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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The 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..

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

As a wanna-be architect, this feature is stunning! Invigorates wonder in the craft, material and skill to create a long lasting structure!

Interesting tour and a cafe with style. Loved it

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!

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.

This is a great museum in downtown San Jose that shows a lot of gold artifacts as well as other things. It’s not nearly on the same scale as the Jade Museum or the National Museum, but it’s done a little bit better. It’s more modern than open than either of the other museums. The National Museum feels very much like a dated museum from a developing country, and I suppose it is, but I really like that. And the Jade Museum feels like this enormous collection of Mayan artifacts, which is really cool, but it’s less well organized.

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

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

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

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

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

The hike can be difficult/slippery so do be careful and wear water shoes. They charge you 2k colones to park, you can get away from this by parking on the street if you want. Be aware that if you climb onto the hard part to waterfall 2&3 and decide to take the path/staircase way out they will stop you halfway and ask that you pay $5/person or go back to the “office” to pay by card… meanwhile telling you that people die going back and that you cannot go this way because it is private property. We don’t mind paying but there needs to be a sign at the beginning as this is basically holding people hostage. The company is called Sun Trails.

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

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

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

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

We took the Costa Cat tour. We had a great time, staff are very attentive. The snorkeling was ok, water too rough for me. But a lot of fish to see. Lunch was great! Really enjoyed the grilled chicken and rice. You get what you pay for on this tour.

I give it a 4 and half stars rating. Would have been 5 if it was a little less crowded. Picturesque beach, beautiful white sand, great vibe. There're few bars on the island to purchase drinks. You can chill under the sun, swim in the beautiful, pristine water, and paddle board out to the other nearby island. There are plenty of things to do. To get here, you have to either charter a boat or book a snorkeling tour. We booked a snorkeling tour, $85 per person, including door to door service and a (castado) lunch.

Very cool place that is unspoiled. Everything must me taken(food and drinks) by the tour operator and then removed off the island when heading back. The boat ride is long as the boat goes really slow. I did the Island hike and the snorkeling. I highly recommend this tour.

FANTASTIC! I highly recommend this trip. The catamaran ride is about 45 minutes, and we saw whales along the way. The setup on the island is terrific, and the staff is exceptional. The lunch served was excellent and the provided free drinks are okay. You can opt to purchase beer and other beverages from the bar. We enjoyed the snorkeling and the fish along the reef. There is also banana boat riding available if you choose to participate. Remember to bring water shoes!

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.

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.

​If you are looking for the ultimate Costa Rican experience, look no further than La Paz Waterfall Gardens. I recently visited and was absolutely blown away. ​The scenery is breathtakingly beautiful. As you walk the trails, you are completely immersed in untouched nature. The highlight for me was the incredible system of safe hiking trails and metal bridges that allow you to stand right in front of the massive waterfalls. Feeling the mist on your face while standing on the bridge, watching the river rush over the volcanic rocks below, is a memory I will never forget. ​The atmosphere is pure magic. You are surrounded by lush greenery and vibrant rainforest life at every turn. It’s the perfect escape from the city—just deep breaths of crisp, fresh air and the soothing sound of crashing water. ​Whether you are a photographer looking for that perfect shot of the falls or just want to reconnect with the earth, this place is perfection.

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..

The best place to see waterfalls in Costa Rica. Clean and safe place. We got to see the Tucans, Jaguar, Monkeys, Bulls. Easy access to the waterfalls. Great customer service.

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.

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.

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!

My partner and I went on a boat tour and kayak tour in different sections of Tortuguero River with Go Ahead Tours. You'll need a national park pass to travel in these waters - that was taken care of by my tour group. We highly recommend getting a local guide with eagle eyes as well as some nice binoculars. Our boat tour was really nice because our guide was really great at spotting the wildlife. All the animal pictures were from that tour. The wildlife practically blend in with the surrounding as it's their way of life! During the kayak tour, we were to go on our own pace and left to spot animals on our own. And we didn't see anything but the trees and water, just like on the boat tour haha! Some members of our group had better eyes and spotted wildlife. Beside the disappointment on spotting wildlife, the kayaking was nice. Drifting on the river surrounded by the topical forest with the sounds on wildlife.

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.

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

A must visit for anyone staying in San José or nearby. Pleasant walk up to the viewing point for the volcano crater, after a short video explaining the history and dangers etc. The view is spectacular, over the crater and out towards the ocean. The volcano was quite active, and the air filled with the smell of sulfur released, so it was fascinating to see it 'in action' from a safe distance.

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!

We hit the jackpot and got a warm, clear morning in early March. We booked the 8am (first) tour a week and a half out and we’re glad we did. The crowds (and tours) started coming in around 9am (after we were done 😁). It’s so beautiful to see the crater and learn about its history. Recommend visiting early to ensure the perfect views and fewest number of people.

Will always have a love for this town. Lived there for 4 months and it was a beautiful experience. Definitely don’t enjoy how expensive it is because of all the gringos. I encourage you to shop from the local markets please instead of the foreign businesses. Beautiful views of the stars at night (when the clouds aren’t in the way). I love the sunshine that’s still radiant even while it’s raining. Pretty great food with good varieties. If you’re visiting definitely try: mar y fuego, ahora si, burger window (best smash burgers I’ve ever had), carrera 18, roots bakery, vino sin vergüenza, kiwi, tika frutika, and corner shot! My favorite part is the market every Saturday! Ugh the best yogurt I’ve ever had with every flavor fruit! And the home made jams. With the best empanadas in town! Always looked forward to seeing all the jewelry vendors. Also, the homemade gelato van down the block if you ever catch it open. Absolutely love the yellow boutique next to limeys with hand sown clothes. Really really small town, days feel repetitive since there’s not much land to explore here but the environment is calm and lovely with nice locals. Not sure if I’d come back again tho, there’s much more of Costa Rica to explore.

Very nice sand beach, great waves for surfing during right tides. Enough spots for drinks and food.

Great beach with several placards to learn to surf. Some great affordable food options right on the beach as well with some great food.

Beautiful beach! Such a large beach that you will have no problem finding a spot away from people. So many little restaurants along the beach. Small park next to the police station has freshwater showers. If you need to escape the sun or heat there are quite a few trees that line the beach to set up under. Saw surfers and horses.

It’s in the top 3 best beaches of our trip in Guanacaste region. Playa Samara is a wide & long crescent beach that stretches for several kms. Fine sandy bottom beach & the waves are gentle most of the time…great for swimming for all ages. It’s perfect for surfing lessons or boogie-boarding. There are small villages along the beach with the town of Samara being the largest. Lots of beachfront restaurants, places for surf lessons, equipment rentals & souvenir stalls. There’s a good snorkeling spot in the tidal pools at the north end of the beach. During our stay we found Playa Samara fairly empty but it gets quite busy on weekends and holidays. It would be ideal if you can stay in Samara for a night or two. We stayed for a month and aside from our ventures outside of Samara, we fully enjoyed the town and its surroundings. It has complete amenities but still has a laid back atmosphere. At no time did we ever feel unsafe while exploring the area.

The water is really nice and you are able to swim . The water is warm . But there should be more sitting areas .bring a towel to sit on the floor . There are couple of stores and restaurants around the area .we stayed the resort near we tried to walk but it was unsafe the roads are to narrow and grass is on slant. Will recommend ask the resort to book a taxi for your travel there . It cost us $10 to get there .

Cute little town and a beautiful beach. Came across a great Italian restaurant “Ahora Si”. Nice area to get away to.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 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. 🌿

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.

We took a guided tour and that made all the difference! We found that just marching around on the trails caused us to miss so much. We also loved learning about the history of the park and of Costa Rica

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

Monteverde Cloud Forest is a famous destination, but there are a few important things to know before you go: 1.Ticket Location Confusion Make sure you go to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve Parking Lot to buy your tickets — not directly to the entrance! The entrance (called “Entrance to Monteverde Reserve”) is further up the road, but you can’t buy tickets there. If you go straight to the entrance without a ticket, you’ll have to go all the way back to the parking lot. 2.Free Shuttle Included There’s a free shuttle that takes you from the parking lot to the entrance, and it’s included in your ticket price — convenient and easy! Pricing Entrance fee is $26 USD per adult, and if you want a guided tour, it’s $23 USD extra per adult. 3.Road Condition The road leading to Monteverde Cloud Forest is quite rough and bumpy. Considering the relatively high entrance fee, I think they could invest in improving the access road a bit! 4. Getting There from town You can get to the parking lot by driving, taking public transport, or using a local shuttle service like PyP Transportations (about 4000 CRC round trip). All options are manageable, but some planning is helpful. 5. Bonus: Free Wi-Fi! One pleasant surprise was the free Wi-Fi available at the reserve — not something you’d expect in the middle of the cloud forest! Overall Experience Personally, I found the experience quite similar to rainforests in La Fortuna — lush and beautiful, but not drastically different. If you’ve already visited other rainforest areas in Costa Rica, this might not feel like a must-see. But if it’s your first cloud forest experience, it’s still worth checking out.

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.

I did both the sloth tour and the wildlife tour with Carlos, both tours are super fun, educational and informative! This place absolutely priorities the well-being of animals over anything else, and their practices reflect their value! The animals come from long history of illegal black market trades or from injury; the people here try their very best to safely release the animals back to the wild! The sloths we saw in the tour are wild. Proyecto Asis's land is connected to the greater rain forests, meaning that the sloths we were privileged to admire were just passing by! We learnt from the tour that, some other establishment in the Arenal area actually trap their sloths within their "natural" parks, and those spaces are definitely not enough for the sloths to feel safe. It is a sad reality that many tourists will not know. As tourists, we get to decide where our money go. If you believe that animals should be wild and free, please consider supporting Proyecto Asis's mission!

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 🦥 💜

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!

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

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????

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.

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 visited the park during the start of the rainy season but got lucky that it didn’t rain to much. 100% worth it to see the Rio Celeste. Parking cost 3,000 colones and afterwards you can get a chilled green coconut and fruit as a snack.

Fantastic park, we all had a great time. The zip lines are amazing and nice to see all the safety gear for the staff as well as the guests. Very nice animal park with large cages for animals, friendly staff around to tell you all about the animals. Horse riding was also pretty fun. Excellent buffet lunch, everything fresh and crisp , nice coffee and juices. Craft beers and full bar available for extra charge, craft beers were 5,000 colons ($10 us dollars ). Great view from the restaurant/main office. The coffee tour was interesting and sugar cane crushing was fun. Overall we all had a great day. Plenty of parking. Recommend staying a whole day in order to fit everything in.

Beautiful!!!! The park is absolutely gorgeous! The view of the ocean and Riu below is breathtaking. We sat and watched zip lining for a while. My husband and I did the nature walk. It’s a zoo. I was a little disappointed. It is nicely organized and clean, except for windows, but I’m assuming the animals make most of the mess. The animals looked well cared for. The sloth feeding was a little disappointing as you could not always hear the announcer. It’s a lovely park. I just think they should call it a zoo or animal park, not a nature walk.

Such a fun day! The all day adventure pass is well worth it. Nice buffet lunch after zip lining. Everything was well maintained and staff very professional. Zip lining felt very safe. The zoo is very well done too. So much to do on property you really can spend a whole day here. Be sure to bring an insulated water bottle to refill.

The zoo is especially well done with great landscaping and enclosures where you can actually see the native animals up close. The toucan and butterfly exhibits are especially captivating. Keepers are very knowledgeable and provide valuable information. There is also ziplining with one called the Superman. Exciting! A cultural experience, horseback riding, ATVs, a beach walk, a good buffet, and a gift shop are also available. Oh, there is also a spectacular view from the restaurant. Highly recommend a visit!

What a adventure! We did day passes which included all parts of the park, ziplining, buffet lunch, parking, shuttle, lockers. Only $140 each for all of that. The animal sanctuary was amazing. We spent the most time there. Saw many animals I have never seen before. The biggest adventure part was the ziplining. One was a MILE LONG! And started at the top of a mountain! For real. Good grief. I never would have done it if I had realized before hand. But, we did it. The crew was fantastic getting us in our harnesses and gear. Total of 5 zip lines and one drop zone or short repel. Fun and scary, too. Kenneth was an absolute treat to work with and talk to. The botanical center and learning centers were interesting. It was super hot while we were in there, so we cut that shorter than we should have. Lunch buffet hot and fresh. Also had salad bar, tea, juices, dessert. Nice selections available. Hammocks available to relax at the beach, or paddle boards. Also opportunities to ride horses or ATVs which we chose not to. Easy to spend the whole day there! So glad we did that.

Experience was great - the zip line was incredible and had the most spectacular views. The lunch that was with our package was so so, it got us easily each something we could enjoy though. The staff was so friendly from every driver and zip line person and each naturalist we spoke with.

Awesome! What’s a great place to spend the day at! So much to do. Great place to come when visiting Costa Rica. Family filled fun. If you’re driving here consider renting at least a mid performance car or at least something with 4x4. Steep hills and rocky dirt roads that are washed out or muddy. Driving yourself not for the weak of heart: narrow winding roads

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!

What a wonderful day!! After leaving our cruise ship we met the Maya Chan group with ease and perfect directions. We boarded a van and headed to the beach club. To say the ride is bumpy would be an understatement. But as they say, getting there is half the fun!! Maya Chan did not disappoint. The place is beautiful. Lots of special details go into making your visit one to remember. The areas for lounging and exploring are so peaceful. My 60 year old ass even climbed to the top of the treehouse with a drink in my hand. The beach club staff members are all amazing and super friendly.. and Ana, the chef, oh my!!! … INCREDIBLE. The food was soooo good! The massage team is also wonderful so don’t miss out of a pleasant beat down!! 😀 This is a less-crowded, WAY off the beaten path, alternative to other beach clubs and resorts on the island. You’ll love it!!!

The best excursion of our whole trip. My wife and I chose Maya Chan because it was recommended by experienced cruisers and it was cheaper than any “Carnival Excursion” and we wanted to be away from all the crowds. From the beginning we were told exactly what the expectations should be, about the water. seaweed The fact that I grew up going to Galveston,TX the seaweed was nothing to us. We were told that the ride was gonna be bumpy but it only added to the good time we were having. We were setup with our own private area on the beach. The entire staff was amazing and the service impeccable. Drinks were great with the perfect amount of alcohol. The food was all freshly prepared and cooked to perfection. We opted for the massage on the beach. Magic hands. Highly recommend. We had an option for tequila tasting but opted out after all the drinks we already had. We do however try the house tequila and it was better than any high dollar tequilas I have ever had. This is one of those places that you want to keep to yourself but also want everyone to know just how amazing it is. Part of our group has been going to Maya Chan for the past 10 years and I understand why. Anytime we are in Costa Maya we will be going to Maya Chan. Thank you to everyone at Maya Chan for such a wonderful and memorable time.

What an absolutely beautiful place. Booking was so easy. I had some issues with my travel party, and the owner was so nice and understanding about getting my party size changed. Getting to Maya Chan was so very easy. They have the cabs waiting for you when you arrive. Once you arrive to Maya Chan the staff is so nice, explaining everything to you and getting you to your dedicated area for the day. The food was absolutely delicious, and the drinks were strong and tasted good. This is a must do if you want a nice quiet relaxing day in Costa Maya. This will be our home for the day every time we return to Costa Maya.

I received recommendations from other cruisers to go to Maya Chan. I came here to get away from the constant vendors at other beaches in Costa Maya. I was able to do that but keep in mind the following if you ever come here. Transportation: The ride to the beach was long and very bumpy due to the potholes in the sandy thoroughfare. The taxi ride was included in the price of admission. The ride took about 35-40 minutes and 15 minutes of that was bumping up and down on the bus. Water: (Disclaimer) the staff did warn us at every juncture including the booking email that the water was not clear due to seaweed. They even showed us a video before we took the taxi to the beach. That being said, the water was even browner and murkier than it looked in the video. Lots of people still enjoyed water activities but I would not get in personally. Food/Drinks: The taco buffet was delicious and the mixed drinks were slightly weak but plentiful. Crew: Staff was top notch. Everyone was so friendly and attentive. Pets: Also please note there are LOTS of dogs on the beach as well. It was an experience but I doubt I will return just due to the water and the long, rough drive. I don’t think what you get is worth the trouble to get there or the $89 fee.

We booked for a family of four. When we got to the meeting point, we were given information that the beach is overwhelmed by seaweed and given a choice to cancel. But we went ahead anyway, and it ended up being one of the best experiences we had. The staff tried their best to accommodate the guests by asking if we needed anything when we were low on drinks and snacks, we also had tequila tasting and tortillas making. The lunch was really good, and served buffet style. I do recommend coming here when it is during the rainy seasons.

Maya Chan provided such an incredible experience for the day we visited Costa Maya on our cruise. Despite the long ride and not ideal waters, the staff did an incredible job to provide activities and sports options. Luis was a great host for all of the competitions and games. We made tortillas and did a tequila tasting that was super informative and entertaining. Julie, Perla, Ethan, Andy and all other staff were so friendly and attentive. I could not have asked for a better experience. Thank you all!!!!

This place was highly recommended and I see why. Fantastic service, good food and drinks. Enjoyed watching them make fresh guacamole and tortillas. Loved having our own cabana with chairs and a bad. Water and beach has a lot of sargassum, but I expected that and they gave us the opportunity to cancel before the drive. Transportation there was slow and bumpy (a little over 4 miles, but takes ~25 minutes). The staff is fantastic!

The beach is great, lots of area to hang out and the water is nice and calm. There are vendors that come around every 5 minutes trying to get you to buy something (as expected). It’s only a $4 ride from the port.

Very busy when a cruise ship lands here. The prices for food and drinks are pretty high, specially compared to other locations in Mexico. The beach is beautiful (except for the seaweed season) and there are a lot of shops and bars. If you have the option to go elsewhere I would consider it.

Was worth the $10 per person to get away from the port. Was not harassed as bad as other places we visited. Lots of vendors coming up trying to sell items but were not rude.

Walked here from the cruise ship terminal, peaceful 30-40 minute walk through mostly residential areas. Beach was nice, but the water was super shallow. Lots of pushy shops to go browse. If you think things are cheap in Mexico, you’re wrong. Taxi from cruise terminal is $4 a person, which is ridiculous for a short ride like that.

Our excursion was cancelled due to mass seaweed, so a man offered to take us there by taxi with promise of no seaweed and showed us a fake photo. It was netted from seaweed when we got there and we had no breathing room to talk due to nonstop vendors approaching us. It was overwhelming until more ppl showed up from the cruise ship then it eased up. I couldn’t stand it till towards the end. Thanks to my beta-blocker med lol… I respected the vendor hustle but it was ruthless saying no to them every minute. But good spot if you have no other options

Loved cruise port! Free pool with swim up bar. Easy free beach access. The air walk aviary was awesome. Was only $15 per adult to do. The Mayan air acrobats were very cool as well.

Mahahual Beach was amazing. The water was crystal clear and so clean. The beach was well maintained with lots of seating. Our excursion offered us an open bar and clean restrooms maintained by the employees. Make sure to bring cash with you as there are a ton of local street vendors with lots of yummy fruit and street tacos and corn cups. Bartering is a big thing with the vendors so be aware.

This reserve is so big; we really enjoyed the trip; warching the birds; first time saw spoonbills; they are so beautiful. We could also see the ruins. The best part is floating in the very cool and clear water of the Mayan canal. Luckily we could spot the manatee, but very fast so not very clearly

Truly a once in a lifetime experience!! NOTE no sunscreen, no phone, no plastics allowed! 1,000 pesos plus 100 to park but what an incredible location! Look for Cruz, he is the best guide and enjoy!

Absolutely incredible—truly the gate to heaven as its name suggests. Part of me doesn’t want to share this place for fear that tourism will damage its pristine beauty, but for those doing the research and reading this: go. I can’t recommend it enough. The water is crystal clear— even clearer than some rivers in Switzerland. Floating through the channels (more like gently drifting, lazy-river style) was deeply relaxing and surreal. No sunscreen is allowed to protect this fragile ecosystem, which I truly respect. Please—seriously—don’t pee in the water, don’t wear sunscreen, don’t touch the trees, and don’t do anything that could damage the natural environment. That said, going with the right guide is essential. My guide explained there are multiple entry points, and the scenery and road conditions vary drastically depending on the route. We had only 3 minutes of bumpy driving and arrived in about 30 minutes—but my guide confirmed (and I’ve seen on YouTube) that the wrong route can mean crawling at 3 km/h for 3 hours, only to end up somewhere polluted with trash and plastic, like some negative reviews mentioned. The route we took had absolutely pristine water but not much wildlife other than birds and fish—no dolphins, manatees, or flamingos—but I’ve heard there are other routes that focus more on wildlife viewing if that’s your priority. Bottom line: do your homework and choose your guide and route wisely—it makes all the difference.

An incredible place to experience nature in its purest form. The Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve is full of diverse wildlife, pristine lagoons, and untouched beaches. A boat tour through the mangroves is highly recommended — you can often spot dolphins, turtles, and different bird species along the way. The water is crystal clear, and the scenery is breathtaking. It’s best to visit with a guided tour to fully appreciate the area’s ecological and cultural importance. A must-visit for nature lovers and photographers.

just incredible. a memorable experience that will stay with me throughout my life. i am so grateful for our wise, warm guide Manuel and for Omar who drove our boat and was so attuned to the surroundings. they had a great harmony that made this tour particularly special. sian ka’an community is doing such amazing work to honour and appreciate the rich diversity of nature and her magic here and i am in deep reverence to everyone who made this experience possible. the best meals i had in tulum were here in the lodge prepared lovingly by the chef and his team, locally sourced, traditional and delightful. floating down the canal is pure peace. tranquility and wildlife abounds, this is a place of wonder. a true gift, thank you everyone ! 💚 a note to all visitors: please honour wearing natural sunscreen and mosquito repellent here to take care and preserve the delicate ecosystems.

Beautiful place to do a boat tour of the lagoons and see manatees, crocodiles and different birds. Gorgeous views.

If coming from Tulum on 15, it's not worth it!! 215 mxn pesos per person at the entrance (Arco Maya on the map). The only public beach access we could find is 4 km in and quite literally covered in trash, it's super sad to see. I wouldn't swim in it. The rest of the beach is fenced off, private property, which makes no sense on a nature reserve - but that's Tulum for you :/ For at least 14 km it's all jungle (pretty!) with no ocean or lagoon views until you get to a bridge with an awesome lagoon view, but it's only interesting for a few minutes and not worth the long drive on a dirt road. Unfortunately there are no trails or ways to really access the lagoon. I'm sure it's amazing with a tour but not if you're just driving in. Super disappointed at how this reserve has been privatized, trashed, and made inaccessible even for paying visitors.

I recently visited this beach and had a mixed experience. The scenery is beautiful, with swaying palm trees and soft white sand, perfect for a relaxing day by the ocean. The beach was spacious, allowing for plenty of room to spread out and enjoy the sun. However, I did notice some seaweed along the shore, which detracted from the overall aesthetics. While it’s a natural occurrence, it would be great if the beach staff could clean it up more regularly to maintain its pristine look. The amenities were decent, with plenty of lounge chairs available. However, it felt a bit crowded at times, especially closer to the beach bars. Overall, it's a lovely spot to unwind, but a bit of maintenance could enhance the experience significantly. Worth a visit if you're in the area!

A beautiful beach with an amazing view. Try to get up early and watch the whales swimming and the sun rising. Absolutely lovely place. Can't wait to go back there next year. Suitable for couples, families,larger groups. Just an amazing place.

We didn't enjoy Tulum. It's like the movie your best friend overhyped and then it's a total disappointment. You have to pay an entrance fee to get in to Paraide beach, pay to park, pay to actually use the beach, pay for chairs/umbrella and pay again for a towel and THEN you can pay for your drinks and food. We went when the seaweed was out of control so it didn't help that we couldn't even enjoy what we paid through the nose for. It's the same issue at all of the beaches and I gave a 3 because it's the best of the ridiculous beach accessibility choices.

Beautiful beach that you can see from the Tulum archeological site. It was an amazing blue ocean and white sand!

There is so much sargassum here that the sea has turned brown. Also you have to pay an entrance fee to access. Would not recommend.

Definitely our favorite beach in Tulum! The sand is amazingly soft and white, sea is warm and calm, with no fishes around. The beach is in natural reserve (so in the protected area, as other Tulum beaches) so you can’t bring any plastic here (plastic bottled water or other potential garbage) - which is great, because this way they can maintain the beach clean, nice and preserve it for future generations! We have travel a lot but haven’t seen a beach this clean! And of course, you can find here the famous leaning palm tree 🌴

No idea what time portal other visitors traveled through to get to the beach they rave about, but this entire stretch of coast was a disappointment. First off, this entire area is part of a National Park. The fee to enter the one road leading to it is 50 MXN. Then when you choose an area to park, you must pay. It is not free. About 250 MXN. These prices would be worth it for any good beach, but my visit in late May was a bummer. Not the fault of service nor of the locals, but I walked from Playa Paraiso up to Playa Santa Fe and sargassum was washed up along the entire shore. The sand away from the water was beautiful; fine white powder. But the water was not even that stunning, and also contains even more sargassum. Makes me wonder where all those other photos came from. I don't need to visit again.

Beautiful blue clear water! Theirs an entrance fee like 25$ bucks a person, with a chair and umbrella. Highly worth it! This beach is not congested like the other ones. They also have a snorkeling business next to the restaurant. We loves it!!!

I almost hate to leave a review because I don’t want this place overrun with obnoxious tourists from cruise ships. But it’s made Cozumel one of my favorite cruise stops - lol. A 25 minute taxi ride - or rent a car/scooter at the port and book it for $20 a person. Beach chairs are cushioned and they’ll bring you all the umbrellas you want. Food is fantastic! The calamari/ shrimp tastes like it just came out of the ocean. The guac is fantastic. Drinks are generous. Service is great… You can spend a lot or a little - just depends on what you want:-)

The perfect beach! $20 a person for a whole day with chairs and an umbrella is a steal. The water is so clear and calm.

We did the All inclusive VIP and it was surreal. Gabriel, Joni, the talented chef and bartender all did an incredible job and the beach is beautiful! 10/10 would recommend

Overall a 4 star. Beach was clean without sargassum, lady at the entrance was not that nice I don't know why. Beer is around 80 pesos which is reasonable. Service guy was rude at firstl, but then it suddenly changed (I don't know why). I'm glad that was the case. We paid 20 USD fee for the entrance and stayed for 2 hours only. I wouldn't go back next time, I think is worth it if you are staying longer

We visited Playa Palancar Beach Club during our cruise stop in Cozumel, looking for a nice spot to relax by the beach — and we’re so glad we found this place! The prices were very reasonable, and the food was delicious. It’s not all-inclusive, which actually worked out perfectly for us since we don’t eat much or drink alcohol. We ordered the mixed grilled seafood, and it was freshly cooked and full of flavor. We took a taxi from the port, which cost $30, but we gave $35 each way because both drivers were friendly and professional. The service at Playa Palancar was outstanding — our waiter was great, and honestly, the entire staff made sure we were comfortable from start to finish. If you’re visiting Cozumel on a cruise and just want a peaceful, affordable place to chill by the water, I definitely recommend Playa Palancar Beach Club!

Great place to relax. Great staff/service . Great food . We recommend this beautiful spot & all the great food/ambience it gives in Cozumel.

My friend and I booked the Romance Cabana at Mr. Sanchez in Cozumel and it was amazing! Check-in was quick and easy, and they had everything ready for us. The cabana was super comfy, giving us a perfect spot to relax. We ordered food twice — the coconut shrimp and tacos were delicious, and the fajitas were just as good. We also went jet skiing, which was such a fun adventure! The pool with the swim-up bar was a blast, and the bartenders were awesome — they even wrote fun messages on our cups. We got the best of all worlds: a relaxing vibe in the cabana, excitement on the jet skis, and a party atmosphere at the pool. The ocean was spectacular — warm, clear, and absolutely beautiful. Highly recommend!

This place is amazing. Everything you want in an all inclusive stop. Drinks were cold and plentiful. Food was delicious and many options available. Get there early so you have your pick of spots on the beach or the pool. Our servers Carlos and Aaron took care of us very well. Highly recommend giving Mr. Sanchos a try.

Mr. Sanchos is absolutely worth the money. If you’re looking for something to do in Cozumel, Sanchos is a great choice. We had a covered table right on the beach. The water was clear and swimmable. The club is all-inclusive and our waiter Alejandro did an amazing job at making sure we had drinks and food whenever we wanted. The swim up bar was so much fun. The pool wasn’t crowded, and our bartender Josè kept our drinks coming. He learned our names and would call to us across the pool letting us know he made us more margaritas! The entire staff spoke English very well, so if you’re English-speaking and worried about that, Sanchos is great. There are extra things you can pay to do like jet skis and parasailing, but the club is still enjoyable without doing these. Margaritas were 10/10. The 16-year olds of our group had a great time too! Also free wifi.

We had the absolute best experience! Beautiful water. A little rocky near the shore but clear and beautiful. Great service. Decent food and drinks. Joannah gave me the best massage of my life! She was absolutely amazing! I also loved the cute coati on the property. They are super cute!

We had such an amazing time at Mr. Sanchos! The food was delicious, and the cocktails were strong — our favorite was the Mexican Powerade, it had us right! 🍹 Our server Memo was awesome and made sure we were taken care of the whole time. It was just me and my husband, and we wanted to keep our table while we explored — Memo saved it for us, which we really appreciated! We also did the ATV excursion, which I’d rate an 8/10 — fun, but mostly riding in circles. Next time, we’ll probably just relax on the beach since time flies between eating and exploring. The music was top tier, the staff was super friendly, and the whole vibe was amazing. We’ll definitely be back!

Absolutely the best. Don’t try the others until you try Mr Sanchos. Easy to book online in advance. Easy check-in on arrival. We had Julio and Edgar. unlimited food unlimited drinks. Lots of beach chairs, lots of umbrellas. Fantastic! Food and drink is 5 star. Clean restrooms. The spa and massage team was amazing.

we've been here before. it was good then. But not this time, these rice was slow it wasn't busy. our wait staff came by every 40 minutes. the brought food but it was cold an about half a serving. the drinks plain. it just wasn't good at all

This was a great place but I am so upset I could not enjoy it more. I love history and couldn’t wait to visit the ruins. You have to pay 2 admission fees for a total of $15 US. You will also get totally hounded by sales people and encouraged to get. Tour guide which will cost an additional $30. They also take your picture and when you are leaving, will try to sell you the picture with a nice frame for $35. I did buy the Momento because it was a great camera and it came with the frame. But I talked them down to $25. The major issue I had there was MOSQUITOS. We were attacked mercilessly by these very tiny painful biting mosquitoes. My whole family was bitten with no mercy, so much so we ran through the site in less than 10 minutes. They ate right through my crunchy momma stem stem spray with essential oils. TIP- if this is a site you plan to visit, treat your clothes with a permethrin spray, your skin with the permethrin lotion and carry a spray with DEET to treat the areas that you did not cover. Believe me, the mosquitoes will find it. If you forget to do this, do not do a last-minute trip here or an excursion without it you will regret it! I promise you. Now for the next 10 weeks, I have to watch out for Zika, Dengue fever and other mosquito borne sickness there. I understand this is the jungle . However, I feel like they can do even just a little to help control the mosquitoes. Maybe even weekly fogging would make somewhat of a difference.,

Great archeological site! We went on a Sunday and there wasn’t anyone there! We had the whole place to ourselves! The full tour takes a while. It’s a long walk. Wear bug spray and shoes you don’t mind getting wet or muddy. I wore flip flops but other shoes may have been better.

Pretty cool place, I went through with a tour and thought it was interesting to learn about the lunar goddess and the lunar calendar and how the 28 days of the lunar calendar were incorporated into the arch. My kids were most interested in an iguana that was walking around. 30 minutes is probably sufficient.

Interesting structures and history. Pretty drive into the area. Make sure you bring cash!!! Some of the entry fees must be paid this way. It was super hot because we went in July but it was still worth the trip and the heat!

It was not a good experience. We were greeted by the security guard who offered to give us bug spray for a tip...(here's a tip, sir, stop functioning from a place of greed and start being a good human). Then he walked us to reception and told us there was a double charge for entrance. One was for state fee, the other was federal fee, total $15. They proceed to charge us $15 per person, then you got to a different kiosk where they force you to pay another entrance fee plus, for an additional fee, you can get a tour guide. By the time, we reached the ticket gate, the kid in front said to take a picture of the map, which will cost 100 pesos...he said it as a joke but at that point we understood that this was another tourist trap to get money however they could. Mind you, we were the only ones there, so they did not need to act that way. We were literally the only car in the parking lot...They literally did not do anything for us but charged us for nothing. We went inside, looked at a couple of Ruins in 5 minutes and left because of the horrible experience of walking in before getting into the ruins. It takes about 25 minutes to get to it from the center, but honestly, it is not worth it just for the quality of the people that you will be greeted by once you arrive. Unfortunately the ruins were ruined by the staff employed who function from a place of greed. Very unfortunate. Very disappointed.

Must get the tour guides! We had one and she was amazing. We were able to understand what the structures were and how they relate to others in Mexico. The site itself was small and lots of mosquitoes, but well kept.

Luckily we arrived before the tour buses arrived and was able to get a terrific tour guide. We had limited time but he covered quite a bit and kept it very interesting.

Entrance is 140 pesos now and you will be harassed by so called ‘information’ and ‘bay patrol’ guys every 5 minutes. Just go to the Lol-Ha cafe to have breakfast and have a look at the beach before and after. It’s not a nice bay anymore, it’s full of snorkel / dive boats, full of sea weed and most of all full of lines with buoys that help snorkel guide chase turtles in groups of 12 (!!!). Any many groups at the same time. If you want to snorkel yourself, you can in the first 20 meters, you can spot a turtle in that under water grass as well. Just enjoy it from a distance. And for really nice reef snorkelling, go somewhere else.

Did a wonderful snorkeling tour here. Good to know: Entrance to the beach is 140 pesos, cheaper for children. This fee is for the lockers, changing rooms, showers etc. The sign at the ticket office explicitly says you don't need a tour to enter the beach. There is a route made through the water with ropes which I believe most tours were following. You just swim it with your guide (I believe swimming vests are mandatory). We got to see 5 Turtles, some Stingrays, different types of fish and the reef. The beach itself is pretty rocky, so not ideal for a real Beach day. You can park about 100m from the entrance for 100 pesos.

The fact that literally all the beach altough offers no actual amenities is paid…is so sad…you are not even allowed to a certain point where the turtles are without paying for a guide…. Locals told me that used to be actually public/ free but not anymore…

Really enjoyed this clean and safe beach. It has a nice atmosphere - lively enough to feel fun, but not chaotic. A small tip for anyone visiting: if you don’t want to pay the 120 MXN access fee, walk straight down Calle 16 to the very end. You’ll reach a car park, just walk through the grounds and past the pool, and you’ll end up right on the beach.

Ok I read the reviews about how the turtles are being exploited and was skeptical at first but they actually look pretty relaxed and unbothered, they look clean and not filled with barnacles. The guide leads you to where they are and points some other marine life. I had a fun experience here! I had a private tour just myself and paid 30$. I looked online and usually they charge 45$ per person. It was fine by me since I had the solo attention of the guide. Me and my husband went around 10am ish and went to Lo-Ha restaurant this way we didn’t need to pay for beach access since my husband is not into beaches. We ordered drinks and lunch. While waiting I walked around the beach and there were a couple of guides that offered tours. So you can pick and think about it. You don’t need to buy it in advance since there are an abundance of guides at the beach area. My guide took care of me, he had new snorkels, I let him pull me a bit since he had fins and I didn’t. They all have floatation devices for safety. But I saw different sizes of turtles, and blue fish, squid, rays, even a ships cannon from the Spanish era. All in all it was a good experience. If you want to swim with the turtles I say go for it! Oh and parking is 100$ there’s a lot to your right that will say the price, and they will give you a ticket.

We came here on Thursday, November 6, 2025 and snorkeled with the turtles and the fish. The water was very warm, the weather was great! Our tour guide, from Cancun Adventures, who was with us all day, showed us around and she was really awesome! Although there was less fish than I expected and I couldn’t get any photos, it really was awesome to see! (Written 11-16-25)

Highly scammy - “impossible to swim without a guide”. The “guides” costs 700 pesos per person and you go in groups of 12. We looked from the beach and the waters were packed with people and boats. Much better options going somewhere else.

The snorkeling in lagoon was very cool. The food was subpar and not good. The service at restaurant was lacking. We did rent a palapa and enjoyed it. The ceviche Vallarta was not good. My child said chicken nuggets were mushy inside. French fries good. Crowded in opening with tours, after tours left in afternoon a lot more pleasant. There were hammocks in our palapa that we enjoyed. Make sure you eat well before you get there, as the food service was not good. They do not allow you to bring your own food. They need more help in restaurant.

We rented the Casa Laguna adjoining this lagoon and it was amazing to explore the place at different times of the day. Around 5-6pm is the best time of day, we experienced at least 7-8 full schools of different fish and they were much more in the open than during the morning or midday times. One of the highlights of our trip to Akumal for sure, highly recommend this experience and this casa was wonderful!

This is a place you want to visit because it located in a beautiful and connects to the ocean. The water is pretty and landscape also. There is no overhead canopy cenotes, they all open so great for kids. Buy tickets there, cheaper.

A very beautiful cenote. I loved it. It's a good choice since I've visited several. Even though it's an open saltwater cenote, it's still an excellent place. There's a variety of tropical fish and small animals.

Our friend advised us this lagoon. The earliest you get in, the better it is so you can enjoy being almost alone there. It is quiet, chill, and you can actually see a lot of fishes. The snorkeling area is quite vast so you can wander around and contemplate the underwater world with lots of space to explore. The water is very nice, considering its not possible to swim anywhere else in the Sargassum period ! An oasis of quietness and finally, swimming possibility for us ! 🙏 (We went there middle of August). You can hang around, lie in hamacs and sleep… we stayed here all day, enjoyed the sun and the nature surrounding us. HIGHLY RECOMMEND. 👍

Super cool! Not a lot of people and lots of fish to see snorkeling!

The lagoon is beautiful! I highly recommend getting there early. Around 11 it started to get busy, and it became a little crowded. The water was clear and cool, and fish were plentiful! We rented gear from the front desk, and the masks were the full face snorkel masks that tend to fog up a lot. The current is strong to the right of the entrance, towards the ocean. Life jackets are required but weak swimmers be careful!