1. Catamaran Sunset Cruise & Snorkeling

Lil’ afraid of ziplining? We have a plan for you. Whether you’re 1 or 100, you can’t go wrong with a sunset cruise on a fabulous catamaran along the dazzling Guanacaste coast.

We don’t recommend this tour just because it has an open bar, but it does have an open bar. You’ll also eat a fabulous lunch, nosh on plenty of snacks, go snorkeling, try stand-up paddling, visit secluded beaches, and maybe see dolphins and whales. And did we mention there’s an open bar?

We have a number of luxury catamarans and yachts that offer morning, afternoon and all-day charters. You can book a private charter of the entire boat at prices starting from $490 for two people. Or you can join a shared boat starting at $88 per adult and $65 per child.

Warning: At sunset, the crew often plays the “Titanic” theme, “My Heart Will Go On,” and you will be really tempted to pose for eternally memorable photos on the bow of the boat.

2. Diamante Eco Adventure Pass

OK, now we have to talk about ziplining. Costa Rica literally invented recreational ziplining in the jungle canopy, and it has perfected the art. Most great adventures in Costa Rica involve a little fear factor, and this one is king of the hill.

Diamante Eco Adventure Park, 30 minutes from both Coco and Flamingo, offers the longest ocean-view ziplines in Costa Rica, and is renowned for its face-down, hands-free, visually stunning and totally thrilling Superman cable.

Diamante also has a fascinating animal sanctuary with jaguars, monkeys and sloths. It also offers a cultural experience tour with coffee, chocolate and sugarcane, and a visit to its botanical gardens.

In the ocean, Diamante offers stand-up paddling, snorkeling and kayaking. And it prepares a great buffet lunch every day. All of the above is included for $118 per adult and $95 per child, 5 to 10 years old.

3. Adventure Pass at Rincón de La Vieja

Why do just one thing when you can do everything? The all-day adventure pass from Hacienda Guachipelín, just outside Rincón de la Vieja Volcano National Park, offers an insane amount of adventure in a single day. If you can find any other tour in Costa Rica that offers more adventure in one day, book it.

The order of these events sometimes varies, but the day includes:

• Ziplining, canyoning, rappelling and rock climbing in a stunning river gorge.
• Whitewater tubing on the Río Negro, a fast but shallow river, in an inflated tire tube, which is both exhilarating and hilarious.
• Horseback riding from one adventure to the next, and don’t worry — all the horses speak English.
• Hot springs, thermal mud baths and a waterfall too.

Lunch is included on this super-duper mega-combo tour, at rates of $109 per adult, $105 for teens 13 to 17, and $100 for children 4 to 12.

4. Palo Verde Wildlife Safari by Boat

Palo Verde National Park is Central America’s most important nesting site for aquatic birds, and it’s one of the most wildlife-rich river environments anywhere in the world.

The Palo Verde Wildlife Safari is a guided tour in a shaded motorboat where you may see herons, egrets, kingfishers, raptors, storks, roseate spoonbills, orioles, scarlet macaws, flycatchers and even owls, and that’s just the birds. Crocodiles also abound here, as do howler and white-faced monkeys, bats, iguanas and basilisks (“Jesus lizards” that walk on water). Occasionally anteaters and white-­nosed coatis are spotted here too.

This wetlands boat tour is ideal for wildlife photography, and the kids will love it. 

While you’re in the area, you can combine this boat ride with the Guaitil Pottery Tour, highlighting the artisanship of the indigenous Chorotegas, and/or a Coffee Plantation Tour nearby. Talk to our concierge team to coordinate a combined tour.

5. Gone Fishing

Ever catch a marlin? It’s like trying to reel a bull into a boat, but the bull can swim really fast and he is REALLY mad at you. Costa Rica is also world-famous for its sailfishing, plus you can catch mahi-mahi (dorado), roosterfish, snook, red snapper, crevalle jacks and much more.

We offer multiple fishing charters on splendid boats, all equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, gear and even beer. Beverages, fruit, snacks and bait are provided — you just show up ready to catch fish. The crew will usually filet your catch for you so you can eat it that night, and local restaurants are often happy to cook whatever you caught.

Choose between a half-day (4 hours) of inshore fishing, or 6 to 8 hours of offshore fishing for the big prizes. Be aware that when you catch a marlin or sailfish, you’re required by Costa Rican law to release it alive.

Half-day fishing charters start as low as $495, full-day charters at $1,100.

Please note that all tours are subject to an additional 19% in taxes and fees. Explore the full range of tours Special Places offers at https://www.specialplacesofcostarica.com/tour/. For personalized help or special tours, contact our experienced concierges, Juan Diego Rosales and Carlos Cascante, by email at concierge@crvr.net.

You don’t have to do everything when you come to Costa Rica. But you have to do something. 😀

P.S. One adventure not to be missed is a mass nesting of sea turtles called an arribada, when up to 300,000 sea turtles come ashore to lay millions of eggs. The timing of these events is unpredictable, but if and when we learn that one is occurring, we’ll let you know so you can see this incredible phenomenon for yourself.