12 BEST THINGS TO DO IN COSTA RICA IN 2026

Walking the Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges offers one of the most incredible perspectives of the Costa Rican rainforest. You walk along a network of trails and suspension bridges that stretch high above the jungle canopy, giving you unique views of the forest layers, waterfalls, and even Arenal Volcano in the distance.

Try to go early in the day, as it’s usually quieter and the weather tends to be better. I would also recommend wearing closed-toe shoes.

The park is well organized and the bridges feel very safe. If you go with a guide, they are incredibly good at spotting wildlife like sloths, snakes, and monkeys that you would almost certainly walk right past on your own. The trail is about 3 km long and features 16 bridges in total, including 6 hanging bridges and 10 regular ones, with the highest reaching up to 45 meters (148 feet!).

Even though the park is surprisingly small, it is widely considered the best place in the country for guaranteed wildlife sightings and has even been named one of the most beautiful parks in the world! Monkeys, three-toed sloths, iguanas, macaws, toucans and tropical birds are everywhere. You can spend the morning hiking the well-maintained trails and the afternoon swimming on the white sand beaches right inside the park.

Manuel Antonio National Park is closed on Tuesdays. It also has a daily visitor cap and tickets must be bought online via the SINAC system beforehand. Physical tickets are not sold at the gate.

Tucked away on the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, Santa Teresa is one of the best places to visit in Costa Rica for surfing. Whether you are an experienced surfer or looking to take your first lesson, the consistent swells and warm water here make it a surfer’s paradise. But not just that, the vibe is so cool, with barefoot dinners, yoga at sunrise or sunset, and long days spent by the ocean.

Uvita is famous for Marino Ballena National Park, where a stunning natural sandbar shaped exactly like a whale’s tail stretches out into the ocean. But the magic goes beyond just the shape! During the right season, humpback whales migrate through these exact waters to breed and nurse their calves. Walking out onto the 600-meter wide sandbar and exploring the mangroves is one of the best things to do in Costa Rica.

Tip: From the ground, the whale’s tail shape isn’t visible at all. To truly see it, you’ll need a drone to capture those incredible shots from above.

The whale tail sandbar is only fully visible and accessible at low tide. Check the local tide charts before you go so you don’t miss it!

Just about a 50-minute drive south of Uvita lies the Térraba-Sierpe National Wetlands, the largest mangrove forest in Costa Rica. This was definitely one of my favorite things to do in Costa Rica! Exploring the mangroves around Sierpe on a 3-hour boat tour, either in the morning or afternoon, is such a special experience.

You get to see incredible wildlife up close, including different monkey species, sloths, crocodiles, snakes, turtles, and beautiful tropical birds like macaws. If you’re planning to do this, I highly recommend booking with Kokopelli. They are a well-known and a trusted tour operator in the area and a great choice for discovering the mangroves.

The cloud forests of Monteverde are famous for their mystical, fog-draped environment during the day, but the jungle completely transforms after dark. A guided night walk is one of the coolest things you can do here. Armed with flashlights, you will wander the trails to discover nocturnal creatures that sleep through the day, including tarantulas, red-eyed tree frogs, kinkajous, and sleeping toucans. It gives you a whole new appreciation for Costa Rica’s biodiversity.

Thanks to the geothermal activity from Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna is filled with natural hot springs. You have options ranging from luxurious resort setups like Tabacón, where thermal rivers wind through lush tropical gardens, to more intimate spots.

There are also completely free natural hot springs along the river (called El Choyin). After a long day of hiking, there is nothing quite like soaking in warm volcanic waters at a temperature of around 35 to 38 degrees (95°F to 100.4°F).

This was one of my favorites! While Monteverde is best known for its cloud forests, the hike to El Tigre Waterfalls is still a hidden gem that adventure lovers should absolutely prioritize. This beautiful but quite challenging trail takes you deep into the forest, leading past 4 massive waterfalls and several smaller ones. You cross hanging bridges and can even swim in some of the natural pools. It is a demanding hike, but the raw, especially uncrowded scenery is a massive reward.

If you are looking for that picture-perfect, white-sand, crystal-clear water island experience, a day trip to Tortuga Island is a great option. Usually accessed by a scenic catamaran or speedboat ride from Montezuma, located near Santa Teresa, the island is perfect for snorkeling around volcanic rock reefs, playing beach volleyball or lounging under the palm trees with a fresh coconut.

Bajos del Toro is a misty, off-the-beaten-path region tucked into the central mountains, and it is an absolute paradise for waterfall chasers. The most famous is Catarata del Toro, an enormous waterfall plunging 90 meters right into a volcanic crater lined with green moss. But there are so many more! The area is much less touristy than La Fortuna or Monteverde, offering a real connection with nature.

Pack a light rain jacket and warm layers. Bajos del Toro is at a much higher elevation and the weather is significantly cooler and wetter than the coast.

I know… the photo below isn’t the nicest, with the water looking orange and dirty. But that doesn’t mean you’ll experience the same conditions during your visit. The water is usually turquoise and beautiful. We were just unlucky with the timing, as it had rained heavily the night before, which caused the water to mix with mud and lose its color.

It’s located not too far from Uvita and they are considered as one of the most beautiful waterfalls in all of Costa Rica. The falls are divided into two massive tiers that crash down into a huge natural canyon. The lower falls have a massive pool at the base where you can plunge into the cold, refreshing water after the sweaty trek.

You cannot visit Costa Rica without getting up close to its most iconic volcano. While you cannot hike to the crater (it is still active!), the trails around the base in Arenal Volcano National Park take you through secondary rainforest and over rugged, hardened lava flows from the massive 1968 eruption. The contrast between the lush green jungle and the black volcanic rock makes for a fascinating hike, with incredible views of the cone.