Search for Costa Rica tours and you find thousands of options, from zip lines in the cloud forest to canal trips on the Caribbean coast. The country is small, but its regions are very different, and moving between them can take most of a day. We are a local, family-run operator in Tamarindo, on the North Pacific coast, and we help travelers plan their tours every week. This guide explains the main types of tours in Costa Rica, how to choose them and where our own tours fit.
Short answer: the best Costa Rica tours are the ones near your base. Plan by region, keep one or two activities per day and book guides who work that place daily. In Guanacaste, Tamarindo Estuary Tours Mi Rey runs 13 tours from Tamarindo, from the Tamarindo estuary tour by boat at $40 per person to full-day trips to the Rincón de la Vieja volcano and inland waterfalls. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.
Types of tours in Costa Rica
Most tours fall into a few families.
Wildlife, boat and mangrove tours
Guided park walks, river safaris and estuary boat tours are the classic way to see monkeys, sloths, crocodiles and birds. Our guide to Costa Rica wildlife tours compares the options.
Volcanoes, hot springs and waterfalls
Costa Rica has several active volcanoes. Day tours usually combine forest trails, volcanic landscapes, a waterfall swim and, in some areas, hot springs.
Adventure tours
Zip lines, hanging bridges, rafting and canyoning are common in mountain and rainforest areas. Check the equipment, age limits and rain policy.
Beach, night and culture tours
Surf lessons, snorkeling, sunset sails and, in season, night tours to watch sea turtles nesting under strict rules. Coffee and chocolate tours show a side of the country that beach days miss.
Costa Rica tours by region
We only operate from Tamarindo; for other regions, book with operators based there.
- Guanacaste (North Pacific): the sunniest region from December to April, with beaches, estuaries, tropical dry forest, turtle beaches and Rincón de la Vieja volcano. Liberia airport (LIR) is here.
- Arenal and La Fortuna: volcano views, hot springs, hanging bridges and waterfalls.
- Monteverde: cool cloud forest, birdwatching, night walks and zip lines.
- Central Valley: San José, coffee farms and volcanoes near the main airport (SJO).
- Central and South Pacific: rainforest parks with monkeys and sloths, beaches and, in some months, whale watching.
- Caribbean coast: canals, rainforest, Afro-Caribbean culture and green turtle nesting around the middle of the year.
If you land in Liberia, our page on Costa Rica tours from Liberia helps you plan the first days.
How to choose the best tours in Costa Rica
- Start from your base. A good tour ten minutes away often beats a famous one four hours away.
- Check the season. The dry season (December to April) is sunnier on the Pacific; the green season (May to November) brings afternoon showers and most of the turtle activity on this coast.
- Compare what is included: transportation, tickets, guide and lunch change the real price.
- Ask about group size and the guide. Small groups with local naturalist guides see more.
- Choose ethical tours. No feeding, holding or chasing wild animals.
- On the coast, ask about the tide. Estuary boat and kayak tours depend on it.
Booking direct with a local operator or buying a package
Agency packages are convenient when you visit several regions and want hotels, transfers and tours in one payment. The trade-off: you rarely know who runs each tour, and every change goes through an intermediary.
Booking direct with a local, family-run operator means talking to the people who run the boat about the tide on your date, the right tour for your children or a private option for your group. Read how to book tours in Tamarindo, and check our Google reviews to see what other guests say.
Tours in Costa Rica, Guanacaste: all our tours from Tamarindo
Current prices in US dollars. Our guides speak English and Spanish, and our guests come from many countries.
Estuary and mangrove boat tours
- Tamarindo boat tour (shared): $40 per person, 2 hours, minimum 2, children 2 and under free. Crocodiles, herons, iguanas and a dry-forest walk with howler monkeys inside Las Baulas Marine National Park.
- Private boat tour Tamarindo, up to 10 people: $800 per boat, 2 hours, with a bilingual naturalist guide, coconut water and beers if you like.
- Private boat, up to 16 people: $1,200 per boat, 2 hours.
See Costa Rica mangrove tour options and the private boat tour in Tamarindo for groups.
Kayak tours
- Tamarindo kayak tour (shared): $60 per person, 2 to 2.5 hours, minimum 2, with life jackets and a dry bag.
- Private kayak tour: $100 per person, about 2.5 hours, no minimum, with your own bilingual guide.
Horseback riding
- Tamarindo horseback riding: $50 per person, 1 hour, from the estuary to ocean viewpoints and along the beach. Ages 7 and up; younger children ride with an adult.
- Boat and horseback combo Tamarindo: $80 per person, the ride plus the estuary boat tour, with a length that depends on the tide.
Sea turtle tours
- Tamarindo turtle tour: $60 per person, pickup in Tamarindo at 5:30 pm, to Playa Minas or Playa Jesús in season. If we do not see turtles, we reschedule for the next night or make it up to you with the estuary tour.
- Ostional arribada tour: $130 per person, minimum 4. Ostional is about 2 hours south; the main arribada season runs from August to December, peaking from September to November.
- Sunset and baby turtle release: $50 per person, departs 3:30 pm from Tamarindo, available from November 12.
Plan your dates with our guide to the Costa Rica turtle nesting season.
Full-day trips inland
All three include round-trip transportation, entrance tickets, drinks and a Costa Rican lunch (casado), with a minimum of 4 people; children 3 and under do not pay.
- Rincón de la Vieja combo: $180 per person, departs 6 to 7 am, returns 6 pm. The volcano is about 1 hour 45 minutes from Tamarindo.
- La Leona waterfall tour: $160 per person, 7 am to 3:30 pm.
- Sloths and Llanos de Cortés waterfall: $185 per person, 6:30 am to about 6 pm. Details in our sloth tour in Guanacaste guide.
Want them ranked by type of traveler? Read best tours in Tamarindo.
Costa Rica excursions from Tamarindo: how it works
- Pickup: included from Tamarindo or Langosta on the shared boat tour, in the Tamarindo area on kayak tours, and round-trip on full-day trips. Farther areas pay an extra transportation cost directly to the driver.
- Times: boat and kayak tours leave with the high tide; we confirm the exact time by WhatsApp after you book.
- Payment: deposit online, balance in cash, in US dollars or colones, on the tour day.
- Cancellation: cancel at least 24 hours before and we refund your deposit.
Planning your Costa Rica holiday or vacation around Guanacaste? Book the Tamarindo estuary tour online with a $15 deposit per person, or write to Tamarindo Estuary Tours Mi Rey on WhatsApp with your dates and we will help you choose the tours that fit your trip.
Book these tours
Shared Boat Tour (Mangrove Safari)$40 per personSee tour and book →
Shared Kayak Tour$60 per personSee tour and book →
Turtle Nesting Tour$60 per personSee tour and book →
Rincón de la Vieja Combo Tour$180 per personSee tour and book →
Frequently asked questions
What are the best Costa Rica tours for a first trip?
Most first-time visitors enjoy one guided wildlife tour, one volcano or waterfall day and, in season, a sea turtle tour, all planned close to where they stay. In Guanacaste, the shared Tamarindo estuary boat tour ($40 per person, 2 hours) is an easy first choice.
Should I book Costa Rica excursions in advance?
In the high season, from December to April, and during holiday weeks, booking ahead secures your place, especially for private boats and day trips that need a minimum of 4 people. With us you pay only a deposit online, refunded if you cancel at least 24 hours before the tour.
Do you run tours in other regions of Costa Rica?
No. We are a local operator in Tamarindo, and our tours start there: the estuary, nearby turtle beaches and day trips to Rincón de la Vieja, La Leona, Llanos de Cortés and Ostional. For Arenal, Monteverde or the Caribbean, book with an operator based in that region.
How much do tours in Costa Rica cost?
Prices vary by region, length and what is included. Our tours from Tamarindo go from $40 per person for the shared boat tour to $185 per person for the full-day sloth and waterfall trip, and private boats cost $800 for up to 10 people or $1,200 for up to 16.
Do your guides speak English?
Yes. Our guides speak English and Spanish, and our guests come from many countries. Bilingual guiding is included on all our estuary tours.
More Tamarindo guides
Costa Rica & GuanacasteThings to Do in Costa Rica: The Essentials and the Best of GuanacasteThings to do in Costa Rica: the essential experiences, ideas by month, with kids or for adults, and the best of Guanacaste with local tours from Tamarindo.
Costa Rica & GuanacasteThings to Do in Guanacaste, Costa Rica: A Local Operator’s GuideThings to do in Guanacaste, Costa Rica: wildlife, volcanoes, waterfalls, beaches, turtles and culture, with kids or as a couple, plus tours from Tamarindo.
Costa Rica & GuanacastePlaces to Visit in Guanacaste: National Parks, Beaches and TownsPlaces to visit in Guanacaste, Costa Rica: Rincón de la Vieja, Santa Rosa, Palo Verde, Las Baulas, Ostional, the best beaches and towns like Liberia and Nicoya.
Costa Rica & GuanacasteBest Time to Visit Costa Rica: A Pacific Coast Guide by Season and GoalBest time to visit Costa Rica from Guanacaste: dry season vs green season and the best months for beaches, wildlife, sea turtles and a trip with kids.
Costa Rica & GuanacasteCosta Rica Itinerary 10 Days: Volcanoes, Wildlife and a Guanacaste Beach BaseCosta Rica itinerary 10 days: a realistic route with a volcano region and six nights in Tamarindo, a 7-day Guanacaste version, tour prices and tips.
Costa Rica & GuanacasteCosta Rica Wildlife Tours: Where to Go and What You Will SeeCosta Rica wildlife tours explained: the best tours to see animals, what each region offers and why Guanacaste is an easy base. Tours from $40.