Given it had been destroyed number of times, the Cathedral is a true gem in the colonial architecture of Granada. Not as monumental and smaller than the Leon's Cathedral, it's still impressing. At the time of our visit the Cathedral's ceiling is being painting, which should add some artistry to the place.

5/22/25 Stunning art and architecture. The most beautiful paintings on the ceilings! Haven’t seen anything else like it in Central America. Didn’t take my phone so no pictures. Go see for yourself:)

What a beautiful church. I love the architecture and the colors! It was a place of peace, and wasn't crowded.

Too be honest we didn’t enter to the inside of the church. But for outside it a certainly beautiful, being able to apprentice the Colonia architecture with such a magnificent church ⛪️. I would definitely recommend to at least take a look at it form the outside if you are in Granada. 👍🏼👍🏼

Beautiful colonial cathedral with plenty of bright Spanish colors and Spanish tiles. There is an option to go to the top which we definitely recommend. You are able to see the whole plaza from a birds eye view.

You can’t miss this Cathedral in Granada. Considering that most of the city is flat, this building stands out easily amongst the other structures. Towering far above all of it, visible from kilometres around, are the distinctive yellow and white bell towers and dome of the Catedral de Granada. There’s been a church here since the late 16th century, but, along with other key sites in the city, it suffered at the hands of raiders in the centuries since. In 1856, the church was destroyed at the behest of William Walker}. Later in the century, rebuilding began but continued only fitfully due to lack of funding. The current version that you see now as largely complete by about 1915. The inside is not the most ornate of the old city’s Catholic cathedrals. In fact, it’s relatively sparsely decorated. But what it lacks in crammed-to-the-rafters lavishness it makes up for in scale and a sense of space and calm. The nave is expansive and spacious. The main altar piece is a strikingly beautiful arrangement of a statue of Mary surrounded by silver and backed by bright blue mosaic tiles. Spaced around the interior are a number of statues depicting religious figures and other religious artwork. And off to one side is a small but pretty little white chapel. Well worth visiting and allow at least 30 minutes to explore the inside and outside.

I loved the artwork inside. Going to the dop provided a good breeze

Nice boat trip out to the islands in Lake Nicaragua. Enjoyable with lots of flora and fauna particularly bats and monkeys to see!

Really beautiful islands to kayak (or via boat) through. 10/10 can recommend. For kayaking: Vladimir Kayak and Boat.

Great place to spend your vacations in Nicaragua. This is one of the most beautiful places in this country with a great variety of animals and plants.

Beautiful islands off the coast of Granada. We took a boat tour to see the different islands and it is definitely recommended if you are anywhere near. Our favorite island was the one that a Veterinarian bought a long time ago in order for the local monkey population to live in. It was great learning about the history of the Islands and who owns which one. Will definitely love to do this tour again if we are ever back in Nicaragua.

Hundreds of small Islands. Some have hotels, monkeys, Bars…

A very nice boat ride to the isles of Granada lake.

From our hostel we could book the tour for 15$ and it was great! We were the only two in the boat and our guide, Lorenzo was amazing, telling us about the islands and local wildlife. The hightlight was monkeys jumping aboard the ship, just an all around amazing experience.

San Juan del Sur Cristo Rey is a wonderful spot offering breathtaking views and a peaceful atmosphere. Visitors enjoy the scenic hike up to Cristo Rey, which is rewarding with panoramic vistas of the town and surrounding landscape. It's an excellent place for relaxation and photo opportunities, making it a highly recommended visit when in San Juan del Sur. The experience is enhanced by the warm local hospitality and tranquil environment.

The view is breathtaking for the first 5 minutes and then that's it. There is a nice little chapel at the feet of the statue and with not many visitors it's a quiet little place to meditate. The place is well kept, clean and with a little gift shop. Nationals pay 75 cordobas and foreigners 8 dollars.

I did the hike from San Juan and it was pretty steep! Very good workout though. As for the view etc is what you expect. 150 cordobas is the foreigner tax. The chapel is quite nice and the story behind it all is quite fun to read. 3 stars because of the price us foreigners have to pay vs locals.

Moderate hike up from la talanguera. Great way to stretch your legs in the morning. Incredible views of the surrounding area. $4 per person.

Breathtaking viewpoint and landmark in San Juan Del Sur. The view over San Juan is panoramic. Also budget friendly - bring small cash for entry fee. Overall a must visit place to visit if you are in San Juan.

Great place with a great view but a little too expensive for what it is ! I highly recommend to go to the light house instead and is free with a bar/restaurant and amazing views as well 😜

Nice view, but the entry cost for foreign people is higher which I think is not really neccessary to see the statue from upclose.

It's a nice place to visit with excellent clubs and parties. The beach is also cool. Lots of tourists here.

One of the most exotic fun filled bays to travel to in the world. It is a surfer's and fish eaters paradise. Plenty of wonderful beachside hotels, pubs and restaurants. Come from all over the world to relax, eat surf, fish, walk and party.

•November 2023• a beautiful beach with perfectly warm water and a great place to watch the sunset. Also some great waves to swim in.

truly an amazing place. so pretty. the water is great fun to play in tho u do need to watch out for sting rays

One of the best places to visit in Nicaragua! Ambience is excellent! Great places to eat and to have fun! You must go to visit the christ statue up the hills.

There's definitely better beaches in the area, but it’s nice to watch the sunset. Everytime I came to this beach in the late afternoon, there was always volleyball games taking place on the beach and several people hanging out and drinking while waiting for sunset.

A beautiful sunrise and sunset - if you want a great spot with live music and free entertainment; walk down to the beach volleyball and sit on the bleachers to watch the sunset! Grab a beer from the bar next door and enjoy!

Good ride, reservation required is your taking a car. Good prices. We paid $13 for 2 and one car, each way.

I would spend one night only on this island, rent an ATV, go to the waterfall, explore around see the volcanos and come back the next day. There are cute little bed and breakfasts around, but just make sure you book your trip ahead of time so you can bring your car into the island.

Amazing, peacefull island with two vulcano and lot of beautiful places for visit. I reccomend lent there motocycle or ATV better than car because many roads are really bad to see many places like waterfall, playa mangos for sunset or ojo de agua. I came here in off- season so places were empty so it was good. But in some places i felt like after some catastrophic dissaster some building or docks were empty like after nuclear accident i felt there like in chernobyl.

Amazing island. We loved our time here exploring the jungle and volcanos. The nature is fun to explore and the views of the volcanoes are just stunning. Very fun to ride around the island on a motorbike or Vespa. So much to do and see! Ojo de agua swimming pool, horseback riding tour through the jungle to see monkeys, amazing volcano views. Incredible and unique place!

Beautiful place. Just make sure you plan it well and consider being there for 7 days or more

One of the best, best places to go in Nicaragua 🤍✨ it’s really gorgeous 😍 I fell in love with the natural beauty everywhere. 💘

In Nicaragua you should not miss this great island. You can even spend there a week if you want to check all the nice activities / places. Take a boat or ferry from San Jorge witch takes around 1h (50-80C$). In my opinion Santo Domingo is the best place to stay, not many people, nice and cheap hotels / hostels / apartments and you’re in the middle of the island where you can start your trips all locations. It’s 45min with the bus or 20min with a taxi (100C$) from the harbor. 2 vulcanos (if you like hiking), nice beaches just around the corner. You shops also rent a motorbike and drive around the island. With some stops you can spend the hole day. A motorbike is much better than a scooter (25$ instead of 20$/day) because many “streets” are a bit offroad. With a motorbike it’s much easier and a lot more fun. Ojo de agua is like a small, outdoor bath where you can also relax one day. Don’t miss this great island.

First let me say this spring is on par with ones I go to in Florida. It’s going to be the “Wekiva type” where the water is mostly arranged in large pools that have been manicured a bit for convenience. Truly, I think Ojo is rather well-designed. There is a shallow section with underwater ledge built to separate it from the deeper half with a diving/Tarzan swing. Some cute playset swings IN THE WATER 🫢 (why haven’t we done that before in FL?? Such a cute idea) and a smaller, medium-deep “adults” pool for those avoiding the kids & families. Sufficient seating, showers, and bathrooms all around. A really easy plantain farm hike (I greatly enjoyed it). And is no one mentioning the fact that c185 towards food is included at the restaurant?? The menu is much more expensive than expected for the most part (fish & chips for $20USD or 600+ Córdoba being the most egregious offender 😂). But c185 can get you a side of fries + queso + soda of your choice 💁🏾‍♀️ which was good enough for me. Had a lovely time. Great way to escape the heat of the day, and if you partake in one of the many cocktails (I did not), you’d probably have an even nicer time 🍻

It was super quiet when we went. People were so nice. The water was incredibly refreshing. It was so peaceful. It's definitely a nice place to stop!

A pleasant walk around a small Lake on the shores of the much bigger lake with the volcano in the background. Trail is minimally maintained. Okay if you don't have any other plans but Nothing special. Enter through the reserve Visitor Center. Don't drive past it or you will be on the property of the hotel on the shore of the lake

This natural pool was GORGEOUS and sooo refreshing on a hot day!! It has a really fun rope swing which was our favorite part!! they also have food with many options there. I would definitely recommend checking this spot out.

Really nice place with a natural pool! We were lucky to visit early in the morning as it got quite crowded by the afternoon. The food at the restaurant was quite tasty, though it had only a few vegetarian options. The staff was super helpful and friendly.

We stayed for 5h, perfect place to stay all day! Service is great, the waters are amazing, very clear, with little fishes that amaze the kids. The swings and Tarzan rope can keep kids busy for hours, and if water gets too cold for them, they can take a break in a trampoline and other games. Must do when traveling on Ometepe! Recommended to us both by tourists and locals, literally everyone we told we were going to Ometepe as a family.

Great experience! It wasn’t busy when we went which was lovely to have open seats and lots of swimming space! $10 usd per person but half of that is used as a voucher for the bar or restaurant, so great value!

Most excellent tours!!! Did the ATV on a Saturday. So much fun!! Terrain was beautiful & challenging!!! Guides were GREAT!!! Came back on to do their horseback riding & it was also incredible!!! Terrain was challenging, but the horses picked their way through perfectly!! BEAUTIFUL trails & excellent guides again!! Highly recommend!!

It was a good experience, been to better .. didn’t really see any of the indigenous on this tour … did find out that sloths 🦥 carry syphilis .. 😲 no.. what’s up with that one though

We did the ATV excursion & it was fantastic. The terrain is quite rugged so but our guides were great mixing it up while keeping it fun & exciting. If we were skiing I would call this a solid Blue terrain that had sections of Black terrain. Would definitely go again, next time we try the horseback riding.

Great spot if you want a horseback riding tour while visiting this corner of Costa Rica. It’s ideal for beginners and advanced riders alike: although I’m an intermediate dressage rider, my boyfriend is a complete beginner and we both felt equally safe and engaged during our ride. The horses are calm, docile, and sure footed for the hilly and rocky terrain. The guides are passionate about animal husbandry (this is a ranch as well) and love their horses. They showed us the traditional Costa Rican tack (it’s basically a western saddle) and let us help tack the horses. This is not something that most riders ask for but if you go with a small group I recommend calling ahead and asking if you can tack the horse / spend time with them beforehand. It gives you an opportunity to get to know your horse before riding. The course is on the ranch’s property, which encompasses many many mountains and fields. We easily rode for 1.5 hours without touching the same area twice, and it is completely secluded from public traffic. During your ride you will see cattle, other horses, wildlife, and the pinnacle of the ride is a brief rest on a mountain top with gorgeous views. We found this ranch via the tourist office within Dreams Las Mareas but I am sure you can contact them directly as well. If you - like myself - are passionate about riding horses on your vacations, Hacienda El Cenizaro is an ideal spot for you.

If your looking for a great Tour while in Costa Rica this is the place to go. We did both the horse ride and Atv tour on separate days and neither were a disappointment .. situated on a breathtaking 800 acre property that offers you great scenery along with amazing views of the country side and coast you will not be disappointed.. The facilities are immaculate the Atvs are mechanically sound and the horses are well kept .. the guides are knowledgeable very personable and lots of fun . We saw a great deal while on both trips and not to worry if you do both you are taken on different paths so you don’t see the same thing .. either tour stops in the woods to let you see the many monkeys living in the wild.

We had the absolute best time horseback riding with “Popeye”. We ended up going not once but twice during our week stay at Dreams Las Mareas. The landscape is beautiful and they truly take the best care of their animals. Each horse was turned out to the pasture immediately after each ride. I ride frequently — and these were the most behaved horses I have ever seen at a dude ranch / horseback excursion. Can’t recommend Adrian & Popeye enough!

Great place for horse back riding. Great staff and horses are kept in good health. It took about 2 hours to do the entire trail. Got to see plenty of animals and the view fro top of the mountain is amazing. Jeff and Gilberto were great guides. Thank you to both of them. 100% recommend them . We booked our tour with Amstar in the lobby at Dreams Las mareas.

From the moment we arrived at the hacienda, we were completely immersed in the beauty and culture of Costa Rica. The property is absolutely stunning – a perfect blend of natural wonder and authentic charm. It felt like stepping into another world. The service was nothing short of exceptional. Every staff member was warm, welcoming, and genuinely passionate about making our stay unforgettable. Their attention to detail and dedication to hospitality made us feel right at home. The range of activities offered on the property was spectacular. The highlight for us was the waterfall and Rio Negro – both far exceeded our expectations. Crystal-clear water, breathtaking views, and a sense of untouched natural beauty that’s hard to describe. If you're looking for a place that offers adventure, relaxation, culture, and world-class service all in one, this hacienda is a must-visit. We can’t wait to come back!

We loved our time at Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin! There is a lot of beautiful things to see and do right on the property and very close to the National Park and La Leona. As someone with a gluten allergy, I was delighted that all the food on the property is Gluten Free (and delicious!). We stayed in the Honeymoon suite and while the room was great, we were bummed that the private pool was not heated and very cold. Overall, I highly recommended a stay here.

We loved this hotel! It was located on such an expansive beautiful property with so many things to see and do. We thoroughly enjoyed the one day adventure with waterfall rappelling, tubing down the river, zip lining through the canyon, horseback riding to a waterfall, followed by relaxing at the hot springs.

We did not stay in the hotel, so I cannot speak to the quality of the rooms, but the adventure tours were fantastic! We went first with a big group of 7 of us on the Canyon Half-Day tour and had an absolute blast. All the guides were competent and there was always at least one guide who's english was very good. We went back a second day in a row for tubing and horseback riding, and had an equally great time.

One the plus: - Perfect location - nearby activities are included and shuttle bus also - lots of activities - rooms are nice - staff mostly friendly On the negative - the food! Breakfast is OK Neither of the two restaurants offer good food, however. Vegetables were completely burnt, kids' chicken fingers soaked in oil and no salt at all. Burger below average, and so on Pizza was pretty good though - room doors are simply on thin layer of wood, why? - the zip line tour was really worrying!! Nothing happened, but our group was about 50 people, and all were rushed through the course. Staff was clearly not able to focus on safety. All the time, two people were on the same line. Platforms were stacked with people. Staff had to constantly rush. Again, nothing happened, and it was fun, but I only wonder when... They should just limit the number of people per tour and focus on quality over quantity. The same goes for the Tubing, which was fun too but again like 50 or 60 people.

We stayed two nights. Really wonderful place - clean rooms and we saw a lot of wildlife right in the property of the hotel. We took some of the tours as well as independently explored some of the trail.

What a gem. Amazing service, great food which happens to be gluten free. Wonderful location that allows you to access and do so much from your hotel room. Very impressed and my celiac wife was very happy with my choice.

I really enjoyed this park. I hiked the Las Pailas loop and it was really awesome. There was so much to see and so many interesting features. I loved all the mud pots and the little volcano in the hot springs and the waterfall. Saw lots of lizards and beautiful flora. It was one of the most fun trails I've done in Costa Rica.

We did the fumaroles trail. The boiling mud pits were interesting. There was a small waterfall at the end of the trail but if you’re up for waterfalls the trail to Las Gemelas would be your better choice.

This is a great park to see and you don’t need a guide, but buy your tickets online before getting there if you do it on your own. The Las Palias Trail is well marked and it’s an easy walk. Lots of volcanic evidence from mud pits, boiling ponds, and steam vents from the ground. Saw a lot of animal activity from Neotropical Green Anole, white nose coatis, and monkeys

The main trail is a loop. The loop has some pretty steep portions, but is doable for most. We saw an old lady with a cane complete it, but her and her party were moving very slowly. We had trekking poles with us and were out of breath. The seasonal waterfall is amazing. The mud pots are pretty cool to see. We saw some monkeys and birds. Apparently the trail can connect from Pailas all the way to the Santa Maria ranger station, but we were told by the ranger that the river crossings were too treacherous to make the trek. You have to pay a fee online to enter the park. Overall, the nature was cool, the walkway was very walkable but a fair amount of elevation to make the loop.

We walked the Las Pailas trail here in the Las Pailas sector. 3,5km trail, easy hike through different landscapes and volcanic activity sites. 15 dollars per person entry as a non-resident, must be booked online but can be done on-site, they have WiFi. There are bathrooms and water available. Road to access the national park goes through private land so you need to pay 800 colones per person in the car. There are several restaurants and a snack stand within a short drive.

We did the Catarata la Cangreja hike and went out to the water pots as well. The views were stunning, but be prepared as the trail to Catarata la Cangreja is steep at times and can be slick. You will encounter wildlife. Be prepared. The hike to the water pots is paved and accessible by wheelchair up to a point. After that, it has gravel steps and is not accessible.

The park is so well maintained and Everyone was lovely, a great 6K hike/walk.

Nice waterfall, lots of steps so not accessible for wheelchairs or folks with mobility issues. Fun for swimming. We saw some monkeys in the trees.

Cortez Waterfall is an easy, quick stop from Liberia and worth the visit if you’re already exploring the area. The walk down is short, the space opens up nicely at the bottom. During rainy season, the water isn’t clear — it turns more brown and heavy from the runoff — but the flow is stronger, and the falls themselves look more powerful. Even without the bright turquoise water you see in dry-season photos, the spot is still impressive and good for cooling off. It’s a simple place: no major facilities, just a natural waterfall you can reach without a long hike. Good for a quick swim, photos, or a stop on the way to other attractions around Liberia.

I didn’t swim in the water but many people did and seemed to really enjoy it. This was a very calm and peaceful part of the tour. Fairly steep flight of stairs down but good width/safety of the steps. I’d recommend!

Easy access. Short walk down steps. Not far off the main road. An easy addition to another excursion. $7 per person for entry. Bathrooms and vendors in parking lot. Can swim.

Beautiful, peaceful. There were 2 guides to help with questions and picture taking. Very knowledgeable.

Absolutely beautiful! The water was a little murky but we absolutely enjoyed every minute. Would definitely recommend water shoes. There are rocks that I ended up cutting my feet on even with my sandals firmly strapped on. Once you get down to the waterfall area there is a trail off to the left that will take you to stairs where you can see the view from above but before you head up the stairs continue on the trail to a dive pool. Bring snacks!

Inexpensive, with easy access (5 minutes off the highway; 100m staircase). Water was murky (during the wet season at least). Good value nonetheless.

A reality like few others. To admire, support, and share with everyone. I’m always a little unsure of sanctuaries, I never understand if they are actually made for the animal’s sake or more for the money they attract. BUT, this is definitely not the case. We could say is more like an hospice, an hospital for wild animals, were the weakest have the chance to survive in a safe environment. Their work is really touching and necessary, being pretty much the only one in the country operating all round. We arrived at the Reserva at 15.30, and it normally closes at 16, but they let us stay inside a little longer and this was super nice, as we travelled from far to visit it. We also saw some wild monkeys around the place. This place and the people that work here deserve all the support—both financial and through word of mouth. To tell their story, to tell the story of the animals they save, and to ensure that this project, active for 25 years, will never come to an end. You guys are heroes! Thank you for doing what you do. (And thank you Fernando for telling us all this and introducing the animals to us.)

We really enjoyed viewing the rescued animals and learning from the staff. They have a big job with the number of animals that are brought to them. The animals that cannot be returned to the wild are well cared for and provide a great viewing opportunity. We saw pumas, a jaguar, spider and white face monkeys, parrots, macaw, toucan, deer, turtles, and more. It also felt good knowing that our tickets help support their future rescue and educational activities.

Great stop on our way from La Fortuna to Santa Teresa. Saw many animals … all well taken care off. Everything is done to try to release them again in nature is they are able to…. Really worth a visit! Saw all the big cats too!

Beautiful, ethical sanctuary focused on rehabilitation. The workers are wonderful with so much knowledge, love and respect for Costa Rican wildlife. Amazing experience. Highly recommend.

We also stopped here to break up our drive from La Fortuna to Samara. It had friendly staff and tons of animals that had been rescued from all kinds of sad situations. They're doing something great helping all these animals and the admission was only $15 USD.

This was a fun stop during our roadtrip. The park consists mostly of rescued animals who can not be rehabilitated into the wild. Every animal had their own sign with their story. The park itself is not too large, a visit takes about an hour. It is not too busy and you can see most animals well. Some cages could use some extra plants but it seems the animals are well taken care of.

Very friendly and helpful staff! We walked around the rescue center by ourselves and it was easy to find everything. The informational plaques in front of each enclosure were a nice touch. Definitely recommend, especially as a fun little pit stop on a long drive!

This place was pretty cool. They offer tours that will take you to the waterfall to take pictures. My wife and I saw plenty of people doing this, but we just went by ourselves. The trail is very well maintained and clear. Although, the elevation is extremely intense both ways. Wear proper footwear as it is steep, wet, and slippery. We saw the tourists in slides and bathing suits...it didn't seem like swimming was something you could do there. Also, we saw a few people slipping and falling onto their butts due to wearing improper footwear. It took a little under 2 hours for us to complete the full trail using trekking poles and moving quickly. The blue river is really neat, but the views from altitude were the coolest parts for us. We saw a family of Capuchin Monkeys. If you drive your car here (totally recommend) there is a parking lot for $6 next to the park entrance. The entrance fee was about $12 per person and you have to pay online. You can't bring any food into the park. Overall, this was worth it, and a great workout. Don't bring grandma.

This is a wonderful place if you enjoy outdoor hiking. Make sure you wear comfortable shoes because you will walk a lot ! I saw two snakes on the way but they seemed cool.

First and foremost if your coming buy your tickets in advance. Make an account and buy the tickets, they will not see you at the window without tickets and service sucks once you get there. The walk was awesome not recommended to do it if your hungover but that did help me sweat everything out. The walk is easy but if any elderly that can’t walk or is difficult to walk don’t do it. It’s flat then hilly and full of rocks. The water fall is amazing but the only downside of it is that you can’t walk all the way down to the bottom it’s closed off due to fallen trees. So you can only see it from where we took the photo. Is it worth the money maybe, but you should look elsewhere to get to a waterfall up close. You drive over the water and that’s free you can’t miss it. If we would of known that we couldn’t get to the bottom we would of gone to another one.

Amazing experience just make sure to book your tickets ahead of time. There is no service in these mountains and the wifi is extremely slow at the location. No ticket counter to get around these issues. But the hike is truly beautiful.

3km out and back hike. Challenging at times, but difficult parts are either paved or have man made stairs. The access to the waterfall was closed and definitely makes the effort of the hike less enjoyable but the pool and mixing area are worth it for those who enjoy the beauty and science of the natural world. Plenty of wildlife too including toucans, capuchins and coati.

Beautiful waterfall after a short hike. Trails are well maintained with interesting wildlife to be seen. Stairs were involved and it's a rainforest so we had some rain. Get there early. Nearby parking for a small fee.

One of the busier parks that we visited while in Costa Rica, but with good reason. We got our tickets ahead of time and we didn't have to wait to get in at all. We only went as far to see the blue lagoon waterfall, but I would almost wager that is enough on its own with how beautiful it is. The hike isn't too far but does have some decent vertical bits, and about 250 steps (each way) if you want to get to the base of the waterfall, which I highly recommend doing. At the parking lot there are bunch of vendors with delicious fresh fruit and other foods that make a great refreshing recovery snack after some good exercise.

We had a relaxing boat ride led by a local guide and saw a large number of birds and caimans. Also a buffalo and monkeys!

If you're seeking an authentic, off-the-beaten-path wildlife experience in Costa Rica, Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge is a must-visit. Located near the Nicaraguan border in Alajuela Province, this remote haven offers a serene escape into one of Central America's most biodiverse wetland ecosystems.

I loved it here - away from the majority of tourists and lots of wildlife. To see it you definitely need to take a boat. I organised one at the bridge very easily - I was a couple of hours early and they fed me some fresh fruit and as much coffee as I could drink. There were some cayman directly in front of the restaurant which kept me busy.

Amazing place to see lots of birds and reptiles. You must have a guide, as without one you really wouldn't see much. I never knew that huge iguanas spent most of their time at the very top of trees, its amazing to see. I recommend you booking a tour for 10am, most suggest 7am, but that totally unnecessary. Also, I recommend if driving use the road from number 4, not 35. Road 35 has much more potholes and large rocks.

Nice boat tour. We got to see Spider Monkeys, Congos, lots of birds, a caiman and they even let us get off the boat and we went searching for a beautiful orange howling monkey! Gustavo and our captain (forgot his name) where very knowledgeable and really friendly! We finished with a nice lunch!

We had a wonderful 2 hour boat tour seeing all kinds of wildlife. Our guide was amazing at spotting things and ta,ing us in for a closer look. Although the day was hot, being in a covered boat on the river was delightful. Recommended

Fantastic wildlife, very close as boat drifted up and down stream. Definitely worth visiting. The drive there is tiring (so called Costa Rica massage 🤣😖) but the place is incredibly rewarding. We saw at least 23 species of bird and I suspect a lot more, plus caymans, crocodiles, lizards, iguanas, monkeys (at a distance), turtles

The online booking process was straightforward and efficient. We had to reschedule our visit due to a road closure caused by an accident, and the team managed the change seamlessly — really accommodating and helpful. In hindsight, I wouldn’t recommend paying extra for a guide. If you take your time and follow the flow of visitors, you’ll still see plenty of wildlife, as groups tend to gather quickly wherever animals are spotted. There’s also an observatory about ten minutes’ drive away that’s well worth a visit. It’s roughly half the price, far less crowded, and we ended up seeing more animals there in a quieter, more natural setting. It does feel a little odd that so many sightings happen right beside the main paths — it makes the experience seem somewhat orchestrated rather than spontaneous. Overall, this is an enjoyable outing that lasts around two hours, but in my view, it’s a little overrated. Great for families with children, but if your time is limited, there are other activities in the area that offer a more authentic connection with nature.

Very beautiful park , it’s just 10 mins off the main highway. The park has ample Parking and easy access to the park . No wait time to purchase the tickets. The staff said it’s 2 hours long walk but we finished the whole loop in an hour and a half. Covering magnificent 6 hanging bridges and about 10 fixed ones . They don’t give any map to follow but tell to take the picture of the map , which was weird considering the tickets aren’t cheap. The tallest hanging bridge was at about 150 ft with the most stunning views of the rainforest, the waterfall and lush greenery. We really enjoyed walking and looking at the amazing trees and flora . It was a rainy day that day but the shaded trees kept us dry most of the time. Very well kept and beautifully maintained. They have a restaurant and washrooms at the entrance of the park .

We went with 4 adults and 7 children from 18 months to 14 years (most under 10). We rented a stroller which made the walk much more convenient with the littlest one. It is somewhat strenuous and the bridges aren't suited for those with significant fear of heights but the flora and fauna were spectacular to see. There was also a playground, cafe, gift shop and nice bathroom facilities. Highly recommend this as a stop! We went mid week around 10am and it wasn't too crowded but I can imagine the weekends and busy season would be less enjoyable.

We had a great time in Mistico. The views were gorgeous. Luckily it was great weather. The hanging bridges were amazing and we had loads of fun. The trail was paved and hiking was quite easy. There was a stunning waterfall. The wildlife, flora and fauna were beautiful. No restrooms in the trail but it was not a very long trail.

What a great tour we had with Naza as our guide. She was very friendly and knowledgeable. She also was very kind to take pictures for us with her telescope and therefore we have some beautiful wildlife pictures and videos. I highly recommend a guided tour. We would not have seen many critters without her expert eyes.

Our guided tour led by Carlos was fantastic. We saw far more than we would have had we walked alone. Our experience from the entrance through to exit was incredible. Some benefits of visiting included learning more about the ecology of Costa Rica, views of the beautiful countryside, up close examination of the fauna and challenging but fun walks across the bridges. Thank you so much!

Highly recommend. We had a 9am tour booked and missed our time (after WAZE took us on an off road route that ended at a dead end) but Mistico let us go at a later time without any issue. Because we booked a guided tour, we were able to see a lot more wildlife and learn about them as we went. We saw two sloths, toucans, pit vipers, and more.

We hiked around for three hours with no guide. This was our third day in Monteverde and we had learned about wildlife and plants from other tours we had done so the guide was an unnecessary expense for us. We saw lots of cool plants and some bugs mostly. Heard many birds and saw them flying too quickly to identify but still thoroughly enjoyed ourselves!!

Wonderful experience We went without guide and still saw plenty of animals! We also saw the famous quetzal! And we received plenty of amazing explanations from the gardener who was taking care of the garden in the beginning of the park.

Our guide Koky was amazing!! We did a 3 hr walk starting at 8:30a. He could name and imitate every bird call we heard and was full of amazing facts and stories about the area. Also had an amazing scope to make sure everyone could see.

The Curicancha Reserve in Monteverde is an absolute must-do if you are in this region of Costa Rica. It’s a protected forest that has been left to evolve naturally, and walking through it feels like stepping into another world. The biodiversity here is simply incredible – both flora and fauna. I highly recommend going with a guide, ideally in a small group to fully appreciate the experience. I did both a day tour and a night tour, and each was extraordinary. During the day, you can admire the towering centenary trees, unique plants, reptiles, and a wide variety of birds. At night, the forest comes alive with creatures you would never see otherwise: tarantulas with orange knees, lizards, snakes, scorpions, and countless insects. The highlight of my visit was spotting the extremely rare Oilbird, a species that only comes to Costa Rica every three years to feed on a local endemic avocado tree. Even our guide, David (who was outstanding), had only seen it twice in eight years – it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience! The reserve is also family-friendly. I visited with my two children (6 and 9 years old), and we always felt safe. The trails are wide, well-maintained, and secure, while still allowing you to be fully immersed in nature. If you love wildlife, this is one of the best places to connect with Costa Rica’s natural beauty. The entrance price is very fair considering the richness of what you experience. Curicancha is simply unforgettable – highly recommended!

Excellent night tour! We had a very good guide, named Dauner, who spotted a lot of wild live we would never have seen ourselves. Birds, spiders, frogs, snakes. We received the photos he made that night.

My family and I did the night walk today and it was wonderful! Being deep in the forest was really cool and we had a really great guide! Thank you Dauner! 🙏🏼 We saw a really beautiful orange and black tarantula, a huge caterpillar, a couple of scorpions, a bird, a couple of bats, butterflies, lightning bugs and learned so much about the cloud forest and animals. This is an absolute must tour to do. You’ll really enjoy it.

This wasn’t where we planned to do our night tour but we are so pleased we made that mistake as it was by far the best tour we did on our trip!! Our guide, Dauner, was phenomenal - his infectious enthusiasm was only matched by his extensive knowledge. It was as if we gave him a wish list of what we hoped to see and he ticked them all off and many many more. He also took photos with his own camera and scope that he shared with us afterwards. Such a special evening - he had our teenage boys hooked on his every word and we were all excited to see what he would find next!

A must visit location in La fortuna, about $72 cad per person to enter but so worth the money. Multiple hot pools at different temperatures and lots of swim up bars. The drinks are priced and an expected price and service is good. The slides are wild, I'm not sure I enjoyed any of them to be honest, fun would be the wrong word, they were very quick and the toilet bowl pool is to shallow and my partner cut his head open hitting the pool. There's lots of fun to be has but be very cautious on the slides.

We weee there in off season and the place was pretty quiet which was wonderful. The grounds are well taken care of and the place is so beautiful. The pools always felt clean and there are so many of them to choose from. The rooms were comfortable and had all we needed. The rooms were clean when we got there and they kept them clean during our stay. The breakfast was delicious, and we had some desserts that were also amazing. Baldi is one of the best places I have stayed, they treat you like VIP the whole time you are there! The food in the upper restaurant was good, but nothing spectacular. It is a buffet style and there was a lot to choose from and had good flavor.

A Jungle Paradise! 🌋 Must-visit in La Fortuna: If you are visiting Costa Rica, Baldi Hot Springs is absolutely worth the money! We spent a fantastic, relaxing afternoon here and it was the highlight of our trip. We visited as part of a tour from the Guanacaste region (about a 2-hour stop) and it was the perfect amount of time to soak and recharge. Why you'll love it: 🌿 Variety: There are massive amounts of pools at different temperatures, so you can find the perfect heat level for you. 🍹 Swim-Up Bars: There are lots of bars right in the water. The service was good and the drink prices were totally expected/reasonable for a resort. 🎢 Fun Factor: We didn't go on the slides, but they looked like a blast if you want an adrenaline rush. Whether you are driving yourself or booking a tour stop like we did, this is a must-do experience in La Fortuna. Highly recommended! 🇨🇷✨

Very nice experience. Stayed with my family and 2 small kids. During the week in October was so nice, not busy and totally relaxing. I have stayed with Tabacon before, but this resort is way more for fun kids and incorporates more bars into pools. They are currently not accepting credit cards, so bring your cash. Located near downtown Arenal, so you can explore there easily and take tours.

Baldi Hot Springs is an incredible experience and a perfect day spa style getaway. We arrived at 9:30 a.m. and stayed until 5 p.m., and the entire day was relaxing and enjoyable. Getting a locker was simple and affordable at $7 and towels required a $10 deposit which you get back when you return the towel. The bathrooms were spotless, and the entire facility was immaculate. There are many different hot springs throughout the property, most of them warm to hot, with a few cold areas. Each pool has its own unique design, and exploring them was part of the fun. The cave hot spring was my favorite. Walking through a warm waterfall inside a cave that opens into a beautiful hot spring pool was an unforgettable experience. The staff was friendly and welcoming. One tip for visitors: Avoid ordering drinks from the premium bar in the back. The drinks there are overpriced and watered down, costing $20 or more. You can get the exact same drink from one of the regular bars for around $12, and those drinks are noticeably better. The luxury bar drinks had very little alcohol and were mostly juice and ice, which made them feel like a waste. We only ordered French fries during our visit. So I cannot speak on the buffet or other food options. We assumed the buffet might be priced similarly to the drinks, so we decided not to eat at the restaurant. Being in the hot springs while it rained was amazing. None of the pools ever felt overly crowded. There are so many options that people spread out naturally, and you can always find a quiet area. The bar near the entrance is the most popular spot. We noticed more visitors arriving around 4 p.m., but earlier in the day it was peaceful, even on a Saturday. There is also a charming jungle trail behind the pools in the back. Where we spotted a toucan, several interesting birds, and farm animals like horses and cows. We did not see monkeys or sloths. The kids area near the helipad looked great, with a water slide, dump bucket, and a comfortable lounge area for parents. Overall, Baldi Hot Springs is a fantastic place to spend the entire day, and absolutely worth the price.

We paid $98 for a day pass for two adults, included parking and ability to leave and come back until 10 pm. There was an ability to upgrade to include a meal. Drinks were a bit overpriced, cocktails ran about $20-25 each. Overall, the multiple different hot springs was cool to see but I don’t think we needed to spend more than a day there. The natural sauna was really cool to hangout around. All the pools have slightly different temperatures, and the swim up bars were covered so we could still hangout while it rained.

Beautiful grounds, clean pools, good breakfast. Short story - stay elsewhere and come for the day to relax..... Watersides are not safe or need more warnings for tall or heavier people! Fast slide can make you go 27 miles per hour. I hurt my shoulder as I couldn't keep the position suggested and almost rolled going around a corner and then came out almost sideways. Medium one was just as bad. PTSD! Same thoughts from a 27 old adrenaline junkie who hurt his lower back doing the fast slide!!!! Room has coffee pot but wouldn't give a coffee packet either morning (said no coffee available) and breakfast doesnt start till 7am. For the room price you would expect so much more. Hotels 1/3 the price had coffee and would bring more if needed...... Shower was sad.... didn't even need to turn on the cold water. Check in process was long as computer system doesnt acknowledge canadian credit cards and had to authorize manually with email confirmations before giving you a room key. Bring your phone with you!!!!! They give you a wrist band but then you have to carry your room key with you to the pools. You have to set up a tab at reception bar and close it off before 930pm.... Can't they attach everything to the wristband????

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 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

Do NOT pay extra for a tour guide for this hike. We loved the fact the hike is almost all shaded. The waterfall is beautiful and we got a decent workout on the way back up. The water is refreshing and very clear. Expected a more environmentally friendly space. We also didn’t see a single animal except for a few fish in the water.

Incredible waterfall well worth the admission ticket. The power and height is really impressive. There are several other smaller cascading waterfalls to see on the way down. It's atleast 500 steps down with a railings. Going down is the easy part. There is a wading area separate of the waterfall to swim and get wet. The no love scenes sign was quite funny.

One of the "must see" spots on your Costa Rica trip! The waterfall is picturesque, well maintained and easy to access. It does require you to descend about 530 steps to the waterfall (and then the same back up). I saw people of all sorts and fitness levels doing it. Just take it easy going back up (enough space to rest without blocking the way). It took me about 10-12 minutes to go down and 20 mins to come back up with stops. Important to carry a rain shell with you. When I started from the first viewpoint and start of the steps, the rain was strong. When I reached the base of the falls it had stopped with intermittent drizzle. So, don't wait for the rain to stop - better to start walking and wait at the falls if you need to. If the water is too strong, they won't let you swim directly at the falls. There is another area by the falls where people can swim. Photos can be taken at the base (on the rocks), from the main viewing deck at the bottom (wait your turn when busy), from the viewpoint at the top, and from a few spots along the path. 24-70 mm lens is good. The area is quite developed. You will find a gift shop, bathrooms, and a restaurant serving okayish to decent food. PS: it was raining heavily when I reached the restaurant but eased off again after 10 mins (you get the picture!). There is WiFi at the restaurant. Dedicated/managed parking on site. You can expect to spend 2-2.5 hours here at a normal pace. Tickets can be bought in person at the entrance. Expect this to be one of the more visited places (more tourists). Normal footwear is okay (that will hold up in wet conditions).

Once in a lifetime experience! This waterfall was beautiful and unforgettable. There were a ton of steps, so be sure to wear grippy shoes and a raincoat/poncho if you prefer. I was fine with getting wet with just a t-shirt, but it did get a bit cold. You can swim in the waterfall and there are more spots around to view scenery and smaller waterfalls.

It's a not very difficult staircase leading to a cool waterfall, and you can swim there which is fun. I got there just after the opening hours so there were only few people. However, there's no walking path alongside the river, only 2 spots to swim basically. Still, worth a visit if you arrive early enough.

La Fortuna Waterfall is a must-see! The facilities are well-maintained, and there are rest stops along the 500 steps down (and back up!). No washrooms at the bottom, but there's potable water to drink or rinse off after a swim. Showers, a souvenir shop, and free parking are available near the entrance. Entrance fee is around $50 USD per person."

Definitely worth seeing! There are around 500 steps down/back to access so prepare for that but waterfall is gorgeous and the swimming area has river trout. We recommend going early in morning

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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..

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!

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.