It was really nice. The beach was clean, and the waves were large. Very blue water. The little town had all sorts of cute shops and funky stalls with artists, jewelry makers and restaurants. Love Puerto Viejo!

Maybe on weekdays it's nice if there's no people. On weekends it's crowded and there's not much space, the beach itself is super small and narrow. Only if you go to the woods there will be less people. Also waves don't allow to swim much. I probably won't return here.

The vibe in Puerto Viejo is so chill anf the black sand beach runs for miles. Puerto Viejo is for the lazy-day adventurer and for those that want to spend the whole day at th beach doing nothing. Calmer water, shallow beaches (in spots) for the little ones. You might come across the occasional coconut salesperson wondering by too. I loved it here so much that I came back after a visit to Limon in between. Rented a bike for the week (18,000 colones / $35.57) and rode down to Cocles, did my store shopping, or just moseyed along. See my other reviews on local spots to frequent.

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is a small town on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. It's very popular with tourists. There are more beautiful places close to this town such as Punta Uva, Gandoca Manzanillo Refuge and National Park Cahuita. I think this is a party town just like Jaco Beach on the Pacific coast of the country. This is nice as well.

Nice beach for snorkeling around the coral reef. More of a place to bathe rather than swim because of the reef.

Water was lovely and warm. Options to hire Mopeds, bikes , quad bikes. Ideal end of a tour

Serene and beautiful, if you walk a bit futher into the woods you'll discover less attended places with practically no people around.

Beautiful park with incredible beaches, forest, views and tons of wildlife. We saw tiny vipers, birds, butterflies, dragonflies, capuchin, coati, gars, fish, big crab in the water, crabs, hermit crabs, salamanders and lizards in less than two hours of visiting this park. Whether you’re looking for a beautiful beach to spend the day at or want to explore the forest, this park is for every nature lover. This is a must do activity when visiting the area. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit here. We will definitely be back.

Had a fantastic visit to the park. We entered through the Cahuita side and they had a place to check in and had a recommended donation of $5 per person. Saw a bunch of Monkeys. Both Howlers and White Faced as well as some crabs, little lizards and birds. Unfortunately did not see any Sloths. We walked a ways then swam in the ocean. The water was beautiful and there were plenty of tables, benches and spots to set up for a day of fun. I would personally not recommend hiring a guide, at least not one of the ones hanging around the entrance. From what I saw the only real benefit they give is their experience spotting wildlife and I personally think I enjoyed my visit more just going at my own speed than I would have being guided along. At one point I ever pointed out some monkeys to a guide.

what a beautiful national park! entrance is on voluntary basis, be aware that you can’t bring a snorkeling mask as it’s only allowed with guide, i guess to protect the reef. I saw sloths (two with babies), howler monkeys, eyelash vipers, toucans, oropendulas, crocodile, lizards, several colorful small birds. I am passionate about searching animals, however if you are not used to the area or don’t have good eyes, you might better take a guide if you want to see animals - they know best where to find them and all of them have a binoculars for better experience :-) beautiful beaches, just be aware of the trees marked as Manzanillo - they are highly poisonous.

Great hiking place with amazing wild life. Beware of the monkeys, they dont fear the turist and will try to take any edible items. Stay close to a tour guide when you eat or open bags in their vicinity.

Exceptional experience, great trails and wildlife. Cahuita National Park is a stunning coastal reserve known for its white-sand beaches, coral reefs, and tropical wildlife. The trails wind through lush rainforest filled with monkeys, sloths, and colorful birds, while the calm turquoise waters are perfect for snorkeling and swimming We stayed at a small hotel right at the entrance. Truly great experience.

A beautiful place with a huge diversity of flora and fauna. A great walk! It's best to arrive first thing in the morning, around 8:00 AM.

Cahuita National Park provided us with the authentic Costa Rican jungle experience! We were disappointed by Gandoca Manzanillo National Park, but not this one. It delivered on the monkey! Best of all, we got right in the middle of a raccoon fight. As innocent bystanders, we pulled back to safety and let them snarl at each other. In a minute, it was over. Parking was easy and the restrooms were clean. This was by far the best jungle experience for us on this side of the country.

We unfortunately weren’t able to do the canoe tour where you can see sloths in the wild but we still had a beautiful and touching visit. We got to meet the permanent resident sloths—rescued and disabled sloths who are lovingly cared for at the sanctuary. Seeing them up close was an unforgettable experience. Our guide was so kind and knowledgeable, and we learned so much about these incredible creatures, their habits, and the challenges they face in the wild. A special highlight was being checked in by the founder’s daughter—she was an absolute darling and radiated warmth and love for the animals. This sanctuary does such important work—rescuing injured or orphaned sloths, providing lifelong care for the disabled ones, and rehabilitating others so they can return to the wild. If you’re in the area, this is a must-do tour. It’s heart-opening, educational, and supports a beautiful mission of compassion and protection for one of Costa Rica’s most iconic animals. 💚

Absolutely a life changing experience! While we were looking at the adult sloths an outdoor male made his way in to check out the girls. We had such a fun time and watching the babies exercise was the highlight of our trip. Amazing staff and very informative! A+++++++++

A must see experience if you’re in the area! You WILL see sloths on this tour! Very knowledgeable, funny, and engaged tour guide. The visit has about a dozen of their permanent resident sloths. For a small extra fee, you take an hour canoe ride and see more wildlife. We were lucky to see many wild sloths during our canoe ride. Great, well priced tour where the fees go to support the worthy cause of sloth protection and care.

The sloth sanctuary is one of the highlights on the Caribbean coast. The tours are a little bit expensive, but the money goes for a good cause. They also have rooms inside the sanctuary where you can stay, and if you arrive after they close, you need to tap lightly on the horn and they will open the gates. While there are many sloths and you get to get very close to them, you cannot hold them or touch them, as many people expect. It is not a petting zoo.

Santiago! What a guide :) Kindly presented us the sloths that are in rehabilitation. Could answer all of our questions and had anecdotes for everyone! The canoe tour for an extra 5 bucks was also worth it. But seeing animals is a flip of a coin. We were lucky to see monkeys, crabs, basilica and sloths.

I had an amazing experience with my girlfriend! Would highly recommend the Insider’s Tour. You get to see the baby sloths and an optional tour down the river. I think we'll be back sometime in the future!

Amazing people operate this sloth sanctuary. Great tours and extensive explanations about the inhabitants. If you get the chance, GO!!

Very modern facilities when you arrive. The personal are amazingly friendly. The trails are more wild and savage that other park we visited making it unique and wonderful. Charlie was our tour guide he had been working there for 20 years. it is recommended to have someone with you in the trail. We saw the famous Viper yellow snake so I wouldn’t go in some trails without a guide…some trails we did were wild wild many leafs that covered it. We were there late (noon) and did no see many birds but they do have the famous humbrella birds in this park. We will come back but earlier in the morning. A 4x4 is recommended to go at this park as it it on a rocky road

Ed was a great guide. Friendly and informative. The waterfall there is beautiful.

Ed did an absolutely amazing job taking us on an intimate tour of the Veragua Rainforest. Top tier service the entire time and took care of my family like he would take care of his own. If you are able, take the long tour to the waterfall. It’s worth the 110 stairs each way!

It was very humid. (98% I was told) March 19.2024: I was disappointed since I was hoping to see more animals (toucans..monkeys…birds) in the Rainforest. I saw only 2 birds and animals in the Exhibition. The reason was: supposedly it was hot and humid > they were hiding. There are lots of spiders and ants all around. Watch out!!! Long sleeve recommended and hats! The Exhibition is nice: frogs, snakes and blue butterflies 🦋 The flowers are very beautiful!!!! We took the Aerial Tramway, walked 356 steps (round trip) and saw the nice waterfall. There is a little Gift Shop up there and a restaurant. (Small bites, sandwiches..) It was nice to see how green everything was!!!

We loved our experience at Veragua Rainforest. It is beautiful conservation area! The guides were great and super knowledgeable. We got to see a lot of cool animals out in the wild as well as on display. The Zipline was great and a fun way to go through the forest. We had a great time here and highly suggest it if you are planning a trip.

If you uber or taxi, make sure you have a ride back!!! I couldn't find a shuttle or bus that would go here, I didn't realize the road was dirt & rocks. Just be prepared. I got the Eco-adventure & Canopy tour, which includes the zip-lining even though it wasn't clearly stated on the website. Super fun. The guides were great. They even took some videos of me zip-lining. Then we had another guide for the canopy tram to the waterfall & exhibits. He was great as well, spoke English, was very knowledgeable about all the wildlife, animals & exhibits. We had the entire park to ourselves, which was super cool cause apparently the last cruise ship tour groups were the day before. So, there was no line, so quiet, very calm, and truly got to experience the rainforest. Our guide also explained why waterfall was so low since deforestation has increased, causing less rain.

Our group of 6 visited the park in January 2020 as an excursion on our Panama Canal cruise. The park is located in the rain forest. They have an informative snake exhibit (not a fan of snakes). You can zip line through the tree canopy or tram down to a waterfall. We spotted many sloths, butterflies and colorful frogs. It was a great experience.

Beautiful area of the Country. Visited turning hatching season and got to see so many baby turtles 🩷 I would love to take my family here again. Definitely a highlight of our trip! The local flora and fauna are unlike any other.

This was a restroom break stop during my tour with Go Ahead Tours in Oct 2022. It was after a boat tour. You'll need to pay to use the restroom. After my tour guide paid for our group to use the restroom, we had access to browse a small museum (and shop). The doorway has whale bones from a beached whale hanging! I think it's a neat place to see up close how large a sea turtle can be without needing to bother one in the wild. Since there are no glass or wire barriers, you can get pretty close to the items but please don't touch them for preservation! I didn't have time to read everything on the wall but it seemed like it could be a lot of interesting information. We walked to the beach and headed South to the village/town(?).

We loved this place. It is a must-visit to learn about the sea turtles. You learn so much more here than what the guides tell you on the turtle nesting tours. We were very pleased we visited this centre before going on a tour. Our visit began with a 15-minute video (options in English and Spanish) on the history of sea turtles in Costa Rica and the role of the Conservancy. We then had a guided tour through the small museum by a volunteer (in English) who answered our questions knowledgeably. There is a small gift shop where we purchased a branded t-shirt. There is also the option to “adopt” and name a turtle. The entrance was only 2.50 USD per person. We learnt so much more here for 5 USD total then on a tour which we paid more than 100 USD for. Well worth the small amount of money to enter and for a good cause.

Just more of the eco-friendly Costa Ricans saving their wildlife.

Very small Visitor's Center that basically had a small one room museum and a short video about turtle conservation. It might be better during nesting season but we were a few weeks to early for it so we didn't see any live turtles. We headed out onto the beach area there where our guide explained the nesting and the efforts to save the turtle populations to encourage tourism.

A small but well laid out museum detailing the history & conservation work done to protect the endangered sea turtles. Worth a visit if you are in Tortuguero village.

Tortuguero is the place in the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica where the sea turtles lay their eggs and hatch during a wonderful magical moment. The sea turtle conservancy center provides the help and education to both locals and visitors about how to protect the turtles

Tortuguero National Park is an absolutely amazing experience—truly one of a kind in the world. The combination of dense rainforest, winding canals, and the Caribbean coastline creates a unique ecosystem that’s bursting with life. Everywhere you look, there's nature at its finest: monkeys swinging through the trees, colorful toucans flying overhead, and even crocodiles resting by the water. If you're lucky, you might even witness sea turtles nesting on the beach—an unforgettable moment. It’s a place where you feel completely immersed in the wild. A must-visit for any nature lover!

An abundance of wildlife is found here in this national park, with lots of possibilities to explore. Either by boat or via a hiking trail. It's possible to take a guided tour, and they will tell you all about it's wildlife, ecosystem and origin. Really a must visit when in the area. Be prepared for a humid, damp experience with lots of rainy showers, but as the tour guide mentioned: water is life, which surely applies to this area. Simply beautiful!

Beautiful national park! You need to get a boat from La Pavona parking to get there (suggest to use the official parking, on the right). We spend one night/two days there. Strongly suggest to book a turtle nest tour with an official guide (Castor Hunter Thomas was fantastic) the first night, and a boat tour early the morning after. This will allow you to walk on the Jaguar Trail before lunch. Starting from the turtle nesting eggs to sloths and monkeys, this place is just a gem. The boat tour is really something unique that deserves a early alarm. It's just special, even under the rain!

The place to be, to watch turtles laying their eggs on the beach! Plenty of other wild lifes around.

I enjoyed the boat ride there. The town itself and the surrounding area I could have missed. For the work it takes to get there, there's a lot more accessible beautiful places to visit. There was a lot of trash on the beach.

It was an awesome park. Some of the best things to see are at night! We stayed on the ocean within walking distance to the park. I believe we paid a few dollars to get in.. wasn't crazy. The trail out to the point was amazing! Every so often a trail went to the ocean and walk the ocean until the next trail entrance. We saw tons of howler monkies and a few foot prints from a big cat. There are stops along the way to rest if needed. It poured rain on our way back. Definitely wear boots, it is a rain forest so plan on rain. Don't get to lost up in the beauty..big cats roam as well. We found tons of turtle shell holes after they hatched. This was a truly amazing place.

After visiting 5 national parks I can confirm this one is the one with more wild life, its just 3km walk path but you can see a lot of monkeys, lizards, birds, frogs, crabs, insects, paca, bats and more! Hotels and tour guide will force to have a paid guide but you can do a walk in without because all people inside the park will show you where any animal was. Also the park has exit to the beach and you can walk there too, last entry is at 3pm!

The park is pretty expensive & the rangers not so kind. Beautiful spot tho. BOOK YOUR TICKET BEFORE GETTING THERE! Took us half an hour to create an account, find the right ticket and enter all credit card information, etc.

The drive up to the volcano is gorgeous with various pull out spots for some wonderful pictures and the feeling of being above the clouds is just something else. We visited around 2 pm on a semi cloudy day but were lucky enough to see the crater. It's a 300m walk from the parking lot to the crater viewing platform or you can drive an offrosd route that takes you to the top of the mountain for an even better view of the crater and the surrounding clouds. The facilities can definately be upgraded as well as the washroom which are really run down, and a bit on the expensive end for a tourist, not worth the price but I guess it's worth a visit once..

Loved the tram! Do NOT use their transportation! There were six of us and at almost $40 a person that comes to nearly $240. What should have been a ONE hour ride there became a THREE hour excursion because we had to pick up 1 single person in the opposite direction of the park. It made no sense. When we mentioned this to the people “in charge” when we were leaving they said too bad and that we hadn’t paid for a private shuttle. We ended up getting out in downtown San Jose and Ubering to our hotel to save ourselves an hour going home.

We stayed three nights. We did the night tour with Jaime and it was amazing. The staff was friendly with the exception of the woman in the gift shop. We saw several birds hit the glass windows of the gift shop, one died. I feel like they could do more to prevent this from happening so often. The sloth cage was depressing and I don’t understand why they have animals in captivity. They have four sloths with very little space that never see sunlight or feel the rain. They have large snakes in cages that never move and can never stretch out. Why? In Costa Rica zoos are illegal but there are several tourist attractions like this that get a pass and it’s unfortunate because you can see animals in their natural habitat.

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.

We went last week with six adults and four kids ages 3-8. The tram ride was beautiful even in the rain, and we saw monkeys from the trees. A few of our party zip lined and said the zip line guide was exceptional and friendly. The frogs, snakes, orchids, and butterflies are pretty but the exhibits are very small. Skip the restaurant on site - it took forever and the food was truly awful! Overall, we enjoyed getting to see the rainforest from above, but felt this experience was very overpriced for what was offered.

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 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.

This was the best part of my trip. Saw so many animals. It is so quiet above the rainforest. Take the aerial tram for an hour, it is breathtaking. We saw monkeys jumping, 10 types of butterflies, sloths, and such lush green vegetation. You can't tell where the trees stop and the ground begins.

Excellent garden (a world class botanical garden) highly recommended to visit. It is amazing. Its collection of orchids is a waoo.

A very beautiful botanical garden with gorgeous landscaping. We loved the orchid display, which featured a vast display of orchids from many areas. The Japanese garden was outstanding as was the cactus and succulent areas. I highly recommend visiting if you love botanical gardens; it was worth the price.

Great place. Beautiful garden. Clean. Maintenance. Social background. Parking. An excellent choice for 2-4 hours of rest. Orchids smell. Definitely recommend. LW

Truly magnificent! It is bigger than it seems, with beautiful walking trails and the most incredible orchid display. Highly recommend!

The garden is beautifully organized you have a tourist guys that speak English and Spanish fluently. It's nicely organized, they have well divided areas so that you know which kind of plants you're looking at. You get to walk in a really nice let's say foresty area (if I may inventvthe word) without having to go like a National Park or far away. The 4-star review it's because of the food. There is like a promotion that shows an actual restaurant in the gsrden and what they have it like a coffee shop and if they have a special event, they have something let's say like food stamps to support the local small businesses.

Very nice botanical garden. I wasn't expecting much and was pleasantly surprised. I would visit again!

These are lovely gardens to walk around in, and you can really spend a lot of time here. The orchid house and Japanese garden were the stand out parts for me. There's a good variety here and you can even find cacti. The pathways were easy to navigate and wheelchair friendly, though I often found myself exploring off the main path. It absolutely felt like it was worth the $10USD. The parking lot isn't huge but it's free to park. Just watch out for spiders and their webs!

Our travel agent booked this rafting experience, and we LOVED it! My husband and I ended up being in a raft alone, with our instructor, Joseph. We had an amazing experience. I was initially a little anxious at the speed and safety, but all they want is a safe, fun experience for you! At no point did we feel like it was dangerous, instead just had a great time! Thanks Joseph!

Such a fun day! I'm not an adventurous person, and this was my first time doing rafting, and I loved it so much! The staff is responsible, funny, and they explain everything thoroughly so that the experience goes well. They also help spot birds and other wildlife throughout the journey. The lunch was great too!

Our experience with Aguas Bravas was awesome! We had a group of 11, with eight high school students and three adults. We were in three boats and each guide adapted appropriately to the people in his boat. They were fun, safe and efficient with their processes and we'd highly recommend!

*splendid time* - Great guide! We booked the safari tour and even saw a "lazy animal". Most importantly: The guide was one of the best one can have :)! We had a great time and saw a lot of animals!

Francisco was the best guide! 🚢 made the experience remarkable and memorable

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.

What an awesome experience. We chose the “easy” paddle as my partner was a bit nervous about white water. We still got to do some mild class II but it was mostly floating down the river spotting loads of wildlife (water foul, birds of prey, reptiles, monkeys etc.). Our guide, JJ, was funny, calm and extremely knowledgable! He was even knowledgable about Canadian native birds as well. I would go back again and again. We also did a chocolate tour that same morning, which made for an awesome day.

Dave and Dave’s was one of our absolute highlights of Costa Rica. Birds galore! Dave was friendly and knowledgeable and we saw so many different birds, all really close up. Highly recommend Dave and Dave’s if you love photographing birds. It is a fantastic place for watching hummingbirds and toucans. We originally planned to go later in the afternoon but Dave recommended the earlier lunchtime slot for better light and bird action. We booked by email and paid on arrival. Dave was ready and waiting for us at the gate when we arrived. A short walk into the gardens and the birds came to us! So happy we made the stop on the way from San Jose to La Fortuna.

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!

The tour with Dave was very impressive. We saw beautiful birds and Dave infected us with his enthusiasm for the animals. We are very grateful for this experience and highly recommend the tour. It was a highlight of our trip through Costa Rica and an absolute must see on the way from Puerto Viejo to La Fortuna.

Dave and Dave's truly extraordinary bird viewing nature preserve i features hundreds of rare bird species including toucans in a reforested nature preserve. Dave, the son, has continued the work of his father and mother through two major viewing platforms. It's like sitting in your own backyard on comfortable lawn chairs, but in Costa Rica. The rear deck features feeders for hummingbirds who flock in at the clifftop. (You're actually looking at the tree tops from the river valley below.) All of this is a testament to two men and a woman who took a bankrupt palm plantation and returned it (reforested with native plants and let it go back to nature) into a nature park. What an accomplishment. Costa Rica needs more of these private enterprises to add to the scores of National Parks and preserves. Bravo, guys. And thanks to your mom for her insight.

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.

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.

What a beautiful place! This is definitely one of the best spots to see hummingbirds in action. They placed many feeders along one of their terraces and that enables you to watch many hummingbirds very closely which is such a wonderful experience! In addition, they have another terrace that you can see other birds from thanks to the fruit they place for them right below it. The place itself is beautiful, they started it only in 2009 and the scenery is already so full and green. Dave senior or Dave junior who own the place will give you a tour in it up until the river which takes about an hour, and you will see the lovely trees, plants and if you’re lucky - the blue jeans frog and many more. The tour is very informative and both Daves are so nice and welcoming. Highly recommended, don’t miss it!

When you enter you walk into a very well-maintained butterfly garden. We saw a few of them (they are hard to spot) and a lot of chrysalises. There were signs around the garden describing the lives of butterflies. The museum walks you through the history of Costa Rica, beginning with incredible stone artefacts up to 2,000 years old, through to the modern period. This is a great place for a tourist in Costa Rica to start to get a holistic understanding of the country’s history before beginning their travels.

Beautiful museum. And very informative on Costa Rican History and Culture. You can start in the Butterfly Garden and go through the Pre-Colombian History section and then the Costa Rican History section and then visit the special exhibits and other rooms. I enjoyed seeing the historical artifacts they’d collected and learning about their historical and cultural significance and also just learning about Costa Rica in general. I would recommend either a guided tour or a self tour but at or towards the beginning of your visit. You don’t have to buy tickets in advance but be mindful that the museum closes at 4:15 pm even though the website says 4:30 pm.

It was a nice museum, but I found the exhibitions somewhat confusing. I wasn't given a map of the museum, so I had to guess the order of the rooms and the direction inside them, since you can enter them from multiple places. In the end, I wasn't able to understand the story of the army and the barracks that are now the museum. Some English translations also didn't seem to capture well what the original content was saying. I had a nice surprise when I was there: there's a concert every last Sunday of the month. This was my favorite part of the visit.

The National Museum of Costa Rica offers educational and comprehensive exhibits that cover the country's history, archaeology, and natural history, showcasing an impressive collection of artifacts and emphasizing the building's historical significance as a former military barracks. We entered through the butterfly garden, which fascinated us as we observed some butterflies. This garden was not present years ago, and we appreciate that the museum has added this feature. They have also introduced new exhibitions and expanded the building to include the indigenous Societies of the 16th Century exhibit and Costa Rica's culture, which is excellent. The museum closes at 4:15 pm, and the admission fee for non-residents is considerably higher than that for local visitors, which seems unusual.

This is a great national museum in an old prison and military building. Entering the building you’ll walk up some ramps in a butterfly enclosure to see some beautiful plants. You can look through the old prison cells, and get a sense of how Costa Rica came about with a good exhibit showing the region from pre-colonial days to now. It doesn’t shy away from some of the darker aspects of their history, and even recent events and struggles which was really refreshing. The reclaimed artefacts on display are absolutely amazing, and the central courtyard jungle with large stone orbs is a must see too. It’s a great museum so give yourself 1-2 hours if you’re a fast paced tourist like me.

Nothing to write home about. Nice museum but really needs a renovation. The exhibition itself is well organised chronologically but the signage isn’t so clear where to start. Everyone of the staff is really nice. The butterfly house looks a bit run down - very damp. The jail part is easy to miss but ok. Overall, not a must see but ok.

We had a great time here. The butterfly garden was a nice surprise. The stone spheres were fun. The artifacts and history are well presented with lots of signs in English.

A lot of knowledge about the historical events and places. More about the culture. The sculptures represent their ancient lifestyle. Secure, safe and only underground tourism place in Costa Rica. Entrance fee is $16 for non citizens. $6 for locals. One thing I like more here is they represent everything in English as well for better understanding.

Wonderful modern-looking museum made up of two permanent exhibitions (pre-columbian gold) and the mint/bank notes of Costa Rica. Love their showcases on the indigenous people especially. Many of the alphabets in the English text in the precolumbian gold museum have unfortunately fallen off and are not replaced, making it sometimes difficult to read the text. Wished the museum could do something about this!

Fascinating set of mini-museums including a currency museum (numismatic museum), temporary art installations and a beautiful collection of pre-Colombian gold artifacts. If you are visiting the national museum of Costa Rica or the Jade museum this one is just a short walk away. You could do all 3 in an afternoon. Worth a visit!

This is amongst one of the most beautiful and well informed museums I have been to. I was surprised to see that they had taken the time to acknowledge that there is a problem in the ethnic studies community about stealing artifacts. They also touch on subjects such as pre colonial gender roles and language. There needs to be more places like this !

This blew me away! So much more than I wanted! Was disappointed however that several exhibits were closed and we were not told nor the price discounted. But over all it was an amazing experience!

One of the best museums I have seen in Latin America. 500% recommended. Specially if you are a history geek or crazy for gold.

This is a fascinating and really well done museum! One part is about gold, and the other part is about currency. The descriptions are available in Spanish, English, and French.

To visit San Jose and not to visit the theater?! This is the most favorite tourist attraction. Entrance from 10 am to the theater grounds costs 7 dollars, they show the premises. In the evening there are performances and you can also buy a ticket and visit.

Attending Berta Rojas’s concert at the National Theater of Costa Rica was truly an unforgettable experience. The theater itself is an architectural gem, blending historic elegance with an atmosphere that feels intimate yet grand. From the moment we stepped inside, we were amazed by the beautiful decor, intricate details, and the welcoming staff. Berta Rojas’s performance was spectacular—the acoustics of the theater made every note come alive. Being part of such a special event in this unique setting was pure joy. Whether you’re a lover of classical music or simply appreciate stunning venues, the National Theater is a must-visit destination in San José. The experience was amazing, and I recommend everyone add it to their Costa Rica itinerary!

The tour was short, about 30 minutes; but the tour guide was great, he explained about everything we saw at the teacher, the origins of every object in the theater with its origin. The theater may be small compared to others in Europe but it’s worth going

Beautifully ornate theatre situated in the heart of central San José. The theatre opened in 1897 and is an exquisite example of neoclassical architecture. We did a guided walking tour of the theatre which was fun and engaging. They do tours on the hour and alternate between English and Spanish (although there are fewer tours in English). We booked our tickets at the kiosk situated outside the theatre and were lucky they weren’t fully booked. I really enjoyed visiting the theatre, and I’d highly recommend booking the guided tour.

Take the tour, enjoy a coffee and snack. This is a national treasure one not yo be missed. SJO has only a few monuments to their rich past, built by and for the coffee plantation owners.. the uber rich of their time

Interesting tour and a cafe with style. Loved it

This is an absolute gem in the heart of San José, and a place not to be missed when you are in town. They have tours on the hour but you need to check when the tours are done in English and when in Spanish. As you enter the main auditorium, you can't stop but to admire the beauty and majesty of the building, which dates back to over 100 years ago. The guides are efficient in their explanation of the history, design, and important events in the theatre. You will also learn about the restoration process going on at the theatre. Overall, it was a great informative tour. The only suggestion is that we could spend more time in the upper hall where the restoration was going on.

This was an unexpected gem in our vacation. We were unable to go to the Poas volcano due to possible eruptions. We looked on Google Maps and found La Paz Waterfalls. I did note it stated resort, but I assumed it was to be a hotel and restaurant. It actually was a beautiful and well maintained park with many exhibits of animals of all kinds to be found in Central America, including a wonderful aviary, butterfly enclosure, snakes, monkeys, and large and small cats. The staff, whether in their area of specialty or simply maintenance, were happy to help and talk. The animal areas were all paved, clean, and well kept. There are also restaurants, which looked ans smelled nice, but we did not eat there that day. The trails were beautiful, and the waterfalls were quite impressive, especially close up. I can not believe this is not advertised more heavily as it was wonderful. $62.00 per person seemed a lot for waterfalls, but after enjoying the whole park, it was well worth it. I highly recommend a trip to La Paz Waterfall.

The tour was with Willy Tour, picked up around 10 am and dropped of around 5 pm from San José. Great value, the trip, guide and lunch for the cost are excellent value. The park is unique and beautiful. Everything was well run, clean and safe.

Truly a beautiful and awesome experience. The waterfalls were absolutely breathtaking and the up close nature of the animals provided an unforgettable experience. The walk includes a lot of stairs so if that is an issue for you it's best not to include the waterfall part of the trail..

Must explore. Maintained like a pristine rain forest. Be ready to walk a lot, but the walks justify the view.

Ok... this place is just beautiful. Breath-taking. And the food was delicious too. So glad I went.

This waterfall provided a very nice, and much-needed stop while driving North from San José towards the Poás Volcano National Park or the Arenal Volcano National Park. The spot has enough parking space for multiple cars before and after crossing the bridge. So, taking a few pictures is very easy.

Waterfalls are the major attraction of the place but check out aviary and small zoo. Lots of water after recent rains, so falls were very impressive and observation decks are really close to the falls. Buffet lunch was pretty good too. Must visit experience in San Jose area.

Definitely a must see when you come to Puerto Rico. We got to see it active plus it's a short walk to the volcano from the parking lot. Then there's also a very small hike to a gorgeous volcano lake. You must come to see the volcano and the lake before 12 PM when the clouds come in.

Cannot review based on the volcano, as it was closed. I wish there would’ve been warning closer to the bottom instead of just at the top. However, the drive up is long and windy but the views are absolutely breathtaking. Much cooler at the top, make sure you bring a sweater.

An hour and a half from SJ, depending on traffic and rain. Cannot enter unless you book online $15-20, parking fee is about $5-6, It is a short walk to the viewing area, however you won't see anything when it's a cloudy day. I took an extended hike and it is very steep and dangerous when it's raining. I was glad to make it out without getting hurt. Park closes at 4 pm, stops allowing anyone after 2 pm.

Very interesting experience to visit an active vulcano. The smell of sulphuric acid and the sounds of the vulcano is crazy. Nice ride up to the location, beautiful roads and surroundings. Parking is close and requires a 500-700 meters walk up to the actual destination. They display you a short video about the vulcano and provide you with hard hats.

Such a beautiful place to visit. Make sure you bring a long sleeve because it gets windy there.

Beautiful volcano. Worth visiting from different ankles. However is mostly covered by clouds and fog

Amazing experience!! It's a very short trip from San José and there's a beautiful waterfall on the way there. Someone said the journey is scary and that's just a bit extreme lol. The roads are fine. It seems to rain a lot though and it's chilly so bring a poncho and jacket. Try to order your tickets online as it makes life easier when you get there. The last entry is around 2PM. If there's cloud cover when you arrive, wait a bit and it will clear even if just for a moment because that's what happened with us. Got there and it was just clouds but after about 10 or so minutes it cleared nicely. When leaving, you're going to see some trails, be careful because we ended up on one that was very long and very far and very difficult with lots of stairs and there's hardly any signs to guide you. By time we got to the end we were beat. Overall I'd definitely recommend this experience!

My favorite beach in Costa Rica. Parking should cost you around $6-$8 per day Chair and umbrella rental about $8-$10 for a pair. Follow the safety guidelines and listen to the lifeguards. Pay attention to the flags as this is one of the beaches with the strongest rip ties.

Had the perfect beach day here. Perfect weather, lots of shade, clear blue water, and the wildlife and scenery is unmatched.

For me one of the best beaches in whole Costa Rica for relaxing and especially swimming. It is part ot the national park of Manuel Antonio so you really need to book your tickets in advance. If there are sold out there is another possibily to enter. You can go directly to the main entrance of the national park and book a guided tour. I would generally recommend a official tour guide to see the animals in the park. Without it is really hard to see. After the tour you can stay all day long at the beach. So dont forget your swim things. Attention!!! On the way (street) to the parking slot you will be stopped by many people. They act (show an fact id) like they are tour guides from the national park but they are not offically. They try to sell you tours 2 to 3 times more than the offically prices. Be aware of this and dont buy tickets there. You can easily do this at the main entrance (also when online is sold out) or online.

The walk to the beach was hot and humid (great anticipation) only to get to the beach and see how amazing the waves looked with a gorgeous view south

This beach is probably one of the best in the world. If you’re lucky enough to be here right when the sun is out then it’s your lucky day. The water is warm and there are jungle leaves floating in it which makes it feel magical. The white sand paired with the stunning jungle create the perfect scene. AND there are capuchin monkeys loitering around.

This beach has next level beauty. The Pacific has an emerald hue here. It gets very busy however, as it is attached to the most popular National Park in Costa Rica. My advice would be to go early and before your tour of the National Park to avoid the crowds. I visited here after the tour, and as the park rangers police this beach, they very forcefully make sure you are on your way home by 4pm. They blow their whistles loudly and continuously, which is kind of annoying. It does not take away from the stunning unspoiled natural beauty of this place. There is no plastic allowed on entry which is great, so you will be relieved of your plastic water bottle should you have one. They allowed me to bring my snorkelling gear in thankfully. The water is lovely and clear, so there is fish to see, but I ran out of time to really make the most out of that, due to that 4pm cut off. The sand is lovely and soft with a tint of black in there. There are also rinsing facilities and toilets behind the beach. The black iguanas co-exist side by side with people on this beach, that it becomes the norm after a while. Be careful of the many capuchin monkeys who will appear out of the rainforest, and are determined to steal your small items if given the chance.

A must while visiting the National park. Get there early and enjoy a quieter beach and the warm waters of the Pacific. You’re guaranteed to see wildlife, but don’t bring any food to avoid the monkeys helping themselves.

Maybe we were unlucky, but we got this beach recommended and did not really like it that much. There were sooo many people and almost no room to lie down. Water was quite muddy. The hike to get there is long and we regretted not wearing hiking boots as it was very slippery and in a very bad condition. Maybe due to previous rain.

The beach is alright the waves are calm there are however many rocks and the path down is muddy and also full of rocks, the water is nice and green/aquamarine and has a great view of the bay.

Very beautiful and peaceful quiet beach where you could spend the first part of the day. After 2-3pm tide arrives and there is not much space where water doesn’t reach. Highly recommend to visit!

Gorgeous hidden beach. We kayaked in the bay and enjoyed swimming in the calm waters. Plenty of shade.

Secluded beach in Manuel Antonio, accessible only by car. way much quieter than the main beach. The path down can be a bit challenging and the water is quite rocky so caution is needed.

Such a beautiful place! It only takes about five minutes to walk down the rocky path to the beach. It wasn't too busy when we went, and we were able to rent chairs and order delicious piña coladas from the bar. They have snorkels, kayaks, and paddle boards able to rent, and there was a woman giving massages under a tent. We also saw lots of monkeys in the trees. The water was very calm and we were lucky to get a beautiful sunny day in the rainy season. Highly recommend if you're looking for a beach that's not too busy but still has amenities!!

Lots of rocks underwater on the left side of the beach, but sandy on the right. Waves aren’t crazy, but can push you around enough to make the rocky side uncomfortable. You can rent chairs and covering (umbrella or tent) $20 for as long as you stay. Drinks are available with decent prices. Food was also available, but the price was restaurant equivalent. Lots of kids, so seemingly kid friendly.

It's Central America's largest wildlife centre. We went on a tour given by Eduardo who was a lot of fun (and knowledgeable!). Without the tour we wouldn't have heard all the fascinating although sad stories as to how many animals have ended up at the center. We bought some postcards with beautiful photos, which it turns out were taken by Eduardo. We also had lunch there and found the food to be excellent. Go if you get the chance, you won't regret it.

A beautiful sanctuary doing very important work. Visitors help fund their hospital and mission. You will feel good for visiting and buying food and/or souvenirs during your visit. The grounds are beautiful. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable. Highly recommend!

The highlight of my kids trip. We hit this on the last day and were so happy to find security watching the cars until close since we had to travel with luggage before spending our night in SJ, but wanted to do something chill for the kids. This place is incredible, so much wildlife and feels like a rescue center not a zoo. Even though the animal sightings are amazing and several species are out in the open or wandering the park. We don’t use a guide but a guide pointed out a sloth moving across a rope for the kids. It was super rainy and stormy so my ponchos finally got put to good use and barely anyone was out, felt like we had the place to ourselves. Much of the animals were hiding from the rain and you could see them. Then they all came out after the rain and looking for dinner. We got to only spend maybe 3 hours here but we stayed until the last minute and ran around to circle the park close to twice. It was big! Would definitely recommend to families, couples, solo travelers. Such a treat. Tons of photo ops with all the animal statues too. We felt like we were in the jungle. Some covered areas in the snake center and some other spots was nice when lightning got strong.

There are no words — this was an absolutely incredible experience, and it was well worth spending the extra day in the San José area just to visit. We did the guided tour with our very large group, and Eduardo was amazing — funny, engaging, and clearly passionate about the animals, the park, and the educational mission of the rescue center. We had several young children with us, and it was magical for them to see ocelots, mountain lions, birds, snakes, and so many other animals up close. This is a must-visit destination when you’re in Costa Rica.

If you have a few hours to explore in the San Jose area, I highly recommend spending your time at Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center. This is not a zoo, but a rehabilitation center for injured animals. There is however an area for young children to interact with various domestic animals. My wife and I arrived at opening time. 9:00am and left at 2:00. We are both senior citizens, so that may account for some of the time, there are lots of benches to sit for a while and observe the animals. Most of the paved paths have some degree of incline (after all this is Costa Rica) We did not take the guided tour, felt like we probably could not keep up with the pace, but I’m sure from other reviews that we read that it’s worth spending the money to do so. Another reason we were there until 2:00 was the on-site restaurant Kivu, although they serve breakfast, we wanted to explore first and then have lunch. Huge menu of appetizers, main course, and some desserts. Cost for entry, lunch, and souvenirs, were all reasonable, when you consider that the profit from all of these income sources, is part of what allows Rescate to do what they do. PS food and service both were very good. All employees that we interacted with, were polite and courteous.

Great experience. Lots of animals to see and they are all rescues so you feel very good about encouraging them. Highly recommend if you are spending a day near San Jose.

Wonderful experience. We paid $30 US per person. But you get to see a wide variety of birds and animal and it is for good cause. Especially the birds, you get to see them up close.

It was a lovely hike with dart frogs, centipedes, bats, and lizards. You can easily do it all in less than an hour if you are just after a little workout. Take your time or have kids, or want to swim a bit, plan on 1.5-2 hours. You do NOT need a guide, which is a huge rip off. The park has a 1-mile loop that you take. You cannot get lost. There is a little alternate trail you can take to avoid the bridges if you are afraid of heights. The entrance fee is approximately $20 USD, but it was the first place we've felt like our entrance fee was well worth it and put back into the area where we paid. The trail is well maintained with concrete steps and metal guardrails in most places. The welcome center is brand new as of Dec. 2024. and has clean bathrooms and a little restaurant area. The drive up is a little exciting on the bridges, but very doable. It's a nice drive after the pothole farming area and winds through some beautiful little villages. A 2x4 with a little clearance can make the drive easily.

We’ve visited this one during the low season. Everything was green and wet. Trail was pretty well maintained, mostly with guardrails. Swimming areas were mostly unusable due to a high water streams, so we had to skip that part. We saw a lot of green frogs and iguanas along the trail. Good entertainment and adventure for a family with kids. Recommend. Price: 23$ + tax (~27$)

The greatest most magical experience , the trails are moderate with lots of climbs and slopes and hanging bridges but mostly stairs and steps. There are venomous snakes and frogs so be careful where you step . The full loop is around 2km or 1.2 miles

Was all right during our free time. I had high expectations based on my readings from other reviews. We have beautiful forests and waterfalls in Canada so this park did not feel special to me compared with other parks in Costa Rica. Suspended bridges was fun.

Nice park with fun hanging bridges, but honestly we expected more after reading the reviews. It felt more like entertainment for kids. We’ve visited other parks in Costa Rica that were more interesting. Apart from a few frogs and caterpillars, we didn’t see any animals. The pools were not swimmable because of the high river water after the rain, and the water in pools looked dirty. Probably we were just unlucky with the weather. For three people we paid $81. I would prefer to pay less for such experience :)

The tour guide used a bright white spotlight directly towards the nocturnal animals, which is discouraged by anyone who observes nocturnal animals or has some common sense. The trail is great, and the experience can be awesome, just be sure to take a red light with you to avoid blinding any animal you encounter. Google it before you go to learn about best practices when it comes to observing night animals.

The Rainmaker Tour was absolutely incredible — easily one of the highlights of our trip to Costa Rica! From start to finish, everything was so well-organized, and our guide made the experience unforgettable. They were knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate about the rainforest, pointing out wildlife and plants we never would’ve noticed on our own. The hike itself was the perfect mix of adventure and beauty — crossing hanging bridges, walking through lush jungle, and ending with a refreshing swim in the waterfalls (although we didn't go in). The scenery was breathtaking everywhere you looked, and it felt like we were completely immersed in nature. We also loved how peaceful and uncrowded the area was compared to some of the more touristy spots. It made the whole experience feel more authentic and personal. Plus, the traditional Costa Rican lunch afterward was delicious and such a great way to end the day. If you’re visiting Costa Rica, don’t skip the Rainmaker Tour — it’s the perfect combination of adventure, nature, and local charm. Truly a 10/10 experience that we’d recommend to anyone!

Really enjoyed the tour with Carlos and learned so much about illegal pet trafficking - and I thought I was fairly informed to begin with! Some beautiful and unique animals, mostly bound for release, which is so great to see, and a solid explanation for every animal that will need to finish their life at the facility. This is not a zoo, these are not pets, and the animals are treated with a lot of respect. Also lucked out and saw a wild sloth mother and baby while on the tour. Great experience. Definitely recommend.

Proyecto Asis is a sanctuary for many animals in Costa Rica that have been abandoned, have been injured, and kept illegally as pets. These include monkeys, birds, pigs, cats, and many others. Our guide Carlos was very knowledgeable and he was very entertaining explaining such hard topics such as poaching, illegal animal trade. He was great with the kids. The tour was great! This is a very worthy cause and I would recommend this to any visitors to Costa Rica.

This was an amazing experience and one of the best things we did on our trip in Costa Rica. Carlos was an amazing guide and we learned a lot about the animals and how they do their best to rehabilitate them if possible. I highly recommend doing the volunteer option! The tour was great but we really loved that part of the visit.

This was a really eye opening tour (booked through their website) of this rehabilitation center for injured and rescued (from captivity) wild animals. Highly educational. Great for kids or anyone to learn from. The animals were beautiful and surrounding nature was wonderful. It is about a 30 minute drive from the center of La Fortuna give or take. The roads there are well paved.

This was the highlight tour of our trip! Carlos was so knowledgeable about the animals, the rehabilitation process, and engaged so well with the kids in our group. I have a lot of respect for Proyecto Asis and the work they do. We also helped prepare the food and then fed the monkeys. We all greatly enjoyed the experience, left feeling more educated about the animal trade in Costa Rica. Highly recommend this tour!

This place is worth every penny! Your money goes toward the ethical rehabilitation and release of animals. Our tour guide, Carlos, was fun, knowledgeable, and passionate. My family, including my 7-year-old daughter, loved the tour and the volunteering experience of making the animals their snacks. This was a worthwhile and memorable experience! I highly recommend this for anyone visiting Costa Rica-- especially because it highlights how to ethically visit the country in terms of experiencing its wonderful wildlife. We also got lucky and saw a wild sloth and her baby on the property 🦥 💜

My wife and I signed up for the tour plus feeding the animals lunch. Carlos explained why the animals need help and how much work goes into releasing them in the wild. It was one of the most rewarding experiences in all of Costa Rica. Definitely recommend. I can’t stop thinking about it.

Gustavo was a great guide he feels the audience funny and easy going He let us do gallops ( we knew how to do it before) took pictures of us, And most importantly the horses are the kindest I have ridden ever

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.

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)

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!

My husband and I are absolutely thrilled that we booked our horseback riding adventure through the Riding Adventure. Diego, his brother Gustavo and their horses were all wonderful! I don't have a single negative comment to share and the photos--and videos--that Diego had taken during our ride are my most treasured photos from our entire Costa Rican vacation. They Rock!!!

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.

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.

We absolutely LOVED Jose’s Crocodile River Tour!!! We booked during their non busy season and ended up being the only people on the tour (lucky us). We got so close and personal with the wildlife. It was such an amazing experience!! Jose and his crew answered all of our questions and gave us such a great tour!

Jose’s Crocodile Tour is hands down the coolest tour I’ve ever been on in Costa Rica. Jose is incredibly knowledgeable — he knows every crocodile by name and has such deep respect for the animals and their habitat. The way he interacts with them up close is both thrilling and educational. But it’s not just about the crocodiles — the tour also gives you amazing views of the river, lush landscapes, and beautiful birds along the way. You get to see Costa Rica’s wildlife from a totally different perspective.

Had an amazing experience with Jesus and the Captain. Funny, knowledgeable, knew the crocodiles well and had names for them! They were able to get them to come super close to boat and were very informative. Can’t recommend them enough. They made us feel very comfortable and welcomed.

Great boat tour to see crocodiles on Torcoles river. The crocs are in the wild but trained to respond to the calls and near offered to come to the boat. Lots of birds and reptiles to see while on the boat. The operators keep you entertained. Ask for your discount if in a group

Absolutely AMAZING tour. We saw a ton of crocodiles and we got super close. We also saw a ton of other wild life, birds, lizards and even turtles. I would recommend this tour service to anyone!

Amazing tour with Jose and the captain, saw so many crocodiles during the trip and birds too! The tour operation itself is perfect, and educational for us to learn how amazing nature is, and how intelligent creatures crocodiles are. And how little knowledge I have for them.

This is an absolute must-do if you’re visiting or even live here. Hands down the coolest tour I’ve done in Costa Rica! I’ve been lucky enough to live here and experience different parts of the country, but the crocodile tour was easily one of the most interesting things I’ve gotten to do. We got to see 10+ crocodiles up close (really close) from babies to over 80 years old which was absolutely incredible. Not to mention the amount of birds we saw and the beauty of being on the river. Jose and his team are all so welcoming, professional, and clearly passionate about what they do, which made the tour feel extra special. I cannot recommend them enough!!!

There’s not enough words for this beach! You can swim here! You can surf here and other water activities. Lots of places that’s close where you can eat. You get amazing ocean views. My wife and I got massages from locals which was a great touch. There’s all Types of stores really close as well so another nice plus.

Great beach! Warm water, plenty of space for everyone. Fun rocks and cliff areas to explore at low tide.

Jaco is a small town on the Pacific side of Costa Rica. Its beaches are spectacular and the friendliness of Ticos is pretty good. I lived in this town for 1 year in 2011 so why not share my experience and photos from Jaco. Be ware of the waves!!!

Jaco Beach is an absolute vibe. Sick surf spot with huge, rolling waves and some seriously wild energy—especially at high tide. Whether you’re paddling out or just watching the action from the shore, it’s nonstop stoke. The beach itself has that classic laid-back Costa Rican surf-town feel—friendly locals, warm water, and golden sand that stretches for miles. Even if you’re not hopping on a board, it’s a blast just soaking in the scene. Great for surfers chasing a thrill and chill enough for beach bums just vibing out. 10/10, pura vida all the way

Not the cleanest beach but nice to walk along still. Pebbles and dark sand. Decent waves. The river meets the beach and makes for an interesting spot.

It is beautiful but not really for swimming, tide is too dangerous, great for surfing

Beautiful beach from end to end. Great waves. Perfect for surfing beginner and up. The Northern end has a couple of larger resorts but the centre and Southern end have smaller resorts, private homes and that feeling of things being accessible, safe, and a community. People gathered to share sunsets. Two fellows pruning coconut trees stopped and cut one open for me without expecting anything but appreciation in return. Horse tours also available. Surf lessons. Or just jumping in the waves in a perfectly sandy beach. Watch for flags for conditions. Saw at least 3 life guard stations. Very clean save for the occasional doggie dodo.

The place itself is beautiful, and the experience—especially the zipline—was unforgettable. The entire staff, from the hotel workers to the zipline guides, were absolutely wonderful. Kind, helpful, warm, and truly working together like a family. Their energy made the experience feel welcoming and fun. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the German owner. Her attitude toward guests was shockingly cold and unwelcoming. She was dry, unpleasant, and at times even rude. Her behavior stood in stark contrast to the rest of the team. There was a stiffness and lack of basic friendliness that felt completely out of place in a hospitality setting. It’s honestly baffling how someone in her position could treat guests with such disregard. It’s a shame, because the people working under her were fantastic. If only the owner could match their level of warmth and professionalism, this place would be perfect.

Zip Line Review Only: - we had the time of our lives today! The zip line crew was so funny, clearly experts at what they do, and made our group (from 14 to 40 years old) feel comfortable and confident! - we loved our adventure, from beginning to end. We started with lunch at the hotel clubhouse and it was delicious (thank you to the host and chef who made us wonderful local food). Then we rode about 30 mins out and up up up to the start of the zip line course - once we got a good tutorial on how to ride, we were off and moved SO FAST through the forest. It was raining the whole time which only added to the fun! - the crew clearly cared about our time and made lots of conversation, poked fun, made jokes, and corrected us in the right ways to stay safe and feel good about our trip. - 10/10 adventure today! We all said that it was going to clearly be a highlight of our vacation!

This review is for the zip lines. I would not recommend it nor would I do it again, but we still had fun. The guides were great and they did a lovely job. The problem is the length of the zip lines. They are just too short to really have any fun. Most were only a couple of seconds long. You have to brake on your own using a glove, and since the line is so short there is really no time to enjoy the scenery or look at the waterfalls. You go with a large group of people and only a few guides. They have a guide at the start and end of the zip line. It’s great for safety but this means you have to wait for the entire large group after every zip line or every small group of zip lines. It took us several hours to get through the course. The price was also very high for what it is. I think it could be much improved if you were able to complete the course without waiting for an entire group of people. We felt very safe, the guides really knew their stuff.

What an amazing placing. The adventure starts on the way there, The views are breath taking. I went to med schooling CR and know quite a few zipline (canopy) places, this is by far my favorite. It's hard to describe the feeling when you are flying over 11 waterfalls. The staff was incredible nice and well prepared. I would most definitely recommend. CAN'T WAIT TO COME BACK!!!!!!!!

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.

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.

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.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A breathtaking and essential visit for nature lovers The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is absolutely beautiful. I visited in November — it wasn’t a sunny day, but that made the experience even more magical. I was lucky enough to see the Resplendent Quetzal and several other bird and wildlife species among the lush trees, vines, and dense vegetation. Yes, the entrance fee is higher than in other reserves, but it’s important to remember that your visit directly supports forest conservation. It’s worth every cent for those who truly love nature. If you’re not a nature lover, maybe it’s not for you — but for those who are, this place is paradise. Monteverde is one of the few remaining true cloud forests on Earth — a rare and fragile ecosystem that must be protected. Please, visit responsibly: respect the trails, take your trash with you, and appreciate this living treasure. Every step here reminds you how important it is to protect our planet. 🌿

Our tour with Chris was amazing. He was so knowledgeable about the forest, and so excited to share it with us. We saw capuchin monkeys, snakes, and plenty of birds. We went back into the cloud forest after our tour with the included day pass which was fun to walk around by ourselves as well. We did the earliest morning tour, and I would recommend going sooner than later!

I decided to walk to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve since there’s no public transport available. The walk took me around 90 minutes. However, when I arrived at the entrance, I was asked to show my ticket. I had assumed I’d be able to buy a ticket at the gate, but I was told that tickets must be purchased 1.5 km down the road at the main parking area where cars and hotel buses arrive. What made this even more disappointing is that the signage at the car park does not make it clear that entry tickets must be purchased there. As someone arriving on foot, there was nothing obvious to indicate that this was the only ticketing point. The Cloud Forest prides itself on its ecological and environmental values, yet there didn’t seem to be a clear or convenient option for visitors who choose to walk rather than drive. It felt quite ironic that an attraction focused on sustainability makes it difficult for people who opt for the most environmentally friendly method of arrival. To go back down the hill to buy a ticket and walk back up would have taken another 40 minutes, which I wasn’t prepared to do. Instead, I decided to treat the experience as a hiking opportunity and spent the rest of my morning and part of the afternoon enjoying the walk, taking in the scenery, and exploring the surrounding trails leading to the reserve. Overall, it was disappointing not to be able to enter after such a long walk, and I think it would be beneficial for the reserve to provide clearer guidance and better accommodation for visitors arriving on foot.

It is a beautiful and well maintained reserve. We had our guide through "Three Brothers," and Mauricio was excellent. He helped us see Quetzals, baby birds in nests, an abandoned hummingbird nest, lizards, and many other birds. He had a wealth of knowledge about the plants and animals of the area and helped us get pictures and videos of the animals on our phone through his telescope. We also saw spider monkeys during our hike. I recommend going here and I highly recommend having a guide as we would not have seen what he showed us on our own. The food was also good at the Cafe on site.

1. Get a guide. It's worth it. 2. Dont trust google maps! Parking is 1km away from the entrance down at the base of the hill, and charged at $5. They run shuttle buses from the lot to the gate. We saw so much that we would otherwise have walked right past. You can come and go through the day with one ticket. The hiking trails are well mapped and easy.

The tour was informative and our guide was knowledgeable about both the local wildlife and the ecosystem of the reserve. That said, we didn’t see much wildlife during the tour—so if spotting animals is your priority, I’d recommend checking out Curi Cancha Reserve instead, which tends to offer more opportunities for wildlife viewing. Still, the trails in Monteverde are absolutely stunning and worth exploring. I’d definitely suggest doing some additional hiking on your own after the guided portion to really soak in the beauty and tranquility of the cloud forest. A solid option for nature lovers, especially those interested in learning about the history and environment of the area.

Monteverde cloud forest is one of the icons of climate change research. This is the place where it was first established that climate change has a direct relation with species extinction with the extinction of the now famous golden toad. Many biologist and environmentalist visit and study this place. So when visiting this forest you need to come with the right mindset. To experience the beauty of a forest where most species survive on the unique phenomenon of clouds watering the forest rather than rain. If you come thinking you will see a bunch of animals or do a zip line or see a beautiful hanging bridge then unfortunately you would be disappointed. The canopy is very thick in Monteverde so animal sighting is harder than other reserves. How to experience this forest? Just peacefully walk through it , listen to the sound of nature and meditate. There is a point in the trail where you can see both the Caribbean and pacific side, do go see that if you can. I see a lot of people complaining about ticket charges and true if you expect something else you would be frustrated but note that your contribution is helping preserve this ecosystem which is already under decline. Try to not treat this as some entertainment spot, and trust me you will have a good time. It’s pretty much where the earth is truly breathing and coming alive. It’s magical and beautiful

Our private guide, Lucia, was very nice and knowledgeable. It is a beautiful forest environment. We did not see a lot of wildlife, but that just happens sometimes. We did get a good scope view of a tarantula. Our tour started at eight in the morning and the trails were not busy. You might have to start a little earlier to see much wildlife. Note that the road to get there is very, very rough and takes about 25 minutes from the town.

Gorgeous, well maintained trails! Seriously better sign posted than some of US national park trails we’ve been on. A good first day hiking outing to warm you up for more challenging hikes (e.g. El Tigre waterfall, another I’d highly recommend). We did the blue trail, took about 1.5 hrs, there was a tree fallen right at the half way point but it didn’t take long to go around and take the shortcut through. We didn’t pay to enter, had lovely staff out front to answer questions and recommend trails. Nature abounds, we didn’t see many animals but I’m sure a guide would be able to point plenty out. Also a decent size parking lot if you drive!

Beautiful! Saw very few other people there while hiking. Easy to follow trails thru the cloud forest, sound of rain falling, misting, birds - was recommended over Monteverde as less crowded quiver option and was perfect!

We had a fantastic tour with Orlando, who was super knowledgeable! This is definitely not the place to spot loads of animals due to the dense jungle, but the cloud forest experience is very unique compared to all the other well-known national parks at lower levels. Orlando did show us a hummingbird nest though! Well worth the trip.

Absolutely beautiful park. It felt so moody and magical. Unlike any other place I've hiked before. We didn't come across too many people.

The observatory on the Youth Challenge trail is an absolute must-see. In good weather conditions, you’ll get an amazing view of the surrounding area and the Arenal Volcano. The trail is well marked and easy to follow. I visited the park at the opening hour and, besides at the information center, I did not see anyone else on the trail. Halfway through I even managed to spot monkeys jumping across the trees.

Very nice reserve where we got to see quetzals 😱 and some other birds and a lot of wild life. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and nice and included one free coffee or tea!

Small island taken over by various tourist vendors with chairs everywhere. There’s barely any space left on the sand to relax, as it’s all occupied by chairs, and the sea is full of rocks that hurt your feet. There’s no fresh water available to rinse off the salt, and the restrooms are in very poor condition. But yes — it looks like paradise.

Had a blast snorkeling.!! Next time we plan to dive the other side of the island.!! Staff was very nice and the day was very enjoyable.! Had a great time coming back drunk and signing songs and dancing with everyone.!! 😜😁😜😁😜😁

Loved the day trip! The crew was amazing! Super personal and they were so kind. The wife and kids had a blast! This trip is great for adults or families. The crew made it a point to learn your name and made sure you were taken care of! If you’re looking for a one day get away this is definitely a trip that you should do! My 9 and 11 year old had a blast! I’d recommend this to anyone.

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.

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.

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.

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!

The waterfall is FREE! Please park on the street to avoid paying for free parking and getting scammed. The "tour" guides will haggle you for money. Just walk right past them and avoid paying whatever they try to get out of you. The hike is a lot better with water shoes. You will probably get your feet/shoes wet while hiking up to the water fall. Wear closed shoes to protect toes. Maintain 3 points of contact while crossing over rocks. So you don't fall. Overall its worth it.

It’s not an easy hike, but definitely worth it. You’re going to want to be careful not to slip and use the ropes they’ve set up. It’s a beautiful reward for the long trek, but it definitely is hard getting there

The coolest hike we’ve done in Costa Rica! It’s an advanced hike. Expect to use both hands and feet to hike up - it’s more like mountain/rock climbing on some paths. Definitely not for the faint-hearted! Better wear closed toe shoes with a good grip. The “paths” are mostly under shades. Sometimes it’s not easy to figure out where the paths are, but we really enjoy the feeling of uncertainty and adventure. It’s rewarding to see three waterfalls along the hike and enjoy the scenic ponds. It definitely worths the efforts. The third waterfall is the most difficult to reach - it’s a steep downhill along the cliff with dusty and uneven surfaces. You can get support with the tree roots on the cliff and a couple of ropes. There is an easier path to get the third waterfall, which is through the main road that leads to the top close to Anamaya Resort (i.e. you don’t hike). However someone in an “uniform” set up a tent there to charge you USD 4 per person to access the trails. It’s hard to tell if they are scammer or not. You could also choose to stay at the first waterfall/pond as it’s relatively easy to get there.

Really cool hike. Wear closed toes shoes for the hike, and be prepared to cross the water stream. It will be difficult for people with physical disabilities or people who are fragile. It will take both hands, feet and some grit to hike to/from the waterfall. Once at the fall, you can swim in the natural pool. Awesome experience!

This is super cool - but beware, it is not a simple hike! It takes only about twenty minutes but your feet will get wet and you will have to climb through trees and use ropes to navigate to the lower falls. The water is cool but not cold and is 100% worth the small hike. Just wear good shoes! We had no problems leaving our stuff on rocks behind the falls to get in.

Great hike with Carlos as our guide. I'm absolutely positive it would not have been nearly as enjoyable without a guide. We quickly made it to the first big waterfall, taking easier paths that were not obvious. Recommend sandals or shoes, although I did see 2 young people hiking it barefoot... We then decided to tackle the 100+ stairs (freshly remade, so easy to navigate) to the higher waterfall (2mil CRC per person). I'm glad we did! There were only 3 people there, and we had fun jumping into the pool there (safely). Water was brown since it had been raining, but it was refreshing and felt clean. Again, having a guide helped, since I would never have felt comfortable jumping where I could not see.

Beautiful waterfall. It is a difficult hike and so not suited for everyone. You definitely get wet at least till your thighs. Put on shoes which have good grip. When you want to swim in de river/waterfall (which is very nice after a difficult and hot hike), I recommend wearing shoes as the rocks can be sharp and so you can hurt yourself. You can either change your shoes or swim with the shoes you used for the hike. The hike is difficult as the path is not always clear. You also need to cross the river, the path and rocks on which you walk are slippery. At some parts of the hike, you need to use a rope and hang along the rocks to continue your hike. Hence, the hike is difficult. After the first waterfall, you can use some stairs which lead to the second and third waterfall. Do know that when using the stairs, you can get charged as the other two waterfalls are in private property. It costs around $6 per person to use the stairs. If you cannot hike the difficult path, you can also use stairs (same as mentioned above) to see all three waterfalls. In this case, you need to go to ‘Sun Trails’. This company has guides and owns the stairs. The location of this company and so the start of the stairs is not near the parking lot when you hike the difficult hike. The location is about 3 minutes drive up the hill.