Top Costa Rica Nature Parks

Get an up-close look at Costa Rica's hidden natural wonders on this Rio Celeste and Llanos de Cortes waterfall tour. Follow an expert local guide through breathtaking scenery, rugged trails, and truly beautiful attractions. This is the perfect way to explore outside the city and see what makes Costa Rica a top attraction for nature lovers.

See for yourself why more than 100,000 visitors flock to La Fortuna Waterfall each year with an admission ticket to one of Costa Rica's most prized natural attractions, located inside Arenal Volcano National Park. After admiring the falls from a distance, hike down a steep path to stand at the base of the mesmerizing 230-foot (70-meter) cascade, where you can feel the power of the Fortuna River and feel its mist spraying into the surrounding jungle.

A private tour of Manuel Antonio National Park gives you a personalized look at the park’s many attractions. As you make your way through the forests, your guide shares information about the local ecosystem that you might miss on your own, and helps you spot wildlife like sloths, toucans, and monkeys using high-tech scopes—not included on most Manuel Antonio tours. This tour includes all transportation and your admission ticket, too, giving it extra value.

Get a taste of Costa Rica’s famed biodiversity without straying too far from the city with this all-access day pass to La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park. Featuring hiking trails through the cloud forest, cascading waterfalls, a rescued jungle cats educational program, and numerous specialty wildlife exhibits, La Paz Waterfall Gardens guarantees good fun for the whole family. This pass can be redeemed anytime during the park’s normal operating hours and is good for accessing all of the exhibits.

Check out the nocturnal wildlife in Santa Elena Reserve in Monteverde with this small group night walk tour. You’ll keep costs down by booking in a group, but still have an intimate experience (max 8 passengers). You’ll be given a flashlight to spot the nightlife, and a guide to show you the way. Tour for around two hours, and the rest of the night is free.

Zoo Ave is an important center for animal rescue and rehabilitation, with a vast natural landscape, ornamental gardens, a large number of native and endangered species. This general admission ticket provides entry to the zoo and allows you to explore at your own pace. Learn about local wildlife, see a variety of well-cared-for animals with ample space to thrive, and observe animal rescue and rehabilitation in action.

Avoid the crowds of La Fortuna on this tour of Ecocentro Danaus, a private nature reserve located just outside of the city. Follow a guide along jungle trails to where sloths, birds, and butterflies live, and pick up local expertise on Costa Rican wildlife along the way. This tour even includes a spotting scope for heightened visibility.

Explore the tropical forest in Mistico Park in La Fortuna and travel along its trails that are bursting with nature and wildlife. This admission ticket allows you to walk across the suspension bridges and admire a magnificent waterfall that reaches 60 feet (18 meters) in height from the safety of a secure path.

This jungle canopy adventure experience is designed for families, with kid-friendly ziplines and other activities that are fun for children and adults. After your pickup, head for the zipline and canopy park in the jungle; then, after a safety lesson, spend the rest of your trip ziplining, crossing hanging bridges, trying tarzan swings, spotting wildlife, and hiking.

Don’t run the risk of not being let into the hot springs at EcoTermales Fortuna in La Fortuna and book your skip-the-line tickets in advance to ensure you get in. Soak in any of the four pools, one of which even has a waterfall, at this family-owned hot spring with water temperatures varying from 99°F to 105°F (37°C to 41°C).

Did you know that Costa Rica has eliminated its zoos? And, by that, Costa Rican law means that animals cannot be captured and/or kept purely for our viewing pleasure. In practice, of course, many wildlife rescues allow visitors to view wild animals – but this purpose is secondary. The animals you see in Costa Rica’s refuges and rescues are just that: rescued. That is the primary and most important purpose of any rescue center. These animals were injured, kept as pets, or orphaned, and must now be rehabilitated, hopefully for release back into the wild. They will not live at the rescue center forever, unless they are incapable of surviving in the wild. And that’s one of the things we love about Las Pumas: the enclosures are spacious and clean, mimicking the animals’ natural environment. If they can live in the wild again, they’ll feel right at home.

Gain admission to some of the top attractions in La Fortuna with this excursion package. Spend the day exploring Costa Rica’s active crater on this 3-in-1 combo adventure. Hike through the jungle that surrounds the Arenal Volcano, traveling along nature trails and across hanging bridges, and trek down to the base of La Fortuna Waterfall and swim in a natural pool. Then, wander the lava fields that were formed by the 1986 eruption and be on the lookout for wildlife in Arenal Volcano National Park.

We provide a unique experience at the rainforest with specialized tour guides that will make sure that you really get to learn about about our flora and fauna.

Get up close to the scaly, slimy, and winged creatures of Costa Rica at the Natura Eco Park, home to a world-class collection of reptiles and amphibians. With a day pass, gain admission to every exhibit in the park, from the crocodile lagoon and turtle ponds to the butterfly garden and snake enclosures. Explore at your own pace with this flexible and affordable option.

The park has trails that range from those that are 100% natural, to others that are slightly modified and sections adapted to allow accessibility for people with special mobility needs. All paths offer good chances of sighting birds, mammals and reptiles. In the park the volcanic component is combined with its fumaroles, lagoons and mud pailas, with a great variety of impressive ecosystems and landscapes, waterfalls, areas of regenerating grasslands, and primary forests. Rincon de la Vieja has two sectors, Las Pailas and Santa María, whose beauties stand volcanic manifestations. In Las Pailas you can visit the trail of the same name, the hidden waterfalls and La Cangreja Falls, the trail to the crater and Cerro Von Seebach (all high difficulty). In Santa Maria you can visit the Hummingbird Trail, The Pailas of Cold Water, Enchanted Forest Waterfalls, Hot Springs (all of the above, of moderate difficulty) and the sightseeing place (high difficulty).

In honor of the Costa Rican coffee tradition and our world famous golden grain. This walk is a 5 kilometer journey through a path between mountains, interacting with nature and learning the benefits of coffee.

There is a trail of 3.2km; along the way, you will find 16 bridges, of which 6 are suspension bridges. When going on the self-guided tour, you will have the opportunity to see different flora and fauna. Pay special attention to the different layers of the rainforest, from the treetops to the understory and the forest floor. This way, you will be able to appreciate many of the species housed by this spectacular biological corridor.

Traveling with kids can be stressful, but enjoying Arenal’s beauty and wildlife doesn't have to be with this combo day trip designed with families in mind. See some of Costa Rica's most adorable creatures up close on a nature walk through a sloth territory, and learn about eco-farming practices on a tour of a rain forest reserve. Finish with a splashy swim and soak at one of La Fortuna's top hot springs resorts.

Join us for a day in nature at the marvellous Cocovado National Park. Starting with a smooth sail to the Station Sirena, enjoy the rising views of Cano Island where you will begin your hike. With a gentle loop track, the hike takes you through lush biodiversity and rich flora and fauna.

Experience the beauty of Hacienda Ébano Nature Reserve at your pace with this self-guided pass. Choose from a short, medium, or long hike depending on your preference. Witness the splendor of three unique waterfalls and explore interesting natural places along the well-maintained pedestrian trails. You won't face any crowds, and our experienced local staff will ensure that you have a fun and safe time. We'll also treat you to a delicious Costa Rican lunch, and provide Safari-style transportation from our reception - meeting place to the Nature Reserve and farm.

Curi-Cancha is a birdwatcher’s paradise. In this park you will be able to find the Resplendent Quetzal, Three-Wattled Bellbird, Blue-Crowned Motmot, Orange-bellied Trogon, and many others are frequently seen. Even, over 200 species of birds have been observed making their home in Curi-Canch. Also the mammals as the armadillo, coati, agouti, kinkajou, ocelot, two-toed sloth, and three species of monkey: mantled howler, white-faced capuchin, and spider monkey are frequently sighted here. Visitors are welcome to browse the trails by themselves the day of the service or book the full service, including the ticket, the guide and with the round trip transportation from Santa Elena hotels. We recomend to take the Guided birding tours because our guides who have particular expertise in finding and identifying local birds.