This is a very nice cenotes if you’re in between picking which one to visit. It’s beautiful experience that everyone who visits Mexico should try out. They provide life jackets and snorkeling gear(at an added cost of course) it’s truly is one of nature’s treasures.

Nice place, for sure needs to be visited, but if you don’t get the full package I am not so sure it is worth the price… (for how long we stayed). You can enjoy the very clean water and be immersed in nature, but the fact that you can’t use mosquitos repellent makes it hard to stay around outside of the water, so 2 hours maximum staying is enough for the basic package.

Beautiful scenery and amazing crystal clear water! Bear in mind that you most likely need a car to get there. Once you pay (300pesos), it's a 4km drive to the parking and a couple minutes walk to the actual cenote. Lifevests are mandatory and free. Definitely a must add to your Mexico Itinery 🇲🇽❤️

Such a great experience! Beautiful water with a swing to get into the water. Perfect temperature with some fish and the caves pockets had some baby bats too. Just an awesome way to spend a day!

This cenote has 2 entrances and a bat cave. You enter into the park, buy tickets (several options for the surrounding cenotes and tours). Life jackets are required. I would budget 2-3 hours for exploring Dos Ojos (not including the surrounding cenotes if you bought tickets for those). They accept cards for entrance fees. The road is a little rough terrain.

Excellent experience. You can get a guide and go down under for $800 or just swim and explore for $400. We did the e explore and enjoyed fully.

Too expensive for what it is. There are better cenotes. Still very nice to swim around

Tulum was an amazing place to visit and see the ruins. The history here from the Mayans over 1200 years ago. Learning more about the specifics and civilization was incredible. Our guide was amazing, very informative, and kind. This was a must see place for me visiting Cancun.

Number 1 must visit attraction in Tulum. The area is well maintained. Lots of iguanas. The access was quite affordable as for such huge complex. Amazing paradise beaches which are unfortunately closed for the public. I would rather recommend to come with the guide if u want not just nice photos but also to know more details about this ancient site.

We made our own way there via uber and got a tour guide at the ruins.. he was good. The ruins were good but definitely not something I would go back to see again.

Tulum is a great place to visit Mayan ruins. It is a moderate walk, so make sure to wear comfortable shoes. I would recommend a guide so that you can learn not only the history of the ruins, but the history as known about the Mayan's themselves.

It was such a great experience. Our tour guide Victor was super knowledgeable. 11/10. Must see if you go. Shout out to Nipsey for the recommendation to see the Tulum ruins 🏁🛖💙

It's really well organised and there are also small golf carts to take you from the entrance to the site. Be aware of the parking!! Google Maps took us at a private parking which was completely full while the official one was empty! Check first with the satellite view and go where the big parking is.

Tulum was my first time there, and it was beautiful. The scenery was stunning, and it wasn’t too crowded, which was a relief. I also enjoyed learning about the history of the place.

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.

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.

This 7 colour lagoon is amazing. Much nicer than ocean. Cristal clear, warm water. Every shade of blue you can imagine. Mangrove alley. Possibility to swim, take a boat tour, take a cajac. Place to make plans for some 2 to 3 days of true bliss

We drove from Playa del Carmen to Bacalar Lagoon. The road was safe and we left Playa at sunrise, we arrived with enough time to make a great day trip. I wish we would have stayed longer. The water was amazing, the local places look lovely too.

There is no single word to describe this place!! Its the serenity you won’t find anywhere else, its the literally crystal clear water, its the delicious authentic Mexican food, and the extremely nice people. We were very lucky to see the lagoon’s 50 shades of blue. While we were on a sailing boat trip, we witnessed the crazy rain that came out of nowhere and added to the the magic and beauty if this lake, and it was such a fantastic experience!! So even if the forecast is saying it will rain cats and dogs there, just never cancel your boat trip, believe me you won’t regret it and it wont rain more than half an hour.If you’re visiting the Quintana Roo area, don’t hesitate to visit Bacalar Lagoon, its easily reachable from Tulum ( 2 hours by car)

My 3rd third time in this area . it's been a very pleasant experience overall. Truly recomend. Just make sure you stay for couple days . It's and easier commute if you stop first in tulum Instead of driving directly from Cancun ...

I came here on a cruise ship excursion from Costa Maya. While the hour and half ride from Mahahual (where the port is) is a bit long and very bumpy, the Bacalar Lagoon was well worth it. The water is beautiful & a perfect temperature. It was not crowded at all. We saw no motor boats, it is a very pristine place. I cannot recommend it enough.

Best shore excursion ever. But it was not as good as I thought. In my case cloudy and shower so it’s depend on weather. I think awesome place when sunny day. Ps. Thanks Sofia our tour guide for amazing experience and wonderful time.

Lake is beautiful. Boat tour was ok. I didn't have great time in Bacalar though. Entire beach privately owned, I felt terrible for local people, not only buildings blocking views/breeze water, it's just seem so unfair and sad. So if you want to have decent time you either have to pay expensive beachfront hotel/apartments or pay for private beach club day ( with terrible food and overpriced drinks. Public beaches sometimes overcrowded and don't have much shade. I personally didn't have good time also because locals complained that I have service dog with me. So security have to come and check my papers every time, then settle it with locals. The whole thing felt uncomfortable, so I had to pay for beach clubs. Also it was mistake to come in August. It's extremely hot. I mean it's more hot than Singapore. Most restaurants and stores also have no AC. Again blocked beaches making it feels worse. Plus children that walking around entire day and begging tourists buy souvenirs - heartbreaking. Immediately I remembered similar tough childhood. This is my personal experience at lake Bacalar.

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.

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!

Swimming with Belize 1 Shark, Episode 1 | We turned around this time Belize's Hall Chan Marine Reserve - the second largest coral wall in the world, which only comes after the Great Barrier Reef of Australia! In the midst of huge blue waters, this wonderful empire of the coral is like a dream of a water! But the most specially and adventure moment on this trip was snorkeling with the sharks! Yes, true! I saw under the water, I saw 3-5 sharks roaming around! Some of them came so close that it seemed, it would be possible to get caught by raising your hand! At first, even though a little scared, I realized they were quiet. Not just the shark, there was an extraordinary sea world around! Small fish of different colors are swimming, playing hide and seek in colorful corals! Great C Turtle is moving slowly somewhere, and somewhere in the coral gap, bright blue, yellow, orange fish are playing. Biodiversity is so rich under the water that wherever I keep my eyes, something is worth seeing! There is no empty space for a moment, something new is always visible! However, it was very current in the water, swimming in the stream was not easy at all! Nevertheless, this unique experience, swimming with the sharks and seeing this wonderful world below the water - it's really a Lifetime Experience! This experience of Beliz will be forever memorable in our travel diary! 🌊🦈🐢✨ Date: Jan 2025 Place: Belize 🇧🇿

We had such a wonderful experience, it was a gorgeous day. The weather was perfect and the water crystal clear all the way to the bottom. We saw tons of different fish : parrots, snapper, Jack's and even 3 turtles! It was awesome.

This is an absolute must if you’re visiting San Pedro . We went out on the Sirena Azul sailboat it docks right out in front of the Blue Tang Inn. We saw turtles, lots of different fish and swam with the nurse sharks and rays. It was awesome.

this is a very different experience, to snorkel n experience the reef, having a guide that explains the fish that you see and also takes you to all the good spots, is a must, to maximize on it.

TAKE THE TRIP! It’s so worth it!!! We did a private charter boat through Xsite but they have shared boat charters available and they are small groups so it could possibly feel semi private. We saw an eel, lobster, 4 sea turtles, lots of sharks, barracudas, starfish, huge permit fish, sting rays (2 types) , schools of different fish and more! It was amazing experience especially for my 7 year old. A guide at Xsite on the boat taught her how to snorkel 🥰

Very well preserved reef with an abundance of marine life. This protected area provides great views for snorkeling with plenty shallow areas as well as others 20-30 feet down.

We went for Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark/Ray Alley Snorkeling tour. Guided snorkeling helps to point out turtles, fishes and sharks. Enjoyed the 3-hour experience … the tour operators will register with the Marine Station. Good viewing possibilities.

Completely overrated. Huge tourist trap. You even have to pay to use every bathroom on the island. The island is probably much better if you are already staying on the island. But we paid to go to the island for the day. $88 USD for ferry and then $50 USD to rent a golf cart for the day. Only worth it for the tarpon feeding. That was pretty cool. We left after 4 hours on the island-unfortunately we didn’t even feel like hanging around another 3 hours to watch the stingray feeding. The food at The Split was not good and the drinks were just okay. Service was terrible. If I had realized that the island was so overrated, maybe I would have planned more to do from that island such as snorkeling. As it was, I just felt like it was a waste of time and money.

Stopped by Caye Caulker as part of island hopping and had a good time walking around. Got to have a relaxing breakfast before heading on to the next island.

The island itself is beautiful. Sargassum can be brutal especially on the east side of the island (it is what it is but be prepared). Unless you are on a specific tour (that doesn't cancel last-minute), there is not much to do on the island itself except drink and spend money.

Caye Caulker was so awesome! We made this our first stop on our 14day trip to Belize. The only thing I would change is that it was our last stop. It was by far our favorite place between the mainland and San Pedro. We stayed in the Birdhouse (AirBNB). This is a very small island with no cars. Only some necessary trucks. Golf carts and bikes are the main mode of transportation. The first night and the last night we ate at the Pelican Sunset bar. Great place for viewing the sunset (get there early for the best seats). We did a sunset cruise with Pontiki cruises. Very enjoyable and only 6 people so not crowded, with free flowing rum punch. We also rented a kayak one afternoon from a place at the split that was fun. Our AirBNB host warned us about mosquitos as did the travel guides but we did not experience any trouble. We were there early March (so maybe it depends on the time of year?). What we loved most about this island is the laid back vibe, you can walk or bike anyway you want to go, and it is not overrun with tourist type hotels, most everything is locally run and owned. If you like adventure and are willing to sacrifice on the luxury side to experience island life then Caye Caulker is the place to visit.

Caye Caulker Island North & South and BluZen is amazing. The moto is go slow and enjoy! Carlos Tours is the Best for snorkeling,etc. Tell him Jim sent you!

The tours are fantastic. Did the whole day snorkeling tour. No suitable beaches for decent swimming unfortunately. Placencia is much better for white sand beaches and swimming.

Not what we expected! Not much to do here but maybe that’s the point? Ice cold coconut water and BBQ lunch at Ester’s made it worth the choppy boat ride from Mahogany Bay. Otherwise not sure it’s worth it even for a partial day trip?

We had an amazing time with the Iguanas and a very nice and knowledgeable tour guide! We were able to touch and hold some of the iguanas and we’ve seen the younger ones that will be put in the wild one day. This is an amazing place that isn’t a zoo because its main purpose is to help animals and not to please people. I love the job that they are doing with trying to increase the iguanas’ population. I recommend it to everyone. The place is located at the back of the hotel, you need to buy a ticket at the front desk. Tours are available every hour at an even o’clock. Luckily, there were only the two of us so we got a private tour 😍 one of my favorite experiences in Belize!

We stayed at the hotel so it was a very easy choice to check out the Iguana sanctuary on a day when we got some rain. Rodolfo was our guide, he was great! he was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the iguanas. We were able to each hold an adult iguana and also see some of the younger iguanas. Highly recommend this 1hr tour, price was very reasonable and we enjoyed it so much!

What an experience! To start with the place is in a gorgeous hotel and the staff are so lovely. The tours run on the hour. We met the guy and he was super knowledgeable and made us feel at ease with the iguana. We learned so much about them! They’re precious animals and we must look after them. If you have kids or are just visiting San Ignacio, this place is a must!!

It was slow season for tourism so I essentially had a private tour Rodolfo who was very knowledgeable about the iguanas. He even pointed out a wild black iguana that was in a tree at the hotel where the project was located. I highly recommend booking this tour as the funds help protect these lovely creatures. I learned so much about iguanas in Belize and really enjoyed getting to feed and pet them.

You can tell that the staff here really enjoys what they do. The conservation work is important, and you learn so much about the iguanas. I highly recommend a visit! The tour starts every hour so plan accordingly.

Excellent experience and very informative discussion about Iguanas. We gained a greater appreciation for them and an understanding for their preservation.

A must see at San Ignacio! You get to learn about the iguanas, hold them, and donate to their conservation! A tour starts every hour from 8:00 to 16:00. Absolutely amazing place! 🦎❤️

This small zoo is a beautiful delight!! So many local creatures were easily visible!! I wish we could have heard the howler monkeys, but they were not vocal. The employees were extremely kind, too! You won't regret making this stop!! ❤️

Incredible sanctuary that truly cares about the well-being of the animals and education. All the residents are native to Belize who came here for another chance. Many species of native birds, tapirs (they are huge!), native cats, and some lizards and agouti to round out the visit. Small cafe and gift shop on site.

Rainy season has its perks - we were two of the few people at the zoo and TEC. Our room was adequate, basic, and we were glad for the AC at night. Our dinner and breakfast were very good, and they catered to my daughter's dietary needs. The pristene pool was delightful for both afternoon and morning swims - and cool-downs. The zoo was very interesting, and we appreciate what they are doing for education, care, and rehab for Belizean animals. A lot of important work goes on behind the scenes. While we enjoyed our zoo visit during the afternoon, we LOVED the nocturnal tour to see, hear, and learn more about the night animals that weren't active during the day.

Super fun experience, especially because we did a guided tour and leopard experience! Would definitely do again. The guide was super knowledgeable and a nice and chill guy. It's great to know that this zoo is one that rehabilitates the animals and only keeps the ones that were injured to the point where they probably would not survive in the wild.

Take the night tour. It's a zoo experience unlike any other. The cabanas are plain but comfortable. Most are located around a small pond it serves as feeding ground for birds and small animals. At dawn it's beautiful. Truly unique experience.....

The zoo is truly a great experience. Bear in mind it only shows local fauna, particularly many rescued animals. If in Belize City or Belmopan, definitely worth the trip

The rescued animals seem well taken care of. Neo the otter was such a joy to see, though I couldn’t help but feel like he might appreciate a friend to keep him company!

Easy drive from Belize city or the airport. $5 to enter for tourists. I recommend you get a guide to get the interesting side of the story. The museum is before the site entrance and it's free. You can climb on any of the pyramids just ensure you keep them intact and preserve them. Watch your step as it is steep and also super slippery when wet. It's mind boggling how old these are! Recommend highly!

The most MUST DO thing in Belize. We did it with my two little siblings (13 and 16) and they had a blast. You have to book with a registered guide (I recommend Limpkin tours). You drive out there to the ranger station, hike out to the cave (crossing a river 3 times), swim into the cave, hike up into the cave through water (deepest at chest level), then take your shoes off as you explore the upper chamber. Truly a fantastic experience and the reverence you feel exploring this Mayan holy site is amazing.

This was worth the trip to Belize. Our guide Dimas was awesome! This is the real deal, you will be climbing wet rocks and need to keep your balance in and out of the water. The only safety measures are a helmet and your judgement, plus the guide's first aid and emergency equipment. Belize doesn't allow any type of cameras because some a couple idiot tourists dropped them on top of skulls causing obvious permanent damage and another one stepped on a human bone trying to get a better angle of another skull.

This is an amazing experience... if you are fit and thin. You will have an absolutely great time if you: likely are older than 16 (or well over 48 inches), confident swimmer, confident on slippery rocks, OK with tight spaces, agile and nimble, adventurous and curious. The creek crossings prior to the cave are a good test, but only of swimming not claustrophobia. Things I wish I had known: you only bring a pair of dry socks which the guide puts in their dry bag. Nothing else. No phone, no bug spray, nothing except your bathing suit, sturdy closed toe, back strapped sandals like Keens, a water shirt. Pro tip: wear neoprene reef gloves to protect the stalagtites and have a little extra grip. You must have a guide, you must book days or weeks in advance.

Such a great cave tour. Amazing to see the attracts still in place, as found. You can no longer take cameras in which is understandable since tourists dropping cameras caused major damage. You must go with an authorized guide.

HIGHLY recommend doing this! My husband and I are very well traveled and have been fortunate to participate in amazing adventures spanning over six continents. We both agree that the ATM Cave is definitely one of our top, most unique experiences! We absolutely loved it! We don't have pictures, because there's no cameras allowed. This actually ended up being a great thing for a couple reasons. One, it's kind of cool to live in the moment and experience something that only lives in your mind. Two, when you do this tour, you'll see there are actual human skulls that have been damaged by people dropping their dang phones on them! So ridiculous. Please don't skip this adventure. While there are some tight-ish spaces, all of these spaces have huge open ceilings. No tight enclosed spaces. Be sure you have a moderate level of fitness. Think of being a kid and exploring rocks and rivers, etc. You'll need to climb and balance, etc. Do it - you won't regret it!

Unbelievable experience in a one of a kind mayan cave. The formations all along the cave are truly spectacular and the mayan pottery and skeletons are quite fascinating to see and realize that they’ve been there for over a millennium.

Cathedral Roof experience GETTING THERE?- The ticket office is located on the southeastern corner of the cathedrals outer complex down a small cobblestone corridor. When you have a ticket you then go to the south western corner of the cathedrals outer complex where there is a tiny gate entrance to give someone your ticket to then go up 2 flights of stairs to the roof. COSTS / PAY / PRICE - Tickets for foreigners were 4USD per person, cash only. Could also pay cordoba. WHAT TO EXPECT? Ascend 2 flights of stairs, have to remove shoes and carry them, given 25mins to explore the 2 outdoor floors of the cathedral roof with white domes and views over the city and surrounding areas. OUR EXPERIENCE- It's a unique activity, only takes 30-45mins in total to look around and can be quite hot as it's exposed. Worth doing whilst you're in Leon. TOP TIP: Worth wearing socks as it's pretty hot on the white roof floor. It's open 8-12 and 2-4pm but other reviews have suggested it can be sporadic and often closed so give plenty of flexibility.

The grandiose Leon's Cathedral is a colonial architecture marvel. It has 5 naves, the size challenges the biggest cathedrals in America. The World Heritage Site, proclaimed in 2011. Visit, enjoy & meditate

This is probably the most important attraction of Leon and it is so poorly managed. 1. It has random opening hours and no update on closure time or days. Luckily I had an extra day so I could visit. 2. The guard at the ticket area is super rude. I came to buy the tickets and said we are not selling tickets now, to come after 15 mins in a rude way even though I can see people coming out with tickets. The tickets have time on it so why can't they just sell with advance time. 3. I asked if I could wait inside as there was a huge space and he rudely said no even though it was scorching hot outside. 4. Even though I was waiting outside then some guys went directly in and bought tickets before even if they came 15 mins after me. 5. The ticket counter is also run by scammers. They asked me 145 Cordoba which I paid. Then when I got the ticket it's says the price is 3 USD which is 110 Cordoba. I didn't argue but this is a pure scam. 6. Lastly when you go up you have to take out shoes even though the ground is hot and will burn your feet. There should be some sort of arrangement. 7. Lastly they let the tour groups block the whole room before the roof and let them do tour explanation there. In the mean time you are stuck outside in the heat and with your feet burning.

Went to the rooftop and it was incredible. The architecture is beautiful and watching the sunset was amazing. I highly recommend going up for it. The ticket cost 145 to go up (they recently increased the price from 110). You need to buy it before 5pm and they let the sunset group up to around 5:20 on the right side of the building. You get to stay there until 6pm.

Worth the visit if you are in León, just beware you have to take off your shoes once you go up. Don’t be stupid like me and arrive with shoes wearing socks. Take you socks off beforehand, that way, they have no other option to let you go on top of the roof with your shoes. Everyone who was wearing sandals was able to keep them on (smart and well prepared move). Meanwhile I was wearing thin socks and burning my feet soles. Ps: you buy the tickets to go up at the backside of the cathedral. So, not at the rooftop entrance which is located on the right side of the cathedral.

Leon’s cathedral is a great place to visit and take a 360 degrees view of the colonial city landscape. Additionally, you can’t take a look of other churches, the sunset and even your next attraction. Perhaps the “Cerro negro”, the black hill ;)

I went to the Cathedral for the Nicaraguan holiday of a “Purisima” and it was a unique experience as the towns people gathered at the Cathedral to celebrate. I would just be careful with personal belongings as the cathedral gets overly packed with people, and to bring or buy refreshments along the way.

The volcano is around a one hour drive away of Leon. After that it take around 45min to get to the top of the volcano. During the hike you’re treated with amazing views of the jungle and other volcanos in the distance. Definitely stay for the sunset which is amazing to see from the top of the bus!

Cerro Negro is one of Nicaragua's youngest and most active volcanoes, famous for the thrilling experience of volcano boarding down its steep black ash slopes. The hike to the summit is moderately challenging but rewarding, offering spectacular views of surrounding volcanoes and the volcanic landscape. Visitors love the adrenaline rush of sliding down the volcano while dressed in safety gear, and many highlight the unique adventure as a must-do activity in Nicaragua. Overall, Cerro Negro combines breathtaking scenery with an unforgettable, exciting experience

Worth the experience. Bit of a goat trail up the mountain, you carry your own board. Takes an average of an hour to walk up.

Totally worth the hike with your board. Amazing place, astonishing views from the top. Weather has been a little bit odd these days, but I liked the fog too.

The trek up is not difficult and took more than half an hour. Great view at the top of the volcano. Extremely windy at the top. Waiting for sunset was the icing on the cake. Beautiful panoramic view. Going down the volcano was a totally new experience, it took about 10-15 minutes to glide down the moving, sliding volcanic pebbles. It was not easy and some really enjoyed the descent

The youngest active volcano in Central America! I'm glad to have experienced volcano boarding here, it was exhilarating! Went here with a local guide, who is an independent contractor with a group tour that I booked. It's great that we went early in the morning so we had the whole volcano to ourselves and avoided the scorching sun. The hike up to the peak is about 45 mins, rewarding you with cool breeze and amazing view. Descending down the slope with the board takes a few seconds to few minutes. An experience of a lifetime that is worth doing again! :)

A few of us went volcano boarding a few years ago, and even if had just gone for the hike and views, it would have been spectacular. Boarding itself was great fun, but make sure you cover up as much skin as you can... and bring water!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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????

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 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.