10:30am to enter the park!

In all honesty I did not choose to do a guided tour of this forest. I’m on a budget and therefore I did a self guided tour and it was excellent. I didn’t see many animals but the hike was lovely. Great viewpoints and a nice 6km route

4.5

(4899)

4.5

(3782)

Puntarenas Province, Monteverde, Costa Rica

3 lists

A wonderful tour. Definitely book a guide who knows what they’re doing. Our guide knew every animal along the way and spotted things we would’ve easily missed.From toucans to vipers and bats to unique plants, our guide picked them all out and highlighted them for us to see.We even saw a poison dart frog!Well worth the visit. Even if you hate heights as much as I do. It was a great experience overall.

WOW, we had been told that the hanging bridges were okay but not wonderful. We disagree. It was a fun adventure with many animals to see. We went in the afternoon and saw 2 different vipers, spider monkeys, squirrels, raccoon like critters, different birds, beautiful views of Volcan Arenal, not to mention the swinging bridges. Some children may not like it so much if they are not interested in animals.Our guide, Alonso C. from Jacamara Tours was excellent. He gave the group options as we went along the trail. He was able to spot a variety of animals and told us a lot of information not only about the animals but also many of the plants too.

This is a worthwhile excursion! The preserve is breathtakingly beautiful & very well maintained. The only reason I gave 4 stars instead of 5 is because half the park was closed off for maintenance. It seems they should offer a reduced price ticket or maybe a voucher for a drink from the restaurant if patrons are paying full price for a ticket, but not able to see the full park.Note: We did a self guided tour & saw wildlife, but if I could do it again I would do a guided tour.

I reserved the entrance tickets with a tour guide online. Highly recommend to book it a few days in advance to get the time slot you want. It's best to go early to enjoy a cooler walk. Our group was 8 people so two families.In general, it's a one time kinda thing for us. The walk was about 2.5 hours. So not recommend for little kids. They will get tired and cranky. Plus to be honest it was hard to see the animals. The animals were fast moving and even with the telescope you can't see very much . We saw a ball of hair which was the slot. We did see the snake very clearly. And some monkey up top. The park was crowded. One group bump into the next, the tour guide helps each other to point out and locate the animals they saw. There was a bit of traffic waiting to cross the hanging bridge.

I highly recommend this experience. It's a longer walk than I expected. A nice full experience with beautiful views of Arenal volcano. If you haven't seen enough animals in Costa Rica yet, pay the extra for a tour because the guides will find things you never could. The bridges feel safe and the place is well made. It is not accessible. Dirt road to get there. Plan 2 hours minimum but 3 is better.

Very enjoyable two hours. Lots of beautiful flowers and jungle animals. Walkways and bridges are well maintained and clean. The walk didn’t feel crowded and most of our two hour walk was by ourselves.We visited the waterfall which was well worth the extra time and distance.We felt that this activity was well worth the price. Good exercise too…. The total distance without shortcuts and the waterfall was just over two miles(3.4km).

This is a magical place. The reason why I gave it 4 start and not 5 is because I do think it is overpriced. I went on august 2023 with my son and I paid $51 for both of us. We walked the loop in about and hour and a half and that was it. Once again, I do want to emphasize that this place is beautiful and it is amazing. The views are incredible and the bridges are super cool. On top of that all the employees that I spoke to were very friendly and helpful. As I wrote earlier, my 4 star rating is because of the steep fee. I do recommend the place even if it pours rain on you like it did on us.

Enjoyed the walk and views. Heard monkeys which was fun. Trails are very nice and maintained. 10/23/2023 some bridges are under construction. Saw some wildlife. It did rain but the coverage from the trees helped a lot to keep us somewhat dry. Picnic areas, pack a lunch and enjoy the jungle. Close toe shoes. For the price extend your stay and plan to stay for a half day. Relax and enjoy don’t rush! @$26 each plus tax. I think the total for two was $62 US

We did the Natural History guided tour and it was amazing! Everyone enjoyed it from 5 to 50 years old. Our guide was Donald, we saw numerous animals in their natural habitat, we would have never spotted on our own. Highly recommended. The park is very well taken care off, restrooms available, restaurants, ample parking. Would deffianetly recommend it to anyone! The park is shaded, despite a sunny day, it was a very pleasant walk. Please don't skip this one! You can hike on your own, or you can hike with a guide.

Beautiful walk through the rain forest and the hanging bridges were great fun.We did not take the guided tour. Only 4 stars as a guide was showing a frog to his group and told my kid no as we weren't park of the group.Didn't really see many creatures however a lovely hike.

Totally worth the price! We had such a great time! We saw monkeys, coatis, and cool birds. We came upon a group looking at a sloth, but it moved deeper into the branches, so we didn't get to see it. We chose to go without a guide, and in my opinion, it was still just as enjoyable. I didn't feel like I missed out on anything. The trail is really well maintained. The facilities at the trailhead were clean. To be honest, they were some of the nicest public bathrooms we've seen... even in the States and Europe. There are no bathrooms or water on the trail. They have an accessible trail in the park for those who need assistance. We brought our own binoculars and lots of water. We could have brought more water, so don't underestimate how much water you'll drink. We came at 9, but wished we had come earlier because I think we would have seen more wildlife. We took our time walking around, so it took about 3 hours.

We enjoyed not having a tour guide and going at our own pace. Beautiful scenery and surroundings. If we had a tour guide, we would have had more wildlife that we could have seen through a telescope,but we had experienced that on other toursNot handicap friendlyFamily friendlyWorth itYou have "bail out" spots if you don't want to commit to the entire loop

So glad we decided to do this hike even though there were storm clouds and light rain. We debated hiring a guide, but decided against it because of reviews here. We ended up catching up with a group who had a guide and they took us right in! The best part was, we saw what we needed to see with the other group’s guide, but we could break off and go explore on our own without a group slowing us down. There’s a really nice trail before one of the bridges that takes you to a waterfall (we would’ve missed it if with a guide). We saw many monkeys in the trees! The grounds are gorgeous, the bridges exhilarating, and the view of the volcano at the end was stunning! Great last minute decision. The rain made the experience even more magical. There’s enough tree cover that we really didn’t get wet.

A nice hike on well paved pathways. The area is beautiful but we did not see many animals as we had 10AM reservations. We found out later that you need to arrive/have reservations at opening to see the most wildlife. None of the trails are strenuous if you’re in decent shape. Be aware, the road into the park is steep.

Loved this experience! Super cool to walk along suspension bridges. I am personally afraid of heights, but this felt very safe and I ended up really having fun. There are some incredible views on the bridges. Highly recommend. This seems more like a family-friendly place and less for solo travelers (like me) but regardless, I had a great time:)

I visited late morning during the week and it was pretty empty on the trail which was nice. I didn't book a guide, just had a walk on my own. I did bump into 3 other groups with guides and asked what they were looking at. Twice it was a snake. For me, I am not disappointed missing out on that. The other time, I didn't have to ask because I could hear the guide going on and on about a fern. On my own I spotted a toucan, so that was very nearly worth the price of admission. But I still feel like it was too expensive at $30 something dollars just for me to take a hike. The hanging bridges aspect was "meh". Didn't see much from above. So maybe it is more amazing with a guide, but I am sure it takes longer and I am not convinced it is that much more amazing.

Fun activity, bridges are high up and can be difficult to walk on with others on the bridge, but felt stable.Tours seemed to go slow, but I walk with purpose. I passed 4 tours on my way despite enjoying the scenery.Great pics of Arenal on a clear day.

We opted for a guided tour and it was well with the extra $32 (for the two of us). Julio was an amazing guide and told us all about the area and the wildlife... But more importantly spotted the animals and pointed them out so we could see and take photos. How he spotted them I don't know, but without his direction it would have just been a nice walk, without seeing anything. Has to be a must if you're in the area.

We chose the guided tours and are so happy we did. Gabby, our guide spotted so much wildlife. Her superpower is great hearing and eyesight. Her knowledge of the jungle and the wildlife with in was astounding. Had we taken the tour without a guide we would not have seen the wildlife we did. My husband is scared of heights, but it was me that was whimpering! They are very safe to cross and well worth the three hour tour.

We visited the hanging bridges on a Tuesday midday. It was not too busy. Beautiful scenery and very enjoyable hike through the jungle, the hanging bridges are beautiful and little scary to walk through, but worth it. Lots of wildlife, we got to see yellow snake 🐍 , monkey 🙈 heard many monkeys from far we didn’t get to see them all. Call and reserve your spot ahead a time since they sell out. Staff is very friendly and fun. We called them same day and was able to arrange it. Must see when you visit the area.

This park was better than I expected, much bigger, denser forest, not overly touristy. We went at 8am and there was almost no one there. It was pouring rain for most of the 1.5 hours we spent there, but it was expected. We didn’t see a great variety of animals but it was quiet and peaceful and we thoroughly enjoyed our time spent there.

We had a really amazing time walking through the jungle with our guide Edgar. He was extremely knowledgable about both local plants and animals, and was able to show us families of howler monkeys, multiple kinds of vipers, and a variety of rare birds- some of which he only sees every two or so weeks. He really emphasized the ecological diversity of the forest and the way each plant and animal plays a specific yet equally important role in the overall ecosystem.And of course, the hanging bridges were pretty incredible. I would say this park is a absolute must see if you’re staying in La Fortuna.

Beautiful scenery and park. The lunch/food situation was extremely confusing and disappointing. We paid for lunch in advance but there was no buffet as advertised. We had a wrist band for our meal but the instructions were totally unclear has to how to actually get our food. We ended up having to order from a menu and then 3 or 4 tables that arrived after us were served before us. We were very hungry and frustrated. The chicken with rice had only a few small bits of shredded chicken.

We had a phenomenal time at the hanging bridges rain forest. It was an impressive setup and we were told that they built the facility with a layout that makes it almost certain you see some incredible species. They are handicap accessible and even offer scooters. There are stairs in some places but I think those are off-the-main trail paths. The hanging bridges were really cool as well and gave you a glimpse of the volcano as well as the overall rainforest. We saw an owl that apparently was a huge deal. You can tell it is when all your guides take pictures on their phone and tell you that’s the best thing they’ve seen in months.

Amazing experience and would recommend for anyone. Hike was medium. There were small kids and elders doing it, and there are benches you can stop to sit at. Saw so much wildlife - 2 species of monkey, eyelash viper, poison dart frog, coati, birds. I recommend going with a guide if you want wildlife pointed out because it’s very easy to miss! They also know so much about the flora and can explain many interesting things along the way.

4.6

(8377)

4.5

(1828)

2km este de la represa del Lago Arenal, La Fortuna de, Provincia de Alajuela, La Fortuna, 21007, Costa Rica

Such a great experience while we were in Costa Rica. Gustavo went the extra mile to make our experience wonderful.

I can’t even begin to say how thankful I was to find this place and how much fun I had! It was my favorite part of my entire trip! Adrian was our guide and he was the best! He was kind and we enjoyed his conversations. He took lots of video and pictures too. The horses are well cared for and so well behaved. The beach was beautiful and not full of people. The ride was just breathtaking. We had so much fun and will be back for sure! Gustavo was also very friendly and was kind enough to give us a ride back to Jaco because there were no Uber’s in the area. This place is the best horse company around.

It was 4 of us, we all had a great time. The guide/owner took a lot of pictures and videos. Very well behaved horses n easy to ride. Highlight of the trip.

These horses love Diego and are clearly loyal to him, but are conditioned to allow for some independence so their rider can have their own experience. The saddles are fitted, well padded and are not only beautifully made, but also worn nice n smooth. He handmakes his own halter and bitless bridles. (Smart, effective and humane!) Their feet are trimmed and healthy, their eyes calm and content. Just watch Diego go around his horses, how he tacks them up, how they stand calmly for him. This is a horseman who is in it for his love of horses. If you want a barn with fancy stalls and landscaping and clipped horses, you're expectations of the Costa Rican ranch are way off. We felt very safe with him. Gentle guidance with a sparkle of kindness in his eye...and clearly the community loves him too, judging by the personable greetings he received from everyone we encountered. The food and view were fantastic (see photo)! The tour is very informal and adapted to the demands of that day so don't expect a choreographed itinerary. Go with the flow and allow yourself to savor the contagious joy of horses with Diego. Thank you, Diego for a dream-come-true ride! (And Happy Birthday, David Bowie! Rest in peace)

Excellent ride at sunset with the family. Costa Rican cowboys Gustavo, Diego, and Adrian are very friendly and helpful. Adrian lead our ride and took great photos and videos. Horses are well trained and easy to ride. Very pleased with this ride.

We just went riding with Adrian and Gustavo today. This was such an incredible experience--a perfect day. The horses were beautiful and well-behaved, the beach was gorgeous, and Adrian was a fantastic guide. I was with my 12-year-old horse-loving daughter. Adrian really listened to her and what she wanted to do, and gave her the opportunity to walk, trot, canter, and gallop along the beach. This was really her dream come true. I felt the whole time that she was safe in such good hands, and I felt comfortable enough to trot, which I'm usually not secure about. He also took amazing photos for her -- she hasn't stopped looking at them all afternoon, she is so happy. Adrian also showed us beautiful birds and plants, we loved learning about these. He and his brother, Gustavo, were also such interesting and kind people. What an amazing day, I can't recommend this highly enough.A couple of tips -- you can leave your stuff at the restaurant where the tour leaves from and returns to; wear Keen's or similar -- your feet will get wet; you can arrange to stay on at the beautiful beach after the tour. I'm so glad we did this, the beach was empty, the water was warm. There is a riptide, so you can't go out too far, but still so great.Take this tour!

10 Stars! Had a great time Horseriding at the beach with my 11yr old daughter and guide Gustavo. We are experienced riders, had a nice trip with galop too. Horses Maryachy and Mango are well trained and Gustavo takes good care of the horses. Gustavo is really friendy, speaks spanish and english. Makes great photographs so we have souvenirs :-). Really enjoyed and would recommend! Thanks Gustavo! Pura Vida!

Happy, well-trained horses! what an amazing adventure riding with Adrian Solis. Kind, respectful, knowledgeable gentleman who took the time to take AMAZING photos and videos while I was riding! truly went the extra mile... and WOW, what AMAZING horses he has! Can't wait to go back and ride with Adrian again. ;-)

Magic. Pure magic. The best thing we did on our honeymoon- Gustavo and Adrian ensured we had the best sunset ride catered to me as a lifetime rider and my husband on his 2nd ride ever. If you only go one place and do one thing on your Costa Rica vacation - please do this.

4.7

(67)

5.0

(471)

sunrise avenue, rancho monterey, Provincia de Puntarenas, Esterillos Este, 60901, Costa Rica

1 list

This place was great pools are right outside and they keep one of the pools open 24 hours each night just need to ask reception which one. Breakfast is included which is always a plus. The entire place is clean, rooms are clean which is of course acceptable. Only thing I had a problem with was the balcony window didn't close well and the person in the room next to us kept smoking out there and the smoke got in our room and that was really annoying but other than that we loved the place! we will definitely be back!

I came on a tour bus. Stayed for 2 hours. Lockers and showers are convenient. However to get to the hot springs the cars intersect with the path to the hot springs so you're dodging cars to and from the locker and the multiple hot springs. Poor setup.The hot springs were good. Lots of room. Brought my towel instead of paying.Dinner was not great. The steak was red and chewy. The salad was great. Main dishes not so much. The guava drink was enjoyable.

I did a day trip here. I didn't spend the night. The hot springs are absolutely phenomenal. The separate pools offer something for everyone. The place is very clean, the staff were friendly.The lunch buffet wasn't great. Simple enough fare, chicken, pulled pork, rice, fruit as long as it was watermelon or pineapple. Even the fruit was not really up to the standard I've learned in Costa Rica.

We had a great time at the baldy Hot springs. They have a ton of different pools with different temperatures. And the place is done really well. Very clean. And although it rains all the times the canopies and the rain covers do a good job of covering you if you do not want to get wet. The water slides are also pretty fun. There is one that is a little more intense than the rest, and need to get past around a little bit.

We've been here for day passes to the pools twice over the past 18 months. It's a great way to spend an afternoon, drifting from pool to pool, experiencing the different temperatures and features like waterfalls, saunas, slides.Most of the pools have swim-up bars for ordering drinks (and maybe food?) Wasn't very crowded during our three hours there, but there were noticeably more people by the time we left.The grounds overall are clean and well-maintained, giving some sense of being in the jungle. You may even spot some tropical birds moving through the palms and other plants.We did not stay at the hotel, so I cannot opine on the rooms and accommodations. But all staff that we encountered were courteous and friendly.We would definitely go back a third time if in La Fortuna again.

These hot pools were amazing! The temperatures were all different, which made it really nice. The natural steam room was very cool. The price is about $45 per person, but if you're there all day, it would be worth it. There is plenty for adults and kids. I would recommend you visit if you're in the area.

It was a beautiful, reasonably priced hot spring. It’s fun to wander and test out the different pools, they also have paths through the trees that are fun to explore at night. The bars closer to the entrance have less costly drinks. Use the slides at your own risk-they are absolutely fun and absolutely painful if you’re over age 30.

We went to the Hot springs and dinner.The pools are great. Not crowded even though there is no reservation required.Dinner was a buffet and very average. You are only paying about $20 and the non alcoholic drinks are unlimited but was still a little disappointing considering the rest of the place. Drinks at the pool bars were more than $10 each.

We visited Bali Hot Springs as part of a tour package and it was a relaxing way to spend the end of an awesome day. The buffet had a great selection and we didn't leave hungry. Eating with a view of the Volcano in the background was great. After eating we made our way to the springs which were heated by the volcano. The temperatures are different by pool and get warmer the higher you go. The top pool was hot tub hot and the lower pools were more "summer pool" hot. We had a couple of drinks and found ourselves very relaxed for our return trip.

I would not recommend staying here. The room was clean, but the sink smelled like rotten eggs (sulfur), no hot water in shower (even after maintenance came), AC made noise all night. One of the hot springs made our bathing suits smell. This resort offers day passes for people not staying on property so it can get very crowded. We got massages to be able to use private springs but there wasn’t any water in the springs? Drinks are $20 a piece. I would not stay at this resort again. For $500 I expect better plumbing. I was actually ready for my vacation to end.

Baldi Hot Springs is one of the best hot spring hotels in La Fortuna. The rooms are large and comfortable. They come with a small patio deck. The plants and foliage are well appointed on the property and add privacy in an otherwise large hotel. The hotel is right off the highway and very easy to find. They boast 25 pools on the property and include a kids area with water slides for kids. We did come during slow season so we didn't see too many kids which was nice and relaxing for us. But it is family friendly for those wondering. The hotel room we got came with a rather large closet, armoire, dresser, mini fridge, and bar. There is also a super cute vanity. Inside the bathroom was a little tight. Definitely not enough room for two people to be in there comfortably. The bathroom had a slight paint smell and also a slight sulfur smell but it wouldn't deter us from coming back. The shower came with a large deep tub in our room. So I would recommend anyone with knee or balance issues might want to request a different bathroom set up. The king size bed was nice for me and my husband and it was on the firmer side but not uncomfortable. We had house keeping daily and enjoyed the little towel characters they left on the bed each day. The property has several bars throughout and a few restaurants. Breakfast is included if you stay on site and it was different each morning. We stayed for 3 nights and enjoyed 3 breakfast. They also offer day passes for hot spring use if you choose not to stay in site and you can eat at the restaurants for extra cost. This property is not all inclusive. The staff was all very friendly and would say hello every time we passed them. I loved our visit. The pools all had something cool to them. I loved the ones that had the little day beds. Some were hotter than others and some were cold. There was a steam sauna and a spa as well. I would recommend it to everyone!

This is truly an amazing experience that I’d highly recommend anyone check out when visiting the area! I believe there are 25 pools/saunas/hot tubs, and they get hotter as you go up the resort. A select few are even cool if you need to take a break from all of the heat. Everything was super clean and it was easy to navigate. One of the employees even loaded us up in his golf cart to give us a tour of the facility prior to paying. If you need food or drinks, they’ve got restaurants and bars available, but they also allow you to leave and come back as long as you have your wristband. We easily spent all day here, and would happy visit again! For the price, you really can’t get much better for “luxury” hot springs (but if it is a bit pricey for your group, there are free hot springs on the way to Arenal. They’re also amazing, but purely natural - not resort style, so wear water shoes to protect your feet).

We purchased a day pass to use the hot springs. It was well worth it, several hot and cool pools are situated on site. The natural hot sauna was incredible. Highly recommend going to pools where both hot and cool pools exist. Switching between them was really nice. The kids section in Baldi is small but well designed, it will keep the kids entertained. Overall was pleasantly surprised by the size of this hot springs resort

Location and the room was great, gorgeous views. But the staff was not pleasant. The price for the drinks and food was very high. For the price of a nights stay was $500/night and in my opinion not worth it. There are many other places in Costa Rica with beautiful hot springs. I paid for a night stay and then an hour after check out stayed around the hotel and asked to dry my clothes and they would not allow since it was past check out. For the cost to stay I would expect better service.

A very well maintained and clean resort. Food is reasonably priced and good. There are several swimming pools and they are quite clean.Only, improvement point I can think of is- bars should either not give drinking straws, if they do then they should be a bit longer than they are now.

I came to just visit the springs with a day pass and thought it was great, very well worth it. Total entry for myself (no time limit for the hot springs) plus locker rental and 1hr buffet dinner was under $80 which I think was reasonable. Facilities were very clean, spacious, and welcoming. There may be an extra fee for towels so I recommend to bring your own. Be prepared the walk to the further springs and the buffet area is on an upwards incline - not hard to walk but may be difficult for elderly/physically impaired.

This place is pretty cool. They have like 25 pools or something crazy. Swim up bars, hot pools, cool pools, party pools, pools with slides, pools for kids. It just goes on and on. Oh also, a steam/sauna area. So much fun.Food was medicore at best. Drinks are pricey. Entry is pricey....but still worth it!

It is a nice and clean place. The resort is well maintained and has a lot of pool options. I would recommend going there for sure. The only thing I didn't like was the amount of time we waited at an empty bar to get a drink with servers looking at us but not approaching to see what we want until 15 min later. It may be a thing to not bother you so much as I noticed that a few times but it is nice to get that first drink quick.

Stayed a little over a week in May, Rooms are huge, great A/C, spacious balconies--a little dark inside but probably due to the wall colors and lighting. Wifi was also fine--I brought a laptop and used it daily, didn't have issues. Didn't use video though, so not sure if that would've pushed it. Breakfast buffet was delicious, so many options--seating area is open air with a lot of shade. So many pools, all heated, range of temperatures. It feels nice and secluded because of all the landscaping and tall palm trees throughout the resort. Large parking lot for overnight and day stays. Resort is in a pretty central location--feel like mostly everything we drove to was under 20 minutes. About 2.5 hour drive from San Jose airport area--roads are windy but all paved, and speed limit is pretty low. But it was a nice drive over--nice views of different towns and rolling hills/farms.

We enjoyed our overnight. They had one pool open 24 hrs for guests which was great. We enjoyed the pools even more after dark. The free welcome drink was a nice touch.The only reason why I had to give 4 stars instead of 5 was that our suite, in the furthest most building, overlooked a construction site so it had no view at all except for a green screen and it was noisy during the day. We were not warned of this when we made our reservation or during check-in.

Purchased a day pass and spent a relaxing five hours at this luxurious hot springs resort. $44 pp + about $15 in a la carte food. I wish we had purchased the included lunch option. There are countless hot pools (25?), many of them with waterfalls. The staff were friendly. My teenage daughter did not like the big water slide - ouch. Overall we had a great time here. The free hot springs at Choylin is an amazing alternative for those who are nimble and adventurous.

We didn’t stay at the resort so I can’t review the rooms. We did spend the afternoon at the hot springs though. So many pools you feel like you can’t even hit them all. Varying temperatures in each pool if you find some are too hot.My kids loved the waterslides. They particularly liked the funnel slide.The afternoon included dinner which was delicious. Rice and beans, chicken/pork/beef, salad and desserts.

We got a day pass with lunch included. There were many pools and we were delighted that each pool had a sign that listed its temperature. There are some thermal pools that have cool water pools nearby. At night, the colorful lights on the waterfall tower were spectacular! There were shallow pools with built-in lounges and a swim-up bar in another. The design is certainly well thought out. The customer service was stellar! As you walk around, when staff pass by, they always verbally acknowledge you. BUT the lunch buffet was pretty horrible. The pork in BBQ sauce was tasty, but I nearly broke a tooth because it was so tough. The rolls were stale and dry. The mashed potatoes were obviously instant and way too salty. The veggies were cooked to death, the chicken was dust, the pasta was mush, and both sauces, red and white, were watery and insipid. Desserts were your typical jello-like cheesecake and a fruit sponge with more whipped cream than cake. The best thing we ate was the fresh pineapple. It was sweet and delicious. DO NOT pay $22 for lunch. Leave, eat, and come back. Trust me.

What a fun place to relax! The varying water temps of each pool was really fun. It’s an excellent place to take kids. We were in the off season, so it was not crowded at all, but the water slides were not available because of this, I think. We had a pretty good lunch that was included in our price, and though pricier than a restaurant nearby, the convenience of having it in the park was great. And the food was decent. We did the day pass, so we didn’t stay in the resort , but speaking for the pools itself , I’d definitely recommend to anyone with kids staying in the area.

Great way to spend an afternoon, drifting from pool to pool, experiencing the different temperatures and features like waterfalls, saunas, slides. Most of the pools have swim-up bars for ordering drinks. Wasn't very crowded during our three hours there, but there were noticeably more people by the time we left. The grounds overall are clean and well-maintained, giving some sense of being in the jungle. You may even spot some tropical birds moving through the palms and other plants. Fair warning, the slides lead to super shallow waters, you'll end up regretting it.

Went here on a day pass. If you're tired of trekking or just need a break from the jungle this is a perfect place to unwind and enjoy some drinks in a really unique hot springs/waterpark. Entry fee for the day and drink prices are a little on the high side $47 to enter, around $8 for a beer. That said it is a totally unique experience. I think they have 14 hot spring fed pools. 5 or 6 of those have swim up bars. Parking can be tough for day pass visitors. You have to park along the road outside of the hotel property and it can get crowded. Another fun and unique experience in Costa Rica.

Very over priced. Drink prices are outrageous. They sell day passes and over the holidays it was packed with people. They don’t sell Imperial beer but they sell imports. How can you not have Imperial in Costa Rica? Our room was located backed up to a construction tarp. We paid extra for a large family suite with balcony. Never did anyone mention construction. They did not care when we complained. Not even a free meal. There are a ton of pools on property. Property is large and well manicured, so it’s not all bad. But it’s like Disneyland with bad customer service. It’s very commercial feeling. I would not stay here again. The staff was nice at the main restaurant and around the resort. The buffet is very bad and mainly for day pass guests I suppose. The breakfast buffet is included and was pretty good. Property is very large and required tons of walking up hill. So if you’re out of shape this would be very difficult. Also not fun with hot and tired kids.

the hot springs are great. they are large areas that are more public. on certain nights you can have whole areas to yourselves. The bar at the top is stupidly expensive while the bars further down the hot waterfalls are less expensive.. there is a nice sauna and several cold pools to do small cold plunges. You can have a great experience starting from the top and working your way down. If you want cheap drinks and good hot springs you can do Los Lagos but the experience is a little different.

Too hot for me. Would be nicer if air temp wasn't 95 degrees. Would be great in much cooler weather. Thought the price to get I was fair. Can be hard to find three chairs together unless you get there early. Food and drinks were average.l, avoid the pizza. Was awful. Thought the staff and bartenders could've been nicer

Not entirely what I was expecting, but made the best of it. We went in the evening around 5pm for a day pass (which costs the same as if you went in the morning - no evening rate). My initial reaction and feeling was Disney Land meets all inclusive. Many of the pools had swim up bars, one pool had water slides for kids, and there was a separate kids water park area. Not our jam, was looking for a more tranquil thermal pool experience which you can apparently find at other hot springs resorts. We went on a recommendation from a friend, but could have done more research ourselves prior to going. We did end up enjoying ourselves a bit more once it got dark and the pools started clearing out, at one point we had a large thermal pool to ourselves, but could hear loud music coming from another pool/part of the resort. All in all we enjoyed being in the warmth of the hot springs but would have enjoyed a different environment. Might be suitable for you if you have kids and are looking for the best of both worlds. I myself was looking for a more relaxing, spa like experience.

We went there and got a day pass⭐️. Food was absolutely fantastic. Best bruschetta and salad I ever had! Beautiful interior. We did not stay at the hotel we did this for the experience. The water pools are gorgeous with nice design. One thing that needs imposter the directions how to get from pool to pool to find different temperatures and what benefits they carry. Me and my daughter loved it ! Thank you

It was truly an amazing experience when visiting La fortuna. Definitely won of the highlights to go visit and relax in Costa Rica. The place has roughly 25 different pools with a few slides available for kids / adults. Be mindful to experience a few whiplashes from the slide!

Went last year with my family. Very good location, had an amazing welcome drink, breakfast is DELICIOUS and rooms, bathrooms, public areas are well kept and super clean. Funny name too (I have a weird sense of humor) and I love the statue of the lady in the front 😂Will be going back!

We stayed one night at this location, breakfast was included and it was pretty good with a wide selection of food to choose from. We had a nice sized room that was in a quiet location. There are multiple pools at this resort and at night the lights look nice when you are bathing. I suggest to book way in advance because prices can go up quickly. Will definitely come back one day.

4.5

(7391)

4.0

(3837)

142, Alajuela Province, San Carlos, Costa Rica

4 lists

Beautiful place with beautiful view to enjoy with friends and family. National pay 9$ foreigners pay $18. It's about 500 steps to go to the waterfall but there's many chairs on the way so that you can rest if you are tired. You can swim if you want water is 🥶. I really enjoy my visit.

Be prepared for a hike up and down 500 steps! Take it at your own pace, you can do it! They have motivational quotes along the way that tell you how many steps you have left.Bring water shoes and a towel if you decide to take a dip in the water. Its rocky near the falls and the swimming hole you can see fish swimming around.Take time to look at all the flowers around you they're beautiful. They also have an orchid path you can walk, unfortunately for us none were in bloom at the time.

A great waterfall and a great workout!We have visited twice now, and this majestic waterfall is always worth it. Plus it's great cardio coming back up the 500 stairs!We went at a crowded time, so get there earlier if you want less people.We brought plenty of water, water shoes and quick dry towels, all of which make the experience more enjoyable.The water is chilly but refreshing!Avoid going too far to the right side. There is danger of rocks falling. And don't get too close to the falls, there is a lifeguard there, but you can tell it's likely a strong under current.

Beautiful waterfall with a swimming area at the bottom. I loved seeing the plant diversity. The walk to the bottom is a series of stairs, thought not the most difficult hike, it would be hard for those with mobility issues and your calves may feel it the next day. There is a segmented walk for orchids and butterflies. The cafe at the start has a decent selection of drinks and food.

This was a nice morning hike, though expensive, in my opinion. ($18/ person). Many people swim in the stream. The water is cool and refreshing. Note, there are 500 stair steps down and of course back up. We 60 plus did it easily.

The walk up and down is not as bad as everyone makes it sound! You can do it! I swear! If you're visiting for a few days, watch the forecast and try to choose a cooler day. We were there in July, and def a cooler day made a huge difference!We're not really in shape people but we did just fine. I can't believe we almost skipped this place because everyone made it sound so grueling.Everyone mentions the 500 steps because it's on signs along the way! So it's very fresh in their minds and they're saying it because they're proud of themselves.The stairway is well designed. It's very easy to pass people who need a break. So you don't feel pressured when *you* need a break. There are seats at a few spots.I think it took us 10 - 15 min to go down and maybe 30 to go up. Our kid went up in like 20 min. We took it extra easy. Honestly, you can do it.Def worth the visit! It's a very impressive waterfall!

Lots of stairs so if you have mobility issues, will be a challange. Nice waterfall with a few different swimming holes. Not to busy on our cloudy day visit. I'm sure some days it is crazy. A decent stop some other falls maybe more impressive.

Well worth the admission cost! Takes about 15 minutes to hike down and 30 to 40 to hike back up. 500 steps/600m. Take your time! The water is chilly, but refreshing. Great photo ops. Beautiful to see up close. Highly recommend. There's a spot just past the waterfall that's safer to swim in than at the base too.

Beautiful waterfall that was worth all the steps, even going back up! Definitely not an activity for anyone with mobility issues. They have changing rooms and lockers available once you pay the entrance fee. Recommend bringing a swimsuit and towel and some kind of waterproof shoes. Lots of sharp rocks to scramble over to get down to the water. Current very strong near the waterfall itself, but there were people swimming in the river on the other side, this part might be better for smaller kids or those who are not strong swimmers.

This is worth the $18 entry price. Yes there are 500 steps but don't be intimidated by that. There are plenty of places to rest.Once at the waterfall you can swim right up next to it but be warned, the current is very strong! Super cool experience though.After the waterfall, go down a few more steps and enjoy a calm river experience. You can relax in the cool water which should be a welcomed change from the heat!

Breathtaking and amazing. Super cool and beautiful and chill. Can go swimming there as well. Also they have lots of cute fish as well. Super easy hike up and down 500+ steps. Also the restaurant inside was surprisingly really really good. They had this roasted chicken, smoked with coffee wood. It was an amazing experience, definitely recommend this place if you're in la fortuna.

It’s worth the $18. An easy, yet steep walk down several staircases to the beautiful waterfall below. A sweet little beach and some quiet water with many fish is available for a cold swim. The other side of the river is privately owned and tours come down that way as well.

Initially, the facilities are in good condition. Nonetheless, the $20 entrance fee for this waterfall seems a bit steep to me. Descending the well-designed staircase for about 15 minutes provides an enjoyable experience, with opportunities for swimming. Don't forget to bring water shoes. There's a small area to swim and relax. As a solo traveler, while it's not the most impressive waterfall, it is beautiful, and I believe it should be free or cheaper. There are plenty more Impressive in Costa Rica.

Visited here midweek but was still reasonably busy. 500 steps (sometimes uneven) down - and also back up so bring water if it's a hot day.The waterfall itself is very impressive, can't swim directly in the pool underneath it (can take photos and that spot is mostly full of people trying to get the Instagram photo), but you can further down there are life guards present to keep an eye on people's safety.We swam in the river just next to the falls, a few people in but the water is pretty cold and in places fast flowing so most don't stay in long or do more than paddle - glad we went in as it was a good experience.Back at the top they're are changing rooms, and there's a great cafe with a wood fired spit-oven that does really good chicken (you get half a chicken, which was a suprise but really tasty)

Beautiful waterfall with swimming allowed. Honestly I thought the walk was pretty easy. My 5 and 8 year old kids were free which is pretty cool. Not really any wildlife that we saw aside from a bunch of common fish...but really cool place to go swimming and see a beautiful waterfall. Great place to go for the first day of our trip and then go on to more arduous challenges. Contrary to what everyone was telling us our kids were able walk up and down totally on their own as opposed to the handing bridges. Rio Celeste was more impressive but you couldn't swim by the waterfall and was a bit more challenging with a 5 and 8 year old... but totally doable to just see the waterfall.... we didn't continue on to the higher up parts

We purchased the tickets and lunch online the day before. It was convenience. I think they ask you to choose the time to wish to visit mostly for estimate number of visitors. It doesn't seem that you have to be there at that exact time.Be prepare to walk 500 steps down and then 500 steps up. It was a nice shady walk but tiring. It was crowded at the water fall. The water was very cold. But after a long walk, it could be refreshing. There were fish swimming in the river close by. And in case you were wondering : no drone allowed.The pre-purchased lunch was pretty good. You have a different limited menu to choose from. And It came with a refreshing fruit drinks , a few options to choose for lunch (costa Rica typical plate with different protein options, burgers , pasta...) and a small froyo at the end. After the long walk, it was perfect. I had the costa Rica plate with fish and the fish was fresh and tasty.Their gift shop sales things with reasonable price too. The same tshirt I saw selling for ~$20 at hotel, it was sale ~$15 here.

Getting exercise in CR is just one of those things you have to do. Why not do it with a beautiful hike to a waterfall. When you arrive at the waterfall there is a good size parking lot. Park and pay your fees to go in. If it is raining you may want to go in the shop and get a poncho ($3).when you start off there is a sign indicating it is about 500 steps down. Just remember, if you go down you must come up. Once you get to the bottom there are lots of people taking pictures and swimming. Swimming would be great on a hot day. Now for the way up you could run the stairs, but then it would be hard to stop at the signs posted every 100 steps indicating you are getting closer to the top. There are also a number of sitting locations to take in the beautiful scenery. You can watch a couple of the zip liners going by from the near by zip line park. Once at the top there is a nice small bar / restaurant that was cooking rotisserie chicken and making everything smell good. Sit down enjoy a drink or two. You earned it after all. Once refreshed take a tour of the orchard garden.

We loved this hike! Down 550 steps and then back up again. Absolutely worth all those steps! Gorgeous crystal blue jungle pool with waterfall cascading down with a thunderous roar. Some folks went swimming( mostly Canadians) but honestly, it was too cold for us.

4.6

(6880)

4.5

(9725)

21007, Provincia de Alajuela, La Fortuna, 21007, Costa Rica

1 list

Carlos our guide was wonderful, very friendly and informative. The animal rehabilitation process was well explained. We even got to see a mom and baby 2 fingered sloths! My husband got a better photo of the baby sloth's face. They recommend wearing pants and putting on bug spray for your tour. Highly recommend!

We cannot recommend Proyecto Asis enough!The conservation and rehabilitation work they do here is incredibly important and both our guides were genuinely invested in the mission. We left feeling like we 100% made the right choice.We loved our wildlife tour with Carlos! He was absolutely fantastic. We learned and laughed so much. We even saw a wild Toucan and Cayman, alongside the numerous beautiful birds and monkeys under rehabilitation.Our sloth tour was equally incredible. Our guide was super friendly, informative, and had a sharp eye to spot sloths and other creatures on the preserve (we saw 4 total). He went out of his way to take incredible high quality pictures on our phones through the telescope!

If you’re looking to learn a few things about sloths this is the place to go. Staff is extremely friendly. I never thought going on a sloth tour, the tour guide would change the ways I thought about animals in nature. Wonderful tour! Best in town! Highly recommend going! You will see so many sloths it’s worth the time!

We loved everything about Proyecto Asis! Their mission and the work they put into protecting the animals and educating the public is wonderful. Our guide, Carlos, was extremely knowledgeable, funny, and passionate about the work they do there. We all learned a lot and my boys (6 & 9) stayed interested and excited throughout the tour. We opted to prepare food and enrichment for the animals at the end and I can't recommend it more! It was the perfect way to end our experience there. Absolutely worth the visit!!!

Carlos was our guide. He clearly cares and is very knowledgeable about the ecosystem and the animals. Preparing and feeding these beautiful animals was once in a lifetime experience for our family with a child and teens. Good coffee too. Thank you so much! Support this place if you’re an animal lover, you won’t be sorry.

This was one of the highlights of our trip in Costa Rica! We loved our tour—super educational! We also made animals food. 🤩🤩🤩 We loved being a part of this, learning about animal nutrition and toys for feeding!

We had amazing experience at proyecto Asís. Johnny was our guide, he was funny and knowledgeable. Very educational and also fun for kids. Me and my daughter enjoyed it a lot. Saw a lot of animals and learned interesting facts about nature in Costa Rica .

Amazing! Our guide Carlos was exceptional. Entertaining and educational. Beautiful place to visit. The volunteer portion is not just for kids! We prepared breakfast and watched as they devoured their meals (delivered by Carlos.) It was truly a special day.

If you are in the La Fortuna area, take some time to meet some amazing people and animals! Proyecto Asis works with injured animals, illegal pets, and all sorts of species to prepare them for release back to the wild. You will have a chance to tour the facility, meet the animals (Carlos is amazing and gives great examples and stories for everyone, children particularly were totally engaged), and volunteer for some time by helping them prepare food and feed the animals. This was a highlight of our time in Costa Rica, definitely check it out!

Tour was nice, the "volunteer" part of helping prepare food for the animals really makes the day. Carlos great! Very knowledgeable and fun! It was raining heavy for most of the tour, but gave the chance to see how the animals react to the weather. I had some trouble booking, as I was trying last minute. The ladies at the front we so helpful. Appreciated there help and responses in WhatsApp. Would definitely go again maybe on a stay volunteer.

What a great place. The opposite of all the reserves that present themselves as protecting the animals but actually take them away from their forests to show them in a much smaller area to tourists.The owners put so much energy in doing education about the black market of animals in Costa Rica and the visit is really interesting. You get to see wounded or formerly domesticated animals that now found a place here. Highly highly recommended

Great place, really welcoming, and super knowledgeable team who know how important true ecology is. The costs are very reasonable and goes towards funding their work not some glorified unethical theme park like the other place in Fortuna (who I’m told poaches animals from the wild to show in enclosures - not sure how that is legal in CR) but anyway Proyecto Asia is NOT like that! They are the good guys and deserve all the visitors 🥰🌎🦥

These were by far the best wildlife awareness and rehabilitation programs I have ever attended, and my favorite activity from our trip. We did the whole day with the wildlife tour, volunteering, and sloth tour. Both of our guides were extremely engaging. Most of the animals we saw are being rehabilitated after being kept as pets, and the education around responsible human interaction with animals was priceless.Thank you so much!

Proyecto Asis is a heartwarming, real deal animal rehabilitation sanctuary. Most of their animals were brought to them by protection agencies due to poaching or illegal pet ownership. We did the wildlife tour and volunteering and loved every moment there. Our guide was Carlos who seems like he was born to rehabilitate animals and educate humans about the importance of conservation. Not to mention, he is undeniably adorable and just fun to be around. His connection with the animals is so evident. The mission is to reintroduce the animals to the wild when they are healthy and strong enough to adapt. All of the animals are well cared for and well nourished. This experience was a true highlight for my husband and I, and one we will never forget! Pura Vida!

My partner and I heard about this tour + volunteer opportunity from a friend. We had an amazing time with Carlos, our tour guide. The tour was very informative about the current problems facing the birds and monkeys in Costa Rica. We got to ask many questions, and it's obvious that Carlos is very passionate about his work.Once the tour ended, we got to prep fruits and vegetables for the monkeys and watch them eat. There were 3 kids in our tour group, and they all had fun prepping the food for the monkeys.This is a MUST DO when you're in Costa Rica. It's only 30 minutes driving distance away from La Fortuna.

Wildlife Tour and Volunteer - It was a wonderful experience at Proyecto Asis. Each animal is cared for, fed and visited by volunteers, staff and expert veterinarians and released when it is considered fully rehabilitated. The staff takes care of different types of monkeys, toucans and parrots, wild cats, raccoons, coatis, pigs and many others who need help from time to time. It's always nice to see up close how much these people do for these animals and it's rewarding to be able to take part in the project, even if for a short time. Carlos, our guide, was amazing! He's really kind and he was really happy to share all his knowledge with us. It was really interesting getting to know better every species. We also had much fun preparing food and toys for the animals and watching them eating.Really recommended experience!!!

This tour was excellent. We did the sanctuary tour, volunteered preparing meals for the animals, had lunch down the road (a short walk), and then we enjoyed the sloth tour. It was extremely informative. Staff were very friendly and thoughtful. They had refreshments and we had some down time between tours so they provided coloring and puzzles for our son. This sanctuary is legit. They have the best interest of the animals at heart and it shows.

It was a great experience for the whole family, and I'll always recommend places that seem to be working to conserve nature.We did the full experience, including preparing food for the monkeys and the sloth hike. It was educational and fun.

My husband and I saw this place online and we were so happy we went. It is money well spent because it goes to the sanctuary. Carlos was our guide and provided information that many most likely don't know, especially tourists. This helped us understand that wildlife is wild and should stay that way. We have no interest in taking pictures with monkeys or sloths after hearing about the issues it causes. This place should be visited by everyone to fully understand how unfair it is to the animals when people are careless or uneducated. We highly recommend visiting this place. We also found out they have volunteer programs, which is nice. Flip-flops or sandals would be fine, the walkway is crushed stone.

Proyecto Asis is a must experience to learn and give something back to the community for the adorable animals of Costa Rica. It’s a rehabilitation center that provides medical and therapy for the animal friends that need to return/introduce back to their wild environment. Our tour guide Carlos was quite informative and a lot of fun which made both learning and volunteering just a delightful experience. One of the highlights of my trip that teach you outside of the textbook and be more familiar with their lives and surroundings.

4.8

(447)

5.0

(1884)

141, Provincia de Alajuela, San Carlos, Costa Rica

4 lists

We visited the Rainmaker with Josue in a private tour. We enjoyed every moment of it. We went there in the afternoon, so we had lunch and very delicious pineapple juice right at the entrance, where the restaurant and bathrooms are. Our hike through this project was filled with stories of when the Rainmaker started until today. Prof. Josue made it so much more interesting based on his guiding. We enjoyed the water falls, and the hanging bridges. We made it all the way to the top and had the most beautiful view! We were able to see the sea, the mangroves, and of course the rainforest.

We spent our last day in Costa Rica in Rainmaker, and it was the perfect way to enjoy nature! We made a point to stop and swim in every one of the pools. They felt so refreshing during the hike (perfect for a family with kids). My older kids did the hanging bridge path with my husband, and I took the lower trail with my daughter. It turns out we probably could have also done the hanging bridge. Even though the last one is high, it is over trees so it is difficult to tell the height. We saw so many lizards, beautiful butterflies, birds, and a poisonous frog. At the entrance, there is a small restaurant, bathrooms, and a shower. The whole trail is only 2km, so you can spend as little or as much time in there as you like. Definitely recommend!

It's nice to find preserves like Rainmaker. This is a beautiful jungle setting. The paths are great for stopping, listening and finding great flowers, butterfly's and small wild life. The environment is peaceful. This is for people in average to good health. Some of the paths and stairs can take a little effort to climb. It's worth the work if you want to give it a try and get a different experience from the park.Also try Narcarcosta. They are also a preserve working on sustainable tourism. This is for any health level

My sisters and I did the canopy bridges and waterfall tour with David as our guide and it was wonderful! David was so kind and informative and pointed out so many cool plants and animals that we wouldn’t have noticed without him (camouflaged animals are easy to miss to the untrained eye). The views were absolutely beautiful and swimming in the waterfall was an amazing experience. David also showed us around Manuel Antonio that afternoon! Thank you again David for all of your knowledge, enthusiasm, and excellent photography skills we had a great time and learned so much!

If you love nature, scenery and animals this would be the perfect place. The canopy walking is a must as the view is breathtaking especially in the morning. There are also natural swimming pools where you can enjoy end cool off after the hike.

Wonderful time! Beautiful rainforest and navigating the bridges and platforms was exciting. I am not fond of heights but didn't want to miss out on this with my family. Stunning waterfalls and cool refreshing swimming holes after the climb up. We went during the rainy season, so we didn't make reservations, no wait, and no crowds.

We really liked and enjoyed the park. It was absolutely beautiful to be in the rainforest with all the waterfalls. The hike is not to long, the bridges are fun and to take a dip in one of the pools is refreshing. After the tour (self guided) we had lunch and it was wonderful, I had the vegetarian option the Lemonade was delicious too. I highly recommended the park and the lunch afterwards.

Must do while visiting Quepos. Different difficulty levels of trails are available - hiking just the basin trail is acceptable and what most guided tours seemed to be doing. Lunch purchased for cash with your ticket which can be purchased with a credit card is recommended. The pineapple juice with cinnamon was very refreshing after the hike. Highly recommended

I almost don’t want to rate this magical place because I don’t want it to get crowded!We went at 4PM (last time you can enter the park), and we were the ONLY people in the park. What a fantastic experience. Swimming in the falls and pools was so refreshing after the hike. We saw toucans and lots of lizards. Next time, I’d love to go with a guide to point out all the wildlife our untrained eyes missed! The website says you can book a guide in advance.Prior to arriving, I contacted the owner/manager (?) via the WhatsApp number on the website, and they quickly answered all of my questions!Some of the bridges and trails are a bit on the shaky side, so I wouldn’t do the hanging bridge route if you don’t like wondering “will these ropes hold” while you’re crossing. (I thought it added to the excitement and experience! I don’t think there’s actually a safety issue!)You could get there without a 4x4/SUV, but the last 2km are definitely easier with one.

Rainmaker lodge is by far the best place to visit in the area if you're looking to find incredible Costa Rican wildlife like frogs, snakes and birds, amazing plants and trees, gorgeous scenes and delicious food, too!They do guided night tours and day tours, or you can show up during the day and explore on your own. The canopy bridges are out of this world, by the way.The staff are super friendly and the guides are professional and knowledgeable.We went for a night tour and fell in love, so we came back during the day two more times!During the wet season, count on the rain even if it's dry nearby. It is called Rainmaker, and it lives up to its name!

Great, uncrowded. Saw monkeys, nice swimming holes. Steep on the uphill parts, we did most of that and then went back to river trail. Lunch is about $15 per person, must be preordered, in cash (USD or CRC)

We absolutely lived this hike. We are here during off-season, and it's like we have the whole forest to ourselves. The multiple falls were out of this world. This whole place feels like avatar!

Much less crowded than any other activity we've done in this part of Costa Rica. This place is absolutely beautiful.Make sure to wear your swimsuit and wear shoes you can hike and swim in.We did the full loop with our toddlers in about 2.5 hours including some stops in the river. Taking toddlers is an adventurous move but it can be done as long as they enjoy a long hike that involves a lot of stairs.

We came here as a family of 4 to hike at Rainmaker. We had an amazing time. We did the hike on our own without a guide and it was perfect as we could go at our own pace. We loved the hanging bridges and swimming in the waterfalls. We enjoyed the lunch after our hike for only $7 per person. It was fabulous! What a great day!

This is such an awesome excursion to do while in the Quepos area. Five or six suspended bridges in the treetops on a well-defined yet rugged trail throughout the park. Awesome Flora and fauna. Several waterfalls and pools to swim in to cool off towards the end of the trail. Highly highly recommend!

Many beautiful waterfalls in this small, private park. It feels soothing and other-worldly there! The sounds of the falls and forest are so soothing. Submerse yourself in any of the pools of perfectly clear water that doesn’t seem too warm or too cold. They put ropes in place for wading. The bridges are lovely to see and fun to walk across!This place was perfect for a 2-hour respite.

We did the night tour booked through the site and loved it. It was just a small group of 5. Our guide was super knowledgeable and really committed to finding different species. There were other tours around that came to see what he found or hear what he was sharing. He also took photos for us and got some beautiful shots. Highly recommend!

Fantástico!! Very good walk, excellent views and great adventure for just enough. Was recommended by a local resident and am glad we checked it out. Didn’t see much wildlife but the waterfalls were amazing.

Wonderful hike through a river gorge rain forest with waterfalls, swimming holes, suspension bridges. The forest is lush enveloping you on a quiet peaceful adventure with few people. Not too long, not to short of a hike, just perfect. Be sure to order your Casado before you set off, delicious and will be waiting for you when you return. Fantastic experiance.

My daughter and I enjoyed a fabulous morning immersing ourselves in the rainforest on a self-guided tour, which took us 2.5hrs. The hanging bridges were a bit of a challenge for someone who suffers with a bit of vertigo, but so pleased I did it. You must be ambulant and fairly sure-footed for this trail as the forest is wet and paths and steps can be slippery. Saw millipede, poison dart frog, humming birds, butterflies and of course all the spectacular flora. A dip in the fresh mountain waters is a must.

4.6

(890)

4.5

(582)

Red Vial Cantonal 100, Puntarenas Province, Parrita, Costa Rica

1 list

We wanted to do something worthwhile and interesting close to San Jose on our last day in CR, and decided to book a tour at Rescate because I had heard they were a real-deal wildlife rescue. We wanted to see animals, of course, but also to have our money go to support a good cause and not contribute to certain animal welfare issues created by the tourist industry. Not only was Rescate huge, beautiful, and full of interesting animals (which could not be released for one reason or another), but the tour was so informative. Our guide was friendly and nice, and we could tell she was devoted to the Rescate mission and values.They really do put the animals first here. Animals brought to the rescue are rehabilitated and carefully released whenever possible, and only those animals that are too injured, too used to people, or too potentially dangerous stay at the rescue center. Visitors are not allowed into the wildlife hospital and are not allowed to touch any of the animals. The animals are also not forced to be on display at all times, with their large enclosures allowing them to move out of sight when they desire to do so. It was really nice to see the animals' comfort valued above visitors' curiosity.It was also really interesting learning about the animal trade in Costa Rica and what is being done to end it, as well as hearing different individual animals' stories. I highly recommend visiting and taking the guided tour, which is very reasonably priced. There are places to sit and grab a popcicle, a restaurant and a gift shop too if that's your jam, so there is a little something for everyone here.

Fantastic wildlife rescue centre. Animals well looked after and have big enclosures. Got to see many different native species including Jaguars. Staff lovely overall great experience, would highly recommend.

This was one of our favorite excursions while staying in Costa Rica. This place is not a zoo, they rehabilitate all of the animals and release them in the wild once they are recovered.This place has exceptionally friendly staff and such a huge variety of animals!! The food here was also incredibly good! They make the food fresh.All of the proceeds go to supporting all of their animals and staff and they truly need it. You could truly see how much everyone cares for these animals and it’s beautiful!! The only thing that was slightly disappointing was that there weren’t many sloths on the exhibits, but we cannot hold that to their fault!! They definitely had them but they were sleeping lol.

Where to start? This place is simply incredible! From the beautiful peaco*cks, iguanas, macaws, and toucans freely roaming around to the up-close encounters with big cats, tortoises, and monkeys, every moment was memorable. The shaded areas provided relief from the sun, and the staff was amazing. The gift store offers reasonably priced, hand-painted souvenirs that support a wonderful cause. We had ice cream scoops from one of the many snack stands scattered through the park and it was delicous. The restaurant, with its affordable prices, even has a cute play area for kids. Plus, they offer rentable push strollers. My favorite part? Walking through the giant bamboo, an absolutely magnificent experience with the breathtaking sound it made in the wind. We went on a Monday and quite literally had the park to ourselves. Clean restrooms and grounds. 100% would recommend. It’s a must see and enjoyable for all ages.

One of the best wildlife rescue centers! You can tell the animals are well taken care of. The center takes about 2-3 hours to fully see everything. All the staff are super friendly and helpful.

Amazing zoo experience, it is always a pleasure to see wildlife in such well cared for exhibits. Most animals were visible in the morning, all seemed content in their enclosures and a few surprises running around the walkways was also an amazing treat.Thank you for making the most enjoyable experience possible with your rehabilitation zoo.Great place to visit!!! Will recommend to everybody I know.

I am always skeptical about these things, but it seems like this is a real rescue center. The place is laid out well. The animals look healthy. Wikipedia states, “It is administered by a conservation nonprofit foundation called Fundación Restauración de la Naturaleza,[5] which also is responsible for the country's largest rehabilitation center in the Rescate Wildlife campus.” It looks like it started as a zoo and then they started conservation efforts. Note that the actual wildlife campus is off-limits to visitors. I absolutely loved the huge iguanas walking around everywhere along with the random other animals outside of the enclosures along the paths. The giant bamboo grove is stunning, so don’t miss that. The crocodile is huge. Finally, don’t miss some of the talking birds. They were totally amazing. It was interesting to hear birds who speak better Spanish than me.

Tons of beautiful animals, huge iguanas wandering everywhere that just don’t give a $&@%, and their work is very cool. But I personally felt a little irked about how small the spaces they were, although it was not their fault, these are injured animals that would not survive in the wild. The price was also high, which I hope is going to the animals as much as possible, although of course overhead is expensive. Note, my son disagrees with my assessment about the cages, and he could totally be right. Anyway, if you can’t go far from San Jose, and want to see a sample of Costa Rica’s amazing animals, this is the perfect place.

This place is 💯 worth stopping at! Took the family to explore and it feels like you're walking through the jungle and seeing a variety of plants and animals. Loved being able to get so close to the sloths, monkeys, ocelot, cougar and iguanas. Capybara we're running around under foot and there were wild birds flying around the enclosures of the kept ones.Animals look happy and well cared for - what an amazing place!

We paid for a tour guide and it was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. Our tour guide Eduardo was very passionate about his job and very knowledgeable about the animals. He was able to answer all of our questions and was very respectful to the animals. For those are deciding if they should go, you should definitely go. There is also a restaurant that had wonderful food options. I also want to note it is NOT a zoo, it is a wildlife rescue centre and you can tell how much the staff care and respect the animals. 10/10 experience would go again. Again, Eduardo was wonderful and you are definitely lucky if you get him as your tour guide.

Great place that is definitely worth a visit. Large number of animals in spacious enclosures, groomed paths, information boards, good restaurant.However, the whole project is mainly used to return animals to the wild. on the one hand, those who got into the zoo due to injuries or captive breeding, but especially those that were bred here. Zoo Ave has an extensive breeding program focused on rare bird species, the flagship is the Scarlatt Macaw. These birds are then released into the wild in two centers in Nicoya and Golfito. Rescate Center also has a great volunteer program. Your entrance fee will go to a great beneficial thing.

Feels like a zoo, but a really cool place to be with the kids. They didn't wanna leave for 6h. Lot of animals strolling around freely like iguanas, tucans, peaco*cks etc. Everything is beautifully organized. We especially enjoyed the tapir. You can go there by Uber or public bus, there's a bus stop in front of the entrance.

We had an absolutely magical experience here at RWRC. We went with our 4 children ages 14/12/4/2 and they all loved it. We only saw two other people while there so it felt like we had the whole place to ourselves. We booked a private tour guide, Amy, who was not only lovely and knowledgeable but very patient ( as our youngest was a bit overtired that day ) she taught us a lot and made the whole experience a day to remember. Thanks so much Amy! The passion and kindness that the staff have for these animals is incredibly heartwarming. I would highly recommend stopping by if you're in the area.

It was pouring rain, but we had a great time. The animals look well cared for and the grounds are quite lovely! We would appreciate some info on the particular animals included on the signage. Also- golden orb spiders are EVERYWHERE- so if you are an arachnophobe, be aware of your surroundings.

Our family had such a wonderful visit to the wildlife rescue! It was definitely worth it. We got some amazing photos to bring back home with us.

This is not a zoo but a refuge for animals. It is expensive to get in (35$ USD/adult) but it is fine since they use the funds to save and reintroduce so many animals in the wild. It is sad to see that many of their animals have been hurt by human activity when it is not human cruelty. Animals deserve to have this kind of sanctuary and we truly enjoyed our visit knowing we were making a small contribution to this goal.Kids learned so much and got to interact with some animals that are roaming freely in the park.It takes about 2 hours to visit the park but we stayed for close to 4 hours.There is a nice restaurant as well and food is good and service excellent.

I want to start off by saying this is an excellent place for the rehabilitation of sick and injured animals. The plan that is in place is well thought of in terms of keeping an animal for its safety vs releasing it back in the wild if the animal is prepared and can maintain an existing life. It is different from a zoo (which are banned in Costa Rica).Our tour guide Eduardo is an excellent tour guide for English speaking visitors. His knowledge of the animals there and his well thought of explanation for the history of the animals they have taken in provides excellent insight. He also takes time to explain about the vegetation around the place and will help you identify certain trees or leaves. He also takes time out to listen to your questions and provide excellent information.Because it is a nonprofit they rely on visitors and donations, I highly recommend to visit the place and learn more about their efforts

So much to see and the rescue and conservation efforts of Rescate are truly fantastic. They also have a nice and reasonably priced cafe with many food and drink options. We had a great time and saw so many amazing animals in truly great enclosures.

Its a great place to spend the day in this refuge walking along their paths and seeing all the different animals they have rescued, I really like the fact that they have a full working restaurant so you can plan having lunch right on the property. They have a petting zoo and I really enjoyed the ice cream stand right next to it, were you can relax a bit in the shade with yummy helado as they call it.

We had the guided tour of the sanctuary in January. It was very informative and amazing to see all the animals up close. Even some wild toucans, iguanas and other birds freely walk the property. I was amazed at how Costa Rica cares for the environment and its animals. I highly recommend everyone visit this sanctuary.

This refuge is on the way to La Paz waterfalls and Poas from San Jose. It’s the perfect stop for lunch and to stretch our legs coming from the central pacific coast. Only 30 min northwest from the San Jose airport. The animals were incredible. So up close and personal. It only took about 60-90 minutes and our whole family loved every part of it. Flora and fauna included. We ended with a light lunch (mostly ice cream!) on site and were on our way. We will be recommending to everyone!

What a great rescue center. Our guide was wonderful. This place is beautiful. And don't forget to leave a donation to help everyone's efforts and keep this facility able to provide the care the animals need.

4.6

(4718)

4.5

(883)

2.3 km al este del cruce de Manolo's, ruta 3, hacia el B° San José, Provincia de Alajuela, Alajuela, Costa Rica

2 lists

We hit the jackpot and got a warm, clear morning in early March. We booked the 8am (first) tour a week and a half out and we’re glad we did. The crowds (and tours) started coming in around 9am (after we were done 😁). It’s so beautiful to see the crater and learn about its history. Recommend visiting early to ensure the perfect views and fewest number of people.

A must visit for anyone staying in San José or nearby. Pleasant walk up to the viewing point for the volcano crater, after a short video explaining the history and dangers etc.The view is spectacular, over the crater and out towards the ocean. The volcano was quite active, and the air filled with the smell of sulfur released, so it was fascinating to see it 'in action' from a safe distance.

Active volcano where you can go to the edge of the crater. Its allow only 50 people for 20minutes because ita still active volcano. You can park car quite near the volcano, but weather is little bit tricky. Mostly is cloudy and you nor see the crater. Still the feeling is amazing:)

Lucked out on a beautiful day near the Volcano and La Paz waterfalls. Crater was awesome looking. The walk up and back was pretty easy and quick.

You can’t control nature. I see the negative reviews but it’s not the places fault if it’s cloudy or rainy or if the volcano doesn’t do enough tricks. We came when it was green safe and not too active. Would it be better in yellow condition meaning more activities. Maybe.We had clear sky and got lucky. The place is what it is. The volcano is just as described.There are more conditions against you seeing it as it should be seen. I guess the odds are against you.Leaving negative review is like coming to CR in rainy season and complaining about the rain. Yes it’s sucks if you don’t see it and pay. But it’s not that expensive.

I was excited to see the volcano but it turned out to be a disappointment. The staff was rude. The lake was closed off. They made a big deal about only being able to be at the lookout point for 20 minutes. But when I got to the lookout you couldn’t see much of anything due to the cloud cover. The best thing was the souvenir shop had some cool looking sloths.

So beautiful! You must add this to your itinerary. Book in advance online and then arrive at your designated time slot. Every video we watched online showed people watching a safety video and wearing a hard hat…we didn’t have to do any of this. We simply arrived and walked up to the volcano. It is amazing - and so is the drive up!

BE AWARE! The female security guard LOCKED US IN THE PARK! Do not order Uber to get you there because they will not pick you up. The female security told us to leave before 4pm…because Uber would not pick us up we had to walk. It took 30+ minutes to get to the gate. The guard drove by us in the rain, then locked the gate!!! We had to crawl under the gate in the rain to get out!!! The park was amazing, however. Thankfully there was a bus of employees that stopped and gave us a ride. The people of Costa Rica are warm hearted and lovely people but that female security guard was THE WORST. Also, when get got to the city of Poas, it was beautiful and we had an amazing time at Sabor de la Montana, but again, Uber will not come and get you so keep that in mind

You get really close to volcano and on a good day, you’ll be able to see the crater without any clouds.Active volcano, and only approx 300m walk to the view point (15 minutes) from the parking lot, definitely a great experience.Make sure you get tickets in advance. Not sure why they aren’t able to charge in person, when they charge at the gate for parking. Wi-Fi on site, so was able to get tickets online at the gate.

Worth the travel! The view of the volcano and mountains is mesmerizing. A memorable experience with our little one.

Make the trip here while you’re in Costa Rica and you won’t be disappointed. The ride there is beautiful and you’ll start to smell the sulfur when you get closer to the park. There’s plenty of parking and the hike isn’t too bad to get there. Cloud cover can hinder your experience but you can’t predict the weather and the clouds move in and out so you very well could be pleasantly surprised by the time you get up there. Pro tip - stop at one of the strawberry stands on your way out and get the best strawberries you’ve ever had!

Beautiful and easy hike to the volcano, at most half a mile. It was absolutely breathtaking. If you are going in Oct or early November you need to get there early before the fog and rain come in otherwise you'll only see fog.Another important things to note - you need tickets prior to visiting. You can get them in advance online for your specific date and time.

Luckily we just got in time before the clouds covered the volcano. My tourguide said the best time is either go in the morning or later in evening around 4-5pm. The views are great! The museum is undergoing renovation so we couldn't go inside that.

If you’re a tourist, this may be a worthwhile visit. While we were here the sky cleared up enough to see inside the crater.We also got really lucky as it ended up erupting, first large eruption since 2019!!

I highly recommend Poas Volcano National Park. Make sure you wear good hiking shoes as the terrain is steep and slippery. We hiked 13 km in total.

Probably the best view of our entire vacation. My only suggestion is to make sure you prepare for your entrance/ticket. There is no booth, so many people had to park on the side and pay on their phones.

Visibility is by chance. We visited January 17th, 2024 and could see maybe 100 feet (so we could not see anything.) Just bad luck. We were also unprepared for the gale force winds and chill from being literally in the mist of the clouds. I failed to find a good source for weather forecasting at the park and suffered the consequences. The hike to the main viewing area is short, not steep (IMO) and on wide paved surfaces (which were quite wet but not unreasonably slippery, YMMV). We also took the short extra hike to the overlook of the inactive crater, Laguna Botos and could see; nothing. We took the alternate hiking path back down to the nature center and even it was paved (just a bit narrower.) We got tickets online ahead of time for $15 plus 13% tax each. I don't think it really matters what time you select for your pass. We were several hours later than the time listed on our passes and had no problem entering (it may have helped that we had a local driver/guide, but I can't say for sure.) We were there maybe an hour. Might have spent more time there if the weather/visibility had cooperated. This was the 2nd stop of our Doka Coffee Plantation/Poas Volcano/La Paz Waterfall Gardens tour day. Started in San Jose and ended in La Fortuna.

Hands down the best volcano close to the San Jose area! The view of the crater and the lagoon is amazing! Wear tennis shoes and take your time to walk up to the lagoon. One way to the cater takes about 10 minutes, and one way to the lagoon (uphill) takes about 20 minutes with a break or two.

Parking is easy, the rate was $5. Once you walk in you have to get a helmet, after that your fee to walk to the volcano, it’s about a 12-15 min walk not difficult at all as it’s on pavement. Once there you can have this beautiful view.They also have a bathrooms by the helmet station and to return the helmet you walk upstairs where there’s a souvenir and snack bar area next to it.

4.4

(875)

4.5

(3531)

Alajuela Province, Alajuela, Costa Rica

1 list

Such a beautiful place to visit the waterfalls was truly magical. All the animals were so cool and it was nice being able to learn so much about the wildlife. It is a little bit of walking and going up and down stairs but it is definitely worth it.

This is a wonderful place to visit. There are so many things to see. A variety of animals, butterflies, snakes, jaguars, ocelot, monkeys, tapirs, hummingbirds, orchids, frogs, and, oh yes, waterfalls.

This is a fun place to visit set in a gorgeous rainforest area.The foliage, wildlife and falls are great to see! There are a lot of stairs, especially to the falls, so those who have trouble with such be warned.The restaurant that has the buffet is very good with options for picky eaters.

Outstanding value for the money! We spent nearly the entire day exploring the many attractions, stations and experiences this place has to offer. It is hard to beat the compact proportions and sheer number of things going on here. The Waterfalls are particularly beautiful and straightforward to access. BIG wow factor at nearly every turn of the walkway! We also found the toucan aviary especially vivid with colourful, active birds flying about our heads. Highly, highly recommended!

I was truly amazed at this incredible experience. We saw waterfalls close up thanks to incredible engineering of staircases. La Paz was super and easy to access after Poas. They also have wildlife exhibits which were zoo quality. Good for families.

Fabulous waterfalls and surrounding area. Well worth a visit. But you have to capable of walking up and down at least 500 steps. It is a gradual climb, I'm 70 with a wonky knee and managed it. Just takes time but it is worth it.

What an experience! If you visit you will not be disappointed. Just be ready for a serious hike up and down many stairs. It's worth it to see the beauty and power of the waterfalls.

Not cheap, but a great place to spend 4-5 hours our more. Beautiful setting and amazing animals. Buffet lunch was abundant as well. Plenty of people on a Saturday, but didn't feel crowded. Waterfalls were a highlight. Trails are steep but well maintained and there is a shuttle at the bottom.

What an amazing spot to visit! Only an hour away from San Jose airport, this beautiful place was a great activity before heading home. The animals were great to see, but the waterfalls are certainly the star of the show! The hike through the jungle to all of the viewing points was well maintained and got us up close and personal with the waterfalls. This is a must do activity for all! I was so impressed with how beautiful the grounds and buildings were. They have done a fantastic job creating a great space.

Seeing multiple waterfalls up close and personal, with the mist upon your face, is well worth the visit. Be prepared for a moderate to tough trek along multiple winding stairs to see all of these stunning waterfalls. A light poncho and good hiking/walking shoes are recommended.

This was an amazing stop, be sure to go behind the waterfall! Do not buy tropical fruit there. The Guanabana looks great, but it was not ripe. The corn on the cob was smoky flavored and worth it!

This was great the trail is nice and the different animals at the conservatory are great. There are multiple waterfalls on the way down and then a souvenir shop at the bottom. A trolley to get back to the top. Recommend this visit highly.

Excellent adventure when you come to Costa Rica. About an hour outside of San Jose and worth the trip to see the animals, falls and also a great place to get some pretty decent food & drink. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable.

It might be a bit touristy but still worth visiting for its sheer beauty. The animal sanctuary is kind of like a zoo. But the toucans, hummingbirds and frogs were fun to see. Be prepared to climb some stairs if you want to fully enjoy the waterfalls- it's well-worth it.

Amazing waterfalls! 5 starsBUTthe zoo/sanctuary is horrible!Small cages, animals having strong anxiety (you can see by their behaviour, especially wild cats). If those animals were rescued, nice! But the conditions they are having now are unacceptable. I paid around around 50$ (I don't remember now) and I regret any penny. It was a horrible experience.I hate snakes but the terrariums they had were smaller than for a tiny turtle.Horrible, terrible, unacceptable! If I could I would take all my money back because I don't want to support this insane zoo.I was in plenty animal rescue places, where you can tell, it's about animals. Here is just about money.Waterfalls were truly amazing but you can see similar in other places.Please, don't invest in places like this because they are created just for tourists...

Nice waterfall, nice spot to take some nice pictures.I think the offer tours, but we just stopped by when we were driving through and did some memories of photos with the family.

Wonderful place to visit. Just be aware of the tremendous amount of stairs to see it all. You don't however have to walk back up as there is a shuttle bus that brings everyone back to the start

Showed up and saw sloths and jaguars, their butterflies were beautiful, and their birds exhibit allowed us to see tucans up close. Everything was absolutely amazing, I proposed at the top of the waterfalls and she said yes! there are 5 waterfalls in total.

You will also see some animals and waterfalls. Lots of stairs to the waterfall. People with heart problems should take caution. Strongly recommend. Nice all you can eat restaurant inside a park.

This waterfall is located right off the main road. You can see if as you pass or you may stop on either side of the bridge for a closer look. There is a fair amount of parking available. There is a small trail that allows you to walk behind the waterfall.I wouldn’t go out of your way to visit this waterfall but if you happen to be in the area it is definitely worth a stop.There are tourist police on site as well, so you don’t need to worry about anyone breaking into your car while you visit the waterfall if you have luggage in your car.

4.8

(7320)

4.5

(3027)

126, Provincia de Alajuela, Costa Rica

+26 other lists

Decided to visit as we were walking past and were pleasantly surprised. Beautiful building with a guided tour and without giving any spoilers away, the tour was extremely informative and fun. Lots of history and one of the world's most beautiful ceilings Would recommend it to everyone. Paid admission though, seems like a theme for everything in San Jose.

An absolutely beautiful building and right in the center plaza. The paintings are stunning and it was cool being able to see the restoration process. Definitely worth the price to go inside. Tour was about 45 minutes.Our guide seemed a little newer and not as confident with all of the info, but did a great job handling people who didn’t listen very well.It would be nice if the touring schedule was more easily accessible and if there was an easier way to buy tickets. The box office was only open for 20 minutes before the tour and there was a long line for purchasing for the tour but also shows; we almost missed our tour time.

One of our most beautiful and iconic buildings ever built.This National Theater is without a doubt a national treasure that holds the past trapped within its walls. It was built on the Oligarquía Cafetalera era, to be more precise by the lower class. The ones in power, were the owners of the coffee plantations, the provided a small percentage of money to build this master piece, the biggest part was provided by the lower classes via taxes. The richest people did not want to share the floor with the poorest ones, so a third floor was built with exterior separate entrances to those lower classes. The rich people did not know that the best acoustic and view of the orchestra was being enjoyed by the ones on the isolated floor with wooden pews.The vast majority of sculptures and paintings were done by Italian artists. In fact there is only one sculpture inside the lobby area which was built by a Costa Rican artist. It depicts a woman with and infant on her laps representing misery. He wanted to remind the rich that the lower classes were the ones who build that jewel.I strongly recommend everyone to visit this magnificent building.

Beautiful place. Amazing history. The chairs can be removed so the floor can be raised to stage level in 8 hours using a lot of manual labor to provide a ballroom. Presidential box in the middle of 2nd tier has a private restroom. That's real 24-karat gold gilding. Would love to see a performance here.

Beautiful building. Obviously cannot compete with all the old buildings we have in Europe, but it was pretty and great to see nevertheless.

Beautiful architecture and paintings. Still has the original seats from 1891 and the manual gears to raise the floor. amazing. Book a small tour.

An excellent tour conducted in English by a wonderful guide called Monica ( I think). A really informative and lively presentation with a few surprises! Well worth doing to see the interior of this ornate institution. Lasts about 45 mins - 1 hour.

A beautiful and ornate theater featuring two guides dressed in period costumes describing the past in this historical playhouse.

Beautiful building. The tour is inexpensive, the guides do an amazing job and the interior is amazing. Definitely worth it.

I read about this theater in the Lonely Planet guide which promised it would be an excellent tour, and it was! The theater is grand and gives a glimpse into the culture and history of the area. The knowledgeable tour guide and the clever surprise made it fun and fascinating. Please note that English tours are given at 1 and 4 o’clock while Spanish tours are given at 2 and 3 o’clock. We had people in our group from Algeria, France, China, and California, so it was extra fun. This was well worth the time and the money.

Very nice theater and a real attraction! Tickets for the different language tours can be purchased directly on the left side of the theater.

Beautiful place to visit. The tours are really nice. My only negative complaint is that the tour guide (female 6/18) was not nice to the locals and super friendly to the expats (specially Europeans and Americans). Her English was okay and it felt like she was drill in the locals to speak in English when she herself had a lot of room for growth. The make guide was hilarious and super friendly.

A must see! It's gorgeous and has so much history. We were fortunate enough to have a couple of actors as our guides. They were hilarious and informative. I got so many beautiful pictures

I was here on a food tour of city that included this theater because it was on the route.Its a very nice structure, and i like the story behind one of the sculptures (the one on the right, mother and baby). The artists defiance in past.Was only in lobby and looking for 5 min, but very nice theater.''Like this review below if the info helps

Great Building!When the city heats up to much, definitely a great place to cool and calm down again.

Beautiful Theatre. Must to see.

4.8

(6260)

4.5

(3612)

Avenida 2, Calle 5, San José Province, San José, Catedral, Costa Rica

+27 other lists

I felt that while the museum was lovely, it was a little overpriced for tourists. There are three levels - the basem*nt is the gold, the second level has a geography exhibit, and the main level currently has an exhibit about coins. I've been to other gold museums in Latin America and this one was relatively similar, though there were quite a lot of unique pieces that i admit i had never seen in other similar museums. The geographical exhibit was interesting but can be skipped through relatively quickly (i did appreciate all the signage in English). The coins exhibit will only be interesting to you if you're into the history of coins. Personally i liked it but did find it a little repetitive. Overall - good activity to do if you find yourself in downtown San Jose with some free time to kill but not necessarily a must see.

Enjoyed our visit here, so many fascinating exhibits presented well, and the building itself is quite interesting architecturally. Bit of a queue to get in as we fit such behind a couple of big local student groups, but other than that bit very busy at all (apart from the currency exhibition on the top floor which had a couple of tour groups in).Very interesting to learn some of the culture, as well as the history of the local currency, well worth a visit.Open bags aren't permitted, but there are free lockers on entry to put them in if required.

What a stunning museum! Large spacious galleries with artefacts beautifully presented. The gold art work was very thin, delicate and some very tiny ! Over 3 floors this museum really captures the essence of the role of gold in pre-Columbian history. I particularly adored the tiny figurines which were so delicately moulded. Great location right next to the theatre. Very easy to find !

It was ok. We did find it more interesting than the jade museum.

8800 CRC well spent. Lots of fascinating history about the people who used to live in the region of what's now Costa Rica, many centuries ago. There's also some beautiful art on display by Faba, as well as the history of the Costa Rican currency, which predates what is currently in place.The toilet facilities are clean and staff are friendly.

Jewelry on Steroids! Loved it, and loved the historical information. There were people at every level to answer questions and add information as well

This museum was on a recommended list for thing to do in San José and it did not disappoint. The museum is now in an underground building rather than the older building just next door.They provide lockers for backpacks and larger bags. A small purse and phone are okay. Start by going ask the way to the bottom floor and work your way up.The detail that was able to be achieved in the pieces is breath taking. The section on the colones at the end was super interesting! Don't look past it.

If you like seeing ancient gold artifacts, you would really love the place. Though I feel the artifacts, there were too few in representing the ancient civilization of the original Costa 🇨🇷 settlers.

Nicely curated museum. Worth the time and entrance fee. Not every display has an English option, so take your favorite translation app with you!

This museum has wonderful displays of gold artifacts and jewelry. Throughout the exhibit, there are touch screen displays that enhance the learning experience and explain the intricacies and really give you an appreciation of this fascinating culture. A must see while in San Jose Costa Rica.

Awesome expo of contemporary art and pre-Colombian history… along with a view on the presence of indigenous tribes of Costa Rica.

Great museum. A lot about the indigenous people but the gold work was exceptional. Felt the lighting could have been better, lots of reflections in the pics which I found annoying.

Wonderful place covers the culture bot just the items, it's actually the banks museum and had an art exhibition and a numismatic exhibition on the top, so we'll worth it

8800 colones to enter- lots to see and has the descriptions in both English and Spanish, very cool to see all the tiny gold figures as well as the rotating art exhibit and the mint

Really good museum to visit. Well setup, amazing installation and explanations.

Absolutely stunning collection of history and artifacts. It's an amazing part of Costa Rican heritage and history that is well preserved and presented that any history aficionado must see.

Historical journey thru the beginning of metallurgy in Costa Rica. Beautiful exhibits. The entire museum is underground with state of the art security.

What a wonderful place.Very very interesting and well presented

Talk about a fascinating time. If your interests lie in history, you definitely will not be disappointed. A happy mixture of history /art, this museum definitely brings a lot to the table!From the history of the pre-columbian people's religious views, down to the cultural influences from Mayan and Aztec cultures on the natives, this museum covers a wide swath of information. The design of the place is also interesting, as you enter into an underground vault-like area to look at the pieces.There are also multiple floors of different displays so you definitely get your money's worth! I recommend!!

4.7

(2854)

4.5

(2485)

Bajos de la Plaza de la Cultura. Avenida Central. Calle 5 San José Centro San José CR 10104, Av. Central, San José, Costa Rica

+29 other lists

Fantastic place to check out!! The museum was absolutely wonderful to walk around. It was inexpensive and you could spend the whole day there. The staff was super friendly and the butterflies were the best part. The art was breathtaking and there were so many different things to look at. They had the history of Costa Rica, lots of art work, and even the original jail cells. Absolutely rich in history and a fun place to spend a few hours. AC was a plus!

Beautiful museum that has a great history of CR. We went around the afternoon until closing, recommendations were for 2-2.5hrs but we didn't finish in that time. This was one of our last stops in CR after exploring, learned a lot of history on CR that isn't so regularly found. Well worth the time and money if you're in San Jose and want to learn on CR history.

Not large, but nice variety of exhibits. If you stop to read all the material (English and Spanish) you get a good appreciation for the history of Costa Rica from pre-Columbian period through the independence of the country. Butterfly exhibit at the beginning is a fun start, the grounds are calm and beautiful.

Very central location. Great museum with a lot of history and images - archeological finds, artifacts from Costa Rica's development. Moves from ancient civilizations to present day, very nicely done.Man at front ticket booth was very kind and definitely easy on the eyes. Good intro to the museum!

I really enjoyed the museum. The building has a very interesting history and there's a lot of respect for the story of the indigenous peoples of Costa Rica and the conquest by the conquistadors. Lots to learn and see, and really knowledgeable and friendly staff. The butterfly garden was a nice surprise as well.

A large museum with a wide selection of history up to the modern day. I particularly liked the ancient 3-legged stool like stone sculptures. It really ties in with the ones in the Jade Museum. But I would like to give both museums some advice. There is a steady stream of visitors but no decent gift shops. They could really improve their revenue with some tasteful small reproductions. It would need to be able to fit in suitcases. Start small and see what sells. I'm thinking maybe some jade pendant necklaces or something on the theme of stone spheres. Not too expensive maybe 20 to 30 $. Maybe do a survey of visitors to ask what they would buy.

Amazing museum! So much to see and learn. We were there two hours and I think we saw everything. Don't forget to look at the architecture itself! Beautiful building!🥰👉Definitely bring water with you as there are no water fountains or cafés on site.

Very informative, starts from the beginning (pre-Columbus history) to the present day. Good information regarding the whole of America, not only Costa Rica. Must visit when going to San José. Entry is also cheap!

Excellent range of exhibits and information to help deepen knowledge of Costa Ricsn history.The building is the former army barracks - no longer needed after Costa Rica disbanded the army in 1949.We spent about 2 hours here - would be good to be able to use your ticket to return later the same day as it’s hard to take in all the information.Loved the butterfly information as we entered.

Great variety of information. Very informative and inclusive for English speaking tourists. Highly recommend getting a tour guide for bigger groups.

Interesting museum to visit, particularly explaining the rich history behind Costa Rica. Would recommend visiting for at least a couple of hours to really get a good time to see everything.

A varied museum including a butterfly room (with no butterflies when we visited), a more traditional history museum, a small natural history section, and the preserved commander's house. Some of the temporary exhibits are in Spanish only, but the rest is in English and Spanish. The main courtyard, built on the roof, is nice to relax in. There is free WiFi and toilets within the museum. We spent around an hour here.

This place is so amazing and we learned so much about Costa Rican history. Little did we know Spaniards were so cruel towards the indigenous people back in the days. The museum also has butterfly garden with probably thousands of butterflies flying all over. Highly recommend it if you have children.

This museum is fantastic. The grounds surrounding it are spectacular (although sometimes the people in the park outside can seem sorta sketchy). You can see the Legislative Assembly building from the front door and there's a fantastic park across the street. I especially liked the statues and modern art out front-- even the bike rack is artistic. The inside of the museum is impressive as well.

Excellent displays that explain the history and culture of Costa Rica and attempt to respect the indigenous population Latin America. The butterfly conservatory and history of the barracks, abolition of the army and nice city views make it worth while visiting. The really should number the displays and provide a recommended path of touring the facility.

Beautiful location with a lot of history. There are a lot of things to see in this museum and has many different areas. Make sure to plan a few hours out of your day if you will visit here.Staff were very friendly and very informative.

Full of Costa Rican Rich history and explain a lot of the historical events in the country is a really good place for kids to learn about history through the years in the country and they have a lot of interactive places! They have temporary exibits as well. they have a beautiful butterfly garden and the view from the top building is amazing as well the whole tour didn't take more than an hour and a half you can take a little bit longer if you stop by and read through everything we just wanted to see the other museums they are around the area as well.

Today, we did a little more extensive tour of San Jose. This Museum is a treasure!The National Museum of Costa Rica invites you to learn about the cultural and natural history of Costa Ricans, from pre-Columbian times to the present.Its exhibition rooms show the varied collections in the fields of national history, archeology and natural history, which for 135 years has been the oldest in the country. It holds temporary exhibitions on artistic and cultural themes and has a varied agenda of activities throughout the year.The Museum is located in an emblematic building, declared Historical Architectural Heritage and symbol of the abolition of the army in Costa Rica.According to the United Nations, Costa Rica had an estimated population of 5,153,957 people as of 2021. White and Mestizos make up 83.4% of the population, 7% are black people (including mixed race), 2.4% Amerindians, 0.2% Chinese and 7% other/none.In 2010, just under 3% of the population was of African descent. These are called Afro-Costa Ricans or West Indians and are English-speaking descendants of 19th-century black Jamaican immigrant workers. Another 1% is composed of those of Chinese origin, and less than 1% are West Asian, mainly of Lebanese descent but also Palestinians. The 2011 Census provided the following data: whites and mestizos make up 83.4% of the population, 7% are black people (including mixed race), 2.4% Amerindians, 0.2% Chinese, and 7% other/none.There is also a community of North American retirees from the United States and Canada, followed by fairly large numbers of European Union expatriates (chiefly Scandinavians and from Germany) come to retire as well, and Australians. Immigration to Costa Rica made up 9% of the population in 2012. This included permanent settlers as well as migrants who were hoping to reach the U.S. In 2015, there were some 420,000 immigrants in Costa Rica and the number of asylum seekers (mostly from Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua) rose to more than 110,000. An estimated 10% of the Costa Rican population in 2014 was made up of Nicaraguans.The indigenous population today numbers about 60,000 (just over 1% of the population), with some Miskito and Garifuna (a population of mixed African and Carib Amerindian descent) living in the coastal regions.Costa Rica's emigration is the smallest in the Caribbean Basin and is among the smallest in the Americas. By 2015 about just 133,185 (2.77%) of the country's people live in another country as immigrants. The main destination countries are the United States (85,924), Nicaragua (10,772), Panama (7,760), Canada (5,039), Spain (3,339), Mexico (2,464), Germany (1,891), Italy (1,508), Guatemala (1,162) and Venezuela (1,127).

Beautiful way to begin or end a trip to Costa Rica. Exhibits are really well done and bilingual in Spanish and English. Would definitely come back

Interesting museum focused on Costa Rica's history in the past few centuries. A great place to go if you want to learn about the adversities, resilience and subsequent growth the Costa Rican people faced since the Spanish conquests and more recently from the different wars waged in Central America. Their history is testament to the resolve of great people and the willingness to put the violence of the past to rest.

This mesuem had more in it than I first realized. I would have definitely loved a collection 2-4x this size. The butterflies were a nice addition.

Without a doubt one of the best museums in Latin America (trust me I’ve been to almost all of them). The national museum beautifully captures in modern exhibits and a state of the art museum the history and culture of the country. If you only have time for 1 museum this is it. It’s worth every dollar and includes a butterfly sanctuary (those with Lepidopterophobia beware!). The museum should take you about 1.5 hours to see it all.

4.7

(7722)

4.5

(1506)

Cuesta de Moras, Av. Central, San José Province, San José, Bella Vista, Costa Rica

Lovely facility. Very knowledgeable staff! Loved to hear about the history of the nation and the area. Obvious why so many film studios and photographers come to visit. Large numbers of birds arrived during our hour visit. Dave& Dave kept us all aware of what was happening. Well worth the money and time to us.

Amazing place with great opportunities to see birds close up. Especially impressive were the humming birds and toucans (maybe we were lucky!) and Daves knowledge of the animals. Tour every hour. Book in advance to avoid waiting.

This is a great way to see the 'must' birds of Costa Rica. The Daves are awesome story tellers and a pleasure to have as guides. Couldn't ask for a better tour. Thank you!

Words cannot describe the unique experience you get in this place. Just browse through other opinions and their photos. It is a natural wildlife sanctuary: no cages or animal cruelty, just wildlife. The owners are amiable and give the best tour.Remember - it's a wildlife sanctuary - sometimes you see everything, and sometimes it's hard to spot some species.

A must go place for everybody who wants to experience Costa Rica’s wildlife in their natural habitat and by far the best place for bird photography we’ve been to so far.Arriving at the park we have been a little bit reluctant to pay the 40$ entrance fee but it was so much worth it.First Dave & Dave took us to their bird watching place where we could take a lot of photos of local birds. Even Toucans came and sat down there and we were able to take some amazing photos of them.After that we were taken to their hummingbird area. The setup was just perfect for picture taking and we were able to get some amazing photos.Part of the tour also was a smaller hike down to the river where we were able to see those colorful frogs and Dave Junior told us a lot about the local flora and fauna.All in all we had an amazing time and we will definitely come back to this place the next time we visit Costa Rica :)

We had a great visit at Dave and Dave's. The two hour tour with Dave Jr was really interesting and we learned a lot about the birds of Costa Rica but not only, also about the forest and its residents.We were really lucky and got to see so many beautiful birds as well as frogs. The colibris were particularly active that morning and it was a feast for the eyes !We highly recommend that visit, especially for birds and colibri lovers (and photographers !) for whom it's a must see!

We just visited Dave and Dave's on Nov. 23, Thanksgiving. It was amazing. We spent 2 hours photographing birds, frogs and nature. There is no better place to get amazing photos of hummingbirds. The trail is beautiful and the experience is very authentic. We really enjoyed our visit with the very knowledgeable Dave Jr.

If you are near the Sarapiqui river, you love nature, and you care about preserving biodiversity (which is increasingly in danger due to human activity), this is the place you don't want to miss. Dave and Dave run a nature preservation project, they plant rare species of trees and bushes and other plants, and provide a bird watching tour to finance their enterprise. They attract birds by sticking pieces of bananas on the branches, but arrange everything in such a way that you have ample opportunities to watch and photograph birds in their natural surroundings, with no traces of human activity. I saw a crazy amount of multi-color birds, including flocks of hummingbirds, which are my favorite. Dave Jr. was with me all the time and gave me a lot of interesting information about the birds. Near the end of the tour he offered me to walk downstairs across the forest to the river to watch poisonous frogs and a beautiful scenery. Also a bottle of cold water, and I sure needed it. I left with about 500 photographs and my hands almost falling off after holding that heavy telephoto lens in my camera. I am very grateful to both Daves for this tour, and I wish them the best of luck with their project.

We have had a wonderful experience at this place. We have loved the tour here and it was one of the highlights of our trip. We had the luck to be the only visitors at the time, so we had the place to ourselves with Dave.100% wild birds! The visitor can stay on a platform watching the birds feeding, its an excellent photo opportunity.The walk through the property down to the river was also very beautiful and interesting. Dave told us about how nature managed to claim this land back after being used as Playstation land. Also, we saw lots and lots of poison dart frogs here.We definitely recommend to visit this place to anyone going to this area.Thank you, Papa Dave, for your time, showing us around your property and sharing your knowledge.

We were shown around by Dave Senior; and it was a joy from start to finish! Such passion for the environment and knowledge about every plant and animal we found. Loads of poison dart frogs, toucans, hummingbirds etc. We came away with a much better idea of how the whole jungle ecosystem works. One of the best ways to experience the wildlife Costa Rica has to offer. Thanks Daves!!

Road Scholar brought me here on a photography adventure. Simply stated, it is amazing! There is a large variety of birds to photograph. The hummingbird feeders are heliconia plants, allowing me to photograph the amazing variety of hummingbirds without the hand of man. The younger Dave was educated in California, speaks perfect English and is extremely knowledgeable. It was a highlight of my visit to the Costa Rica tropical rainforest.

4.6

(219)

5.0

(620)

North of the cemetery, 200 meters, Heredia Province, La Virgen, Costa Rica

great experience, we had done this before in France which was already great, but this was even better. Beautiful nature, wildlife, and a great guide and local lunch

Great service and guides on the river and off. Been there several times and worked with them for many years

We had a good experience rafting with Aguas Bravas. Their guides were fun & gave clear instructions while you're on the river. The rapids were level 2 & 3 and there were a few tight areas you have to maneuver. They will give you opportunities to swim/float or jump off a cliff into the river. Highly recommend trying this outfitter.

I can’t even begin to describe how much fun this was! Our guide Romel was the best, he kept us safe and entertained throughout. Loved the rapids, jumping out of the raft to float, attempting to get back in, and the delicious lunch we had when we got back. Highly recommended!

Great company! Fauricio, our guide, was really nice and fun guy to do rafting. Service was really good and the river was just beautiful

I had a blast! This is the best company by far to enjoy the river with. At least in my book! I have gone with several different but Aguas Bravas, they delivered above and beyond. We where just driving down the road and decided on the spot to go and do some rafting. The last tour for the day was already out, but they took us on and we waited until they were back and then they took us out, after-hours. Ended up with the two best people, a guide and driver we could never imagine could be so cool, funny, layed-back and professional. Thank you for making and saving our day! Mr B and Mr P I can only say PUUUUURA VIDA!

A trip to Costa Rica wouldn't be complete without going.white water rafting. Our guide and friend, Leo Rodriguez, recommended Aguas Bravas and we were thrilled we decided to go rafting with them.Hansell and JJ were great guides and spotters. The equipment was first rate and the complimentary pineapple was the sweetest I have tasted in country. The entire excursion took around two hours with the end of May water level being the perfect speed for our family of four. A midway stop to jump off a small cliff and swim was a treat in the refreshing river. The afternoon showers rolled in during the last 20 minutes of the trip but there were no worries and as it was as refreshing as the river water.Everyone had a great experience and this was one of our favorite excursions for the many trips we have taken to Costa Rica!

We've done the Rafting II-III and it was soo fuuun !Our guide was very friendly and very competent !If we go back to costa rica, we be sure to do the next level with them !I will recommend 100% if you're looking to do Rafting

4.7

(127)

5.0

(503)

FW28+4GJ, Heredia Province, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica

Great aerial tram! Takes you through the tropical rainforest. Good views. I wish we could see some animals or birds. People were friendly.

Air tram was slow going between the trees. Didn't see any animals, but there were some birds. We enjoyed lunch on site as well as the sloth enclosure.

Interesting rainforest adventure. We took the tram for an over the forest view. Very unique experience. There are plenty of activities for all ages.

If you are into birds, we highly recommend this place on a day with no cruise ships. Book the bird tour (which includes the tram) and ask for Marvin - he is an amazingly knowledgeable and friendly guide who has worked there for 30 years! He can stop the tram if you see anything interesting, and he can take you anywhere in their reserve. He is also a master naturalist, so you will learn a great deal about the local rainforest. It was peaceful and mellow, as there were not many people there at all. We loved our time with Marvin - thanks again to him!

Great guided tours. Wheelchair accessible. The gondola was being repaired after some storm damage, but should be back in service soon.

SAVE YOUR MONEY!!!! Absolutely no animals or birds to be seen from the Air Tram. Go to LA Fortuna instead for a real amazing experience

This was such an amazing part of our trip! The staff was beyond friendly, they made us feel very comfortable and safe. They taught us a lot about Costa Rica and just had a general calm and fun demeanor. The zip lines were safe, and the views were beautiful. The whole grounds were wonderful to walk around and take in the rainforest. Would absolutely recommend for a fun time!

I had an amazing time here walking trails, riding incredible and awe-inspiring zip lines, and relaxing on the 2-hr tram ride through the rain forest. Our guides Marco Loco and Maikel (El guapo) were professional, very friendly, fun and made me feel very safe.

I was afraid it would be a cheesy tourist trap but was impressed. Our guide was an old-timer who knew everything about the forest from medicinal plants to animals and history of the area. His passion and knowledge made the experience. We explored bullet ant mounds, saw packs of coati, found little bats and snakes, and of coursed spotted toucans and sloths. The canopy lift offered nice views to spot birds and butterflies.

Cast and lush forest, excellent facilities. Got there without prior booking on a January Saturday morning and were able to choose best suited options.

We didn't get to see monkeys or sloths on our tram ride, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it. I suggest bringing binoculars with you.

4.5

(532)

4.5

(374)

Ruta 32, junto al Parque Nacional Braulio Carrillo. A 45 mins de San José, Route 32, next to Braulio Carrillo National Park, 45 mins from San José, downtown, Limón, Guápiles, Costa Rica