Costa Rica Transformative Tours & Trip Packages

Costa Rica Transformative Tours & Trips

295 Costa Rica trips. Tours from 130 tour companies. 837 reviews. 4.8/5 avg rating.

17 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
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Transformative
Costa Rica Quest
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4.8/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
They’ve partnered with well-known names like National Geographic and the Jane Goodall Institute to offer unique experiences unavailable elsewhere.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna, Manuel Antonio National Park, Monteverde, San José

Highlights

  • Search for the elusive quetzal bird in the cloud forest
  • Watch the sunset over the pacific
  • Learn about sugar cane and coffee production at a local plantation
  • Enjoy free entrance into manuel antonio national park

Themes

Cultural, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Transformative

What travelers are saying

"We spent two wonderful weeks touring several of the best destinations in Portugal & Spain with a group of 16 people. Our guide (Fredy) was from Spain and intimately familiar with the region, including its rich history, attractions, and food/beverages. The tour was well-paced using a combinations of private vehicles (small buses and cabs), trains, and an airplane ride as well as a fair amount of walking to get around these two beautiful countries. We extended our stay in Lisbon to see more attractions and took a side trip to Fatima, Obidos, and Nazare that was also excellent. Would have liked to have a bit more time in a couple of the cities, but we'll just have to plan another trip!"

Trip dates & details
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Tortuguero National Park Tour – 4-Day Independent Adventure
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4.8/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Self-Guided / Independent Tour
Why we love them
They’ve partnered with well-known names like National Geographic and the Jane Goodall Institute to offer unique experiences unavailable elsewhere.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Caribbean, San José, Tortuguero National Park

Highlights

  • Cruise the canals in search of wildlife
  • Hike through the pristine environment of tortuguero national park
  • Search for sea turtles when in season

Themes

Cultural, Transformative

What travelers are saying

"We spent two wonderful weeks touring several of the best destinations in Portugal & Spain with a group of 16 people. Our guide (Fredy) was from Spain and intimately familiar with the region, including its rich history, attractions, and food/beverages. The tour was well-paced using a combinations of private vehicles (small buses and cabs), trains, and an airplane ride as well as a fair amount of walking to get around these two beautiful countries. We extended our stay in Lisbon to see more attractions and took a side trip to Fatima, Obidos, and Nazare that was also excellent. Would have liked to have a bit more time in a couple of the cities, but we'll just have to plan another trip!"

Trip dates & details
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Costa Rica Adventure
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4.8/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
They’ve partnered with well-known names like National Geographic and the Jane Goodall Institute to offer unique experiences unavailable elsewhere.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Arenal Volcano, Caribbean, La Fortuna, Manuel Antonio National Park, Monteverde, San José

Highlights

  • Spot wildlife while cruising through the canals of tortuguero
  • Hike through the cloud forest
  • Enjoy the gorgeous beaches of the pacific and caribbean coasts
  • Savour a local lunch at a g adventures-supported coffee plantation

Themes

Cultural, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Transformative

What travelers are saying

"We spent two wonderful weeks touring several of the best destinations in Portugal & Spain with a group of 16 people. Our guide (Fredy) was from Spain and intimately familiar with the region, including its rich history, attractions, and food/beverages. The tour was well-paced using a combinations of private vehicles (small buses and cabs), trains, and an airplane ride as well as a fair amount of walking to get around these two beautiful countries. We extended our stay in Lisbon to see more attractions and took a side trip to Fatima, Obidos, and Nazare that was also excellent. Would have liked to have a bit more time in a couple of the cities, but we'll just have to plan another trip!"

Trip dates & details
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Arenal Volcano Package
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4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Vacation / Holiday Package
Why we love them
They offer something for every kind of traveler and their excellent customer service is available throughout the whole process.
Lodging level
Basic - 2 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Full schedule

Visits

Arenal Volcano

Highlights

  • Experience some of the highlights of the Arenal Volcano
  • Choose from a list of great tours that include everything from caving to nocturnal eco tours
  • Hike along the lava trails of Arenal Volcano

Themes

Eco, Sustainable & Green Travel, High Adventure, Hiking & Walking, Local Immersion & Homestays, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Rafting, Kayaking, Canoeing, Relaxing Retreats, Transformative, Trekking & Expeditions

What travelers are saying

"We completed the three day tour with the glacier hike today! It was awesome and the sub vendor, Troll Expeditions, is definitely worthy of staying on the vendor list. 3 Day Blue Ice Cave + Golden Circle + Northern Lights"

Trip dates & details
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Nature & Adventure Package
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4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Vacation / Holiday Package
Why we love them
They offer something for every kind of traveler and their excellent customer service is available throughout the whole process.
Lodging level
Basic - 2 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Full schedule

Visits

Arenal Volcano, Tortuguero National Park

Highlights

  • Visit Tortuguero National Park and enjoy boating tours
  • Arenal Volcano National Park and surrounding rainforests
  • Zipline and relax in natural hot springs
  • Hotels with a lot of amenities like private gardens, pools, spas, and bars

Themes

Eco, Sustainable & Green Travel, High Adventure, Hiking & Walking, Local Immersion & Homestays, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Relaxing Retreats, Transformative, Trekking & Expeditions

What travelers are saying

"We completed the three day tour with the glacier hike today! It was awesome and the sub vendor, Troll Expeditions, is definitely worthy of staying on the vendor list. 3 Day Blue Ice Cave + Golden Circle + Northern Lights"

Trip dates & details
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Arenal Volcano Package: 5 Nights
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4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Vacation / Holiday Package
Why we love them
They offer something for every kind of traveler and their excellent customer service is available throughout the whole process.
Lodging level
Basic - 2 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Full schedule

Visits

Arenal Volcano

Highlights

  • Experience some of the highlights of the Arenal Volcano
  • Choose from a list of great tours that include everything from caving to nocturnal eco tours
  • Hike along the lava trails of Arenal Volcano
  • Try the natural volcanic hot springs

Themes

Eco, Sustainable & Green Travel, High Adventure, Hiking & Walking, Local Immersion & Homestays, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Rafting, Kayaking, Canoeing, Relaxing Retreats, Transformative, Trekking & Expeditions

What travelers are saying

"We completed the three day tour with the glacier hike today! It was awesome and the sub vendor, Troll Expeditions, is definitely worthy of staying on the vendor list. 3 Day Blue Ice Cave + Golden Circle + Northern Lights"

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
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Arenal Volcano Package: 4 Nights
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Vacation / Holiday Package
Why we love them
They offer something for every kind of traveler and their excellent customer service is available throughout the whole process.
Lodging level
Basic - 2 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Full schedule

Visits

Arenal Volcano

Highlights

  • Experience some of the highlights of the Arenal Volcano
  • Choose from a list of great tours that include everything from caving to nocturnal eco tours
  • Hike along the lava trails of Arenal Volcano
  • Try the natural volcanic hot springs

Themes

Eco, Sustainable & Green Travel, High Adventure, Hiking & Walking, Local Immersion & Homestays, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Rafting, Kayaking, Canoeing, Relaxing Retreats, Transformative, Trekking & Expeditions

What travelers are saying

"We completed the three day tour with the glacier hike today! It was awesome and the sub vendor, Troll Expeditions, is definitely worthy of staying on the vendor list. 3 Day Blue Ice Cave + Golden Circle + Northern Lights"

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
More
Rainforest & Cloud Forest Package
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4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Vacation / Holiday Package
Why we love them
They offer something for every kind of traveler and their excellent customer service is available throughout the whole process.
Lodging level
Basic - 2 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Full schedule

Visits

Arenal Volcano

Highlights

  • Visit Arenal Volcano and enjoy some of the many activities in the area
  • Take a boat ride across Lake Arenal en route to Monteverde
  • Go on a El Trapiche Sugar Mill & Coffee Tour
  • Enjoy a guided nature hike through the cloud forest of Monteverde

Themes

Birding, Cultural, Eco, Sustainable & Green Travel, High Adventure, Hiking & Walking, Local Immersion & Homestays, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Relaxing Retreats, Transformative, Trekking & Expeditions

What travelers are saying

"We completed the three day tour with the glacier hike today! It was awesome and the sub vendor, Troll Expeditions, is definitely worthy of staying on the vendor list. 3 Day Blue Ice Cave + Golden Circle + Northern Lights"

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
More
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17 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
My selections:
Transformative

Costa Rica Reviews & Ratings

4.8/5  Excellent
837  Reviews
See all Costa Rica tour reviews
Excellent
552
Great
88
Average
14
Disappointing
4
Terrible
4
A

Anonymous

Aug 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

A wonderful trip

Thoroughly enjoyed this holiday. We saw so much wildlife from sloths and monkeys and even an anteater to scarlet macaws and toucans, as well as the elusive quetzal...

A

Anonymous

Aug 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

I really wanted to see a Tapir!

Our third visit to Costa Rica was everything we expected and more (sadly we didn't see a tapir - but that was the only disappointment!). The trip is full on - if y...

A

Anonymous

Aug 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

Wonderful holiday!

I would recommend this well organised holiday to anyone who wants to explore the diverse landscapes of Costa Rica, as well as see a wide range of wildlife - sloths...

A

Anonymous

Aug 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

A tropical paradise.

Overall we had such an amazing trip. Our tour guide was fantastic and one of a kind. He really knew his stuff and went the extra mile above and beyond for the grou...

A

Anonymous

Aug 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

Coastal secrets of Costa Rica

I had booked this trip to celebrate "big birthdays" for both me and my daughter, so my expectations were high and this fantastic holiday exceeded my expectations. ...

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Costa Rica Tour Selection Trips

  • Allow at least seven to ten days for a tour that will hit many of the highlights.
  • Costa Rica caters to a wide variety of travelers, including couples, singles, and families. Whether you’re looking for hard or soft adventure, Stride can help you find the best Costa Rica tours.
  • If you have a special interest -- birding or fishing, for instance -- look for tours that emphasize those activities; you’ll be able to find them.
  • Don’t be put off by reports of civil strife elsewhere in Central America; Costa Rica has been safe and peaceful for decades.
  • The dry season runs from December to April or May in San Jose (the capital) and the Pacific Coast and from January to April along the Caribbean.
  • Some parts of the country can get rain year-round, and temperature is swayed more by altitude than season, so pack an umbrella and visit any time of year.

Additional details

Tours to Costa Rica usually focus on a combination of eco travel, wildlife, and adventure. You will usually find a tour that weighs one or two of these themes above the other.

If it’s your first visit to Costa Rica, try to find a tour that hits upon what Costa Rica is most known for. These include Arenal Volcano and Monteverde Cloud Forest. Both attractions are extremely popular and are normally included in Costa Rica tour itineraries.

bridge-in-monteverde

Outdoors and Active Costa Rica Tours

Most Costa Rica tours don’t have a heavy emphasis on cultural or historical sight seeing. Simply because the wildlife and outdoor tour activities are enough to occupy the days!

Wildlife lovers will want for nothing in Costa Rica, and most itineraries do focus heavily on the diverse wildlife found in Costa Rica’s rainforests and cloud forests. Some may not include Tortuguero National Park - and if you don’t want to miss observing sea turtles nesting or hatching be sure to find a tour that includes this park!

Some of the most famous animals you can see relatively easily in Costa Rica include the red-eyed tree frog, crocodiles, howler monkeys, spider monkeys, tapirs, basilisk lizards, coatimundis (the Costa Rican version of a raccoon!), and two kinds of sloth. A night safari might allow you to see some of the rarer or more elusive animals in the country, such as jaguars, kinkajous, tarantulas, and ocelots. Don't forget to look up - night is the best time to see snakes as they stalk for sleeping birds in the trees above. 

If you decide to go snorkeling or scuba diving, you may run into bottlenose dolphins (or go see them on a dolphin swim!), green sea turtles and leatherbacks, sharks, and all kinds of tropical fish. Whale watching is  also a great way to see orcas and humpback, blue, beaked, and pilot whales. 

If you are interested in going on a birdwatching trip, there are also tons of beautiful and exotic birds. There are green and scarlet macaws,  toucans, dozens of species of hummingbirds, and all kinds of birds of paradise -- including the rare national bird of Costa Rica, the Resplendent Quetzal. 

costa-rican-volcano

Weather in Costa Rica

It gets quite wet and humid in Costa Rica, and the country is prone to hurricane conditions. Tour activities may change depending on the time of year, but generally you can expect to be walking through the rainforest in every sense of the word.

Most tours in Costa Rica will provide wet weather gear, though it is a good idea to pack light weight waterproof clothing for the majority of your tour. Long sleeves and pants can go a long way toward insect protection as well.

Eco Lodge Accommodation on Costa Rica Tours

Costa Rica has a long history as a leader in eco travel, and a majority of trips to Costa Rica have an eco, sustainable, and green travel theme. These will often feature a stay at an eco lodge, or even a treehouse! These can vary from luxury accommodations to comfortable-but-basic.

Don’t expect terribly reliable internet and electricity - particularly in keeping with the eco lodge approach! These establishments are designed to be as eco conscious as possible, and your tour will reveal new ways you can help contribute and be a responsible traveler.

Always Find the Best

On Travelstride you can find 295 trips to Costa Rica and more than 20,000 trips worldwide ranging from budget to luxury and private guided to group tours and everything in between. Only on Stride can you find and compare expert-planned trips from 1,000+ tour operators, cruise lines and local experts. Read traveler and professional reviews so you can confidently find your perfect trip.

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