Costa Rica Costa Rica Tours & Trip Packages

Costa Rica Costa Rica Tours & Trips

295 Costa Rica trips. Tours from 130 tour companies. 839 reviews. 4.8/5 avg rating.

272 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
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Costa Rica
Costa Rica Wildlife Holiday
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5/5 Excellent
26 reviews
Private Guided
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Corcovado National Park, Manuel Antonio National Park, San José, Tortuguero National Park

Highlights

  • Relish the diverse flora and fauna of Costa Rica
  • Benefit from the expertise of your naturalist guide
  • Explore by boat and on foot
  • Travel to less-visited parks and reserves
  • Experience a nocturnal walk in the rainforest
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Themes

Birding, Cultural, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife

What travelers are saying

"Attention to detail, actually listened to what we wanted and our budget and delivered an experience that truly met our hopeful expectations. Great service, great communication and clear information all the way."

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Costa. Pura. Vida. Rica!
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5/5 Excellent
7 reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Wheelchair Accessible
Trip pace
Full schedule

Themes

Cultural, Cycling & Biking

What travelers are saying

"They are just great!!! They have a no-nonsense ambience. The Dormitory is adequate, very clean and comfortable. The food was very tasty, homely and had a good variety. The activities catered to our satisfaction. They are provided with lots of patience. Every staff member is so friendly and they ensure that you enjoy the outing. We were a family with people from all are groups. They took care of every individual needs. Our aged mother was made very comfortable, and they arranged a chair for her at every activity area. We spent almost two days and one night. And we enjoyed every moment. If one is looking for a good outing, this is the place. Total value for money. Above all it's the passion of the staff that makes them better than most places around Bangalore."

Trip dates & details
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Plant a Tree – Volunteering in Costa Rica
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4.3/5 Great
6 reviews
Self-Guided / Independent Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

  • To learn, first hand, about local communitychallenges and about the work of CostasVerdes
  • To form a connection with Costas Verdes inorder to raise awareness of this organizationand the community they serve
  • Have fun! Many travelers say volunteering isthe highlight of their trip - we hope it is for youtoo!

Themes

Education / Learning, Transformative, Volunteering & Community Service

What travelers are saying

"The children were amazing and it was easy to get there and get involved. I would highly recommend checking them out if you have some time during your travels in Cape Town."

Trip dates & details
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Tortuga Package
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5/5 Excellent
3 reviews
Vacation / Holiday Package
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

  • Daily surf lessons
  • Visit Nosara Wildlife Refuge
  • Experience an amazing Stand up Paddle board or Kayak

Themes

Education / Learning, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife

What travelers are saying

"I just spent a wonderful week with the folks at Safari Surf School in Nosara, Costa Rica. From making arrangements to my actual time there, everything was perfect. The staff will make you feel like family and welcome you with open arms. Tim (the owner) is based in the US but don’t worry, you’re in more than capable hands. There’s a good reason these folks have been around since the late 90s. You’re going to have a blast!"

Trip dates & details
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Customize Package in Costa Rica
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5/5 Excellent
3 reviews
Vacation / Holiday Package
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Strenuous
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

  • Visit Nosara Wildlife Refuge
  • Daily opportunity for Yoga
  • Enjoy the Volunteer / Charitable and support the community with one of our local nonprofit partners!
  • Learn the lesson about the Surfing
  • Experience an amazing Stand Up Paddle board or Kayak

Themes

Education / Learning, Family Friendly

What travelers are saying

"I just spent a wonderful week with the folks at Safari Surf School in Nosara, Costa Rica. From making arrangements to my actual time there, everything was perfect. The staff will make you feel like family and welcome you with open arms. Tim (the owner) is based in the US but don’t worry, you’re in more than capable hands. There’s a good reason these folks have been around since the late 90s. You’re going to have a blast!"

Trip dates & details
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Best of Costa Rica’s National Parks
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5/5 Excellent
5 reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Arenal Volcano, Corcovado National Park, Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

Highlights

  • Explore Costa Rica's splendid National Parks: Corcovado, Arenal, and Monteverde.
  • Stay in luxury hotels, rainforest lodges, and hot springs resorts (with spa treatments).
  • Experience an exciting array of activities, including whitewater rafting, sea kayaking, snorkeling, hiking, a zip line “Aerial Canopy Tour,” and optional horseback riding.
  • Hike the lava flows of the famous Arenal Volcano.
  • View some of Costa Rica’s 12,000 plant varieties, 237 species of mammals, 850 species of birds, and more butterflies than Africa!

Themes

Cultural, High Adventure, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Women Only

What travelers are saying

"I always wanted to meet orangutans in the wild. Going with AW to Indonesia was the way to do it. We had great local guides, delicious food, and magical experiences. Everything was taken care of. The diverse group of women made the time even more enriching. I started as a solo traveler, but within a day I had 14 new friends. I can totally see traveling with AW again."

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Surfer Girl Costa Rica
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
5/5 Excellent
3 reviews
Vacation / Holiday Package
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

  • Visit the Nosara Wildlife Refuge
  • Experience an amazing Stand Up Paddle board or Kayak
  • Surfing lesson for 5 days

Themes

Education / Learning, Women Only

What travelers are saying

"I just spent a wonderful week with the folks at Safari Surf School in Nosara, Costa Rica. From making arrangements to my actual time there, everything was perfect. The staff will make you feel like family and welcome you with open arms. Tim (the owner) is based in the US but don’t worry, you’re in more than capable hands. There’s a good reason these folks have been around since the late 90s. You’re going to have a blast!"

Trip dates & details
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After School Program – Volunteering in Costa Rica
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
4.3/5 Great
6 reviews
Self-Guided / Independent Tour
Lodging level
Basic - 2 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

  • To learn, first hand, about local community challenges and about the work of Asociacion CREAR
  • To form a connection with Asociacion CREAR in order to raise awareness of thisorganization and the community they serve
  • Have fun! Many travelers say volunteering is the highlight of their trip - we hope it is for you too!

Themes

50 plus, Education / Learning, Transformative, Volunteering & Community Service

What travelers are saying

"The children were amazing and it was easy to get there and get involved. I would highly recommend checking them out if you have some time during your travels in Cape Town."

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

Costa Rica Reviews & Ratings

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

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

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

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

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...

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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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