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.

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!!!

We saw 9 crocodiles in total! Definitely worth a pit stop if you are driving past the area. We parked at the side and no one asked us to pay for them to watch our car. Perhaps it is because we were there at 5pm. What a unique experience, I recommend!!

We saw two crocodiles and since it’s a free spot to look at them, I would definitely recommend it for making a quick stop. Also good place to grab a coffee and take a few minutes of rest.

Crocodile Bridge is beautiful. The day we stopped all the crocs were in the water and not sunning up on the shore. But the views alone of the scenery and the river are breathtaking. Nice small eateries and gift shops. Great place to take a break on your drive.

Although we arrived midday there were 14 very large crocodiles right beneath the bridge. They weren’t moving much but it was still worth the visit. It’s free and there are plenty of souvenir shops. We parked at the north end of the bridge which was where the crocodiles were.

One has to park near the bridge, and walk on the path, designated for pedestrians. We could see many alligators down under the bridge. If you don't want you take the boat cruise, this is a neat way to watch the cricodiles.crocodiles. This is not ticketed, it's a public path.

Great stop on our way to Dominical. We got smoothies and lunch! Saw some crocodiles and got to shop!

Super crowded spot to see a few crocodiles laying around on little islands with a lot of garbage on them. It’s cool for a minute but isn’t anything special. If you’re transferring between cities, it’s a spot to stop quick but don’t go out of your way for it.

Amazing park!! We saw white faced monkeys, tons of macaws, poisonous frogs, a bat, a tarantula, eyelash viper, parrots and other tropical birds, etc. etc. Hiiiighly recommend hiring a guide when you get to the park (cash only, we paid $35 pp) - we wouldn't have seen/noticed anything but maybe the macaws & frogs without the help of our amazing guide Andre! And they will get up close shots with their scopes for some incredible photos.

We came as soon as they opened but unfortunately didn't stay more than 40min because we forgot to bring our bug spray. It's a must for this park we were immediately surrounded by hundreds of bugs. They don't sell any at the park so make sure you bring your own. We bought our tickets online for 10$. There were guides at the entrance of the park which would be smart to get one they are able to spot the animals and insects a lot easier than most people. I believe they charge 25$ per person for around 3 hours. We'll be back prepared for the next hike

Get your ticket online. The entrance was no line at 10am. The trail was reasy to follow. It started raining during my walk. The frogs and snakes started moving. It was really dark in the dense parts so prepare for that. There was biting horse flies but the are easily neutralized. Mosquitoes weren't an issue for me even with my shirt off during the heavy rain. Overall great trail ill have to return to experience it on a sunny day. I walked up to the croc bridge. Its 2 kilometers and felt a bit far esp with 18 wheelers flying by. I'd recommend a taxi for most. But its a neat spot with food and crocs and macaws flying around. Check it out for sure.

Carara National Park is a hidden gem for nature lovers! The biodiversity here is incredible—you can see everything from scarlet macaws to monkeys, butterflies, and so much more. We opted to explore the park with a local guide, and it made all the difference. Without their keen eye and deep knowledge, we would have missed so much of the wildlife that was camouflaged or high up in the trees. The trails are well-maintained, and the experience felt peaceful and immersive. Highly recommend hiring a guide—you’ll walk away with a deeper appreciation for the park and its amazing ecosystem.

We really enjoyed walking through this park! I would recommend stopping by. It'll take a couple of hours to go through and look at all of the vegetation and inhabitants.

Visited on a sunday in early August 2025. Complicated system of ticket purchase must be changed to make it more easy, especially for some not-so computer savy types like me! So we spent about 15 mins trying to get on-line to purchase the tickets and that was no nice. But everything else is nice in this park! Walk slowly, search out the mixted bird flocks - find the antbirds! If you find birds you will be really really be getting your birding fix, we got Bicolored Antbird as well! I would recommend a guide to anyone not in full knowledge of the difficulties of finding wildlife in such a dense, dark place. Otherwise, selfies and jungle photos easy!

Very nice well marked trails to hike on, saw many different types of birds, insects, (leaf cutters ants careful where you step) and we saw a type of wild pig moving around in a group of 6 or so, a very enjoyable hike with some monkeys coming down to get a look at us

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.

Had a very educational and eye opening experience. Ernesto did such a wonderful job telling their beautiful story. We learned so much about coffee pairing and tasting, how it’s produced, the impact on the environment and much more! One of the best tours I’ve done in all my travels. Touched my heart and inspired me.

The experience my family and I had with Gabriel was amazing! Such a friendly and down to earth atmosphere! Gabriel was very knowledgeable and answered all of our questions. My 7 and 10 year old also had a great time! And the coffee was delicious!

We thoroughly enjoyed our tour with Gabriel. He shared his passion for coffee and sustainable farming, and we learned so much. The coffee tasting was an enlightening experience about how to best enjoy coffee and the various brewing methods. The coffee marmalade was delicious! Be sure to reserve a time for your visit as it’s a working farm and tours are scheduled.

What a fantastic tour! Gabriel spoke fluent English and conducted the tour taking us on a path of understanding the organic method of farming coffee. He was very insightful and analytical--he really made us all think about nature and sustainability. He was very engaging, knowledgeable and kept our interest. We learned about the different roasts in relation to taste and caffeine levels. He had us do a taste test to determine our preference in type of coffee roast. Then he took us on a tour of the farm-not what you would expect at all -you'll have to take the tour to learn more about it! :) They have a gift shop which includes coffee, tea, marmalade, wine and T-shirts which they graciously made one for me while participating in the tour! My husband loved it! His family all live in the same general area and one of his brothers' family also offers a tour of a local farm (La Casa del Alto Tour)-also a great tour!

The Toledo Coffee Tour was such a unique and memorable experience! I went with my family, who are avid coffee drinkers, and even though I don’t usually drink coffee, I fully enjoyed participating and learned so much. The tour of the farm was wonderful—full of fascinating history, beautiful scenery, and hands-on experiences. Highly recommend for anyone looking to learn about coffee and have a fun, family-friendly adventure!

We were lucky to have a very personal tour with insights that went well beyond coffee processing, alone. We loved the tastings and farm tour. We learned so much about farming with diversity and sustainability. This will be a lifelong memory for our family. And the coffee is excellent. Beautiful artwork, too. Muchísimas gracias!

Our visit to El Toledo Coffee Tour in our hometown of Atenas, was truly remarkable!From start to finish, the experience was both fascinating and inspiring. Gabriel, our guide, was absolutely fantastic — knowledgeable, passionate, and engaging. You can tell he genuinely loves what he does and cares deeply about both the coffee and the environment. What really stood out was learning about El Toledo’s unique and sustainable farming techniques. Instead of using chemicals or conventional methods, they focus on working with nature — creating a balanced ecosystem that supports the plants, soil, and wildlife. It’s not just a coffee farm; it’s a living example of how agriculture can be done responsibly and regeneratively. The coffee itself was incredible, and tasting it while surrounded by the lush hills of Atenas made it even better. We left with a deeper appreciation for coffee, sustainability, and the hard work that goes into every sip. If you’re in Costa Rica and want an authentic, educational, and heartwarming experience, don’t miss the El Toledo Coffee Tour. Gabriel and his family are doing something truly special here!

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.

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 had such a nice time at the hazienda of Brenda and Abel. They invited us to eat dinner with the staff, family and neighbors. If you want to meet real people, awesome hospitality and a beautiful environment we definitely can recommend this place. It was definitely our highlight on our trip through Costa Rica. This the perfect place to start or end the trip, because it’s one hour to the airport.

Brenda y Abel son muy amable. Amazing riding Lluvia, swimming pool, yoga with the kitties, Naranja y Nutmeg on my yoga mat with me, sharing great energy every early morning sunrise :-) Wow, really great. Time now I am planning another trip for more healing energy at Establo San Rafael.

My wife, two kids (aged 13 & 10) and I stayed with Brenda at the end of June 2018 for 3 days and 3 nights. We learned so much about Natural Horsemanship during lessons and the trek we went on was lovely - the scenery spectacular. All meals were homely and delicious. We had just arrived in CR from Europe. It was a super place to decompress and get acclimatised. We had a fantastic stay and were very sorry to leave, but we had too many other places to visit!

My husband and I took a wonderful horseback riding trek organized by Establo San Rafael! To say that we will always remember the experience is an understatement! Our hosts were wonderful, the horses amazingly trained and cooperative and we saw the back roads and trails of Costa Rica in a way that few people ever get to experience. Our accommodations were varied and comfortable. Parelli natural horsemanship, mountains, ocean, a waterfall, river, an eco-farm, chocolate making and more - we fell in love with Costa Rica and the people! If we had an opportunity to stay at Establo San Rafael and go on another trek at some point in our future, we'd do it again in a heartbeat!

An amazing place and an amazing family, stayed with them a couple of years ago when I was volunteering in Costa Rica and they all gave me a warm welcome, and let me feel part of the family. An experience I cherish and think about with joy every now and then. The place is also absolutely stunning with lakes and waterfalls nearby, and great hikes and trails. All the horses and all the animals are great and I love their philosophy when it comes to taking care of their animals. All in all, a great place I would recommend anyone. Don't miss it!

The best place we stayed at in Costa Rica. Brenda & Abel are delightful hosts. The pool is fantastic, and it’s all surrounded by beautiful horses.

It was one of the best experiences of my life. The house, the people and all the animals are very cute and lovely. I learned a lot about myself and horses in general in a beautiful sourrounding. From my point of view Brenda and Mareike are the best teachers for natural horsemanship I ever met. Both of them have a huge knowledge, much experience, a big heart for animals and most of all...... a lot of fun while practicing and teaching it. There is also a lot of material to read, to study and to pratice on your own. It is up to you what you make out of all the possibilities this place offers to you. I made a lifechanging experience for my future with horses. Thank you so much!

The beach is beautiful with not many tourists and has amazing sunset views but it is true that the waves are dangerous for little kids to swim in. Great for surfers though and as an older kid i went into the waves and had lots of fun jump the huge waves being very precocious.

Beautiful dark brown/blackish beach with nary a sole on it. When the tide is low you have a whole football field worth of sand before the water. It's dangerous for swimming, but wading is great and we saw several surfers. No lifeguard in July, not sure about the other seasons. No amenities or bathrooms just natural beach beauty.

Amazing beach. Super clean and no one trying to sell stuff every 5 min like Tamarindo. Tamarindo has super dirty beaches and super busy. Also waves are not as nice in Tamarindo, here you can actually surf!

Awesome beach very long with mangroves at the end. I even found a whole sand dollar.

This is my favorite beach in Costa Rica. There is an enormous Continental shelf here, so it's pretty ocean friendly. When the tide is out, the beach is incredibly wide and you can ride your bike on the packed sand. And in December, the sunsets here look like AI generated photos.

Low key, a lot of shade for great picnics . Heavy Riptide Wide very good for low key relaxation

Beautiful and secluded beach (except holidays). You can walk miles of sand!

Great place for family fun and activities. There is so much to do and see. You can bike, walk, roller skate, play basketball and volleyball or soccer, and so much more. Or you can just chill and have a picnic while reading under the many beautiful trees. There are a variety of food and snack stands to enjoy as well as vendors selling kites and different toys to enjoy at the park. It's an amazing place to spend the day.

Great place to go for a run or walk. Decent wildlife too. I've seen Squirrels, raccoons, hummingbirds, great kiskadees, jacanas and orange chinned parakeets. No sloths in the park though.

Very nice place, green and beautiful nature very appropriate for a run, or play with kids.

Beautiful place to go and practice many different sports or simply spend a good time with the family. Overall pretty secure, there's police patrolling everywhere, although unsure about the time. Late at night might not be the safest place to go to.

A huge, beautiful, clean, free park!

Great big park, filled with different sports activities like tennis, volleyball, running, skating, roller hockey and more. Lots of trails to wonder. Would come back again for sure.

Very nice park with everything that you could ask for. They have fields for playing football, soccer, baseball and volleyball. Additionally there's lots of trails for running and riding your bike. There's also a couple playgrounds for kids. On the weekends you can sit there and watch several baseball games and soccer games going on with the locals. There's also a couple bathrooms that cost about 300 CRC.

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.

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.

Very cool museum that covers a lot of Costa Rican history and culture pre Columbus as well as having some more contemporary art installations. Was able to fully explore it in about 2 hours with reading most (75%) of the information plaques.

the museum was very nice, the people at the front were a little bit rude to us because we came an hour before they closed, but we were able to get the tickets and get a student discount and the museum was very nice and had a lot of interesting things to see! the entire experience took about an hour but can take more if you want to see more in detail

Fantastic place where and simple terms you can learn about pre Columbian history of Costa Rica. Great source of information and fun for kids. Temporary exhibits are worth visiting too.

Unfortunately more a storage then a good museum with detail explanations. Missing details like dates, origins etc. They show a lot of the stuff, but no further information. No context, what is surprising even in the digital touchscreen database PC.

3-4 floors of content. Very modern interior with interactive screens. Really well laid out in a visually engaging setting and soft lighting. A strong array of artefacts, including of jade as well as of other materials. The museum did well at explaining the day-to-day lives of pre-Columbian peoples.

Super interesting museum, wish I'd come earlier in the day to allow more time for looking at all the exhibits! There are 3 different floors with different themes and they are all quite dense with objects and info so worth taking your time (ticket office said approx. 1.5 hours for the whole museum but I would say maybe 2-3 if you want to read stuff). Student ticket way cheaper than normal visitor price, thank goodness, but even the visitor price is reasonable for the quality imo.

Beautiful museum with an impressive collection of pre-Columbian jade jewelry and ceremonial pieces, sculptures, pottery, and other artifacts; all of which are layed out in thoughtfully designed exhibits. We loved it, i only wish we'd gone a little esrly so we could spend more time! Still entirely worth 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.

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!

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.

Our guide did a great job of finding a wide variety of interesting things to see - sloth, monkey, snake, spider, butterfly, iguana, plants, crabs, termites. Our guide took great photos using his zoom lense and my iPhone.

Michael is absolutely amazing! It is obvious that he knows his stuff and loves to share it! Our tour with him was informative and fun! Because of him and his keen eye for wildlife, I got to see so many wonders of beautiful Costa Rica. I can’t wait to visit again.

We had the best tour at Manuel Antonio National Park. Michael did a wonderful job at spotting and calling the animals. Most of them we would have never seen ourselves. He knew about all of the animals and also gave information about some trees. He also helped us take incredible pictures with our cameras. I would highly recommend.

Our guide did a great job of finding a wide variety of interesting things to see - sloth, monkey, snake, spider, butterfly, iguana, plants, crabs, termites. Our guide took great photos using his zoom lense and my iPhone.

Michael is absolutely amazing! It is obvious that he knows his stuff and loves to share it! Our tour with him was informative and fun! Because of him and his keen eye for wildlife, I got to see so many wonders of beautiful Costa Rica. I can’t wait to visit again.

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.

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!

We had to use the flashlights on our phones in order to really see the vestments that were hung in one of the rooms. I had heard the story of why the church was built with such thick walls . The man who let us in told us he knew the story too. We came to Orosi to see the church and learn more. The church and the museum should research and share the story. I heard that the thick walls were built with a passageway in the middle to hide the indigenous people from more incoming Spaniards. True or false?

Interesting place to visit, a collection of relics and religious art.

Good. Nice place for the people that appreciate this kind of places

(Translated by Google) An unexpected experience, a totally different place in the museum attended by a very kind man. Access to the museum is with a collaboration of 500 colones per person, very economical. Opening hours closed Mondays Tuesday to Friday from 9 am to 12 and from 1 to 5 pm. Weekends from 9am to 5pm Continuous day. They sell crafts, I recommend the export coffee which they sell at a good price. I didn't know many things about the history of Costa Rica and the importance of the hydroelectric dams in the area, the learning that the museum leaves behind is something that you should personally appreciate. (Original) Una experiencia inesperada, un lugar totalmente diferente en el museo atiende un señor muy amable. El acceso al museo es con una colaboración de 500 colones por persona muy económico. Horario de atención lunes cerrados Martes a viernes de 9 am a 12 y de 1 a 5 pm. Fines de semana de 9am a 5 pm Jornada continua. Venden artesanías, les recomiendo el café de exportación qué venden a un buen precio. No conocía muchas cosas de la historia de Costa Rica y de la importancia de las represas hidroeléctricas de la zona, el aprendizaje que deja el museo es algo que debes ir apreciar personalmente.

(Translated by Google) An excellent place to visit, where you can take a look at the history not only of the colonial church, but also of the Orosi Valley in general. There is a small souvenir shop at the entrance, where there is also the ticket office to purchase the entrance ticket. There is a lot of history, and many articles that show that history through the years. It is very interesting to visit, very entertaining and you learn a lot. They also sell very good locally produced coffee, very delicious. Completely recommended! I give it 9.7/10 pandapoints. Pandaventuras🌿🐼🌿 (Original) Un excelente sitio a visitar, donde se puede echar un vistazo a la historia no solo de la iglesia colonial, si no, del valle de Orosi en general. Hay una pequeña tienda de souvenirs, en la entrada, donde también es la boletería para adquirir el ticket de entrada. Hay mucha historia , y muchos artículos que muestran esa historia a través de los años. Es muy interesante para visitar, muy entretenido y se aprende muchísimo. También venden un muy buen café de producción local, muy rico. Completamente recomendado! Le doy 9.7/10 pandapuntos. Pandaventuras🌿🐼🌿

(Translated by Google) The Orosi Museum of Religious Art keeps great treasures from the Colonial Era in Costa Rica. A place to visit and its entrance costs 500 Colones. (Original) El Museo de Arte Religioso de Orosi guarda grandes tesoros de La Época Colonial en Costa Rica. Un lugar para visitarlo y su entrada cuesta 500 Colones.

(Translated by Google) They charge entry. It is small but interesting. Being so enclosed, it has a peculiar smell. It takes about 30 minutes if you see it in detail. (Original) Cobran entrada. Es pequeño pero interesante. Al ser tan encerrado, tiene un olor peculiar. Se recorre en unos 30 minutos si se ve en detalle.

Really enjoyed our visit to this park. It was a beautiful, mossy wonderland. The trees are teaming with bromeliads and orchids. We did both available hikes and the more difficult hike was pretty difficult for me! But we enjoyed it. The shorter hike down to the river was my favorite of the two hikes. It’s pretty easy and the river is beautiful. The park was not remotely crowded. We saw 4?or 5 people during our stay. The ranger at the entrance was very helpful and friendly. Be sure to get reservations online before you go. I didn’t realize this was the case, but the helpful staff at Orosi Lodge said it was needed and he was right. Be sure and enjoy this beautiful park and part of Costa Rica.

Only 2 of the 3 trails in the park were open, but that was ok. We saw a plant/flower that only grows in this area of Costa Rica. The one trail was really easy, only took about 30 minutes to walk it. The other trail is much more difficult. It's a circular trail and if you traverse it properly, you're going downhill on the steepest portion. But that stretch is pretty difficult because of the condition of the path.

Beautiful national parc. Hardly any visitors when we were there. Gravel road to the parc. Multiple trails available. The 3km trail is quite steep and multiple sections were very muddy. Good shoes required.

This place was awesome! For me as a tourist it was $10 to get in and they're open 8am to 4pm. Down by the river there are plenty of shelters, bathrooms, and outdoor sinks. The trails are all well maintained to the river and well marked. Great experience of the jungle on a budget.

Only 1-1.5 hours drive from San Jose. It is not popular for reasons. Not a lot of animals to see. Very few visitors, so it is a good place to get away from civilization. In contrast, Manuel Antonio park is full of people and more animals to see. On the way there, if use Google map, be careful of path it pick for you. Google map may show you route for horse or the toughest 4x4 only

"Do not look and walk" - just to prevent injuries. This national park is a secret tip. It is not so busy and you have the four circuits almost all to yourself. However, one is not alone, because of course countless animals of all kinds live in this gigantic "botanical garden". Anyone who brings the necessary peace and behaves in the same way will quickly find it. There are three parking spaces. At the end it offers the way to the Mirador and there you can see the waterfall. The penultimate parking lot offers the most demanding route. The Sendero La Pava and La Catarata. Both lead to the river Orosi. The latter path. leads over two bridges. At the first parking lot you will find the Sendero Oropendula. The bottom bend is very easy to walk and there are countless picnic cottages. You must not be disappointed if you do not see the big animals. It is just an open national park and not a zoo.

Very nice national park. There are many "ranch" areas for having a nice (picnic like) family time next to the river. There are also pretty nice trails, one of them is literally walking in the mountain (it will be hard) and the rest are low difficult. You will be in the middle of the mountain so be prepared because it might get foggy and could at any time. The river is really clean water, which it's also pretty cold. Very nice experience for a "one day trip" experience.

(Translated by Google) Beautiful treasure that we must take care of. One of the most important and clean rivers in Costa Rica. (Original) Bello tesoro que debemos cuidar. Uno de los ríos mas importantes y limpios de Costa Rica.

(Translated by Google) Simply beautiful, it has trails, small waterfalls, the Savegre River, super clean, excellent views and a suspension bridge. (Original) Simplemente hermoso tiene senderos cataratas pequeños el río savegre super limpio excelente vista y un puente colgante

(Translated by Google) Nice place, cold climate, rivers with super clean waters (Original) Lindo lugar clima frio ríos con aguas super limpia

(Translated by Google) Very rich climate, very cold river, difficult accessibility (Original) Muy rico el clima el río muy frío, accesibilidad difícil

This place is a must for deep tissue massages. I have always had to ask for my massages to be stronger, but Hazel was incredible and truly took the knots out of my shoulders and everywhere else. I can’t recommend enough.

I would have liked a paper form with check boxes to fill out (in English/Spanish) so we could have achieved better communications. The massage and body wrap were very good, but the massage was deeper (and more painful) than I needed. Americans should also plan to leave your modesty at the door. I was more exposed than used to (which is totally fine - just be ready for that).

The deep tissue massage from Bexi (sp?) was easily the mostly heavenly massage of my life. 11/10 would recommend, the whole facility is lovely, but the hands and skills of the massage therapist was absolutely spectacular! Thank you thank you!!!!

I had a deep tissue massage, I can't remember the girls name but she was excellent. Unfortunately Saturdays are very busy there so reserve a massage in advance as they could only fit me in for a short one. The facilities aren't that great (1 changing cubicle) but I enjoyed the sauna and jacuzzi, too. Great rainy day activity :)

Matilda and the rest of the staff here are wonderful! I got a massage and enjoyed the jacuzzi and couldn’t have been more pleased! It was the perfect end to a day of hiking and birding in the cloud forest! The rest of the family felt the same. I would recommend the Del Rio massage. You won’t be disappointed!

Great massage and spa packages. Good views from the massage room. The sauna and jacuzzi were much needed after a day of bird watching. They don't mention to bring a bathing suit with you for the sauna but make sure you do. Its all coed.

Got a deep tissue massage which was exceptional. Forgot my suit so had to skip the jacuzzi though. Best massage I'd had in years.

Nice waterfall hike. I initially was going to park at the visitor center but I am so happy I paid the $5 to drive down and park at the bottom of the steep hill. It was still a great 4 mile hike in and out from the parking lot. Be careful swimming in the falls, the current is strong but it’s so refreshing. Bugs were pretty annoying but bug spray helped. Go right when they open as it gets busy with tours. Was able to shower off at parking lot which was nice. There are also bathrooms right at the waterfall. Got a little muddy at times so bring a change of shoes for when you’re done. I also changed into teva’s at the waterfall to wear into the water as the rocks are slippery.

Worth the visit and staying for a little while. There are few options to get to the waterfall. Get a ride (around $35 per person, at the time of writing); horseback (not sure about the price); or walking (option one is to walk from the very entrance, or the second option is to drive to the parking lot at the base and walk from there - parking is paid). Plan on 45 to 60 min for a leisurely walk from the base parking lot. The nature is spectacular and the waterfalls are beautiful. Swimming can be done at the lower waterfall. Also, there is plenty of wildlife to be seen.

Gorgeous waterfall hike! Admission is cash only (colones or US dollars accepted); we paid $10 USD each plus $5 for parking. We parked at the guarded main lot and hiked in on foot, which ended up being around 4.5 miles round trip. For an extra fee, you can take a trolley or go by horseback, but we did not use these options since we wanted to get there right as it opened at 7:00am. We are visiting in August during the “green season” so expect muddy trail conditions on your way in with a few steeper parts on the dirt road. I’d recommend sticking to the sides of the road while hiking in since they are more compacted and easier to navigate. Bathrooms and potable water are available right before you get to the falls. Be aware that the stairs down to the falls are slippery so tread with caution! The water was beautiful and refreshing after a humid hike in, definitely dip your feet in or go swimming while you’re there. We read elsewhere that jumping into the pool is only allowed with a guide present which is available between 9:30-11:30am which we did not get to try since we arrived earlier than that.

Well worth the travel. The trail was wide and very easy for even moderately experienced hikers. The water fall was absolutely amazing and we had a really enjoyable swim. Highly recommend using a swimsuit and water shoes for both the hike and swim.

First of all: There are TWO possible ways to get to the Waterfall, both owned by private Companies. When you drive there, you will see different company advertisements, so make sure *not* to follow the signs, you might end up at the wrong company. So think about it first, which Company you wanna pick and use waze or maps to get to the right company. They differ largely in price. This is the cheaper company with a longer hike (right side). The upper pool is a beautiful view, but was closed from the right side because the waterfall is stronger on this side. See my pictures. I recommend bathing at the bottom anyway, even if its more crowded. The bottom is shared by both companies, the top is split by each company (right and left side).

Beautiful waterfalls but omg what a hike! It was a hot day and the 2 miles felt like 20. It was well worth the hike but just be aware that the shuttle service might be a better option for those who have health issues. Also the “hike” is literally a mud road so it’s not particularly pretty/stunning. The way back down was much easier though.

Nice hike with a great reward at the end. We park at the main entrance because we wanted to do the 11km hike but I would recommend parking at the real parking and not at the main entrance like we did. The added 2km of hike weren’t worth it as it was an amazingly steep road (not trail) to reach the entrance of the trail.

This is a wonderful place to learn about the conservation efforts happening in Costa Rica. It’s a little bit of walking and you have to drive up a steep hill, but the views are gorgeous at the top. The animals are interesting. They have lots of rescues that are in the process of rehabilitation. And then they let you get closer (no touching) to the animals who were not able to go back into the wild because they’re not healthy or just like being around humans. The tour is about an hour. And you’ll see lots of species. I highly recommend supporting this positive organization that supports the local wildlife. This is great for kids and adults.

Super amazing animal sanctuary. Our tour guide was lovely and did a great tour. The enclosures are very clean and big for their permanent residents.

Visit and support the amazing efforts in conservation. Rigo is a hero continuously doing his best to save animals and improve this incredible rehab and sanctuary. Thankful to have met him and get insight on the life changing work the Alturas team does. Great tour for photography and education. Beautiful look out point and wildlife sightings nearby as well. Large planted enclosures with plenty of enrichment all animals are very happy and loved. Respect the wildlife and the mission. ♥️

This is an amazing place and important place to visit. They teach so much about the illegal pet trade (that is where some of their animals came from) and other manmade risks to wildlife. It is not for profit and has knowledgeable, friendly staff and volunteers who seem to love what they do. Highly recommend

Very nice place where you learn how Costa Rica are taking care of their nature. You also see all the "must see" costarican animals in the sanctuary and understand the dilemma between protect the nature and business challenge. Very interesting. Don't miss the lookout at the hotel where you will buy your ticket, it's better to book the tour one day before.

Surprising great time here. We were met by our guide at infusion restaurant and he walked us to the sanctuary several minutes away. He explained the general goals of the sanctuary and how they rescued and cared for the various residents. The tour consisted of visiting the different animals that were not able to be released to the wild. There were something like 15 different stops on the tour. The tour lasted about an hour and a half. Very informal and educational and fun.

This place is really well run and the animals are well cared for. They come to the rescue in hopes of being rehabilitated but some cannot and end up staying such as a crocodile, 2 toed sloth, parrots, monkeys, kinkajou and anteater. The tour is about an hour on gravel and gentle slopes, not much effort but some stairs. Good for kids. You cannot touch the animals (which is a good thing). It's a great partial day trip. Oh and the view is AMAZING!

Such an amazing horseback riding experience. As my first time riding a horse without any help lol I was a bit scared but Ivan & Edgar were so nice and helpful to help me feel comfortable safe during the ride. 100% recommend this experience to anyone who is considering doing a horseback riding tour. The views were so beautiful and the trail was so nice! Thank you to the team!! 🐎🐴

We had an unforgettable experience on the beach and forest horseback ride! From start to finish, everything was so thoughtfully organized. The horses were incredibly gentle and well cared for—perfect for our 8-year-old, who felt confident and safe the entire time. Our guide was absolutely amazing—knowledgeable, patient, and so kind, making sure everyone was comfortable and having fun. Riding through the forest and along the beach was magical, and it ended up being one of the absolute highlights of our trip. Highly recommend to families and anyone looking for a unique, peaceful adventure.

We had an amazing time! The guides were awesome, the horses were in great condition and the barn environment was clean and well cared for. For 3 advanced riders we were all pleasantly surprised at how much we enjoyed the entire ride from walking through their farm land to galloping on the beach while they kept the beginner riders safely together as well. Highly recommend!!

We have been many times and always love it! Edgar has been our guide the last couple times and he is so great at taking care that everyone has a great trip. He was especially careful to watch my wife and mother as they are a little nervous with horses. They had one of the best experiences of their lives and can’t stop talking about how perfect everything was!

We loved our ride to the beach!! We were lucky and got a sunset beach ride with no rain. Edgar was amazing. He was knowledgeable about the ranch, and the horses. He showed us lots of different birds, animals and plants. They did a really great job at matching us up with the right horses. I own a horse and ride a lot back home, so they gave me a more advanced horse that loved to gallop on the beach. My husband is a lot less experienced and he got a chill horse that didn’t mind walking behind us while we ran. The horses were all very well taken care of and seemed to really enjoy their job. Thank you so much!!

We did the sunset ride and it was amazing! Edgar was so knowledgeable, friendly, helpful and funny! We aren't experienced riders, but the horses were great! Honestly, I lucked out and had the BEST horse in the group, at least the best for ME to ride. I'd love to ride her again! Thanks, Edgar and Lola!

Great experience here. We had a blast as a family taking a ride on horses on the beautiful CR beaches. Highly recommend.

The drive up has some very tight roads that were made less treacherous with 4x4 and high clearance. A sedan is doable, but I wouldn't do it. The parking can be really tight, so I recommend using the first overflow that you encounter. The hikes are well-marked, and just a little challenging for people who aren't in great shape. If you're hale & hearty, it's a piece of cake. Wear good hiking shoes with ankle support. Anything less is doable but hazardous. Bring plenty of water, and a few light snacks. We encountered a few biting insects; nothing crazy, but some repellent is recommended. Sunscreen is a good idea, although the canopy prevents the worst sun exposure. You cannot swim here. The main entrance has potable water and a decent bathroom. The hike to the cloud bridge is about 2 hours unless you're not gawking at all.

Aahhh...is this heaven? I have never seen such beautiful nature. The plants are so gorgeous, & the forest looks like God hired a gardener! He's the ultimate Artist. Small fee to enter. Rocky road as you approach...we paid a private parqueo & walked the rocky stretch to enter Cloud Bridge. You can also enter Chirripo National Park very close to the entrance of the Nature Center.

Saw lots of birds, and emerald tuocanet perched in the tree by out cabinet. Lots of birds and butterflies stopped by. We saw white faced monkeys on our hike. They have a lovely garden on the property and also right in front of our cabin. The cabin had hot water and a washing machine.

The road up to the nature reserve was really rough, and it definitely needs a 4x4, but once we got there, it was worth it. On a Saturday morning, there were only a few other hikers, and we mostly had the place to ourselves. Anthony at the visitor center was friendly and knowledgeable and helped us plan our route. Grab one of the walking sticks by the visitor center. They're helpful on the steep, slippery parts of the trails. The small loop close to the visitor center was my favorite part, and it was good for kids. The trails are clearly marked and well maintained. This is a hidden gem, and I'm sure we'll be back.

We had a guided walk through Cloudbridge with Ken. He was very knowledgeable about the history of Cloudbridge and what they are trying to achieve there. The climb up is steep but Ken went at a good pace for our group. The climb was definitely worth it and there were some fabulous views from the top. We had a really good time and it really brought home what can be done to attract wildlife back into an area that had completely cleared for pasture. Definitely worth the trip.

Beautiful setting,at the start good facilities. Helpful staff. Walking sticks provided ,and very useful to navigate the walks . Beautiful views . Be prepared for ups and downs . Waterfalls are plentiful and super amazing . Well worth the visit.😎

This is a fantastic place to explore Chiripo if you are not ready or wanting a hike to the summit. The trails are beautiful and challenging but not impossible.

The national park itself is very simple. A shelter some warm food and tons of green areas. I think it is a good experience for hikers who enjoys a simple journey. there are some commodities such a hot meals, hot drinks, luggage transportation. At this time the shelter does not provide hot water for the shower, but IMHO it's part of the journey. Even though it can be done in one or two days I'd recommend to go for 3 days at least a less exhausting trip.

The place and hike are amazing and beautiful! Unfortunately, like most of the beautiful places in Costa Rica, it's not well managed and is run through antiquated bureaucratic methods that limit the experience in many ways.

Chirripó National Park changed me. Just wait until you see the natural beauty of this place! The amazing changes in the vegetation around you as you climb the 14km (8.6 miles) to reach the basecamp. From there it's approx 5km (3 miles) to the summit. You can send your bags up with the mules in the early morning, or you can carry your own weight. You need to make a reservation beforehand so make sure to do so with anticipation! In addition to this you must register with Chirripó National Park administration to pay a park entrance fee. Starting at starting at San Jerónimo de Perez Zeledón at an altitude of 1502 mts (5200 feet above sea level) you will climb all the way up to the summit at 3820 mts (12532) along lush tropical jungle, cloudy oak forests, high elevation bamboo forests, and finally alpine tundra and sabanas. The basecamp has great installations, nice warm beds, pillos and an individual sleeping bag for everyone. The best cold showers! Food is expensive and they don't allow any cooking done on your own accountso you either have to take your own food that won't spoil or pay the appox $12 for each meal. Either way it's worth it! The scenery is awe inspiring; go through the Sabana de los Leones (Lion's sabana), climb Chirripó were hopefully you'll get to see both oceans (best time to visit is January-May) although you might just get lucky any day of the year. Just as amazing and special in their own accord are Cerro Ventisqueros, Cerro Terbi, and the Crestones (huge vertical rock formations). Have a great time! Contact me on my Facebook if you would like to visit.

Best National Park in Costa Rica! Has the highest peaks, great landscape, awesome views and very challenging hikes. The place is for advanced hikers though, getting to the refuge is a 15KM uphill walk. From there you can do other 6 trails. So you must be ready to do a great exercise. Come prepared, be sure to read articles on internet with tips and recommendations for this advanced hike.

A beautiful hike, you experience all types of climates climbing to the top. Definitely worth it and highly recommend

14km until base camp, not too dificult but not for amateurs. Amazing views!

Chirripó is one of the most beautiful mountains I've ever been. I'm conducting my research focusing on ecosystems ecology and couldn't be more perfect place for that. The trail starts in a more degraded environment (pasture like) but before entering the national park (km 4) it's already beautiful! The cloud forest starts with a more like-Atlantic rainforest (lots of palm-trees and ferns), and from around km 7 (where you find the coffee stop) starts the Oak cloud forest. From km 12 or so starts to look more like a subarctic ecosystem, first time I've seen in the tropics! Then at km 14 is the research/stay accomodation and from there the amazing and unique páramo ecosystem. I definitely recommend hike up to Ventisqueros.