39 Best Stops Between Antigua and San Jose (2024)

1 list

Paid $10 entry with $5 credit to spend at the bar. Lovely spot to chill and enjoy the rope swing. Best to arrive early to enjoy the sun while it is quiet.

A dream! Just take into consideration the water is colder, but I do advise you to arrive as early as possible to make the most of the day. The food was amazing and they do take card payments which was perfect. I recommend you to bring a padlock to use the lockers.

really nice beautiful and chill place. Nice spot to jump to the pool. The water are fresh and cold and feel great. Everything around is lush green. Nice thing to do on Ometepe.

A beautiful pastoral place. Admission is $5 per person. There is an arranged parking lot, a restaurant and good service. The water is relatively cool, there is Tarzan, swings in the water and plenty of shade, the place was a bit crowded but there was room for everyone to sit.

Beautiful cold water pool with fun swing. The admission is $10 but they give you $5 credit towards the bar/restaurant (and the mojitos were super cheap!). Lovely place to spend a couple of hours cooling off.

This the cleanest most natural place I have ever visited in my life. It is a freshwater spring from a volcanic mountain which has been cleverly dammed to create an Olympic sized fresh water pool with zero chemicals. It is located in a dense and verdant rainforest on the Island of Ometepi in Lago Nicaragua. You can only get to the island by ferry. If you are able to arrange the trip, it's a must. So very beautiful.

Perfect place to get some refreshing. Entrance is $10, but you get $5 in return for food / drinks. There's a 45 minute walk too which takes through this small jungle, we saw some howler apes which was great but other than that the hike wasn't all to spectacular.

Way overpriced, feels like a scam the way they give you $5 credit for the bar but then the prices are very inflated and the food looked awful. We were shocked when they asked for $10 each for what is essentially a swim in a pool for max a few hours.It’s nice water and a reasonable setting but busy and just not worth it when there is so much to see on the island.

Ojo de agua still remains as an excellent place to visit. The clear waters and surrounded by nature makes it excellent and refreshing. The fact that they allow you to bring your own drinks even of they do sell themselves is genius.

Great place to spend a couple of hours! Entrance was 5$ per person, and if you come in the morning 8am you probably be one of the only one there and that without any bugs!And don’t forget to grab a fresh coconut, with or without the rum 🍹

USA Traveler: My friend and I went here and had a wonderful time. Highly recommend! It's 10$ a person for a day pass. They have bathrooms at the parking lot but they also have showers and changing rooms closer to the "pool". It's apparently volcanic spring water, whatever it was was nice. There is a restaurant there and bar. Maybe a shop or two. Lots of chairs and tables to claim. We left our stuff out of sight for around 20 minutes and it appeared to be untouched. There's a rope to play on, swings in the pool, and a Tarzan swing to jump into the pool. No lifeguards. Wheelchair accessible to the pool. Some stairs that are wide going into the pool. The pool is surrounded by plants/jungle and even some go into the pool. Very cool! It was very shaded and so no sunscreen was needed.

Really nice and refreshing place. Very clean too. 10$ (5$ entrance + 5$ to consume). Recommended ❣️

I loved this place!! We spent a good amount of our day here. The water is so cool and refreshing that you just don’t want to leave. My kids had so much fun and want to go back. This is one of the spots we will keep coming back to.

Beautiful place, relaxingNatural volcanic water (not hot) pool, with clean relaxing area, chairs. 10$ Fee (getting 2 drinks for free). Free walking trail (35 min) on the mountain, with animal view.

It's a cool place to relax but every time you pay for something at the bar they assume you don't want the change. Guys, you have to deserve your tips, not extort the money.Also, the trail walk is not free - it costs $2. Big part of it leads through muddy banana fields - only animals we saw were birds, lizards and cows. Maybe there are monkeys sometimes - I don't know.

Beautiful spot to chill out and relax. Was a little busy but we had chairs to sit on. Some loud groups but to be expected! Great rope swing, cheap beers ($2.5) and chips $4

Great place to swim and relax with a drink! $10 USD entry but you get $5 credit to spend within the resort so perfect for a couple co*cktails. The water is lovely and clear and cool after a long day of scootering around the island!

The pool itself was nice and refreshing, but quite crowded with almost no place to sit (maybe because it was saturday) and the entrance fee is quite high for foreigners. When you go there don't miss out on the nature trails ! I was the only one there and saw so many monkeys, parrots, vultures and more :)

Fun crisp refreshing natural spring water. Relaxing. Runs from under the nearby volcano. Large Iguanas or Howling monkeys surround you. $10 entry but it gives you a $5 drink. You choose. Great restaurant service. Food is brought to your lounge chairs or table. Incredible setting.

Don’t miss going there if you visit the island, some people take a ferry to come here and return same day!Very nice natural water among the trees.$10 entry with $5 back on food or drinks.Changing rooms available, showers, playground and parking.We enjoyed the Tarazan swing.Food was good too but not the smoothie

Great spot to come to if you’re in Ometepe! You could easily spend a whole morning or afternoon here. It’s $10 entry but that gives you $5 to spend on food or drinks once inside. They have a great menu and plenty of drinks from coconuts to co*cktails. The springs are stunning and so refreshing. Crystal clear!

The most beautiful place on the island, a must visit. Costs $10 to enter which can be paid in cordobas and by card as well. This includes $5 to spend in the restaurant/bar. It’s just a short ride from the main road to the car park. The water is a nice refreshing temperature and there’s even a rope swing. Other than the insects it’s almost perfect. Staff are very nice as well. The food is average but it did come quickly.

Great place to cool down from the Nicaraguan heat. Fun little natural pool. Can spend about half day there. After reading other reviews, I did not try the restaurant.

Beautiful Nature! Water is sooo clean and refreshing! Very Very Very fun!👍Great spot to hang out with the family, Always finding something new and exciting!

Beautiful place to spend the day. $10 to enter but $5 towards a food voucher. Other people in the comments are saying food and things are cheaper on the island but this place has been made nice, safe , and relaxing. To me, it is SO worth it! Came here as a group of 4, we swam, had smoothies, played card games and watched some young local boys doing tricks off the rope swing. Must do on the island !

The location was nice and not too crowded in the afternoon. Enough space around the clear pools to relax, but not a huge area.The entrance was rather pricey though (including a mandatory 5$ voucher for food/drinks); the service at the bar/restaurant was very poor (very long waiting times to order and pay, many items on the menu weren't available).

Great place to relax and cool down from the heat.It was $10 entrance but you get $5 back to spend on food and drinks.We had lunch here which was lovely and the prices are reasonable.Great facilities to change and shower.

We had fun here with the rope swing and refreshing water, but it felt like a cheap waterpark. I can imagine for someone who doesn’t spend time in clean lakes very often its a nice place but I wouldn’t return for $10.

4.5

(3489)

4.0

(1006)

Tilgüe, Nicaragua

3 lists

We had a great time at Diamante Eco Adventure Park!!! There is so much to do, you have to pick and choose. We did the Zipline which was the highlight of our vacation, the zoo, and the cultural experience. The zoo was excellent! The people working there were wonderful. They loved the animals and knew a lot about them. It’s definitely a place we would return to!

Great, fun place to take the family! Attractions for all ages. People are friendly and service is good. Unfortunately we only had time to do the Animal Conservation tour but it was so cool and the diversity of wildlife was top tier! All of the animal handlers were very knowledgeable and are super willing to tell you anything and everything if you ask :) Our girls loved it and at the end there is this really cool adventure park!

Had a lot of fun at the Diamante Eco Adventure Park! It was a great place to see animals, zipline, and spend the day in Costa Rica. We saw the promotional signs in the airport and decided to spend the day there. The website is easy to navigate and I had a few questions so I called and they were very helpful. Highly recommend if you're looking for an all-day activity. The Superman zipline is intense and I'm glad we did it.

Purchased the all day adventure package. With this you can either zip line, ATV ride or take a horse ride. 2 of use took the zip lines while mom and older kid went ATV’ing. Everyone had a blast.The all day pass entitles you to the buffet lunch which was really nice.Animal sanctuary is very impressive. Make sure you go to the early morning sloth feed at 9:30. The one later, the sloths slept through.Beach is wonderful and very beautiful. Kids loved paddle birding with mom while I kept watch from the shade.The drive from tamarindo is an experience. An adventure in itself. Mountain driving to river crossing. A lot of fun.

We chose the all-day adventure pass, and we're so glad we did.The park has a very "Jurassic Park" feel to it from the time you drive in the front gate, which immediately set the tone for adventure (minus the dinosaurs, thankfully).The zip line was our first stop, though we were a bit nervous, since none of the six of us had ever ziplined before. The fact that we first had to step on a scale was a bit unnerving - who wants to give their weight to anyone? - but I quickly realized that they take safety very seriously and knowing our weights helped them make safer choices for us. We all had a blast in the zip lines and would have repeated them over and over if it had been an option. The only suggestion I have is for them to provide goggles for the Superman line; you go so fast that the wind causes your eyes to tear up and you can't see anything.The last zip line dropped us off in the animal sanctuary, where we spent time looking at all the animals. It's obvious they care for their animals and have tried to create habitats for them that are "home-like".Lunch was provided with our pass, and it was typical buffet food, nothing to write home about.After lunch, we took the shuttle to the beach to enjoy some time in the water. Getting to hang out in the hammocks and take the kayaks out was a great way to end our day.I've read other reviews that complained about long lines and such, but that wasn't our experience. Everything was very streamlined and efficient, but that could be because we went during the off-season.

We toured the Animal Sanctuary and Cultural Tour.Animals - have very spacious and safe enclosures for each animal. You are able to get really close to animals. The feeding of Lucy and her companion sloth was so cool!!We then went on the Cultural Tour and met Kevin!!! He was amazing at explaining the coffee making process, we also made Sugar Cain Juice and Chocolate right from the Coco beans.Kevin was great!!!

Wonderful family visit to the Animal Sanctuary, playground, farm and cultural centre.Our kids loved and adults too. We got to see the Sloth and Jaquar feeding and were educated along the way as we visited the different animals from the experienced staff. I commend the shady stops where tables and chairs are set up to help reset, take a break and get out of the beaming sun at times.Thank you for having us.

We did the zip lines, animal sanctuary and cultural experience. Amazing all day excursion! The ziplines were really fun and have an auto-brake feature. This was scary at first but once you get used to it, its no big deal. The animal sanctuary was breathtaking. The animals were so close and active. The enclosures were beautiful and it was easy to walk around. The cultural experience learning about chocolate and coffee was really cool. Seemed like everyone there was enjoying themselves.

This place is a fun way to spend the day day however small children and anyone with a fear of heights will find much less excitement. There is an animal park/zoo which the kids liked however I'm against Zoos in general especially big cats pacing. The turtles, crocodiles, snakes etc seem more reasonably content. There is a low ropes course that's good for about ages 4 and up. There was a free lunch buffet included in our price which was a nice touch. The zip lining was very fun and took about 2 hours But of course there are age and weight restrictions. Older kids would Lso appreciate the cultural talk. The beach was small but nice and had some relaxing hammocks. It hot and dusty but there were drink options & shuttles to help!

This was an incredible experience and one I’d recommend to anyone visiting the area. The staff are friendly and there’s a lot of entertainment options available for guests of all ages.The cultural experience explores how sugar, coffee, and chocolate are produced, and you are able to taste all three.The animals are very well taken care of and have neat personalities!

Awesome zip lining and culture park. It was our first time zip lining and we absolutely loved it. There are 5 different runs with one being the Superman where you lay flat and go 60mph for a mile. It was so much fun and the views are amazing. You end up in the sanctuary so you can hang with the sloths and toucan birds. We definitely want to do it again. It’s 2 minutes from Riu resort.

We did the animal sanctuary and it was a really enjoyable experience. The animal habitats were very well done and we loved getting to see the sloths feeding. Getting to be up close to the Toucans was really cool. I’ve been to a lot of zoos and animal sanctuaries in the USA and this was definitely a great place to see and learn about the animals who had been rescued.We were there for 2hours. For the price I wish something else was included, like the botanical gardens or cultural experience, but overall I’m glad we went.

Was great. Did the cultural experience and was awesome. It comes with a discovery pass as well. The discovery brings you down the animal sanctuary.All types of amazing animals and very knowledgeable guides throughout the sanctuary or zoo.Book there to save on online fees.Call them and tell them your group size and they will be V expecting you.Couldn’t do it all in one day. Was able to come back the next day and finish.No restaurant but a buffet that is pretty good. $16. The people there are very helpful and nice. Highly recommend for all ages.Cultural experience we made our on coffee chocolate. Very good. Please tip.They work hard

This was an amazing day! Some of my group were afraid to do the Superman zipline (starts from a height of 80 stories), but those that braved it absolutely loved it and didn't regret trying.The buffet meal was pretty good and the staff everywhere were terrific.Best to book and arrive as early as possible to spend the entire day.

We had a great afternoon at Diamante Eco Adventure Park. Zip lining was awesome. There were lots of interesting critters for our toddler to see and learn about. Her fave was the butterflies and the toucans.Convenient location to the Riu. A few minutes by free shuttle. Perfect off resort experience.

Loved the Zipline portion of this adventure. The food on top of the hill was the best yet in Costa Rica. The chicken was good and the tuna pasta was great . Fried plantain yum.The view was most spectacular from there.The ride up via the bus or trucks to get to the zipline pavilions can be a bit scary for those not accustomed to hills.My only negative was there was no one at the foot of the hill to give is the tour of the animal sanctuary and no instructions were given to wait. So please ask about each step of the process once you get to the hill and not be rushed .

If you are traveling to Costa Rica you MUST check out Diamante Eco Adventure Park. I traveled to CR with a group of 7 women and a coworker told about Diamante. So glad she did because we all enjoyed our day there. We each purchased the Adventure Pass which is a full day pass (9:00a - 4:30p). This pass includes the Zipline which was amazing, animal sanctuary, cultural tour which was informative ans entertaining, plus a lunch buffet that was good and abundant. I also purchased the ATV pass and it was amazing as well. Don't second guess it, just purchase a pass and buy the photo package too!

This is a highly advertised experience in the airport and billboards across every town. It's a tourist attraction where locals wouldn't go but it's one of those things you do once and never again.We paid for the all day adventure pass online. The shuttles from parking, office and attractions are quick (less than 15 min intervals). We visited on a weekday and there were hardly any crowds! The check-in process was easy/quick.The animal park takes approx 1-1.5 hr to walk through. We loved the close-up 9am sloth feeding. There's 3 two-toed sloths. We also saw the 10am feline welcoming, where they released the jaguars. The enclosure glass is up close so you can really see them! One of the pumas was sad to see as it used to be a morbidly obese pet before it was in the park's care. There's also walk-in exhibits where you can walk among the animals including a 500 butterfly cage and toucan cage.The lunch buffet included in the all-day pass had a decent spread of food! There was a ton of fresh greens and associated toppings for the salad. The roasted chicken and beef fajitas were seasoned well but both terribly over cooked that they were dry. There's also American options like pizza, french fries, and bread. There's delicious fruit juices, iced tea, coffee, and rice pudding.Ziplining took a half hour in a small group of 5, fun superman zipline. However, the photo package costing $68 was not worth it!The all-day tickets also includes the culture tour, which our group ending up forgoing.

The ecological adventure park was very worth the hype and we had a great experience. While the place is most certainly catered towards families but the animals were great to look at and the zip line was a lot of fun. (Mind you weight limit exists at 280 lbs so if you’re a chunky monkey be aware you won’t be able to dabble)

Great experience! The zip lines are really exciting and well done. You end up at the bottom of the zip lines crossing a bridge across a pond with alligators. The animal exhibits have a good number of animals and a great variety. Highly recommend.

This was a lot of fun! Of course, you are charged tourist prices. $90 after taxes makes for a pretty expensive zip line given that it only takes an hour to do the 4 lines. However, the Superman line was one of the greatest experiences of my life as you are hundreds of feet off the ground and have a spectacular view of the area.

Fun, all-day family experience!Suggest early arrival as the waiting times at zip lines can get warm.Do zip lines first, enjoy lunch, then head for animal sanctuary or beaches.Animals well-loved, but please be kind to them…watched one family knock on capuchin’s glass until it rushed them in a rage. Late afternoon feedings at sanctuary get great caretaker and animal interactions.Lunch buffet tastes great!

4.5

(645)

4.5

(1530)

RIU Hotel 350 east, Guanacaste Province, Playa Matapalo, 50503, Costa Rica

4 lists

Beautiful beach —true meaning of rest and relaxation. Massages on the beach, some water activities and several places to enjoy a meal or a drink right on the beach. Little hotels with lots of charm and great service ¡Pura Vida!

Nice beach. Not the best sand around, but very decent. If you snorkel, go to the north side.

Found turtle holes this morning, dogs playing, people walking, amazing trees with character and views to die for. The restraunt is to die for. Tuna with ginger was my favorite so far, I'd eat here every night!!! I had a massage that was hard core but exactly what I needed to release the stress from traveling. It is a perfect combination at this paradise beach area!

Lovely beach plus plenty of good restaurants. Filled with locals on the weekends so you get to experience the real Tico culture.

Hermosa is a nice enough beach, with lovely views and plenty of sun or shade at your preference. The sand is soft and dark volcanic sand. The water is warm and clear, with little to no surf. There are rocks on the south end which are suitable for snorkeling, though I don't think you'll see much. There's is a lot of beach on the north end, and even fewer people. There is a dude who will collect money from you to park at the main beach access. Just pay him and don't worry about it.

Best beach we went to in Costa Rica. It felt very bright, it was beautiful (as the name suggests), and is a great spot to surf or swim. However, I'd advise only for strong swimmers/surfers due to the waves. As someone born/raised in Hawaiian if you catch it at the right time, there's some pretty serious waves.

Fantastic, secluded beach. The water was very calm and warm. I could have done without all the jet skiers ripping back and forth. Saw some stingrays, monkeys, and a huge iguana. Roberto’s restaurant had a nice happy hour, too.

Wonderful and beautiful beach. Clean and relaxing. A few great restaurants on the beach.

Really nice beach, not busy and clean.Today was a bit windy so the sea was a little rough, but it was ok as it was really hot too.You can walk more than half an hour along the beach enjoying the view.The only negative point are the jet-sky, really too much and the drivers are not very good…For a relaxing day could be a good choice.

Really nice and quiet beach! Stayed here the first week of May and I was not disappointed. Less than 30 minutes from Liberia airport as well. Sunset is amazing!

Quaint small town - nice peach area.

Very nice, black sand beach.

Beautiful beach with lovely views. The sunsets were breathtaking. The ocean is very powerful but that makes for great waves.

4.6

(534)

4.5

(973)

Guanacaste Province, Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica

+73 other lists

18 lists

I have been at beaches all over the world and this is one of my favourite! Just so fun. Waves rolling in but gently and predictable. You can get out a long ways. Warm clean water. Great sunsets. One of my top 10 beaches in Costa Rica!

Amazing sunsetAnd beautiful beaches

Little Hawaii is how tourist call this beautiful surfing paradise. Couple of restaurants, my favorite is La Purruja, great food and friendly environment.

The party is over here surfers! It is soooo over crowded in the water it is dangerous now with surf boards flying around! It is over crowded everywhere in CR especially avellanas. If you want to get stoked try another country. Somebody has to tell the truth.

Beautiful beach, long, white sand, everyone can find its sacrifice and intimity. We love it!

This beach seems more for surfers than anybody else. Waves are huge and the water comes pretty far up the shore.The main complaint I have about this place is that the road getting here is terrible. I would recommend something with a high front and rear clearance. I did it with low clearance kia, it was possible by going slow but it took pretty long.There is parking. If you type in Playa avellana on Waze it will take you to the correct place.

Pristine beach, isolated from the hustle of Tamarindo and more than 5 surf breaks for all levels.

I put my mothers ashes in the ocean in 2019 at this very point! It was the most wonderful, peaceful, holy experience, ever!

This place is known as little Hawaii, we didn’t understand why. The beach is rocky and hard to get in.You have to access it thru the restaurant Lola’s, the location in the map shows the access via Hacienda Pinilla, which you need to call in advance and make a reservation.I think they charge $35 per person for the day use of Hacienda Pinilla beach bar. We didn’t visit it since we accessed the beach via Lola’s restaurant.The street to access the beach is rough, but most beach access on this side of the coast are bad.

Wonderful beach with amazing surf. No need for a 4x4, there were plenty of passenger cars. Get directions to Lola’s and park in the public parking there.

4.6

(331)

4.5

(1109)

Guanacaste Province, Santa Cruz, Costa Rica

1 list

Stayed in the hotel for one night.We booked the superior room with mountain view. The room was very clean, well-lit and had all the amenities needed. The view was ok as we were on the ground floor under a small hill.The grounds were nice and the hot ponds/hot springs with the volcanic mud bath was really nice. It was included with the stay, and you can spend as much time as you want. We went there twice. Once the day we arrived and once before we checked out. We also went saw the waterfalls, and they were amazing.A lot of variety for breakfast which was included. We also had dinner there, and the food was over all good.We had a great time at the hotel even though the drive to hot springs and waterfalls was like 15 minutes on bumpy road. Having car rental definitely made it easier for us to go see the various attractions in the resort.

This place is so beautiful, comfortable and inviting. The staff is knowledgeable and professional. The rooms are clean and bright. The dining room is open and the food is fresh. It’s very very safe and protected. Everything is clearly marked and it’s easy to get around the park. The hot springs and mud are spectacular! Don’t miss it.

We were very happy with our stay hereGrounds - Well kept, clean and beautifulRooms - Clean and comfortable with A/CActivities - A lot to do here. It’s a great area for a family with a tonne or activities, great waterfalls, suspension bridges and hot springs. The hot springs has a variety of different heat pools which is nice.Food - Breakfast was included and the food was good.Safety - Very safe with lots of security to guard our items.Nice and close to La Leona. We are very pleased with this resort.

The Ranch is SO MUCH FUN. The accommodations are comfortable, I really loved the hammock on the porch. This place has everything from waterfalls to horseback riding to zip lining. If ever in this area again, I would definitely stay here again.

This place is worth every penny. The staff were very attentive to our needs. With all the waterfalls, pools and the hot springs included in the cost of the room you take can't go wrong. The entire property in guarded with a gate at the entrance so you are really in your own world. You must take advantage of all the hikes too each of the falls and pools. Most times we had the entire falls/pool to ourselves. Also there's is an over look that's maybe a quarter mile walk from the reception area... Walked there twice and was alone each time. The property around the hotel was filled with wildlife. We saw tons of birds (hope you don't mind to sleep in they go nuts in the AM) iguanas, sugar gliders. Kids loved it and so did we.

Excellent hotel. Great restaurants, with a few vegetarian and vegan options. The grounds are beautiful, though more spread out than I expected. There is a shuttle service to connect many attractions and points, however it only runs every 2-3 hours, so you need to time it well. Excellent concierge and staff for activity planning.

II live in Costa Rica. Have been here three times in the last three years. Expect a great time. Lodging is comfortable. Staff is very nice. Food leaves much to be desired. At best it’s ok. Most waiters are good, waitresses drop food off to never come back. I might leave 4 stars if they could get the restaurant working correctly. Poorly trained. This place is very safe.

My family stayed here 3 nights in the beginning of May. We highly recommend this location for the proximity to waterfalls, hot springs and hiking. Lots of activities are included in the stay but they also have other attractions available such as tubing, zip line and mountain biking but we didn’t partake in those. Also there is an extra cost to go to the National Park too. We went with our toddler (almost 2) and they had a crib available for us to use. The pool is kid friendly with a wading area. The buffet breakfast was a bonus especially with all the fruits for the little one. The hotel and room is very clean. We would go again and recommend to others.The suspension bridges can be sketchy with a little one, so I’d recommend using a toddler carrier so you can use your hands to hold on. Also water shoes came in handy at all the locations. There is change rooms at the mud area but none of the other waterfalls have this option but the hikes are short and do-able wearing a bathing suit.

We stopped here for a late lunch as our tour included lunch. The restaurant is located in the Hacienda hotel. The restaurant is very beautifully decorated as they were getting it decorated for the Christmas holiday season.We had the chicken and rice which was very delicious and full of flavor. They also included deserts which was also delicious.The staff was nice and friendly. Overall it was an excellent dining experience.

Extremely nice hotel about an hour outside of Libera, Costa Rica. Very hospitable staff. Very well maintained. Our suite was extremely nice, luxurious, and cozy. The bath has a big tub for soaking, the shower has 2 shower heads (a normal wall shower head and a rain shower from the ceiling), a door in the shower leading to a private patio, 2 sinks, and toilet. The room has a kind bed. It has a patio door leading to a backyard that has a great view and wildlife.There are 2 restaurants and a bar/restaurant on the premises.There's also several hiking trails that lead to waterfalls and hot springs that guests can soak in.There's zip lining, tubing, and tours of the national forest.AWESOME hotel!!!!

I was honestly pleasantly surprised, that it was such a nice place and I was able to relax and explore the nature there. The staff was very friendly and the rooms super clean. The whole property is very well maintained. I expected it to be some kind of amusem*nt park due to all of the tours and the tourist groups, which come there. But it was really not crowded and you could calmly enjoy all the beautiful places on the property and the National Park. The waterfalls and hot springs are just wonderful and there were only a few people there. As I said the staff is super friendly and they are really keeping the property in shape. The bed was comfortable and the room was overall spacious. The only reason, I can't give 5 stars, is the restaurant. Breakfast was just the same everyday and not a lot of choices. Taste was ok and the coffee was hot. In the evening, the quality of food is mediocre at best. Since it's not easy to get to other restaurants in this area, it would be such a nice thing, if they provided some good and tasty food. If they'll improve this, I'd give them 5 stars.

Great location with a lot to see and do. We spent two days there but could have spent another day or two checking things out. We spent our time hiking and checking out the hot springs. Waterfalls were beautiful and hot springs were really nice. Felt very safe staying here and enjoyed the complimentary breakfast. Would definitely recommend staying here.

Love this place. The waterfalls, the hot springs. You can hike, canopy tour, horseback rides.. too much to list. Air conditioning broke, three guys showed up to repair, back up, and running better than before in 15 minutes. They do a first class job here.

Wonderful Resort, so far our favorite stop in our Costa Rican trip that has encompassed the past 2 1/2 months.The room was as expected. Everything worked. Nice amenities, soaps, shampoo, etc. Nice towels, comfortable bed/ pillows. The towels were hit/ miss...sometimes we would get wash clothes and handtowels...sometimes we would not...Beautiful grounds, nicely landscaped. Toucans and Oropendollas in the trees. Parrots...iguanas.Easy shuttle service to the park. As well as the waterfalls and thermal hot springs. All free as a guest. Lots of activities and tours. You will stay busy if you wish.Food decent. Would definitely return.

Wonderful overall. The staff was kind and patient. The food was incredible, and the views were breathtaking. So many great memories from the excitement of tubing and zip lining to just relaxing in a hammock with a book during a rainy night. All around a beautiful stay.

I booked a full day excursion with this Hotel. It definitely was the cherry on top. You start off either doing horse back riding which is optional. Next, white river rafting which I never did before. Extreme zip lining & their famous Hot spring . We were able to eat at the restaurant on site which was absolutely delicious. I would recommend this tour 1,000 percent . Staff was very friendly and informative.

Let me start with the rooms (which is the ONLY thing I gave this place 4/5, only because comparatively to the VALUE of the rest of the property is blown). Our room was perfectly basic, 2 beds, television, and washroom packed with lovely smelling soaps + lotions (which is also made by the hotel).NOW, this is what you want to hear! This property is PACKED with spectacular activities (some included, some extra (but super reasonably priced!)). The ones that come with stay: waterfalls (multiple!!), mud bath, hot springs, and walking trials. The one activity we purchased was tubing in the water rapids. VERY WORTH!!! We went down a natural river for 45mins, some rapids, some relaxing points, just experiencing nature at its finest. We had SO much fun! Let alone the horse ride we took to location!!Every staff member is outstanding in helping you, super pleasant to have conversations with. Highly recommend this place, especially if you've only experienced the beaches in Costa Rica. This place will give you an amazing different point of view, up on the mountains.Thank you from Vancouver, BC, Canada!!

My friends and I stayed here for one night and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We could have spent more time here. The buildings and surrounding grounds are so beautiful. There is so much to see and explore free of charge for hotel guests. The hot springs and waterfalls were lovely. Check out is at 12 but you can enjoy the attractions until 4pm on the day you check out. We also went on a zip line tour which I highly recommend if you only have time for a short tour but want good value. I did get kind of sick halfway and they took very good care of me! The staff were very friendly and helpful. The included breakfast was great and set in a scenic indoor/outdoor restaurant. It’s not overly touristy but not exactly “off the beaten path” - somewhere in between

Great value- the rooms are a bit dated but include visiting all the waterfalls and the hot springs for free! If you have a rental car, you don’t need to book any of the tours- but you can’t really walk to most of the activities.Breakfast was pretty good too.

Wonderful place! We had a great time visiting waterfalls, hot springs, hiking trails. The waterfalls in front of the hot springs were my favourite! Not too intimidating, beautiful, each had a different charm.The breakfast was included and it was very good variety of everything. Lots of fresh fruits! I would go again for sure!

Traveled Jan 2024 with kids ages 10, 12 and 14 and we have a great time. Rooms are very roomy with patio/ balcony + hammock, staff very pleasant and most important excellent location. Hot springs , waterfalls, adventure center ( horseback riding, tubing, zip lines ) on property. Important to know that you need a car to drive to waterfalls, hot springs.

This place is a one stop, all the things! Horseback riding, biking, tubing, repelling, waterfalls, hot springs, mug bath, pool, amazing food, a resident iguana that lumbers through the yard, birds, and a volcano. All run so efficiently! The rooms are clean and spacious. We had a couple resident ceiling lizards, so no bugs inside! The biking trails are not for beginners. That's where they lost the 5 stars. There wasn't much explaining how difficult the trek would be. Aside from that, it is an amazing resort with a small town feel.

My friend and I stayed there for a night last week. We absolutely loved the hotel and would definitely go again. The location was perfect since there were lots of activities around. They offer free shuttle at different hours to bring you from the hotel to the waterfalls/volcano/spa. Rooms are very large! The air conditioning worked well and we always had hot water. Breakfast was good with lots of options and fresh fruits. We also had dinner there (not included). The food was so nice and so were the drinks. There is also a nice fireplace spot (bring repellent though!). We had a massage and I would definitely recommend it. Check-in was quick and easy. I would recommend this place! 🙂

This is a weird review because there is so much in one place.We rode the horses, Dean in the waterfall, them ordered a la carte at the restaurant and had some phenomenal whole fried fish while watching the toucans fly to the tree right outside. The staff were delightful and the restrooms clean. My overall view is that if they have something you would like to do you should do it here and book direct to save a bunch of money. Skip the buffet and order from the menu.

Great place for vacation. Roads are great all the way to the hotel. Many activities well marked, great service and nice trails. Everything organized beautiful gardens and areas to relax like the fogatas or fire pits with chairs around and lights great please to sit and share with friends and family

We stopped here for one night before our flight home from Liberia. This hotel was definitely the most disappointing part of our trip. For the price (this was the most expensive place we stayed our whole trip), we expected more.The hot springs are amazing, that was by far the best part and it would be worth it to visit them without staying at the hotel.The rooms were just okay. The AC didn’t work very well so it was pretty hot in the room. The shower had lots of hot water though, which was nice. The food at the restaurant was not great, and as others have noted, it’s the only place to eat anywhere nearby, so you’re kinda stuck overpaying for their food. We had better meals literally everywhere else we ate in Costa Rica.Also, the waterfall hikes are only open 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, even if you’re going just by yourselves without a tour guide. We woke up early and got to Oropendola at 6:20 am, hoping to beat the heat (it was a high of 100 F!) and see some cool wildlife, only to find that the waterfall hike didn’t open for two more hours. I spoke with staff and tried to ask if any of the hikes were open earlier, but they seemed annoyed with me and just said I should’ve been told all of this when I checked in (I wasn’t, I was only told the hours for the National Park and the hot springs). Since we had to leave to make our flight home, this meant we didn’t get to do the waterfall at all. I wish the hikes were open Dawn to dusk like most hiking trails, when wildlife are most active.Finally, the hotel charges a fee for anyone visiting the National Park to use their road, which is the only road that leads to this particular entrance of the National Park. This didn’t affect us because we were hotel guests, but it does seem exorbitant and unfair that they can restrict access to part of a National Park in this way.

4.4

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4.5

(659)

208-50101 Guanacaste Curubande, Liberia, Costa Rica

3 lists

This National Park is ♿️accessible friendly for the first few hundred meters or so. The pathway is made of concrete and is a flat even surface. As you go deeper into the trail there are stairs that are low effort. There are bathrooms only at the main entrance before the trails.I hiked 4 miles (6.4km) in the park with bad knees and had no issues! Take your time. It's worth the trek and you will see so many amazing plants and animals all around you.

Arrive and be in the trail before noon…1200!This is the most important piece of advice. You cannot visit the waterfalls or do the long volcano hike if you are not on the trail by noon. Also note that it is a minimum of six hours to do both hikes (volcanoes and waterfall). Lastly, the main crater is closed. The mud and sulfur ponds are still accessible and amazing to see.All in all it was a great experience. It rained almost the entire time we were in the park so being good rain gear and water shoes to hike in.We saw no wildlife while we were there. I’m not sure if that is typical but the flora were amazing. Lots of different varieties of flowers and trees. The trees especially were both majestic and ominous.Pura Vida

Be prepared to walk into primordial times when you enter this park. We went in January, and the sun was still searing. Add to that the heat from the sulfur pits! Very cool to see the earth bubbling beneath your feet and expunging hot gas into the air! We also walked under some very old trees with sloths in them, as well as saw iguanas and lizards chilling on burning rocks.

It's a nice short foot trail around a volcano where - with some luck - you can see monkeys, turkeys and iguanas too.Of course, the main attractions remain the volcano and the sulfur ponds, some of them with bubbling mould at over 120 degrees Celsius.It's really best to do the walk early in the morning to avoid the heating and humidity that comes later in the day.

$1.20 to get in. It's a two hour hike each way (4hr total) to cangejo falls but worth the hike, most of it is in the jungle but definitely make sure to bring water. There is another shorter loop too but doesn't take you to the waterfall. Monkey, butterflies and lots of wild life for your viewing pleasure. Wish you could summit the volcano though.

Highly recommended, it’s a place where you can see fumaroles, boiling pots, acid lake, have a proper 5km hike(one way) to a beautiful waterfall and have finally have a refreshing swim.If you’re lucky enough, you may see some wildlife too. We saw a snake catching a bird, for example.

It is a very beautiful park. The volcanic part is easy to explore (with little kids or also by older people), while the waterfall section is more difficult as it is much longer and difficult in technician term. There are 2 different waterfalls, both in the same direction, the farest of which is catarata la Cangreja (photo).

It's an easy 1.5 hour walk on a maintained trail, where you can explore volcanic activity in its raw form.

Absolutely stunning views of the fascinating geological wonders of nature. The hike can get tough at times, but the views are always worth it at the end of each trail.

We really enjoyed seeing the vulcanic activity on the short circular walk; the boiling water pool, the mud pools and the gasses escaping from the earth.Next we hiked to the Cangreja waterfall which is really nice as you will walk through different landscapes.We did not encounter too many animals, except for an iguana, some pretty birds, big butterflies and angry monkeys.

There are a few cool sights, but overall it was quite a disappointment. It is supposed to be a national park, which I understand includes a park entry fee, but the 800 colones per person that the hotel charged just to enter the area was ridiculous. The road was not even in good condition, so it’s not like paying a toll. The hotel employee would not accept most of our US dollars, because they were folded. He wanted pristine dollars with no folds or creases, which we did not have, and he kept asking for “better” dollars. He was quite unfriendly.Once arriving at the actual park, it was easy to navigate. We paid $15 USD per person online to enter the park. They did not have any paper maps and told us to take a picture of the map with our phones. We did not see many animals, though we searched extensively, and after about 2 hours, we decided to just leave. I would NOT recommend this tourist trap. 2 stars because the trail was well-maintained and easy to navigate, but everything else was a let down.

It's such a beautiful natural sight to see in Costa Rica. We rode Horseback to the beginning of this Waterfall and walked right to it. There are some steep steps that lead to the waterfall--maximum capacity is 2 on the hanging bridge. The water was so cold, but after sitting in the water for some time, it's not that bad.

Went on the 3 km hike. So much to see on that loop incl mud pots, little volcano, hot pools etc. also saw some wildlife: spider monkeys, cane toad, and two types of snakes (very small ones from a distance). Hike is low-medium difficulty with board walkways and well maintained trails. Some roots etc to watch out for.

Lovely hike through a well marked path. There are different highlighted areas to explore. Mud pots and streaming areas to see.WE also saw butterflies as well as monkeys in our walk.Recommended for the whole family.Take care because of the sun in some areas. Also bring bug repellent.

This was a wonderful hike through a vast forest area, sprawling hills, and wonderful waterfalls. I definitely was not expecting this trek and was pleasantly surprised by it. It was enjoyable to say the least. I would note that at times it can become quite a walk for younger children or older adults, so plan your time accordingly and pace yourself. Otherwise, enjoy the beautiful scenery!

Beautiful place to visit. If you like hiking, there are two trails for hiking. The scenery is beautiful. Make sure you are carrying water and snacks with you. Hiking poles will help.

We hiked to La Cangreja Waterfall in November. It was muddy and rained on us during the hike back but absolutely worth it! Several monkey sightings, tons of butterflies and leaf cutting ants. The diverse ecosystems that you hike through are stunning and beautiful! We hiked later in the day and had the waterfall to ourselves. Check out our video on YouTube. Search for Wandered Off

Only did the 4 km section. It is nice but those mud and steamy area stink sulfur. There are also lots of stairs or steps which may be a problem in high humidity for some. The waterfall is 10 k away and on private land so more $. Finally and most important you need to book online tickets ahead of your visit.

Beautiful and powerful volcano. Drive to Las Pailas - Volcán Rincón de la Vieja.Coming from Liberia is 40 min drive, the road is ok and you don’t need 4x4.At Hacienda Guachipelin you will have to pay 800 colones per person as a fee. Then follow the road, it’s a free parking area.Locals $3 and Tourist $15. You can book and pay in advance or there, during high season the park could reach 600 visitors per day.It’s a an easy 2:30 hours walk, first 5 stops with diferentes levels of mud pot, water pot and fumarolas from the volcano, then a pleasant walk throw the park.Usually you can see monkeys and Iguanas at least.

4.7

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4.5

(645)

Guanacaste Province, Liberia, Costa Rica

I LOVE working with Palo Verde Boat Tours. I facilitate an annual 1-week trip to Costa Rica through my my organization, Coastal Connections, and visiting Palo Verde Boat tours is the perfect last stop of our volunteer eco-tourism trip. This incredible family makes every boat tour unique and special. They will look for special birds and wildlife for you, honor special request and dietary needs at lunch, and they provide the real cultural experience of Costa Rica.This year, the family created the most fun farm tour and planting experience for our group. The tour of the family farm was the perfect add-on to learn more about organic farming and the hard work that goes into our delicious lunch.

We loved our boat tour and lunch! Patricia, Ramon, Francisco, and Felix took such good care of us on this first experience of Costa Rica. Their friendliness, warmth and caring is much appreciated!We saw lots of crocodiles, playful monkeys, iguanas, a 'jesus' lizard and birds.I admire how they source and support local families.What a great day!P.s. give yourself lots of time to get there if driving. Signage from Santa Cruz is non-existent but locals were always helpful along the way.

Thank you Manuel! Manuel, our boat driver, was an excellent spotter! An amazing boat trip seeing an incredible amount bird species, crocs, and other wild life.We loved the restaurant! Best food on our entire trip to Costa Rica! Incredible friendly service. Great interaction with the entire family and the kids participated with the ladies cooking.All natural food and great tasting. "BLUE ZONE" life! Gotta love it. ❤

Our guides were phenomenal, knowledge of flora and fauna made the experience so much more than I ever expected. The only thing better than seeing all the incredible animals was getting to know Francisco Antonio Rueben and Patricia. The people were so warm and kind. Please tell Patricia hi for us if you book with them. Don’t skip on the lunch if you want a home cooked meal! I am so grateful to have been apart of this amazing experience.

The Palo Verde Boat Tour was an absolute delight! The people we encountered were incredibly kind, friendly, and knowledgeable. The lunch provided was exceptionally good, exceeding our expectations. Navigating through the stunning Palo Verde National Park, we were treated to an abundance of wildlife. Highly recommended for a memorable and insightful adventure.Thanks to Ruben, Francisco, Cesar and Josue for everything!

Great experience with the family. Boat tour was amazing. The guides Antonio & Ray was very knowledgeable and pointed out the wild life. Not to be missed. The lunch served was delicious. My favourite was the pork dish.

4 of us went there for the river boat tour and lunch. A bit out of the way to find but great people right from the start. Lots of crocodiles, iguana and birds. Francisco and Caesar were our guide and captain. Very knowledgeable and personable. Then our meal was as good as it gets and totally authentic. Highly recommended.

Palo Verde Boat Tours is an all-around impressive company.Upon arrival, we were greeted by a very nice man who introduced us to the other staff; offered us coffee, FRESH juice, and cookies; and showed us the restrooms. He made sure we didn’t have any allergies (for lunch) and were satisfied with the menu. He was so kind and friendly, and helped me practice conversing in Spanish without passing judgement.We followed the tour guide to the river - maybe a 7-10 minute drive.Our boat captain was Manuel - he was awesome! I’m not sure if he was part of this company or if he worked for the national park. Either way, you will be lucky to be on his boat if you have the chance.Our tour guide from Palo Verde (I’m so sorry, I didn’t catch a name) was awesome as well - he spoke several languages fluently, and provided our tour in both English and French (and spoke with Manuel using Spanish!)Manuel and our guide worked as a team to identify many animals. We saw white faced monkeys, crocodiles, bats, blue herons, a flock of snow egrets (I think?), king fishers, sand pipers, tiger herons, Jesus lizards, etc.Manuel was great at stopping the boat motor and getting super close to the animals without disturbing them. I got so many great photos on my camera - just an old Canon Rebel T1i. The photos posted here are from an iPhone 6. You don’t need great technology to get great pictures since you get so close.After the boat trip, we headed back to the company/restaurant for lunch.WOW. Probably the best meal we had during our 12 day Costa Rica stay. The family atmosphere and the traditional cooking methods are humbling and inspiring.The food was down-right amazing. Chicken, patacones, rice, beans, squash medley, traditional tortillas, salad, and a pickle/onion/jalapeño mix... all of this for just my husband and I. (Due to covid they separate each group at different tables and prepare food separately for each table). It was a plethora of food, and we left stuffed.We ended up buying three things from their little gift shop too - they sell $10 5x7” originals from a local water color artist, one of which we bought, along with a decorated wooden gecko and mask for home decor.Overall, it was one of our favorite experiences. If you are hesitant, you won’t regret doing the tour - make sure you pay the measly $11 for the lunch too!!Thank you so much Palo Verde Boat Tours! We will see you again when we come back to CR.PURA VIDA

We (my girlfriend and I) loved this experience. We went during low tide and saw so many crocodiles, iguanas, birds, white faced monkeys and even some howlers. We were also lucky enough to see a pair scarlet macaws in their nest up in a tree. Would definitely recommend this if you like seeing wildlife. If however you weren’t able to see a variety of wildlife the staff has great hospitality and are very knowledgeable. The food was fantastic, maybe one of the best traditional dishes we had here. And we even got a demonstration on traditional pottery making. Recommended for all age groups!

Best pleasantly surprised experience in Costa Rica. While a 9 am boat float on brackish water was not the tour we looked forward to it was great. Francisco our guide helped us see howler Monkeys, birds galore, crocodile, baby crocs and a crock eating a fish. We also saw the white faced monkeys on each side of the river claiming territory and being very vocal to each other. The add on $11 for lunch was more than worth it, they were great with dietary restrictions. To add onto the great adventure we also watched them make it possible for wheelchair bound to go and they stopped to pick up trash in the river. I was glad we chose them as the operator.

Amazing experience and even better people! We loved the tour and the family operation made it that much more personal. They went above and beyond to make sure we had everything we needed and we got to see really amazing wildlife!

We had a very nice time there! Our guide and boat captain were amazingly good at spotting wild animals and we definitely recommend a private tour!The lunch was really good as well and the pottery demo was really instructive!

Genuinely one of our favorite parts of our 10 days in Costa Rica - the guide and lunch crew was so attentive and thoughtful. The food was INCREDIBLE, our favorite meal by far and such a fun way to explore Costa Rica. As a young couple interested in the nature of the area the guide was so knowledgeable on weather, conservation efforts and of course all the amazing animals we saw. We didn’t see monkeys which is super rare but we didn’t even mind because they tried so hard to find them and did such a great job showing off other beautiful animals.Loved this day so much and so grateful to everyone at Palo Verde!

I have been visiting this family business for more than 20 years, when they were taking their first steps in tourism, I discovered this beautiful family that works together and with the people where they cook authentic food for you. What they give you is a meal full of love, homemade food, they also count on you on the Tempisque River on the banks of the Palo Verde National Park where you can observe an enormous amount of life In this paradisiacal place you will be able to observe a lot of wildlife such as crocodiles, iguanas, monkeys, different birds, insects, trees and much more that will leave you needing more time to continue observing.I invite you to discover on your trip to Palo Verde National Park.

It was a very nice boat tour. We managed to see different animals and get so cose to them. The tour guide was very nice and fun. He helped us to see alot.

Highly recommend. We did a private boat tour for birding photography and can’t say enough about our guide Rubin and captain Cesar. They both spotted so many different birds and wildlife. The lunch following our tour was amazing all authentic dishes and the food is locally sourced. The operation is family run and they employ many that live in the small town. There’s a true love for their community. Recommend booking directly with them, very accommodating.

Authentic, local family-run business that really knows the area well!!! Super friendly too, such a great experience. Really glad to have done this tour, you see so much wildlife and hear about them with the guides!

Really fun for bird photography. The optional lunch was really great! One of the better lunches we had. These are just cell phone pics but I was able to bring my telephoto lens and tripod on the boat and got wonderful pics of many different species

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4.5

(392)

50302 Provincia de Guanacaste Ortega, 75 mts south of the local catholic church, 50302, Costa Rica

Stunning waterfall! There are unofficial guides that will offer to take you up to see the waterfall from behind and other vantage points. We were pleasantly surprised by the experience and knowledge provided on that walk and he even took quite a few photos and videos for us. There is no fee although cash tips are highly appreciated. There is a fee to enter that can be paid via cash or credit card.

We had the most amazing time. Our guides Amari, Jordan and Arturo were the best. They shared so much information about the area and ensured we were safe and had the best views. They also took really good pictures for us.

We loved this visit. It’s so unbelievably beautiful. It is very safe and has a secure parking lot that you must pass a park attendant at a stand to get into. There is a small outdoor market stall with art and treasures, no food. We visited during the weekday, and there was barely anyone there. It is all stairs to get down to the bottom, very manageable. The hike to the top of the waterfall is definitely more uneven, but just watch your step and it’s doable. The water here glitters with all the mica in it. We ended up lounging in the shade and reading, while monkeys relaxed overhead. Maybe my favorite spot on my trip.

Saw a hand painted sign for waterfall and the road was sketchy but doable. Well worth it though. Beautiful falls and great little beach. Great place to spend a day in the water.

Beautiful spot! Not too crowded on a weekday afternoon, water was so refreshing. Paid 4000 colones ($8) entry. Short gravel road to get to a rocky parking lot, any car can do it going slowlyEasy walk down to the waterfallBeautiful spot

Relaxing beach-like environment. Beautiful falls. Fun little hikes to and around.

Beautiful but it is a difficult trek to get down to it and back up out of it. Steps are there but odd sized, hand rails are mobile in spots. I would go again but wished we had been informed about the hiking skills required prior to heading over.

Amazing waterfall, very tall , ot has bunch of small and tall falls and there is a big pool of water under the falls so you can swim.Very short hike from the parking lot (~4min)

A nice waterfall just outside of Liberia. It was dirty from the massive downpour the day before but our kids still enjoyed it.There were mini falls all around too. It was all just a bit muddy from the crazy rainstorm.There was staff on hand making sure people were safe.There is an entrance fee to help maintain the area.

The waterfall is nice and worth its price. The only thing I didn't really like was that the life guard forbid everything - swimming under/near the waterfall was forbidden, swimming on the side was forbidden, reaching the stones on the side was forbidden. Swimming at the very front was allowed..a bit disappointing. Everything else was great - the butterflies, the hike to the top of the waterfall, the clean showers. There was a lot of space to chill :-)

If going on the weekend the locals are there collecting money (donations) for parking and also ask for tips for escorting you to the lake without even telling you they are escorting for a tip. Fish actually plucked at me so I left . Seems like it’s a local band out spot too .

7 USD per person? For this? Per person.This should be free or max 2 USD. Max!It's a normal waterfall. They don't let you walk up to the kinda cool tree on the right, the water was a standard color and yet we paid $14? I don't get it. Pass.

4.6

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4.5

(536)

GP84+9CC, De posada llanos del cortés 3 kilometro camino al pueblo de llanos llegan a la Esquina de la plaza de futbol a mano derecha 2.5 kilometros Guanacaste Bagaces llanos del cortes, Provincia de Guanacaste, Bagaces, Costa Rica

Nice sea, but not recommended for children, and honestly neither for those who are looking for some shade, as there are just few huts along the beach. And the surrounding area is covered in dust, which you are going to breath full time here. Definitely not a blue zone, not an healthy air, especially for children, and the most paradoxical thing is how overpriced all the area is. Honestly to me looks like a lot of unreasonable hype which is beneficial just for the few property managers who are riding the wave cashing in. Been traveling for 8 years in a row, circumnavigating the world, and there are places way nicer and healthier, and they are going to cost you 1/5. The best part is, you don't need to go too far from here to find them. Just sharing my experience as a long term traveler.

Super nice Black and Tan beach. A few hustlers, but not many. Sort of a yuppie family vibe. Feels pretty safe.

Stunning beach, lots of sun and space. Speak with tourists, locals and vendors while you walk the beach. There are some restaurants tucked in the trees along the beach. Great spot for horseback riding, walking, playing or sunbathing

Awesome beach, specially during low tide, were you can enjoy some natural pools. The magic of this beach happens with fewer people so please don't come, stay in Tamarindo or any other crowded beach 😁

If you’re a surfer, this beach is perfect. Good for beginners too and Nosara has places to rent gear and teach you. Nosara is a great walkable town to check out while in the area—howler monkeys throughout.When it’s at low tide at this beach, it is massive. Lots of room to explore, including the tide pools and rocks to the right side of the beach. It’s miles and miles long so I can’t speak for the whole space. It’s popular and a bit on the busy side especially once it’s high tide and there’s less sand to sit on, though I visited the week of Christmas which is going to be busy. It’s most busy at sunset.

It's a very nice beach mellow people and mellow waves

Always a great beach for swimming, sunbathing, watching sunset even some surfing. Lifeguards on duty, Olga’s right there for food and drink.

Beautiful beach with the warmest ocean water I've ever felt. Great surfing and snails, the sand is perfect.

4.7

(499)

4.5

(1045)

Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica

1 list

Amazing ecosystem, lots of animals- tons of different herons, migrating and local birds, crocodiles, iguanas, monkeys, and even saw a deer. It can get hot and more dry than the majority of tropical Costa Rica, but makes for a unique ecological environment. Absolutely worth checking out, only about 1.5 hours from Lake Arenal, even closer to Volcan Tenorio National Park.

Great park, in total I saw three other groups of people on the day I went, I arrived first thing in the morning. I went on the first 2.1km hike which if I were you I’d pass on - very buggy and not much to see unless you stumble across wildlife. I also went to the lookout labeled #1 on their map, a short but tiring hike up. Bring lots and lots AND LOTS AND LOTS OF WATER. Hot! Also a lot of bugs so either a lot of bug spray or a long sleeve. I also did the boat tour which was cool, the guide had a great eye.All in all I say an array of wildlife.

The approximately two-hour boat trip is highly recommended; the guide and captain go to great lengths to show you some of the birds, monkeys and crocodiles that can be found in the national park.

Very interesting wetland national park. We saw a lot of wildlife and the trails were well maintained. Not very touristy (I think we were alone in the park!) Bring your bug spray and look our for crocodiles! We went all the way to the Tempisque river, such a calming hike.

Great park we took a tour with a boat ride and had a good time. I am not sure you would see anything without the boat. The dirt road getting there was fun and is an adventure in itself.

What else is there to say other than this place is absolutely breathtaking? An absolutely MASSIVE bird watching wetland is the central focus of this beautiful park.It is quite a way off the beaten trail, but with boat tours available, hiking trails, and a picturesque wetland how can one pass it up?It is also a beautiful display of the biodiversity of the area. On my way driving there, we went from a dense jungle down to a more arid landscape. The micro-biomes of changing flora are as much of a treat as the land itself.Make sure to educate yourself of the dangers of this land though, like the Acacia Tree, which maintains a symbiotic relationship with ants and will harm you if disturbed. Or the snakes that hide in the tall grass. Be prepared! And have fun exploring this magical place!

Very nice national park in Costa Rica. We did a 2 hour boat tour down the river and really enjoyed seeing all the wildlife. The boat captain was very good and had us up close and personal with the animals. A worthwhile trip.

We went here on a boat tour and it was awesome! Our tour guide Rodrigo was so knowledgeable of the area. We saw crocodiles, birds, iguanas and monkeys. Such a unique area to explore! Will definitely return.

It's hard to write a review of this place because in one hand you have beautiful nature, places to walk/hike around and great views; but in the other hand you have so many mosquitoes that will not leave you alone a second and will make you feel miserable! I recommend to go during January or so (when it's very windy!) so first confirm with the local station when is windy so you really enjoy it. The people is very nice, super friendly and the food is always delicious, however the infrastructure really need maintenance. The rooms and specially the bathrooms are very abandoned!

We travelled here mid February. We were not bothered by bugs at all, but recommend wearing long pants due to prickly plants along the trail. We drove in from the west side (Highway 922) and it was about 30km of gravel roads & potholes. You absolutely need 4 wheel drive to get in here or else go on a boat tour. The park entrance does lock the gate at 4pm so plan to be leaving the park much earlier to be safe. It's about $13.50 USD to enter the park if you drive in. There are 7 hiking trails under 2km in the park. There is also a research centre that staff and volunteers stay overnight at, the washrooms are located here as well. We saw several monkey species, scarlet macaw, lizards, wild ponies and so many different kinds of birds. 4/5 stars because the roads are so bad.

A great nature park with plenty of wildlife, great views and dense forest. Several trails, with lookout points, and plenty of roads throughout the park to see everything. In addition, there is a paid boat tour available at the far side of the park, with very friendly and knowledgeable staff. On our 80 minute tour we saw alligators, green herons, iguanas and monkeys. Highly recommend paying this park a visit.

The park is amazing, the tour was okay. We were only on the boys tour for about 40 minutes which wasn't enough time to see much, although we did see a fair amount. We were able to see bats, iguanas, monkeys, Jesus lizard, crocodiles, birds... The tour of the traditional (historical) sugar processing plantation was also interesting.

Wenn man denn am Ziel angekommen ist, bietet sich ein grandioses Bild einer Feuchtlandschaft mit unzähligen Wasservögeln. Leider ist der Weg, die letzten 30 km ziemlich schlecht. Wenn man sein Auto nicht malträtieren will, kann man nicht schneller als 20 km/h fahren. Auf dem Weg dahin kreuzen auch schon mal Leguane und anderes Getier den Weg.(Translated by Google)When you arrive at your destination, you will see a magnificent picture of a wet landscape with countless water birds. Unfortunately the last 30 km is pretty bad. If you don't want to mistreat your car, you can't drive faster than 20 km/h. On the way there, iguanas and other animals sometimes cross the path.

4.6

(726)

4.5

(397)

9MM8+978, Guanacaste Province, Bagaces, Costa Rica

It was a long wait to get into the park after arriving around 9am. There was no shade and got quite hot standing in the sun. They only let so many people in at a time, which is nice for the hike not to get too crowded. The hike was pretty strenuous and parts were slippery. Didn’t see the volcano top, but the waterfall and rivers were a beautiful sight to see. We saw quite a bit of wildlife while on the tour too.

The park is really beautiful we maintained they do not let food, cigarettes, vapes etc inside there’s a checkpoint for every bag so avoid those items. The trail to go to the waterfall is paved with stairs.Outside the park there’s many shops to purchase drinks, food or souvenirs. I recommend getting there early since the park closes at 4pm and last admission is at 2pm.You can’t go for a swim so be aware of that before getting to the park there’s a bridge and below there you can stop for a swim many locals and tourists.

Make sure you go early. Rio Celeste is a must see but to get there you hike in about 1km then walk down a hundred or so stairs. After seeing the waterfall you can walk another 2km into the park which is definitely worth doing. You will eventually come to the end of the trail where the rivers mix and will then have to walk the 3km back out along the same trail. It gets very very busy by 10am.

Definitely worth the hike! And you must go all the way to the end to see the mixing of two waters. The waterfall is of course amazing but seeing two rivers mix like that was special. We were lucky because there were no rain before so to the water so very blue! Where your hiking shoes and be prepared to climb some stairs!

The hikes are unmissable. We learned so much about Arenal and the nature is impressive. Don’t miss it!

Fun hikes, I saw people of all ages walking the trails. It’s located in the cloud forest. The waterfall and the blue waters are so special, the locals tell the story that when God was painting the sky, he dipped the paint brush in this waters and that’s how the river got its color 💙🙂. There’s a lot to see… animals, birds, nature, the union of two rivers where the blue color waters are born.There are some restaurants and stores outside the National park to get a refreshing natural juice after the hikes and also you can book other activities to do around there.

A breathtaking hike with a unique waterfall!We saw lots of wildlife there and took beautiful pictures. In the rainy season it’s not crowded at all. Unfortunately I got stung by a bee there, but the staff was very helpful and kind and offered to treat it.Keep in mind that you need an online-reservation before you can enter, which you can do right in front of the park but I would recommend to do it before that, especially if you travel during high season.

Beautiful National Park. If you’re looking to go Rio Celeste Waterfalls with the blue water, make sure to come here. The Google Map stop showing Rio Celeste is incorrect - a few cars were lost in this journey and ended up here at the park.Highly recommend purchasing tickets and booking time slot in advance. I would say the steps are more tolerable than La Fortuna waterfalls - it’s not as intense but a solid workout regardless.You are not allowed to swim in the park, but the bridge up, you will see a spot to get in the water and cool off.

The official parking lot at the bottom of the hill is operated by the Red Cross and much easier than trying to park on the side of the road (the road is narrow and we saw two cars that had been hit). The shuttle can be slow.Unfortunately the bridge was closed when we were there but we had an enjoyable walk non the less.Animals can be hard to spot due to the dense forest but easy to hear.The trails can be very muddy so be prepared.

So worth the drive out to this place! We didn't end up going with a guided tour but we didn't end up needing one! Even though it was a cloudy day and had rained heavily for a few days the waterfall was still beyond gorgeous! Not as blue as the photos during the winter but still worth it none the less. WEAR GOOD SHOES! A portion of the path is paved but the many never ending steps down the the water fall are large and slippery. It is worth it to continue on with the hike to the end as well! You get to see where two rivers meet and where some natural minerals have created a almost middle line between both coloring rivers. Hike the whole thing if you go! You won't regret it!

Visited a few days ago and it was an amazing experience. The whole round trip hike took my husband and I about 2.5hrs. It was well worth it for the views we got. There’s plenty of parking and there’s also a restaurant and local people selling fruits and coconut juice. I will say, the bathrooms were a little jank, but nothing too bad. There are many stairs to get to the waterfall, but there are lots of spots you can stop at along the way to take a breather. One of the locals there told us that the water doesn’t look as blue when it rains, so def try to go on day there’s no rain on the forecast. Although it was hot, you can’t feel it very much on the hike since you’re covered by all the foliage. I recommend going to the end of the hike so you can see the bubbling spots and the end where the two different colored rivers meet. You can’t go in the water like you’re able to at Arenal waterfall, however there is a pot outside of the park at you’re allowed to go into the beautiful blue water, search Tenorio free pool.

The main attraction of this national park is the famous waterfall. At times it's a beautiful bright blue color. During periods of heavy rainfall, the water turns muddy and is no longer blue. That's the condition it was in when I visited, but the sheer power and size of the waterfall was impressive to observe, even if the color wasn't perfect.As many of the other reviews state, the hike to the waterfall is relatively short, but the terrain is challenging. Expect many rocks, lots of mud, and slippery terrain.This is a national park, and the fact that you're in a rainforest needs to be respected. We went with a guide, and they explained very clearly that there are vipers and other venomous snakes present, poisonous frogs, and wild monkeys that can attack in packs of 10+ if you have food they want. You really do need to be careful, as we encountered a baby viper and a pack of monkeys during the hike, just like the guides predicted. This is not a bad thing. In fact, it speaks to how well the habitat is maintained.I heard some guides and locals talking about how this waterfall is in the top 3 most visited sites in Costa Rica, and the sheer number of tourists visiting it is now overwhelming. 5 years ago, it was a much quieter park. Something to note if you visited a whole ago and expect it to be similar now - it is far more crowded.

Rio Celeste is a must see… If there hasn’t been much rain. Too much rain dulls the beautiful blue colors of this river. The paths are well maintained but you should be in good physical condition to manage the steep paths. I highly suggest bringing a walking stick or two. A guide is not necessary, but you will see more wildlife if you hire one.

The reviews for this amazing waterfall were so confusing. The booking process as well. But the trail and waterfalls were absolutely amazing. We saw an eyelash viper along the trail. Probably the most beautiful waterfall I’ve seen. Doable with a 4 and 8 year old if you just want to see the falls. I’ve been around a lot of CR and believe me you don’t have want to miss this if you have the chance! Pura Vida!

While staying at La Fortuna, we decided to make the effort to visit this park and trek all of the trails from the only entrance at Rio Celeste.Having read the countless issues about tickets we booked online the night before. The website needs better optimisation for mobile devices. However, the process was painless enough.To get from La Foruna we used personal transport with Luis Rivera from Hidden Wonders Tours (hiddenwonders.tours) and the price was only 3 more than our hotel quoted for a group tour to the same location. We had previously used Luis a guide in La Fortuna and again his new car was immaculate and his driving very safe plus the added little things like cold drinks and nibbles at the end of the hike were welcome (we did transport only, and he waited out side the park for us).The walk itself was a total of 5.4km in length according to Garmin GPS and there was a total elevation gain of just over 500m. Total time for us (slower down hill than up hill) was just over 2hrs and 20min. So, it's not a walk for those with a very low level of fitness.We got luck with the weather, clear blue skies, amazing colours in the water and being low season not too many people walking. My tip would be start before 1030 as by the time we were leaving the 40+ seat buses were arriving and disgorging all of their guests.Highly recommend this trek if you have time and please make sure you buy your ticket the night before!!!!

You can only buy tickets online through SINAC Costa Rica website. You have to create an account to buy tickets & choose time of entry. We chose the first entry 8-8:40 A.M. We didn’t get a guide as we wanted to do the hike at our own pace…the trails are clearly marked with signage that explains the attractions. We completed the hike in 4 hours. Rating the hike as moderate. The park was beautiful & well maintained. We hiked different types of trails; paved paths, bridges, rocky trails, tree roots & some mud. The 250 stairs down to the waterfall are in good shape and dry as we went in February. The waterfall was as mesmerizing as I anticipated. The local legend story & the science behind the milky blue colour are equally fascinating. Expect rain in the rainforest…it rained on us for the first half hour. Use the bathroom before the hike as there are none inside the park…It would be nice if there’s one. Tips: Bring a light rain jacket, water & proper footwear. Parking is 2000 crc. Bags will be inspected at the park entrance. No cigarettes, vapes, single use plastics, food…

Lovely experience. A true wonder. We did the whole hike and everything was perfect. We hiked it without a guide and glad we did it that way. We spent as much time as we wanted in each spot. Wear hiking shoes, poles were very helpful. Have a pan go for drizzle or rain. Go early am. Make reservations in advance. Number of people on the trail is very well controlled. 10 out of 10 experience!

What a beautiful park.This is the best bang for your buck when it comes to the park admission fee.The trail is well maintained and fairly easy to walk. There are some steep sections on the way that may be hard depending on the shape you are in. The way back is downhill.We didn't see any wildlife, unfortunately, and regret not hiring a guide.This is a must-see.You are not allowed to go in the beautiful water, but at about 1 km down the road, you will cross a small bridge.That's the spot where you can go for a dip.During rain or just after a rainfall, it would be a muddy trail, and likely, the water would be too polluted to render its natural beauty.Don't miss this trail.PS: we rented a scooter and rode from La Fortuna. Thankfully, we had clear skies, and everything was dry. I'm an experienced rider, so it wasn't too bad on the scooter.However, it was very uncomfortable for my wife in the back.The experience was priceless, though.

we went in December and Just missed the rain as it started right after we hiked out! Perfect timing. I heard if it rains before you go, the water may be brown, but luckily for us it was very blue. The hike to the fall was beautiful. The funny thing is (and now I am learning its like this everywhere where instagram has made famous) is that there was a line to get down the stairs to the fall because everyone was getting their picture taken. But overall it was a nice day. Just remember to book you pass to enter BEFORE you get there online! It was a hassle to do once we got there because we did not do it ahead of time.

Awesome hike! Go do it! Bring water and hit the earliest enterance by reservation. If you like the stair master at the gym this is for you 😀

Such an amazing area with Rio Celeste. We saw lots of birds, snacks, the Costa Rican raccoon, monkeys, and the cool waterfall. The hike is moderately challenging with a steep incline on the way in. There are about 200 steps down to the platform for the waterfalls. You can't swim there. There mosquitoes. So, where bug spray and long pants and shirt.

4.7

(1747)

4.5

(1740)

Guanacaste Province, Guatuso, Costa Rica

Nice rescue center, very easy access off the highway. Large natural enclosures and different areas to visit. Great for kids, easy to navigate and washrooms are never far. It's always a bit sad to see the big cats behind bars but the info at each animal's enclosure gives context about why they are there. During our visit, we saw a couple of new enclosures being built, which was encouraging. Definitely worth a visit and it's a valuable cause to support.A tip: wear long pants/sleeves and use bug spray... there are a lot of mosquitoes.

This place was very neat. We stopped ok the way back to Nicaragua. There aren't a lot of animals, but the price was fair and it looks like they are doing a good job of taking care of them. It was an enjoyable afternoon.

This sanctuary is doing incredible, thoughtful work to help the animals of Cañas and surrounding areas. The staff are knowledgeable and friendly, sharing the tragic stories of the animals you'll meet and the exciting stories of animals they were able to rehabilitate and re-release back to the wild. Highly recommend!!!

Good place to stop when driving from Liberia to La Fortuna. Took us about an hour to walk around. Signs tell why/where each animal was captured. We saw pumas, jaguars, jaguarundies, deer, parrots, toucans, several kinds of monkeys, rabbits, a sloth, etc. My daughter LOVED the green parrots that would say hola, hello, and even would repeat her name and mimic my laugh. We're glad they're rescuing these animals and enjoyed seeing them even if they were now in captivity. We liked supporting a good cause. Parking lot has a worker watching it.

A small little rescue centre that is on the main highway in Liberia, Costa Rica. It isn't too expensive and is definitely worth the visit if you like animals. All of the animals are rescues that cannot be re habilitated to the wild due to either injury or growing up in captivity. I'd recommend going during a cooler time of the day as the animals rest when it is too hot.

I highly can recommend to anyone who have the possibility to come here to do it!The work what the people are doing here is so important and amazing and I learnt a lot during my visit.Its really heartbreaking to see how cruel human can be, but good to know there are people who wants to do better and take care about these animal. If you can do, please donate to them🙏🏻

We were able to book a combination tour through Nacho tours which included a visit to Llanos de Cortez as well as Las Pumas which is just a short 20 minute drive from the waterfall. Nacho also set us up with a guide, Virginia, to take us around Las Pumas. Virginia took us on an excellent tour of Las Pumas, talking to us about the animals and the way Las Pumas rehabilitates and releases animals. We had tons of fun, getting the opportunity to see monkeys, jaguars, Pumas, ocelots, and many more. Definitely recommend supporting Las Pumas- the first rescue center in Costa Rica.

Beautiful place..Is amazing what they are doing!Is small but if you love animals you can stay around from r a while to observe them..I really admire these people protecting and taking care of them .,They have Pumas,but i have no pictures of them because they were sleeping quietly..And that means the place is peaceful for them

Such a great stop midway between Arenal and Guanacaste. The animals were beautiful, there were a lot of them and it wasn't a sad place like we had feared at first. It's actually really a beautiful environment that these animals, who otherwise wouldn't have made it, live in.

The animal stories are so sad. I am very happy that this registered rehabilitation centre is here for them. It was very hot and a toucan was sleeping. They're so magical! The big cats are unbelievably gorgeous even in their tragedy. We do horrible things to animals. They're lucky this exists for them. They charge a lot more if you are not a Tico. Which is fine. Safe parking and a quiet place to explore with amazing animals. Early morning and feeding time is recommended

Beautiful place. Lots of variety of animals and birds. They work hard to protect and rehabilitate the animals they can.

Awesome for the price! Monkeys, cats, birds, even other wildlife stopping by to visit. Don't forget the donation boxes!We went early, so there was just us and one other family. The staff members were super friensly and working hard. Two members made it a point to attend the jaguars with treats qhen our group made it to that side, making sire the kids really got to see and learn more. Another staff member even noticed i passed by, not finding the snoozing sloth, to point him out! Very sweet.

Very good and very enjoyable, they are doing good for the animals.Quite small so you only need around 45 minutes nothing more to see all the rescued animals.5/5! Would come back next time I’m here.

A quiet and small animal rescue sanctuary. Seems like they put a lot of effort into rehabilitating animals and keep the ones that aren’t suitable for reintroduction to the wild. Animals seemed content and in good condition. The enclosures were clean and provided adequate space and enrichment for each of the species. Definitely worth a visit if you want to see many examples of native fauna.

We came during feeding time and it was awesome watching the cats attack the meat. I also appreciated how the park educated people against taking in wild animals as pets.

This is a small rescue center. It’s just the right size to enjoy your visit. My husband was able to use his electric / motorized scooter / wheelchair fairly easy on the path. They even share written information on the reason certain animals made it to the rescue center and why they are there. Nice place to take the children to. Some of the local schools also take field trips here. The bathrooms were very clean. The place is nicely shaded as well.

A great place to see wildlife kept in a very ethical and thoughtful way. Most animals they take in get rehabilitated and released, but those that cannot for health reasons stay and are wonderful to see. This was a very worthwhile stop between Rincon and Arenal!

Nice little rescue center where you can see animals including several big cats. Each animal has a placard with story explaining why they are in captivity and cannot be released. Rather small, plan on maybe 1 to 1.5 hours. $15 per foreigner may be a little steep, have to convince myself I'm supporting a good cause. Enclosures look big enough.

4.6

(1046)

4.5

(277)

FV3F+7VH, Guanacaste Province, Cañas, Costa Rica

5 lists

Amazing place for a short or even long vacation. I was living in Sàmara and I had the best times. I could definitely live there.The beach is great, the people are so lovely, the village is small but very nice.You find delicious restaurants or homemade food - it’s a perfect surfing spot for beginners, for intermediates in the surroundings also - great hiking spots - waterfalls nearby - the best sunsets - island life on isla chora :) - full moon parties - what else? :) I think Sàmara is one of the most beautiful places I’ve been!!!! ❤️❤️

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.

This beach was a great find. It is pretty touristy so be warned if you are looking for a more local-like atmosphere. There are also those freelance parking guys walking around so you might have to pay a couple hundred colones to buy some peace. We ate at La Casita de Mr Wagner and it was delicious. We also drinks at the restaurant with beach access and blue umbrellas directly across from that food courts. My friend and I both agreed they were the best versions of each drink that we had ever had (mojito and piña colada). What a good place and pretty good location. We drove from Monteverde no problem.

I almost don’t want to write a positive review because I love Playa Samara so much, I’m dreading some day it will lose it’s magical, small, locally-owned, bohemian beach appeal. The waves are great for surfing newbies to intermediates, playing in the sand or drinking a tropical beverage from one of the nice restaurants right on the beach. I ❤️ Samara 🏝️

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.

Fantastic beach, very clean, decent amount of parking. Very kid friendly. Great sunsets.

Great mix between tropical paradise, chill atmosphere yet very convenient with nice restaurants and a bit of shopping.

Very beautiful. Less crowded than other beach towns like Tamarindo. Very warm water. Worth the drive.

A nice and quiet beach, great for walking, lots of little beach restaurants. Watch out for jellyfish in the waters.

Lovely not too busy beach and town. It has an small island and a rock/coral break to protect the bay from large waves. There's still waves good enough to work on your surf board skills. Lots of restaurants and accommodations for vacations. Many expats live there.

Fun beach with quite a few restaurants. Town is right near the beach. Walk the entire length of the beach during low tide. Occasional wild horses. Some decent fishing and shells.

In December the water is really nice and warm but not like a bath water so it's refreshing. Easy waves so you are able to swim or just float. I visited for the day and found an area under some trees with shade to sit on a towel. It looked like you could rent chairs and boogie boards on the beach. Not crowded on a Monday.

I took a TEFL course here. Everyone is super friendly. Felt very safe. Food was good, water was great. Prices are high, and just know it's extremely hot in April. So get a hotel with a nice pool and air conditioning.

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 .

Lovely beach with a relaxing atmosphere. Lots of nice bars and restaurants around as well.

Beautiful, vibrant, and spacious beach with a good number of people—not overly crowded. Many surf rental shops right by the beach, as well as beachside restaurants/bars. Volleyball and soccer fields available. A safe beach, perfect for beginner surfers and boogie boarding.

My favorite beach, not too busy, great selection of restaurants lining the beach, waves not too big that you can enjoy the water.

I loved it here - away from the majority of tourists and lots of wildlife. To see it you definitely need to take a boat. I organised one at the bridge very easily - I was a couple of hours early and they fed me some fresh fruit and as much coffee as I could drink. There were some cayman directly in front of the restaurant which kept me busy.

Wonderful place with mamy animals. Birds, caymans, monkeys etc. you can watch from the boat.

Perfect place to see caimens and birds. When you arrive, it is very easy to find a guide for a boat tour.

Beautiful wildlife refuge on the border with Nicaragua. Was there in 2011. We saw caiman, herons, bats, frilled lizards, iguanas and monkeys. The boat tour is very well done.

Excelente para el avistamiento de aves. Ojala se conserven estos lugares para siempre. Con solo el echo de que exista el pez gaspar en la zona es motivo para preservar todo el humedal. En una de las fotos adjunto un pez Gaspar vivo, la foto fue tomada cerca de ahi solo asi lo pude observar con vida.(Translated by Google)Excellent for bird watching. I hope these places are preserved forever. Just the fact that the gaspar fish exists in the area is a reason to preserve the entire wetland. In one of the photos I attached a live Gaspar fish, the photo was taken near there only so I could see it alive.

Fantastic wildlife, very close as boat drifted up and down stream. Definitely worth visiting. The drive there is tiring (so called Costa Rica massage 🤣😖) but the place is incredibly rewarding. We saw at least 23 species of bird and I suspect a lot more, plus caymans, crocodiles, lizards, iguanas, monkeys (at a distance), turtles

Para la observación de aves, para la pesca, para estar desconectado, para pasear, lo recomiendo al 100, buscar tour de bote, con Chamba o Rosy, son excelentes guías. La comida, el hospedaje, hay de todo.(Translated by Google)For bird watching, for fishing, to be disconnected, to walk, I recommend it 100, look for a boat tour, with Chamba or Rosy, they are excellent guides. The food, the lodging, there is everything.

Amazing place to see lots of birds and reptiles. You must have a guide, as without one you really wouldn't see much. I never knew that huge iguanas spent most of their time at the very top of trees, its amazing to see.I recommend you booking a tour for 10am, most suggest 7am, but that totally unnecessary.Also, I recommend if driving use the road from number 4, not 35. Road 35 has much more potholes and large rocks.

Muy bello paisaje hermoso desde la torre puedes tomar tus mejores fotos.(Translated by Google)Very beautiful beautiful landscape from the tower you can take your best photos.

Great time on this adventure, highlight to the trip !

Un hermoso lugar, una especie de muelle con información y bancas para descansar un rato y observar la gran variedad de aves que se encuentra en los alrededores, personal muy amable(Translated by Google)A beautiful place, a kind of pier with information and benches to rest for a while and observe the great variety of birds found in the surroundings, very friendly staff

We had a wonderful 2 hour boat tour seeing all kinds of wildlife. Our guide was amazing at spotting things and ta,ing us in for a closer look. Although the day was hot, being in a covered boat on the river was delightful. Recommended

Nice boat tour. We got to see Spider Monkeys, Congos, lots of birds, a caiman and they even let us get off the boat and we went searching for a beautiful orange howling monkey!Gustavo and our captain (forgot his name) where very knowledgeable and really friendly!We finished with a nice lunch!

Great fishing spot, great variety of birds🦩🦜🐦🦢🦆🦅🐓, boat rides are very nice and relaxing, I saw many crocs,🦎🐊🐢 and a lot of different types of fish, don't forget to bring mosquito repellent!🦟🦟🦟

Amazing reserve to see lots of animals .. much less crowed than Tortuguero and a lot more animals (dozens of caimans , crocs , birds of all kind .. turtles .. iguanas )We did tour with Pantanal Tour ,

Superb reserve in the north of Costa Rica. Monkeys, caimans, iguanas, turtles... and an endless list of birds. The reserve has to be visited by boat, after paying the entrance fee. You can arrange the boat trip in the village dock. I rented a boat with Gerardo, a local with experience that knows very well the area. He knows where to move to find the different animals and will take time to stop and show you anything along the tour. If you are lucky, you could even spot jaguar...

4.6

(1373)

4.5

(440)

Caño Negro Los Chiles Alajuela, Provincia de Alajuela, Caño Negro, 21402, Costa Rica

3 lists

A wonderful tour. Definitely book a guide who knows what they’re doing. Our guide knew every animal along the way and spotted things we would’ve easily missed.From toucans to vipers and bats to unique plants, our guide picked them all out and highlighted them for us to see.We even saw a poison dart frog!Well worth the visit. Even if you hate heights as much as I do. It was a great experience overall.

WOW, we had been told that the hanging bridges were okay but not wonderful. We disagree. It was a fun adventure with many animals to see. We went in the afternoon and saw 2 different vipers, spider monkeys, squirrels, raccoon like critters, different birds, beautiful views of Volcan Arenal, not to mention the swinging bridges. Some children may not like it so much if they are not interested in animals.Our guide, Alonso C. from Jacamara Tours was excellent. He gave the group options as we went along the trail. He was able to spot a variety of animals and told us a lot of information not only about the animals but also many of the plants too.

This is a worthwhile excursion! The preserve is breathtakingly beautiful & very well maintained. The only reason I gave 4 stars instead of 5 is because half the park was closed off for maintenance. It seems they should offer a reduced price ticket or maybe a voucher for a drink from the restaurant if patrons are paying full price for a ticket, but not able to see the full park.Note: We did a self guided tour & saw wildlife, but if I could do it again I would do a guided tour.

More touristy but fun and beautiful. The hanging bridges were fun and gave you a unique point of view. Easy paved paths with lots of flowers. You don't need a guide to see a lot of monkeys and birds unless this is your first time in the jungle. Get a guide in Monteverde Reserve for sure.

I highly recommend this experience. It's a longer walk than I expected. A nice full experience with beautiful views of Arenal volcano. If you haven't seen enough animals in Costa Rica yet, pay the extra for a tour because the guides will find things you never could. The bridges feel safe and the place is well made. It is not accessible. Dirt road to get there. Plan 2 hours minimum but 3 is better.

Very enjoyable two hours. Lots of beautiful flowers and jungle animals. Walkways and bridges are well maintained and clean. The walk didn’t feel crowded and most of our two hour walk was by ourselves.We visited the waterfall which was well worth the extra time and distance.We felt that this activity was well worth the price. Good exercise too…. The total distance without shortcuts and the waterfall was just over two miles(3.4km).

This is a magical place. The reason why I gave it 4 start and not 5 is because I do think it is overpriced. I went on august 2023 with my son and I paid $51 for both of us. We walked the loop in about and hour and a half and that was it. Once again, I do want to emphasize that this place is beautiful and it is amazing. The views are incredible and the bridges are super cool. On top of that all the employees that I spoke to were very friendly and helpful. As I wrote earlier, my 4 star rating is because of the steep fee. I do recommend the place even if it pours rain on you like it did on us.

Enjoyed the walk and views. Heard monkeys which was fun. Trails are very nice and maintained. 10/23/2023 some bridges are under construction. Saw some wildlife. It did rain but the coverage from the trees helped a lot to keep us somewhat dry. Picnic areas, pack a lunch and enjoy the jungle. Close toe shoes. For the price extend your stay and plan to stay for a half day. Relax and enjoy don’t rush! @$26 each plus tax. I think the total for two was $62 US

We did the Natural History guided tour and it was amazing! Everyone enjoyed it from 5 to 50 years old. Our guide was Donald, we saw numerous animals in their natural habitat, we would have never spotted on our own. Highly recommended. The park is very well taken care off, restrooms available, restaurants, ample parking. Would deffianetly recommend it to anyone! The park is shaded, despite a sunny day, it was a very pleasant walk. Please don't skip this one! You can hike on your own, or you can hike with a guide.

Beautiful walk through the rain forest and the hanging bridges were great fun.We did not take the guided tour. Only 4 stars as a guide was showing a frog to his group and told my kid no as we weren't park of the group.Didn't really see many creatures however a lovely hike.

Warning. Book your ticket with a guide!!!we would have misted out on so many animal spotting a. Our guide found so many animals it was unreal! We got such a personal and fun experience.It’s really neat, the guides walkie-talkie between each others throughout the park to let one another know if they’ve seen an animal recently or not.Group seem to be fairly small so you get a lot of time to sit and ask questions.

We enjoyed not having a tour guide and going at our own pace. Beautiful scenery and surroundings. If we had a tour guide, we would have had more wildlife that we could have seen through a telescope,but we had experienced that on other toursNot handicap friendlyFamily friendlyWorth itYou have "bail out" spots if you don't want to commit to the entire loop

So glad we decided to do this hike even though there were storm clouds and light rain. We debated hiring a guide, but decided against it because of reviews here. We ended up catching up with a group who had a guide and they took us right in! The best part was, we saw what we needed to see with the other group’s guide, but we could break off and go explore on our own without a group slowing us down. There’s a really nice trail before one of the bridges that takes you to a waterfall (we would’ve missed it if with a guide). We saw many monkeys in the trees! The grounds are gorgeous, the bridges exhilarating, and the view of the volcano at the end was stunning! Great last minute decision. The rain made the experience even more magical. There’s enough tree cover that we really didn’t get wet.

A nice hike on well paved pathways. The area is beautiful but we did not see many animals as we had 10AM reservations. We found out later that you need to arrive/have reservations at opening to see the most wildlife. None of the trails are strenuous if you’re in decent shape. Be aware, the road into the park is steep.

Loved this experience! Super cool to walk along suspension bridges. I am personally afraid of heights, but this felt very safe and I ended up really having fun. There are some incredible views on the bridges. Highly recommend. This seems more like a family-friendly place and less for solo travelers (like me) but regardless, I had a great time:)

I visited late morning during the week and it was pretty empty on the trail which was nice. I didn't book a guide, just had a walk on my own. I did bump into 3 other groups with guides and asked what they were looking at. Twice it was a snake. For me, I am not disappointed missing out on that. The other time, I didn't have to ask because I could hear the guide going on and on about a fern. On my own I spotted a toucan, so that was very nearly worth the price of admission. But I still feel like it was too expensive at $30 something dollars just for me to take a hike. The hanging bridges aspect was "meh". Didn't see much from above. So maybe it is more amazing with a guide, but I am sure it takes longer and I am not convinced it is that much more amazing.

Fun activity, bridges are high up and can be difficult to walk on with others on the bridge, but felt stable.Tours seemed to go slow, but I walk with purpose. I passed 4 tours on my way despite enjoying the scenery.Great pics of Arenal on a clear day.

We opted for a guided tour and it was well with the extra $32 (for the two of us). Julio was an amazing guide and told us all about the area and the wildlife... But more importantly spotted the animals and pointed them out so we could see and take photos. How he spotted them I don't know, but without his direction it would have just been a nice walk, without seeing anything. Has to be a must if you're in the area.

We chose the guided tours and are so happy we did. Gabby, our guide spotted so much wildlife. Her superpower is great hearing and eyesight. Her knowledge of the jungle and the wildlife with in was astounding. Had we taken the tour without a guide we would not have seen the wildlife we did. My husband is scared of heights, but it was me that was whimpering! They are very safe to cross and well worth the three hour tour.

We visited the hanging bridges on a Tuesday midday. It was not too busy. Beautiful scenery and very enjoyable hike through the jungle, the hanging bridges are beautiful and little scary to walk through, but worth it. Lots of wildlife, we got to see yellow snake 🐍 , monkey 🙈 heard many monkeys from far we didn’t get to see them all. Call and reserve your spot ahead a time since they sell out. Staff is very friendly and fun. We called them same day and was able to arrange it. Must see when you visit the area.

If you come here pay the additional for the guide I promise you it’s so worth it. We almost didn’t be because the cost does add up and I just thought it would not be worth it but TRUST me it is. See if maybe they can work a good deal for you if you have a big family. Our guide was Andersen and he deserves a raise. He was amazing and taught us so much about the species and Costa Rica I literally fell love with the country even more based on history and interesting facts he provided about the country as a whole. He spotted so many things we would have never seen. This place is magical. A lot of great photo opportunities.

My husband and I recently did a guided group tour here in our honeymoon and it was so much fun! We spotted many animals and wildlife. There was 22 bridges all together and 6 or 8 of them were the bigger hanging ones. You get amazing views of the volcano on a clear day. If you want to take photos when it’s not crowded I’d suggest going early around 7am.

We had a really amazing time walking through the jungle with our guide Edgar. He was extremely knowledgable about both local plants and animals, and was able to show us families of howler monkeys, multiple kinds of vipers, and a variety of rare birds- some of which he only sees every two or so weeks. He really emphasized the ecological diversity of the forest and the way each plant and animal plays a specific yet equally important role in the overall ecosystem.And of course, the hanging bridges were pretty incredible. I would say this park is a absolute must see if you’re staying in La Fortuna.

Totally worth the price! We had such a great time! We saw monkeys, coatis, and cool birds. We came upon a group looking at a sloth, but it moved deeper into the branches, so we didn't get to see it. We chose to go without a guide, and in my opinion, it was still just as enjoyable. I didn't feel like I missed out on anything. The trail is really well maintained. The facilities at the trailhead were clean. To be honest, they were some of the nicest public bathrooms we've seen... even in the States and Europe. There are no bathrooms or water on the trail. They have an accessible trail in the park for those who need assistance. We brought our own binoculars and lots of water. We could have brought more water, so don't underestimate how much water you'll drink. We came at 9, but wished we had come earlier because I think we would have seen more wildlife. We took our time walking around, so it took about 3 hours.

Beautiful scenery and park. The lunch/food situation was extremely confusing and disappointing. We paid for lunch in advance but there was no buffet as advertised. We had a wrist band for our meal but the instructions were totally unclear has to how to actually get our food. We ended up having to order from a menu and then 3 or 4 tables that arrived after us were served before us. We were very hungry and frustrated. The chicken with rice had only a few small bits of shredded chicken.

I reserved the entrance tickets with a tour guide online. Highly recommend to book it a few days in advance to get the time slot you want. It's best to go early to enjoy a cooler walk. Our group was 8 people so two families.In general, it's a one time kinda thing for us. The walk was about 2.5 hours. So not recommend for little kids. They will get tired and cranky. Plus to be honest it was hard to see the animals. The animals were fast moving and even with the telescope you can't see very much . We saw a ball of hair which was the slot. We did see the snake very clearly. And some monkey up top. The park was crowded. One group bump into the next, the tour guide helps each other to point out and locate the animals they saw. There was a bit of traffic waiting to cross the hanging bridge.

We had a phenomenal time at the hanging bridges rain forest. It was an impressive setup and we were told that they built the facility with a layout that makes it almost certain you see some incredible species. They are handicap accessible and even offer scooters. There are stairs in some places but I think those are off-the-main trail paths. The hanging bridges were really cool as well and gave you a glimpse of the volcano as well as the overall rainforest. We saw an owl that apparently was a huge deal. You can tell it is when all your guides take pictures on their phone and tell you that’s the best thing they’ve seen in months.

Our tour guide Carlos was amazing. I highly recommend taking in this beautiful area with a guide. He pointed out such amazing facts as well as had a spotting scope where we saw bats, iguanas, birds and viper snakes, which we would have never spotted ourselves. As well as down a few stairs to a beautiful waterfall.

Amazing experience and would recommend for anyone. Hike was medium. There were small kids and elders doing it, and there are benches you can stop to sit at. Saw so much wildlife - 2 species of monkey, eyelash viper, poison dart frog, coati, birds. I recommend going with a guide if you want wildlife pointed out because it’s very easy to miss! They also know so much about the flora and can explain many interesting things along the way.

This park was better than I expected, much bigger, denser forest, not overly touristy. We went at 8am and there was almost no one there. It was pouring rain for most of the 1.5 hours we spent there, but it was expected. We didn’t see a great variety of animals but it was quiet and peaceful and we thoroughly enjoyed our time spent there.

4.6

(8494)

4.5

(1841)

2km este de la represa del Lago Arenal, La Fortuna de, Provincia de Alajuela, La Fortuna, 21007, Costa Rica

+17 other lists

A wonderful nature preserve with amazing biodiversity. A typical tour takes between 2 to 2.5 hours but you can go as fast or as slow as you desire. Guides are available (for an extra fee) and can make for a more rewarding experience. We walked about 60% of the trails before kids started to complain they were tired. Trails are dirt, or mud, and can be pretty steep at some points. This is a great place to visit May-December when the temperature is slightly lower and animals descend to lower elevations.

This morning, we hiked in this forest with our tour guide and encountered many fascinating birds and trees. I highly recommend hiring a tour guide as they offer valuable knowledge and know the best spots for birdwatching. The forest itself is truly stunning!

The morning wildlife tour was one of the most enjoyable experiences I had in Monteverde! Our guide was Jorge, and he was so pleasant and eager to show us whatever wildlife he could. We saw hummingbirds, toucans, toucanets, white faced capuchin monkeys and heard wild boar. Jorge was kind enough to take beautiful pictures with our phones through his telescope. He explained about the sounds animals make and the relationships between them. We enjoyed conversing with Jorge a lot, he has so much knowledge. Definitely worth it.

Gorgeous reserve teeming with wildlife. We spotted a rare ornate eagle with our guide, Johnny Loves Nature- highly recommended to help you get the most of your visit! While the entry price is a bit steep at $20 per person, we are glad to support conservation efforts and local jobs, and felt it was worthwhile for the experience. Make sure to get there midday at the latest so you’re not rushed- they close at 3:00.

Very good experience as we saw the Queztal here and many other birds ! We had a very good guide (David) who explained with passion interesting things about birds, reptiles and animals in general. Our tour was at 8am. Still good hour to see many animals digesting their first meal of the day!

Our guide, Pablo, provided an excellent night tour. Our group was small, and we saw owls, a Pit Viper snake, a two-toed sloth, lots of Brown Jays, spiders, and a sleeping Toucan. His night scope allowed us to capture photos and videos with our phones of these amazing creatures. Great job, Pablo!

Beautiful preserve! Lots of well- maintained trails around ponds, valleys, and huge old trees. We saw the mokmok and got lucky with a late-season quetzal!

Peaceful, gorgeous reserve for several hours of hiking. We chose to explore without a guide, but still saw lots of wildlife on our own: butterflies, hummingbirds, a wolf spider, agoutis, etc.If you're interested in seeing all the birds, you should probably have a guide. Otherwise, just take your time and watch carefully.

Jorge was our guide. He was very knowledgeable on the all the wildlife and forrest. We would've never saw any animals without the guide. I definitely recommend a guide.

We had a guided tour with David and it was incredible, we learnt so much and we saw lots of amazing birds. He was very patient and answered all our questions! It’s definitely worth hiring a guide as they are incredible at spotting animals

Curi Cancha is a wonderful preserve near Monteverde. We had a highly knowledgeable guide with good English skills. They preserve is well constructed with wide trails providing access to all the places you might see birds and other wildlife.This is a very highly rated birding site but if it wasn't for our guide, I would have missed most of them. The guides can easily identify birds by their calls, making it much easier to find them in the dense forest. As they do this daily, they know pretty much what birds are there and where to find them.If you are in the area and enjoy birds you won't want to miss this place.

We combined the night tour here with a natural history walk at the cloud forest reserve and must say this was really a good idea. This place is though no cloud forest, but is home to many interesting animals and birds that we could not see in the cloud forest. We saw tucan, tarantula , baby frogs, green viper, Scorpio. Our guide is 20 years in the business and super experienced. He explained a lot and told funny stories and helped us with taking photos. That is really wonderful experience we would recommend further definitely.

We went here to spot the Quetzal and other birds, but didn't hire a guide. We had heard from others to visit the avocado tree near the open gardens and we got there to find lots of people watching a few male quetzals fly around. It was amazing to spot them and watch them dart around! We really enjoyed the forest and did a full lap of the area, including the puma trail walk. We didn't see anyone else in this part of the forest and enjoyed the stunning views. We saw an armadillo at the end snuffling in the flowers. Highly recommend.

Excellent tour. We went with Roy and he was excellent. If you're going to go a Parque, be sure to go with a guide. We would have missed a lot if Roy hadn't been there to point things out

Great reserve off the beaten path which is worth the money. Less tourists means more nature, we saw so many Coatis, Agutis, White-Faced Capuccins and Colibris that we lost count. Park is really well-maintained

This park has a lot to offer. The trails are fairly easy - not too steep for the most part. There are beautiful vistas at every turn. We saw many animals without trying too hard: a sloth, agouti, coati, birds... The labyrinth and garden are also lovely. This would be a great park to do if you are feeling a little tired after other hikes in Monteverde and want somewhere chill to spend your time outdoors.

This reserve is beautiful and you are able too see many animals. They have many trails and rest areas that you can enjoy going to. I would recommend going with a guide because they are able to spot animals faster and know were too look as they know their preferences. Also, we decided to go here instead of another reserve because the guide told us that because of the season there was more probability os seeing animals there.

We enjoyed the most tranquil walk at Curi-Cancha Reserve. We did a self-guided tour, and spent about two hours slowly walking three miles through the park. We enjoyed the sounds of the forest, spotting animals and birds along the way. We arrived at 7:15am and saw only a few people during our time in the park. Would recommend starting your day here!

Our group enjoyed our tour and night walk! We were able to see a variety of species. It’s a bit slow moving and you need to be in the right place at the right time. Wishing transportation was coordinated with the tour as we needed to call our own taxi to and from

Enjoyed our walk. Very quiet and not very busy reserve. We didn't take a guide, but saw some birds, flowers, coati's and more. Just missed the quetzal, enjoyed the trek to the continental divide aka the window. Trails were wide and easy. Took the bus to the reserve from Santa Elena and walked back with good sidewalks.

We did a guided tour here (offered by the Park) and a guided tour of MonteVerde yesterday led by an independent guide. Both guides were excellent, but we enjoyed Curi-Cancha much more. It may have been the luck of the draw as we did see more animals at Curi-Cancha (Capuchin and Spider monkeys, agoutis, coatis, pelican, etc.), but also the park was not as crowded as Monteverde and has more secondary forests and open areas which makes it more conducive to see animals.

We had a beautiful morning in this reserve! We did not walk all the trails but we did a good portion of them. There are some really pretty viewpoints. The maze in the middle was a highlight for us - I love that the whole thing is made from hibiscus!Don't forget to bring your ID - you need it when you buy your tickets.

Very enjoyable visit. Saw a variety of birds & a Central American Coral Snake.The gardens at the end were well tended too.

Curi-Cancha reserve exceeded expectations! The diversity of bird species is astounding, and the natural beauty is unparalleled. For an even more enriching experience, I highly recommend the private birdwatching tour. The knowledgeable guide enhanced the adventure, providing valuable insights into the vibrant avian life. A must-visit for bird enthusiasts seeking an intimate and educational encounter with Costa Rica's incredible biodiversity.

We had the bird watching tour of a lifetime with David. Best guide ever. I can still sense his enthusiasm two weeks after our time with him. We saw 41 species in one morning. David made every effort possible for us to see the elusive Quetzal, but we would have to wait. We hardly got into the park for seeing so many birds. Insist on David as your guide!

4.6

(1239)

4.5

(1334)

300 m noroeste Fabrica de Quesos Monteverde, 60109, Costa Rica

1 list

This place was great pools are right outside and they keep one of the pools open 24 hours each night just need to ask reception which one. Breakfast is included which is always a plus. The entire place is clean, rooms are clean which is of course acceptable. Only thing I had a problem with was the balcony window didn't close well and the person in the room next to us kept smoking out there and the smoke got in our room and that was really annoying but other than that we loved the place! we will definitely be back!

I came on a tour bus. Stayed for 2 hours. Lockers and showers are convenient. However to get to the hot springs the cars intersect with the path to the hot springs so you're dodging cars to and from the locker and the multiple hot springs. Poor setup.The hot springs were good. Lots of room. Brought my towel instead of paying.Dinner was not great. The steak was red and chewy. The salad was great. Main dishes not so much. The guava drink was enjoyable.

I did a day trip here. I didn't spend the night. The hot springs are absolutely phenomenal. The separate pools offer something for everyone. The place is very clean, the staff were friendly.The lunch buffet wasn't great. Simple enough fare, chicken, pulled pork, rice, fruit as long as it was watermelon or pineapple. Even the fruit was not really up to the standard I've learned in Costa Rica.

We had a great time at the baldy Hot springs. They have a ton of different pools with different temperatures. And the place is done really well. Very clean. And although it rains all the times the canopies and the rain covers do a good job of covering you if you do not want to get wet. The water slides are also pretty fun. There is one that is a little more intense than the rest, and need to get past around a little bit.

We've been here for day passes to the pools twice over the past 18 months. It's a great way to spend an afternoon, drifting from pool to pool, experiencing the different temperatures and features like waterfalls, saunas, slides.Most of the pools have swim-up bars for ordering drinks (and maybe food?) Wasn't very crowded during our three hours there, but there were noticeably more people by the time we left.The grounds overall are clean and well-maintained, giving some sense of being in the jungle. You may even spot some tropical birds moving through the palms and other plants.We did not stay at the hotel, so I cannot opine on the rooms and accommodations. But all staff that we encountered were courteous and friendly.We would definitely go back a third time if in La Fortuna again.

These hot pools were amazing! The temperatures were all different, which made it really nice. The natural steam room was very cool. The price is about $45 per person, but if you're there all day, it would be worth it. There is plenty for adults and kids. I would recommend you visit if you're in the area.

We were there just a week ago and we didn't want to leave.The hotel is one of the cleanest I have ever been in. It caught my attention that they empty all the hot spring pools at 10pm and clean them all so that everything is sparkling the next day.It was incredible to see the pools so clean every day.Only the children's pool was not so sparkling, but we pointed it out to them and they immediately corrected it. We truly appreciated it.The people were very friendly and helpful. In the lobby bar I had the best "Mojito" in Costa Rica.Definitely a place to spend more than 4 days and 3 nights, there is a lot to do inside and outside pf the Hotel.The area is beautiful and its exotic animals invite you to return.

We went to the Hot springs and dinner.The pools are great. Not crowded even though there is no reservation required.Dinner was a buffet and very average. You are only paying about $20 and the non alcoholic drinks are unlimited but was still a little disappointing considering the rest of the place. Drinks at the pool bars were more than $10 each.

We visited Bali Hot Springs as part of a tour package and it was a relaxing way to spend the end of an awesome day. The buffet had a great selection and we didn't leave hungry. Eating with a view of the Volcano in the background was great. After eating we made our way to the springs which were heated by the volcano. The temperatures are different by pool and get warmer the higher you go. The top pool was hot tub hot and the lower pools were more "summer pool" hot. We had a couple of drinks and found ourselves very relaxed for our return trip.

I would not recommend staying here. The room was clean, but the sink smelled like rotten eggs (sulfur), no hot water in shower (even after maintenance came), AC made noise all night. One of the hot springs made our bathing suits smell. This resort offers day passes for people not staying on property so it can get very crowded. We got massages to be able to use private springs but there wasn’t any water in the springs? Drinks are $20 a piece. I would not stay at this resort again. For $500 I expect better plumbing. I was actually ready for my vacation to end.

Baldi Hot Springs is one of the best hot spring hotels in La Fortuna. The rooms are large and comfortable. They come with a small patio deck. The plants and foliage are well appointed on the property and add privacy in an otherwise large hotel. The hotel is right off the highway and very easy to find. They boast 25 pools on the property and include a kids area with water slides for kids. We did come during slow season so we didn't see too many kids which was nice and relaxing for us. But it is family friendly for those wondering. The hotel room we got came with a rather large closet, armoire, dresser, mini fridge, and bar. There is also a super cute vanity. Inside the bathroom was a little tight. Definitely not enough room for two people to be in there comfortably. The bathroom had a slight paint smell and also a slight sulfur smell but it wouldn't deter us from coming back. The shower came with a large deep tub in our room. So I would recommend anyone with knee or balance issues might want to request a different bathroom set up. The king size bed was nice for me and my husband and it was on the firmer side but not uncomfortable. We had house keeping daily and enjoyed the little towel characters they left on the bed each day. The property has several bars throughout and a few restaurants. Breakfast is included if you stay on site and it was different each morning. We stayed for 3 nights and enjoyed 3 breakfast. They also offer day passes for hot spring use if you choose not to stay in site and you can eat at the restaurants for extra cost. This property is not all inclusive. The staff was all very friendly and would say hello every time we passed them. I loved our visit. The pools all had something cool to them. I loved the ones that had the little day beds. Some were hotter than others and some were cold. There was a steam sauna and a spa as well. I would recommend it to everyone!

This is truly an amazing experience that I’d highly recommend anyone check out when visiting the area! I believe there are 25 pools/saunas/hot tubs, and they get hotter as you go up the resort. A select few are even cool if you need to take a break from all of the heat. Everything was super clean and it was easy to navigate. One of the employees even loaded us up in his golf cart to give us a tour of the facility prior to paying. If you need food or drinks, they’ve got restaurants and bars available, but they also allow you to leave and come back as long as you have your wristband. We easily spent all day here, and would happy visit again! For the price, you really can’t get much better for “luxury” hot springs (but if it is a bit pricey for your group, there are free hot springs on the way to Arenal. They’re also amazing, but purely natural - not resort style, so wear water shoes to protect your feet).

We purchased a day pass to use the hot springs. It was well worth it, several hot and cool pools are situated on site. The natural hot sauna was incredible. Highly recommend going to pools where both hot and cool pools exist. Switching between them was really nice. The kids section in Baldi is small but well designed, it will keep the kids entertained. Overall was pleasantly surprised by the size of this hot springs resort

Location and the room was great, gorgeous views. But the staff was not pleasant. The price for the drinks and food was very high. For the price of a nights stay was $500/night and in my opinion not worth it. There are many other places in Costa Rica with beautiful hot springs. I paid for a night stay and then an hour after check out stayed around the hotel and asked to dry my clothes and they would not allow since it was past check out. For the cost to stay I would expect better service.

A very well maintained and clean resort. Food is reasonably priced and good. There are several swimming pools and they are quite clean.Only, improvement point I can think of is- bars should either not give drinking straws, if they do then they should be a bit longer than they are now.

this stay was one of things we were most looking forward to on our trip to Costa Rica. However, we were overall very disappointed with our stay. The hot springs are nice and beautiful, but the ambiance is destroyed with the children that they allow to roam free without adult supervision. We were constantly having people put their belongings and clothing on our towels and chairs when there were multiple other chairs available. Although most bartenders and staff were nice, we did have an encounter with a very rude bartender who was visibly upset that we came up to his bar and ordered a drink. It was way over an hour until the bar closed, so we are confused as to why he acted as though we were the biggest inconvenience and interrupting his time since the bar was otherwise empty.It definitely seems like they cater to those with day passes rather than guests actually staying on property. We were given one towel each for our stay with no opportunities for them to be switched out for fresh towels. Rooms were mediocre at best. Had the same quality of room at other hotels for a way cheaper price at other places. Hot water took 10 minutes to even heat up and bathtub wall was very high which made extremely difficult to get out of if you are on the shorter side.In addition to this, customer service was lackluster. Apparently there was a “problem” with ALL room key locks throughout the property and we were constantly expected to walk all the way to main reception to get back into our room every time our key card didn’t work (which was every attempt and 10+ times). At times we even received a new to key to walk all the way back to the room and that key to still not work. I asked to have rooms changed but was constantly denied the ability to change until I asked to speak with management. At that point, I was laughed at and told that management was refusing to talk to me but I was given the option to switch rooms. They told me that the entire resort was having the same issue however we talked to multiple people in other rooms who stated that this issue was not happening to them.In addition to the poor service, we also encountered a coral snake (very poisonous) in the hot springs. We were sitting side by side in the hot springs leaning against the edge of the springs surrounded by foilage when I noticed this snake slithering on my husband’s shoulder/back. He quickly went under the water and another person in the hot spring tossed the snake out of the water using a shoe. That is why the picture does not seem to be in the hot spring but instead was only taken when he was tossed out and we were at a safe distance. Be aware of your surroundings and if anything only do a day pass here. not worth it to stay on the property.

This place is pretty cool. They have like 25 pools or something crazy. Swim up bars, hot pools, cool pools, party pools, pools with slides, pools for kids. It just goes on and on. Oh also, a steam/sauna area. So much fun.Food was medicore at best. Drinks are pricey. Entry is pricey....but still worth it!

It is a nice and clean place. The resort is well maintained and has a lot of pool options. I would recommend going there for sure. The only thing I didn't like was the amount of time we waited at an empty bar to get a drink with servers looking at us but not approaching to see what we want until 15 min later. It may be a thing to not bother you so much as I noticed that a few times but it is nice to get that first drink quick.

Stayed a little over a week in May, Rooms are huge, great A/C, spacious balconies--a little dark inside but probably due to the wall colors and lighting. Wifi was also fine--I brought a laptop and used it daily, didn't have issues. Didn't use video though, so not sure if that would've pushed it. Breakfast buffet was delicious, so many options--seating area is open air with a lot of shade. So many pools, all heated, range of temperatures. It feels nice and secluded because of all the landscaping and tall palm trees throughout the resort. Large parking lot for overnight and day stays. Resort is in a pretty central location--feel like mostly everything we drove to was under 20 minutes. About 2.5 hour drive from San Jose airport area--roads are windy but all paved, and speed limit is pretty low. But it was a nice drive over--nice views of different towns and rolling hills/farms.

We enjoyed our overnight. They had one pool open 24 hrs for guests which was great. We enjoyed the pools even more after dark. The free welcome drink was a nice touch.The only reason why I had to give 4 stars instead of 5 was that our suite, in the furthest most building, overlooked a construction site so it had no view at all except for a green screen and it was noisy during the day. We were not warned of this when we made our reservation or during check-in.

Purchased a day pass and spent a relaxing five hours at this luxurious hot springs resort. $44 pp + about $15 in a la carte food. I wish we had purchased the included lunch option. There are countless hot pools (25?), many of them with waterfalls. The staff were friendly. My teenage daughter did not like the big water slide - ouch. Overall we had a great time here. The free hot springs at Choylin is an amazing alternative for those who are nimble and adventurous.

We didn’t stay at the resort so I can’t review the rooms. We did spend the afternoon at the hot springs though. So many pools you feel like you can’t even hit them all. Varying temperatures in each pool if you find some are too hot.My kids loved the waterslides. They particularly liked the funnel slide.The afternoon included dinner which was delicious. Rice and beans, chicken/pork/beef, salad and desserts.

We got a day pass with lunch included. There were many pools and we were delighted that each pool had a sign that listed its temperature. There are some thermal pools that have cool water pools nearby. At night, the colorful lights on the waterfall tower were spectacular! There were shallow pools with built-in lounges and a swim-up bar in another. The design is certainly well thought out. The customer service was stellar! As you walk around, when staff pass by, they always verbally acknowledge you. BUT the lunch buffet was pretty horrible. The pork in BBQ sauce was tasty, but I nearly broke a tooth because it was so tough. The rolls were stale and dry. The mashed potatoes were obviously instant and way too salty. The veggies were cooked to death, the chicken was dust, the pasta was mush, and both sauces, red and white, were watery and insipid. Desserts were your typical jello-like cheesecake and a fruit sponge with more whipped cream than cake. The best thing we ate was the fresh pineapple. It was sweet and delicious. DO NOT pay $22 for lunch. Leave, eat, and come back. Trust me.

What a fun place to relax! The varying water temps of each pool was really fun. It’s an excellent place to take kids. We were in the off season, so it was not crowded at all, but the water slides were not available because of this, I think. We had a pretty good lunch that was included in our price, and though pricier than a restaurant nearby, the convenience of having it in the park was great. And the food was decent. We did the day pass, so we didn’t stay in the resort , but speaking for the pools itself , I’d definitely recommend to anyone with kids staying in the area.

Great way to spend an afternoon, drifting from pool to pool, experiencing the different temperatures and features like waterfalls, saunas, slides. Most of the pools have swim-up bars for ordering drinks. Wasn't very crowded during our three hours there, but there were noticeably more people by the time we left. The grounds overall are clean and well-maintained, giving some sense of being in the jungle. You may even spot some tropical birds moving through the palms and other plants. Fair warning, the slides lead to super shallow waters, you'll end up regretting it.

Went here on a day pass. If you're tired of trekking or just need a break from the jungle this is a perfect place to unwind and enjoy some drinks in a really unique hot springs/waterpark. Entry fee for the day and drink prices are a little on the high side $47 to enter, around $8 for a beer. That said it is a totally unique experience. I think they have 14 hot spring fed pools. 5 or 6 of those have swim up bars. Parking can be tough for day pass visitors. You have to park along the road outside of the hotel property and it can get crowded. Another fun and unique experience in Costa Rica.

the hot springs are great. they are large areas that are more public. on certain nights you can have whole areas to yourselves. The bar at the top is stupidly expensive while the bars further down the hot waterfalls are less expensive.. there is a nice sauna and several cold pools to do small cold plunges. You can have a great experience starting from the top and working your way down. If you want cheap drinks and good hot springs you can do Los Lagos but the experience is a little different.

The junior suite was very nice, the tub, the shower, the balcony, the beds and pillows were all perfect. The environment was peaceful and tranquil, I saw other reviews that talked about construction noise but heard nothing at all.The staff is amazing, very engaged and attentive. Could not ask for more. The breakfast buffet was great. Thank you for true peace of mind ❤️

I came to just visit the springs with a day pass and thought it was great, very well worth it. Total entry for myself (no time limit for the hot springs) plus locker rental and 1hr buffet dinner was under $80 which I think was reasonable. Facilities were very clean, spacious, and welcoming. There may be an extra fee for towels so I recommend to bring your own. Be prepared the walk to the further springs and the buffet area is on an upwards incline - not hard to walk but may be difficult for elderly/physically impaired.

Not entirely what I was expecting, but made the best of it. We went in the evening around 5pm for a day pass (which costs the same as if you went in the morning - no evening rate). My initial reaction and feeling was Disney Land meets all inclusive. Many of the pools had swim up bars, one pool had water slides for kids, and there was a separate kids water park area. Not our jam, was looking for a more tranquil thermal pool experience which you can apparently find at other hot springs resorts. We went on a recommendation from a friend, but could have done more research ourselves prior to going. We did end up enjoying ourselves a bit more once it got dark and the pools started clearing out, at one point we had a large thermal pool to ourselves, but could hear loud music coming from another pool/part of the resort. All in all we enjoyed being in the warmth of the hot springs but would have enjoyed a different environment. Might be suitable for you if you have kids and are looking for the best of both worlds. I myself was looking for a more relaxing, spa like experience.

Too hot for me. Would be nicer if air temp wasn't 95 degrees. Would be great in much cooler weather. Thought the price to get I was fair. Can be hard to find three chairs together unless you get there early. Food and drinks were average.l, avoid the pizza. Was awful. Thought the staff and bartenders could've been nicer

We went there and got a day pass⭐️. Food was absolutely fantastic. Best bruschetta and salad I ever had! Beautiful interior. We did not stay at the hotel we did this for the experience. The water pools are gorgeous with nice design. One thing that needs imposter the directions how to get from pool to pool to find different temperatures and what benefits they carry. Me and my daughter loved it ! Thank you

It was truly an amazing experience when visiting La fortuna. Definitely won of the highlights to go visit and relax in Costa Rica. The place has roughly 25 different pools with a few slides available for kids / adults. Be mindful to experience a few whiplashes from the slide!

It was a beautiful, reasonably priced hot spring. It’s fun to wander and test out the different pools, they also have paths through the trees that are fun to explore at night. The bars closer to the entrance have less costly drinks. Use the slides at your own risk-they are absolutely fun and absolutely painful if you’re over age 30.

Went last year with my family. Very good location, had an amazing welcome drink, breakfast is DELICIOUS and rooms, bathrooms, public areas are well kept and super clean. Funny name too (I have a weird sense of humor) and I love the statue of the lady in the front 😂Will be going back!

Went on a trip to Costa Rica and these hot springs were my favorite part of the trip! So many pools to choose from and each is unique. I love the couple of high adventure slides as well and it was so relaxing to stay here.

We stayed one night at this location, breakfast was included and it was pretty good with a wide selection of food to choose from. We had a nice sized room that was in a quiet location. There are multiple pools at this resort and at night the lights look nice when you are bathing. I suggest to book way in advance because prices can go up quickly. Will definitely come back one day.

Very over priced. Drink prices are outrageous. They sell day passes and over the holidays it was packed with people. They don’t sell Imperial beer but they sell imports. How can you not have Imperial in Costa Rica? Our room was located backed up to a construction tarp. We paid extra for a large family suite with balcony. Never did anyone mention construction. They did not care when we complained. Not even a free meal. There are a ton of pools on property. Property is large and well manicured, so it’s not all bad. But it’s like Disneyland with bad customer service. It’s very commercial feeling. I would not stay here again. The staff was nice at the main restaurant and around the resort. The buffet is very bad and mainly for day pass guests I suppose. The breakfast buffet is included and was pretty good. Property is very large and required tons of walking up hill. So if you’re out of shape this would be very difficult. Also not fun with hot and tired kids.

4.5

(7459)

4.0

(3840)

142, Alajuela Province, San Carlos, Costa Rica

2 lists

Monteverde is a unique biosphere full of different species of birds and animals , some very unique to cloud forest. This place is quite isolated and could take time to reach depending on road and weather. However it’s totally worth it. You will be rewarded with extra ordinary views and scenery. If you want to find birds or snakes, it’s highly recommended to hire a guide, they exactly know how to find the right places to spot and also you learn a ton of things

These forests are so interesting and easy to navigate. Well maintained accessible paths lead you into another world. The canopy is teaming with life. Maybe, if you arrive early enough, you might catch a glimpse of the elusive camouflaged wildlife. Or just enjoy the diverse flora and fauna all around you.

Lodge and front of house staff were perfect. Ended up being extremely affordable as breakfast, lunch and dinner are included with your staff. Food at the lodge cafe was great and the cafe staff were all super friendly and loved to chat about the wildlife. So happy being able to sleep somewhere with the sounds of the jungle all around you. Highly recommend. You also get a discount at the gift shop and access to the trails is also included in your stay.

The Cloud Forest was a magical place. There is no parking by the way closer to the park so we paid $5 to park like 1.3km away and then we took a shuttle - but it was okay. The hike took us to a small waterfall to the left followed by a beautiful epic walk through the cloud forest to the right. The miradors are just phenomenal. Highly recommend.

Very beautiful park with good hikes. Unfortunately when we went, it was very cloudy and we could not see anything from the viewpoints. But hiking in between their reserve is amazing. You can make it a couple of hours visit, by just doing the main trail, or you can spend the full day there as well doing all the hikes. In the entrance they also have a good restaurant. They offer parking for additional 5 dollars. It is located about 5min before the park and there is a little bus taking people from the parking lot to the park entrance and vice versa. It is well organized.

Absolute MUST, MUST, MUST visit. The trails are well planned and safe. They’re not too difficult and rugged but you are still immersed in nature. We decided not to get a guide as we had limited time. We managed to do all of the trails in about 3.5 hours, of course stopping for pictures and to bask in nature. The top of the trail that leads to the Continental Divide is spectacular. There’s no jaw-dropping views because the views are CLOUDS! At the top, you are standing amongst the clouds, which I thought was pretty cool.Buy your tickets in advance, if you’re not with a tour group. If you’re driving, they have a parking area ($5 per car in advance when you book the ticket) about 5 minutes from the actual park. They provide the shuttle bus that comes every few minutes. There are free parking spots along the road leading up to the park on either side, but space is limited, not guaranteed and could be difficult to get in and out of, so proceed with caution if you decide that route.

Very interesting place! Even though (but maybe because) it was raining towards the end when we visited, the experience walking thru the forest with its very specific vegetation was great. The suspension bridge is a pretty cool place, walking high up above the ground. Really likes it.

Listen closely here...Hire a guide! You'll be glad you did. Ours, had 18 years experience and was incredibly helpful. We reserved online, and our guide was waiting for us at the entry gate. You'll need to park at the established parking lot down the road from the main gate area, (restrooms are available), where the shuttle will pick you up and drop you off at the entry and gate area. We spent two hours walking the trails...with our guide and his spotting scope...(looking straight up 99% of our time). Now I understand why there's a massage table at the lodge. Haha we didn't see as much as we thought we would. A sleeping Sloth, a coiled viper snake, and some interesting bird species, but nothing like we thought...and I guarantee...we wouldn't have spotted anything on our own. The canopy is just too thick and high...remember, hire a guide. It's worth the time, energy, and the pot filled gravel roads to come here though. It's a special place for sure...get here while ya can!

If you are in the area, do not miss this. I highly recommend taking a guided tour. I was in a group of only two people with a terrific guide, Mauricio. He has worked there for about 15 years and he is just full of knowledge. He also has an uncanny ability to spot cool birds and set up his equipment so you can see them too. He was also very kind and fun. The surroundings are stunning, I learned so much about the local plant and animal life and the things that make the cloud forest so special and unique. Walking through there gave me a sense of the timelessness of nature and strongly clarifies how important these environments are to all life on earth. Beautiful and thought provoking experience.On the way out stopped at the hummingbird area and that was super fun. If you've never had hummingbirds whipping past your head, you will want that experience before you die.

Amazing!This was a beautiful park. We visited in September which is the rainy season but we got there early and so were able to hike all the trails before the afternoon rain. We opted not to pay for the tour or a guide and were still able to see a lot of different plants, animals, and insects. It was very peaceful and quiet and we didn’t see anyone else for the first hour we were there. I imagine that will be different in the sunny season. This is well worth the $25 each.

This was one of my favorite things we did in Costa Rica, top 3 for sure! Although I like this kind of stuff, it was quite, beautiful, and all the plants and fungi were amazing. We enjoyed our time walking around, just wish we had more time, I would say give yourself 2hrs to walk and see the bridge and waterfall and take in the beauty of the place.

We were probably rushing, but completed most of the trails ( waterfall, bridge and the deck with a view) within 2.5 hours. I recommend spending way more time in this beautiful reserve, but if you are short on time you'll still see a lot of cool things.

A rain free walk through the forest was enjoyed for about 4 hours. We didn’t get a guide, and we didn’t see much wildlife. But we enjoyed the forest and a keeping our own pace. Had a warm drink to break up the day. Parked at the trailhead for free no problem.

Beautiful tropical forest. We were able to see some animals while in the trails.Off street parking was easy on a weekday. Tickets are sold per day so worth going and spending the full day there.

This was worth the money. We did see monkeys in the entrance.Entry was $25 per person and $5 for parking at a lot with a shuttle to take you to the preserve.It was worth the money, trails were well marked and well maintained.We saw a lot of wildlife.

Beautiful place! Must include when visiting Costa Rica. Well maintained and clear hiking trails. They have posted signs at various locations to educate you on local flora and fauna. I’d recommend Hiking shoes or shoes with non slippery soles.

We went on the 6am birding tour. Our guide was amazing and very knowledgeable. He helped us take pictures and identify the birds. We got there before the park opened and were able to park right outside the gate. Between the time the park opened at 7am and 7:40am, the park reached capacity, and they had to close their sales. Get there early! The hummingbirds are just outside the main park by the cafe.

Absolutely worth the trip up the winding, dirt roads to this ecological wonder. I didn’t do a guided tour, opting instead to hike and tour the grounds by myself. Interpretive trails still provide lots of information along your path. I spent about 3 hours exploring the trail system, listening for birds and observing the diverse array of nature that makes up the rare Cloud Forest. I would gladly go again and spend much more time here. Admission is $26 and parking is $5, unless you arrive early enough to park along the road.

We bought our tickets very early morning so we would have the whole place to ourselves. Took many great photos and the clouds looked like fog. The greenery was great and the red bridge fit perfectly in photos. Highly recommend getting tickets early morning. Also, there was a restaurant that had hummingbird feeders and we got many good pictures of hummingbirds.

Beautiful forest and not too crowded! Great views from the Mirador. Make sure to come in time as there are always 3h slots that fill up quickly. I think 7 am is the first and I went at 9 and had to wait till 10:30am to enter the park!

We spent a wonderful wet and cloudy day in the reserve. We walked virtually all of the trails ( about 13km) and hardly saw any wildlife at all!Seriously, it was the perfect way to experience the Cloud Forest. Whilst some blue skies and a view of the Continental Divide would have been ideal, it was just amazing to be able to spend a day walking through the lush, green forest and ferns, and experience one of the rarest habitats on earth.We did see some spider monkeys very briefly and caught a glimpse of a pair of Resplendent Quetzals, but other than that, just greenery.If you really want to see wildlife, you maybe disappointed, especially if it's raining. Go to experience the forest.We got their early (7.30am) and paid at the reception to get in. ( Didn't need to book in advance) We didn't use a guide.The trails are really easy to follow and we'll signposted so it's very hard,if not impossible, to get lost. There are some less popular narrow and steep trails where we felt alone and very peaceful. We loved those!Your entrance receipt means you can go in and out as many times as you want in a day. So if you want to walk some trails, then come out and have lunch in the cafe, and go back in, that is allowed. The cafe has humming bird feeding stations so you can watch them while you drink your coffee!

In all honesty I did not choose to do a guided tour of this forest. I’m on a budget and therefore I did a self guided tour and it was excellent. I didn’t see many animals but the hike was lovely. Great viewpoints and a nice 6km route

I can’t describe the beauty. We had a guide our first day. Eduardo Leitón who is from the area and speaks perfect english. He was so helpful and knew so much about the history of the area and could identify every bird and plant and animal. Go early and take your time so you can listen and watch. Take your binoculars and your Merlin app to identify birds.

4.5

(4940)

4.5

(3782)

Puntarenas Province, Monteverde, Costa Rica

3 lists

Beautiful place with beautiful view to enjoy with friends and family. National pay 9$ foreigners pay $18. It's about 500 steps to go to the waterfall but there's many chairs on the way so that you can rest if you are tired. You can swim if you want water is 🥶. I really enjoy my visit.

Absolutely breathtaking. It's definitely worth climbing the 1060+ stairs total. Go early before all the tour groups go. We went in May and we arrived at 8 am. Was the perfect time. We got to spend time in the water and had some great photo ops before the crowds.

A great waterfall and a great workout!We have visited twice now, and this majestic waterfall is always worth it. Plus it's great cardio coming back up the 500 stairs!We went at a crowded time, so get there earlier if you want less people.We brought plenty of water, water shoes and quick dry towels, all of which make the experience more enjoyable.The water is chilly but refreshing!Avoid going too far to the right side. There is danger of rocks falling. And don't get too close to the falls, there is a lifeguard there, but you can tell it's likely a strong under current.

Beautiful waterfall with a swimming area at the bottom. I loved seeing the plant diversity. The walk to the bottom is a series of stairs, thought not the most difficult hike, it would be hard for those with mobility issues and your calves may feel it the next day. There is a segmented walk for orchids and butterflies. The cafe at the start has a decent selection of drinks and food.

This was a nice morning hike, though expensive, in my opinion. ($18/ person). Many people swim in the stream. The water is cool and refreshing. Note, there are 500 stair steps down and of course back up. We 60 plus did it easily.

The walk up and down is not as bad as everyone makes it sound! You can do it! I swear! If you're visiting for a few days, watch the forecast and try to choose a cooler day. We were there in July, and def a cooler day made a huge difference!We're not really in shape people but we did just fine. I can't believe we almost skipped this place because everyone made it sound so grueling.Everyone mentions the 500 steps because it's on signs along the way! So it's very fresh in their minds and they're saying it because they're proud of themselves.The stairway is well designed. It's very easy to pass people who need a break. So you don't feel pressured when *you* need a break. There are seats at a few spots.I think it took us 10 - 15 min to go down and maybe 30 to go up. Our kid went up in like 20 min. We took it extra easy. Honestly, you can do it.Def worth the visit! It's a very impressive waterfall!

Lots of stairs so if you have mobility issues, will be a challange. Nice waterfall with a few different swimming holes. Not to busy on our cloudy day visit. I'm sure some days it is crazy. A decent stop some other falls maybe more impressive.

Well worth the admission cost! Takes about 15 minutes to hike down and 30 to 40 to hike back up. 500 steps/600m. Take your time! The water is chilly, but refreshing. Great photo ops. Beautiful to see up close. Highly recommend. There's a spot just past the waterfall that's safer to swim in than at the base too.

Easy walk to the beautiful water. There is a lot of stairs, so take your time. The cost is $20 PP. It is so worth it. There is plenty of parking. The water is clear and there is another area where you can swin alongside the fishes. There are a few restaurants in this location as well.IG: love_to_exist

Beautiful waterfall that was worth all the steps, even going back up! Definitely not an activity for anyone with mobility issues. They have changing rooms and lockers available once you pay the entrance fee. Recommend bringing a swimsuit and towel and some kind of waterproof shoes. Lots of sharp rocks to scramble over to get down to the water. Current very strong near the waterfall itself, but there were people swimming in the river on the other side, this part might be better for smaller kids or those who are not strong swimmers.

This is worth the $18 entry price. Yes there are 500 steps but don't be intimidated by that. There are plenty of places to rest.Once at the waterfall you can swim right up next to it but be warned, the current is very strong! Super cool experience though.After the waterfall, go down a few more steps and enjoy a calm river experience. You can relax in the cool water which should be a welcomed change from the heat!

Breathtaking and amazing. Super cool and beautiful and chill. Can go swimming there as well. Also they have lots of cute fish as well. Super easy hike up and down 500+ steps. Also the restaurant inside was surprisingly really really good. They had this roasted chicken, smoked with coffee wood. It was an amazing experience, definitely recommend this place if you're in la fortuna.

It’s worth the $18. An easy, yet steep walk down several staircases to the beautiful waterfall below. A sweet little beach and some quiet water with many fish is available for a cold swim. The other side of the river is privately owned and tours come down that way as well.

Initially, the facilities are in good condition. Nonetheless, the $20 entrance fee for this waterfall seems a bit steep to me. Descending the well-designed staircase for about 15 minutes provides an enjoyable experience, with opportunities for swimming. Don't forget to bring water shoes. There's a small area to swim and relax. As a solo traveler, while it's not the most impressive waterfall, it is beautiful, and I believe it should be free or cheaper. There are plenty more Impressive in Costa Rica.

Beautiful experience, but be prepared! The waterfall is gorgeous and so powerful. Make sure you are aware and ready to climb 500 stairs down to the waterfall and river and back up to the top.There is a couple gift shops and a restaurant/bar at the top where you enter as well!

Visited here midweek but was still reasonably busy. 500 steps (sometimes uneven) down - and also back up so bring water if it's a hot day.The waterfall itself is very impressive, can't swim directly in the pool underneath it (can take photos and that spot is mostly full of people trying to get the Instagram photo), but you can further down there are life guards present to keep an eye on people's safety.We swam in the river just next to the falls, a few people in but the water is pretty cold and in places fast flowing so most don't stay in long or do more than paddle - glad we went in as it was a good experience.Back at the top they're are changing rooms, and there's a great cafe with a wood fired spit-oven that does really good chicken (you get half a chicken, which was a suprise but really tasty)

Be prepared for a hike up and down 500 steps! Take it at your own pace, you can do it! They have motivational quotes along the way that tell you how many steps you have left.Bring water shoes and a towel if you decide to take a dip in the water. Its rocky near the falls and the swimming hole you can see fish swimming around.Take time to look at all the flowers around you they're beautiful. They also have an orchid path you can walk, unfortunately for us none were in bloom at the time.

Beautiful waterfall with swimming allowed. Honestly I thought the walk was pretty easy. My 5 and 8 year old kids were free which is pretty cool. Not really any wildlife that we saw aside from a bunch of common fish...but really cool place to go swimming and see a beautiful waterfall. Great place to go for the first day of our trip and then go on to more arduous challenges. Contrary to what everyone was telling us our kids were able walk up and down totally on their own as opposed to the handing bridges. Rio Celeste was more impressive but you couldn't swim by the waterfall and was a bit more challenging with a 5 and 8 year old... but totally doable to just see the waterfall.... we didn't continue on to the higher up parts

Really nice waterfall with nice place to swim and take pictures too. I only gave it a 4 star because it did cost $20 which was expensive for a natural waterfall and not much else. Stairs down were safe and posted how many you reached in 100’s (500 in total)

We purchased the tickets and lunch online the day before. It was convenience. I think they ask you to choose the time to wish to visit mostly for estimate number of visitors. It doesn't seem that you have to be there at that exact time.Be prepare to walk 500 steps down and then 500 steps up. It was a nice shady walk but tiring. It was crowded at the water fall. The water was very cold. But after a long walk, it could be refreshing. There were fish swimming in the river close by. And in case you were wondering : no drone allowed.The pre-purchased lunch was pretty good. You have a different limited menu to choose from. And It came with a refreshing fruit drinks , a few options to choose for lunch (costa Rica typical plate with different protein options, burgers , pasta...) and a small froyo at the end. After the long walk, it was perfect. I had the costa Rica plate with fish and the fish was fresh and tasty.Their gift shop sales things with reasonable price too. The same tshirt I saw selling for ~$20 at hotel, it was sale ~$15 here.

The La Fortuna Waterfall is breathtaking. You will be surrounded by nature on your tour down to the waterfall. It’s a pretty hard walk coming up from the bottom. It is worth it. The entrance fee was around $18 dollars. It will take you about 15-20 minutes to walk down. On the bottom you can plunge in the water to cool down, even swim around. They don’t recommend to get close to the bottom of the waterfall, the heavy pressure can cause serious injury. The hike back is anywhere between 30-40 minutes. You will definitely have to sit down or grab a cold drink afterwards.There are many souvenir shops and a restaurant near. Please don’t skip this activity, it was one of the highlights of our visit. Whoever if you have very young children or elderly person with you, you might want to consider taking this hike.

Getting exercise in CR is just one of those things you have to do. Why not do it with a beautiful hike to a waterfall. When you arrive at the waterfall there is a good size parking lot. Park and pay your fees to go in. If it is raining you may want to go in the shop and get a poncho ($3).when you start off there is a sign indicating it is about 500 steps down. Just remember, if you go down you must come up. Once you get to the bottom there are lots of people taking pictures and swimming. Swimming would be great on a hot day. Now for the way up you could run the stairs, but then it would be hard to stop at the signs posted every 100 steps indicating you are getting closer to the top. There are also a number of sitting locations to take in the beautiful scenery. You can watch a couple of the zip liners going by from the near by zip line park. Once at the top there is a nice small bar / restaurant that was cooking rotisserie chicken and making everything smell good. Sit down enjoy a drink or two. You earned it after all. Once refreshed take a tour of the orchard garden.

We loved this hike! Down 550 steps and then back up again. Absolutely worth all those steps! Gorgeous crystal blue jungle pool with waterfall cascading down with a thunderous roar. Some folks went swimming( mostly Canadians) but honestly, it was too cold for us.

4.6

(6999)

4.5

(9748)

21007, Provincia de Alajuela, La Fortuna, 21007, Costa Rica

+17 other lists

4.5

(1066)

Puntarenas Province, Puntarenas, Costa Rica

+9 other lists

Rocky trail. Hiking or water shoes, suggesting. No sandals.Water falls was great after a hot hiking. Moderate to hard (You need a good balance) botter line swimming was a plus!!Desde el comienzo, hasta la cascada, es rocosa, recomiendo usar zapatos de hike o zapatos para agua. No sandalias. También tener balance, pero lindo la cascada y poder nadar después de la caminata!.

Relatively simple and short (about 600m) hike to a waterfall. Parking costs 2000 colones. Quite busy so not the tranquil spot you'd hope! The waterfall is quite pretty. As nice attraction to spend an hour.Not suitable for flip flops. Wear insect repellant!

Beautiful falls with cool pools for swimming. The trail isn't easy in some places, where you have to use the provided ropes to keep from slipping. There are also steep paths and lots of stairs, and even though some rocks appear dry, their surfaces are slippery. But if you're fit enough (I barely was), it's worth getting at least to the lower falls, which are free. You have to pay 2,000 colones per person to go up from there.

we walked right on through even though the parking lot was chained off. at this point, i'm assuming they did not open the lot due to all the heavy rain in the rainy season. we took the left side route, made it so far, and could not cross the river safely. the map was easy enough to read. the parking lot is small and the street parking is minimal as well so get here early! rocky terrain, and crossing a river, so waterproof hiking boots are ideal. but im sure you can survive with tennis shoes. bring swim suit, towel, camera, food and hydration to enjoy it!

A place to enjoy and a great place to see. Two Waterfalls to discover (from out- or inside :-) )There are guides at the start of the trail for hire; not really necessary but can be helpful and entertaining. Be smart - negotiate a price in advance.Greetings to crazy Carlos ;-)

This is one of the best waterfalls in Costa Rica. You can climb behind the waterfall. So cool!

We were a group of six and we hiked to the first fall. It was middle of May so not much rain and we were able to hike the trail to the waterfall through the rocks. You start off at the parking lot at the trail head on the street level. Pay $2-3 US dollars to the “security”. Bring lots of water and even food for a picnic when you get to the waterfall. Cold yet super refreshing and murky at that time of year. Pura vida! 🇨🇷

WARNING: trail is not easy. Must use ropes in some spots to climb completely vertical areas of the trail. Also, using ropes and roots to rapel down.The place is beautiful. Its a pity the experience can be ruined by very bad organization of the trails.First of all, there is almost no signage at all indicating the way, or even to confirm that you are actually on the correct trail.The actual trail is just someone who decided to climb over rocks and trees and called it a trail. Not even something simple like little flags or signs to confirm that you are supposed to climb over those rocks and swing over the cliffs with a half worn down rope.The first waterfall is the only one that has an “easy” path. After that, forget about it. Hope you have good insurance in case of a slip.Once you make it to the other side and decide to go back the easy path, turna out the easy path is a “private trail”, which was never indicated when starting. And once again, random unofficial people sitting there charging 2000 colones if you want to go through. Not even a receipt.Worst part is that this is barely 5mins of steps, and then its back to the initial path. Which the only way to reach is by jumping over some rocks to cross the river.If you made it past all the ranting, the waterfall is very beautiful. Its really nice that you can also swim under it, and just relax and chill in the different waterfall areas.Many little pools and waterfalls in the different levels, if you can reach it.Would be a much more enjoyable experience if they actually used that money to make the trail better instead of just keeping it and not using it to improve the park.

We had an incredible time. The hike was easy getting to the first fall where we had fun climbing a rock and jumping in the refreshing waters. I would definitely recommend

Such a beautiful hike. We did the hard side and found it just slightly challenging.You can jump from the top waterfall (not the big one).On our way down we wanted to get down quick so took the easy route. They make you pay $2 per person to pass the trail.

Beautiful waterfall. We were told it might be dry for the season but it was perfect. Pool is deep but wouldn't recommend diving..jumping ok. They try to make you pay park in there parking & take a guide...neither is necessary. Its about a 20 min walk. Its a little difficult for ppl with mobility issues...but its doeable, Especially if you take the riverbed. Great swimming experience and it was 100% FREE!

Cool spot! 1000 to park, you do not need a guide to get to the waterfall! Just follow the beaten down path. It could be challenging for older people, or people with bad balance or weak legs.Go early in the morning to beat the crowd. That is the only downfall is that it gets very crowded.

Nice and cool. The path there isn't for the faint and it's not that easy to cross. There are rocks along the trail also. It's moderate to tough in places. The second and third falls, extremely tough. The first falls are really the best: about 30 meters of flow

We took our ATV’s from Santa Teresa to the Falls which was about a 45 min commute.There were 3 waterfalls as you go up the trail and we only hiked to the first waterfall. It took about 45 minutes to get to the first fall. Expect to get your shoes & clothes wet & muddy. You will need to go through shallow waters, climb up the side of the hills while holding onto guiding ropes. Wouldn’t recommend this for small children or bringing a pet.The biggest & most popular fall is the last one at the end of the trail (apparently 3 hour hike).We bowed out at the first. 😂 but, if you are an avid hiker or looking for a day of adventure you will enjoy!Some Tips:Wear waterproof / hiking shoesBring or wear swimwearPack lightly (no heavy bags)Bring lots of water & snacksParking was $1,000 COL.

4.5

(188)

4.5

(1463)

MW2J+755, Puntarenas Province, Santa Fe, Montezuma Beach, Costa Rica

What an amazing placing. The adventure starts on the way there, The views are breath taking. I went to med schooling CR and know quite a few zipline (canopy) places, this is by far my favorite. It's hard to describe the feeling when you are flying over 11 waterfalls. The staff was incredible nice and well prepared. I would most definitely recommend. CAN'T WAIT TO COME BACK!!!!!!!!

Recovering from the pandemic, the small staff go out of for way to make sure you are happy and taken care of. It's a long, hard drive up the mountain but the view is so worth it. Given some time to continue to recover, this place could easily be 5⭐!

This review is mostly in regards to the management. The tour guides and the zip lines were amazing. However please make sure to negotiate and agree on final price before you making the trip up to this place. We were changed $71 initially for the ziline tour and then after they talked with our Driver decided to bump it up to $89 per person saying they made a mistake. I mean I get they have to share their profit with the tour guide for bringing customers there. But having to pay closer to extra $100 for 5 people is bit ridiculous. So just be careful and agree on the price before making the trek up that mountain. The 25 ziplines (yes 25!) do cross some waterfalls and has 2 decent rappelling over 2 waterfalls. However the lines are very short except for one. So I would prefer some other Ziplines with better management over this one next time especially given the fact this is totally out of the way of other attractions.

Review of the zip line, as we didn’t stay at the hotel. As a rookie zip liner, wasn’t sure what to expect… the guides are great and you ease into things. Felt safe and secure the whole time. Beautiful route through pretty waterfalls while you hear the screech of howler monkeys waiting to jump off. The truck ride to the starting point is pretty intense with the rocky road. Wear bug spray liberally if you’re prone to bug bites.

Checking in was great. Zipline was VERY good with 26 stations.- They let us check in early and gave us a nicer unit (blue room #21), which had beautiful ocean views, a very large patio with comfortable patio chairs.- Although the beds were comfortable, the top sheet on the Queen and King beds was much to small. The fitted sheet was fine.- There was no fridge or microwave in the unit. Ice was available from the restaurant.- There was a cone filter drip coffee maker, which we used. No coffee cups though.- The room safe didn't work- The wifi was VERY VERY spotty in the unit. It worked best by the pool.- My Kolbi SIM did not work at all here, neither data nor cell phone / text coverage. Seems it is to high in the mountains for coverage.- There is no warm or hot water for washing hands. The 1 shower did have warm water if you turned it on just right. The other shower only had cold water.- The wall mounted air conditioning unit worked well.- The ceiling fan worked but sounded like a dying penguin when it was running so unusable.- the flat screen TV worked but was small.- The on-site restaurant is decent. There is a nice variety available and the chef offers a seafood and a regular dinner special most days. Last night was shish kababs... 1 skewer each of beef, chicken and shrimp with salad for 8000 colones (~$16 CAD, ~$12 USD).- there are lights installed throughout the complex so that you can see at night walking from your unit to the restaurant and back.

The other places double booked, so we ended here. The local guy running the place is super friendly and helpful. He also arranged a driver to El Roble for us.The view from the restaurant is spectacular. The room was a bit worn out, and a dead bug on the floor could indicate that the cleaning was done several days ago.

Great family-owned place to go relax with an awesome view of Golfo de Nicoya. Food was great, and so was the Big Papa package, which me and my 7 year old enjoyed!

We were a group of 10 doing the canopy. It was lots of fun.

We stayed here for one night because I thought it would be different and fun compare to the normal hotels.I was wrong. The room itself is alright. It's almost too basic but at least it was clean. There is no wifi at all however. We went to the office asking about it. They told us to try to get on a different network then sent us back. There is NO another different network. I work in the IT industry... I know what I am doing! The office just wanted us to leave them along or they don't know what they are talking about. The hotel ground is not well maintained. The Advertised trampoline is not in working order. The pool looked not well kept and not inviting. The maze is over grown, obviously not loved.Now the worst part is the owner, a German lady. She has this insufferable attitude and made me feel very unwelcome. I thought it was me who she didn't like. Later on we verified from an independent source that is how she always is and treats everyone! She is on her 70s and maybe running this hotel is not her dream job. It really shows!The next day, we did zipline tour. That was good.But I would not stay here again and probably would not zip line here again due to the overall experience.

Wow! What an experience! We did the ziplines but wished we had stayed. The hotel looks very nice. The guides were great and the views were amazing! The ride up the mountain is an adventure on it's own. The waterfalls and views are awesome.

This place stole 300$ out of my pocket I made a reservation and when my wife showed up it wasn’t what it was on pictures she asked for a refund and they deny when she didn’t stay one night

Super 👌 recommend the Canopy has beautiful sceneries..more than 2 hours going down the mountain with waterfalls ..If you like adrenaline you have to do this adventure..love it

We didn’t stay at the hotel but we came for the zip lines. It was so fun. Wagner and the other guides were awesome. I loved when we got to swim in the waterfall. Amazing views and a memorable experience. The lunch was great and the lady cooking and serving the food was so nice.

We came here for the zip lining in April 2023. Beautiful spot at top of a mountain. Drive there is a little steep and bumpy but if we can make it in a Yaris, carefully, so can you.The guides were wonderful - loved their job and were so overall pleasant. Great sense of humor.

After driving for 2 hours in mountainous terrain in the pitch black night of 11pm, we arrive at the hotel. They were extra thoughtful to stay up for us checking in late.We get our room, I wake up to daylight, and after opening the blinds, this is what I see. I was dumbfounded. The lounge like area had a beautiful view of mountains, goats, the ocean, wild birds, etc. Breakfast itself was satisfying.Overall we had a spectacular experience.

We did not stay at the hotel. This rating is for the zipline adventure. We drove 90 min to get there but it was definitely worth it. At least one guide spoke English. They gave good instructions.We had 24 lines running thru the rainforest with a water fall creek right under us. 1/3 of the way down, we got to stop and swim at the bottom of the falls. That was refreshing.

4.4

(341)

5.0

(218)

Tajo Alto 150, Provincia de Puntarenas, Miramar, 60401, Costa Rica

1 list

Carlos our guide was wonderful, very friendly and informative. The animal rehabilitation process was well explained. We even got to see a mom and baby 2 fingered sloths! My husband got a better photo of the baby sloth's face. They recommend wearing pants and putting on bug spray for your tour. Highly recommend!

We cannot recommend Proyecto Asis enough!The conservation and rehabilitation work they do here is incredibly important and both our guides were genuinely invested in the mission. We left feeling like we 100% made the right choice.We loved our wildlife tour with Carlos! He was absolutely fantastic. We learned and laughed so much. We even saw a wild Toucan and Cayman, alongside the numerous beautiful birds and monkeys under rehabilitation.Our sloth tour was equally incredible. Our guide was super friendly, informative, and had a sharp eye to spot sloths and other creatures on the preserve (we saw 4 total). He went out of his way to take incredible high quality pictures on our phones through the telescope!

If you’re looking to learn a few things about sloths this is the place to go. Staff is extremely friendly. I never thought going on a sloth tour, the tour guide would change the ways I thought about animals in nature. Wonderful tour! Best in town! Highly recommend going! You will see so many sloths it’s worth the time!

We loved everything about Proyecto Asis! Their mission and the work they put into protecting the animals and educating the public is wonderful. Our guide, Carlos, was extremely knowledgeable, funny, and passionate about the work they do there. We all learned a lot and my boys (6 & 9) stayed interested and excited throughout the tour. We opted to prepare food and enrichment for the animals at the end and I can't recommend it more! It was the perfect way to end our experience there. Absolutely worth the visit!!!

Carlos was our guide. He clearly cares and is very knowledgeable about the ecosystem and the animals. Preparing and feeding these beautiful animals was once in a lifetime experience for our family with a child and teens. Good coffee too. Thank you so much! Support this place if you’re an animal lover, you won’t be sorry.

This was one of the highlights of our trip in Costa Rica! We loved our tour—super educational! We also made animals food. 🤩🤩🤩 We loved being a part of this, learning about animal nutrition and toys for feeding!

We had amazing experience at proyecto Asís. Johnny was our guide, he was funny and knowledgeable. Very educational and also fun for kids. Me and my daughter enjoyed it a lot. Saw a lot of animals and learned interesting facts about nature in Costa Rica .

Really amazing work they are doing, we learned a lot and saw lots of recovering animals as well as wild animals. The wild toucan which is in love with the recovering one is very sweet. The story of the hybrid parrot is fascinating but sad, truly a one of a kind animal.

If you are in the La Fortuna area, take some time to meet some amazing people and animals! Proyecto Asis works with injured animals, illegal pets, and all sorts of species to prepare them for release back to the wild. You will have a chance to tour the facility, meet the animals (Carlos is amazing and gives great examples and stories for everyone, children particularly were totally engaged), and volunteer for some time by helping them prepare food and feed the animals. This was a highlight of our time in Costa Rica, definitely check it out!

Tour was nice, the "volunteer" part of helping prepare food for the animals really makes the day. Carlos great! Very knowledgeable and fun! It was raining heavy for most of the tour, but gave the chance to see how the animals react to the weather. I had some trouble booking, as I was trying last minute. The ladies at the front we so helpful. Appreciated there help and responses in WhatsApp. Would definitely go again maybe on a stay volunteer.

What a great place. The opposite of all the reserves that present themselves as protecting the animals but actually take them away from their forests to show them in a much smaller area to tourists.The owners put so much energy in doing education about the black market of animals in Costa Rica and the visit is really interesting. You get to see wounded or formerly domesticated animals that now found a place here. Highly highly recommended

Amazing! Our guide Carlos was exceptional. Entertaining and educational. Beautiful place to visit. The volunteer portion is not just for kids! We prepared breakfast and watched as they devoured their meals (delivered by Carlos.) It was truly a special day.

These were by far the best wildlife awareness and rehabilitation programs I have ever attended, and my favorite activity from our trip. We did the whole day with the wildlife tour, volunteering, and sloth tour. Both of our guides were extremely engaging. Most of the animals we saw are being rehabilitated after being kept as pets, and the education around responsible human interaction with animals was priceless.Thank you so much!

Great place, really welcoming, and super knowledgeable team who know how important true ecology is. The costs are very reasonable and goes towards funding their work not some glorified unethical theme park like the other place in Fortuna (who I’m told poaches animals from the wild to show in enclosures - not sure how that is legal in CR) but anyway Proyecto Asia is NOT like that! They are the good guys and deserve all the visitors 🥰🌎🦥

My partner and I heard about this tour + volunteer opportunity from a friend. We had an amazing time with Carlos, our tour guide. The tour was very informative about the current problems facing the birds and monkeys in Costa Rica. We got to ask many questions, and it's obvious that Carlos is very passionate about his work.Once the tour ended, we got to prep fruits and vegetables for the monkeys and watch them eat. There were 3 kids in our tour group, and they all had fun prepping the food for the monkeys.This is a MUST DO when you're in Costa Rica. It's only 30 minutes driving distance away from La Fortuna.

Proyecto Asis is a heartwarming, real deal animal rehabilitation sanctuary. Most of their animals were brought to them by protection agencies due to poaching or illegal pet ownership. We did the wildlife tour and volunteering and loved every moment there. Our guide was Carlos who seems like he was born to rehabilitate animals and educate humans about the importance of conservation. Not to mention, he is undeniably adorable and just fun to be around. His connection with the animals is so evident. The mission is to reintroduce the animals to the wild when they are healthy and strong enough to adapt. All of the animals are well cared for and well nourished. This experience was a true highlight for my husband and I, and one we will never forget! Pura Vida!

This tour was excellent. We did the sanctuary tour, volunteered preparing meals for the animals, had lunch down the road (a short walk), and then we enjoyed the sloth tour. It was extremely informative. Staff were very friendly and thoughtful. They had refreshments and we had some down time between tours so they provided coloring and puzzles for our son. This sanctuary is legit. They have the best interest of the animals at heart and it shows.

Wildlife Tour and Volunteer - It was a wonderful experience at Proyecto Asis. Each animal is cared for, fed and visited by volunteers, staff and expert veterinarians and released when it is considered fully rehabilitated. The staff takes care of different types of monkeys, toucans and parrots, wild cats, raccoons, coatis, pigs and many others who need help from time to time. It's always nice to see up close how much these people do for these animals and it's rewarding to be able to take part in the project, even if for a short time. Carlos, our guide, was amazing! He's really kind and he was really happy to share all his knowledge with us. It was really interesting getting to know better every species. We also had much fun preparing food and toys for the animals and watching them eating.Really recommended experience!!!

My husband and I saw this place online and we were so happy we went. It is money well spent because it goes to the sanctuary. Carlos was our guide and provided information that many most likely don't know, especially tourists. This helped us understand that wildlife is wild and should stay that way. We have no interest in taking pictures with monkeys or sloths after hearing about the issues it causes. This place should be visited by everyone to fully understand how unfair it is to the animals when people are careless or uneducated. We highly recommend visiting this place. We also found out they have volunteer programs, which is nice. Flip-flops or sandals would be fine, the walkway is crushed stone.

Proyecto Asis is a must experience to learn and give something back to the community for the adorable animals of Costa Rica. It’s a rehabilitation center that provides medical and therapy for the animal friends that need to return/introduce back to their wild environment. Our tour guide Carlos was quite informative and a lot of fun which made both learning and volunteering just a delightful experience. One of the highlights of my trip that teach you outside of the textbook and be more familiar with their lives and surroundings.

It was a great experience for the whole family, and I'll always recommend places that seem to be working to conserve nature.We did the full experience, including preparing food for the monkeys and the sloth hike. It was educational and fun.

4.8

(456)

5.0

(1899)

141, Provincia de Alajuela, San Carlos, Costa Rica

1 list

Great Day....fabulous scenery and service is unbelievable. It's like a 1 day all-inclusive resort! Perfect to kick back and get spoiled for a day before returning to seeing the natural beauty the country has to offer. Food and drinks are plentiful. Snorkeling was awesome (I am a first time snorkeler so I have nothing to compare it to,but lots of different fish and underwater things..lol).Hiking was on a beautiful, very gentle trail so its good for anyone.Highly recommend this tour.

A delightful day trip to a paradise island! We snorkeled, road the banana boat, hiked, imbibed, ate a marvelous lunch and enjoyed the beach. On the way back, we saw manta rays jumping out of the water for extra entertainment.

I was looking for a perfect beach day, and this tour did not disappoint! We saw dophins and sea turtles while on the boat ride to the island and it was so exciting to watch them. The island itself offered plenty of very nice beach chairs ($8 each) and the sand beach was absolutely beautiful. The souvenir shop offered plenty of gifts to help memorialize this perfect island beach day.

Great experience and staff is the best. Food was really good and activity’s are worth the money. Beach was really nice and snorkeling was very cool. Will come back again in the future.

My husband and i had a wonderful time traveling to Tortuga island with Cosat Cat Company. The staff Eddie, Sébastien, Jordan, and the Captain were all wonderful. I am missing the other gentleman name - my apologies. But overall, we had an awesome time. We saw a humpback whale, dolphins, and peaco*cks. The buffet was great. The price is affordable and definitely worth the trip. We loved it!

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.

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.

Boat itself was quite luxurious. Different places to sit and enjoy the view, relaxed ride to the beach. During this trip we got multiple small snacks (fruit, cake, fish thingy) and enough to drink. Bottles are not cooled however but rather chilled with ice cubes. So you either get cold watered down drink, or warm with good taste.The DJ that accompanied us was a bit too loud to our taste, luckily on the front deck it was better.In the beach itself it is nicely arranged. Own seats, some activities, bar, food. That was great!

A fun boat ride to paradise. Tortuga Island via the Costa Cat was a really great way to spend the day. They have a lot of activities (such as snorkeling) but I opted to relax at the beach, enjoy the warm ocean waters, and chat with people at the restaurant.Recommended to bring water shoes as the sand gets really hot and there is some rough stone and sharp shells a little bit out.

It's a beautiful island that, as far as I know, can only be reached by a boat tour. On the island, there isn't a lot to do as the beach is the primary area accessible to visitors. There is also an island hike, which we didn't undertake, and I'm not sure if a guide is required for that. Everything on the island comes with a fee, even the toilets. The water is warm, and further out, you can go snorkeling, which is a wonderful experience. All in all, in my opinion it's slightly overrated due to the high number of tourists and the limited options, primarily just one beach. There are nicer places in costa rica which are way cheaper and way more accessable :)

Had a lovely time at Tortuga Island. Highly recommend coming here and spending the day hiking, snorkeling, drinking, etc. The CostaCat crew was amazing with top notch service. They even brought drinks to you as you were swimming in the water!

You begin your trip with a boat ride. This was about 90 minutes. They offer complimentary rum punch as well as drinks for purchase. You are also offered fruit snacks, a simple ham sandwich, and fish ceviche on the way there. Once on the island there are chairs and umbrellas to use, a souvenir shop, and bar to enjoy while you bask in the sun or play in the ocean. Views are stunning as you truly feel secluded from the rest of the world as you enjoy the island life with the other guests. Depending on your specific tour snorkeling and banana boat rides are offered. You get a lunch and tickets for soda. Our lunch was salad, potato salad, rice, breaded fish, and chicken with the option for a glass of sangria. When you leave you take another 90 minute boat ride to shore where they continue to offer complimentary fruit and rum punch as well as having the bar to purchase drinks.You will need to bring lots of sunscreen, a towel, sunglasses, and hat as you will be in the sun A LOT.Beautiful and worth the price.

Tortuga island was beautiful!You start with the boat ride there, go snorkeling for couple hours & see pretty fish!We also saw dolphins on the boat ride there.To note - everything on the island costs money, if you want chairs, they were like $10US per chair. Also the bathroom cost money to use. Just assume everything costs something on the island ! But the water is beautiful & you can go for a little hike on the island too.

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.

This trip was Awesome on the Costa Cat! Cruise, Banana boat, Snorkeling, hiking with lunch included. Pull up a chair and do as much or as little as you please.

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!

Loved this tour. Used Zuma tours and they were amazing. Great snorkeling, lunch on the beach and everything you need on the island. Just bring cash.

Tortuga Island is a beautiful place to visit when you're in Costa Rica. Plenty of companies offer this tour, and the prices vary from USD$125 to $150, so make sure you select a reputable one. You definitely get what you pay for.They picked us up at our hotel at 6:30am, drove us to the Marina about 45min away and the boat trip to the island was about 1h30.The tour included a small breakfast, ceviche, fruit, and coffee on the boat, then a buffet type lunch (Costa Rican) on the island with unlimited rum punches!Other activities offered are snorkeling, banana boat, kayaking, and much more.The white-sand beach is beautiful and the waters are calm. There also is a small souvenir shop on the island.Thoroughly enjoyed this activity!

4.7

(3646)

4.5

(1031)

Q4F3+7RW, Provincia de Puntarenas, Puntarenas, Costa Rica

We went on the boat trip today and Adrian our guide was fantastic. We saw lots of crocodiles (adult and baby) and different wildlife. Adrian was really knowledgeable and shared some really interesting facts about Costa Rica and the animals. My children loved it. Thank you to Adrian and the team for a great morning. They even organised transport for us to get to the river, as we hadn’t hired a car. Highly recommend.

Pictures do not do justice how amazing this tour was and how much fun we had. Not only did we get to see a bunch of crocodiles but we also got to see a wide variety of birds and learn about them too. I feel bad for the only bird watching tour because they missed out on a lot more fun.Our guide was funny as hell always cracking jokes and so engaging that not once did I think the tour was boring. He was constantly talking and engaging with everyone. Explaining what's happening and what they are doing.I've got to give points to the the guy that coaxed out the crocodiles with the raw chicken. He's a crazy brave man.

Highly recommend Jose’s Crocodile River Tour! We saw a ton of crocs (happened to be the end of mating season and the start of the rainy season) and the staff was highly knowledgeable on the wildlife. We were lucky to be the the only ones on the tour, which was very nice of them to take us out on a private trip. We booked through WhatsApp the day of and the owner was very responsive. As of this review, it was $40 per adult and $30 for a child, and tour times were quoted at 10, 12 or 2 (last one of the day). Upon arrival we were offered coffee, water, wifi and the opportunity to use the restroom. FYI, the driver of the boat got out on the bank of the river and fed the crocs. You won’t be disappointed! (Visited 5/13/2022)

We had a great time on the boat. Our guide and boatman were very very knowledgeable and friendly. Hansel and Juan Carlos, thank you for showing us almost 30 species of birds and animals!

Had a great time on this tour seen so many birds and crocs. It's not long at all and get a bottle of water halfway thru. The kid feeding the crocs took my go pro and got some serious close ups during the feeding.

Wonderful experience. Me and my girlfriend went on a tour with them today and definetly the best of the best. Can’t even tell if the tour or the tour guides were better!

We did the crocodile safari and birds watching tour with Jose. We had an excellent time looking at all the different birds located on the edge of the river or in the trees and we saw many! We also saw some crocodiles and some were huge. Jose was very friendly, he spotted a lot of birds which we would not have seen at all and he manoeuvred the boat very close to the crocodiles for us to have close pictures of their teeth. After the safari, we had an excellent lunch and in the shop there was a lot of souvenirs to choose from. Thank you for making our visit a memorable one!

Great visit. Plenty of wildlife, lots of bird varieties, and 3 or 4 crocodiles too.Well worth a visit.

Fun boat trip. We didn't see many crocodiles, but the variety of birds was stunning. The boats were nice and clean, and the guide was very knowledgeable. There were clean restrooms at the gift shop. Prices at the shop were high

These guys were off the chain. Treated us like family. Very friendly, funny, clean environment and knowledgeable crew.

Great boat and guides, he knew the river well. Pointed out many birds species and several crocodiles.

Good tour of the river and its wildlife. Knowledgeable and friendly guide

This was so fun, and so worth the time and cost. Our tour guide, Jesus, and driver were able to show us some awesome animals, and they were so fun to talk with and listen to. The river was so peaceful and it was so great to be able to see crocodiles up close and personal. We were fortunate that they were able to get us on the next tour at short notice. Everyone was very friendly and it all combined to make a great experience.

Fantastic! Jose was a terrific guide, very knowledgeable about the crocodiles, birds and other wildlife we saw. The boat was clean and comfortable to be on, he gave us water to drink as well during the tour, definitely a must do in the area!!

4.7

(904)

5.0

(618)

Q9GF+R9X, Puntarenas Province, Tarcoles, Costa Rica

2 lists

We hit the jackpot and got a warm, clear morning in early March. We booked the 8am (first) tour a week and a half out and we’re glad we did. The crowds (and tours) started coming in around 9am (after we were done 😁). It’s so beautiful to see the crater and learn about its history. Recommend visiting early to ensure the perfect views and fewest number of people.

It's a shame that when we visited here there was low cloud covering the whole of the crater. We subsequently heard that there is a possibility of this every 4 out of 5 times you visit so the odds of it being clear is low. But we had a nice walk up to and from the crater through the national park so not all bad. There's a souvenir shop, toilets and a cafe to use too.

Active volcano where you can go to the edge of the crater. Its allow only 50 people for 20minutes because ita still active volcano. You can park car quite near the volcano, but weather is little bit tricky. Mostly is cloudy and you nor see the crater. Still the feeling is amazing:)

Lucked out on a beautiful day near the Volcano and La Paz waterfalls. Crater was awesome looking. The walk up and back was pretty easy and quick.

A must visit for anyone staying in San José or nearby. Pleasant walk up to the viewing point for the volcano crater, after a short video explaining the history and dangers etc.The view is spectacular, over the crater and out towards the ocean. The volcano was quite active, and the air filled with the smell of sulfur released, so it was fascinating to see it 'in action' from a safe distance.

I was excited to see the volcano but it turned out to be a disappointment. The staff was rude. The lake was closed off. They made a big deal about only being able to be at the lookout point for 20 minutes. But when I got to the lookout you couldn’t see much of anything due to the cloud cover. The best thing was the souvenir shop had some cool looking sloths.

So beautiful! You must add this to your itinerary. Book in advance online and then arrive at your designated time slot. Every video we watched online showed people watching a safety video and wearing a hard hat…we didn’t have to do any of this. We simply arrived and walked up to the volcano. It is amazing - and so is the drive up!

BE AWARE! The female security guard LOCKED US IN THE PARK! Do not order Uber to get you there because they will not pick you up. The female security told us to leave before 4pm…because Uber would not pick us up we had to walk. It took 30+ minutes to get to the gate. The guard drove by us in the rain, then locked the gate!!! We had to crawl under the gate in the rain to get out!!! The park was amazing, however. Thankfully there was a bus of employees that stopped and gave us a ride. The people of Costa Rica are warm hearted and lovely people but that female security guard was THE WORST. Also, when get got to the city of Poas, it was beautiful and we had an amazing time at Sabor de la Montana, but again, Uber will not come and get you so keep that in mind

You get really close to volcano and on a good day, you’ll be able to see the crater without any clouds.Active volcano, and only approx 300m walk to the view point (15 minutes) from the parking lot, definitely a great experience.Make sure you get tickets in advance. Not sure why they aren’t able to charge in person, when they charge at the gate for parking. Wi-Fi on site, so was able to get tickets online at the gate.

Worth the travel! The view of the volcano and mountains is mesmerizing. A memorable experience with our little one.

Make the trip here while you’re in Costa Rica and you won’t be disappointed. The ride there is beautiful and you’ll start to smell the sulfur when you get closer to the park. There’s plenty of parking and the hike isn’t too bad to get there. Cloud cover can hinder your experience but you can’t predict the weather and the clouds move in and out so you very well could be pleasantly surprised by the time you get up there. Pro tip - stop at one of the strawberry stands on your way out and get the best strawberries you’ve ever had!

Beautiful and easy hike to the volcano, at most half a mile. It was absolutely breathtaking. If you are going in Oct or early November you need to get there early before the fog and rain come in otherwise you'll only see fog.Another important things to note - you need tickets prior to visiting. You can get them in advance online for your specific date and time.

Luckily we just got in time before the clouds covered the volcano. My tourguide said the best time is either go in the morning or later in evening around 4-5pm. The views are great! The museum is undergoing renovation so we couldn't go inside that.

You can’t control nature. I see the negative reviews but it’s not the places fault if it’s cloudy or rainy or if the volcano doesn’t do enough tricks. We came when it was green safe and not too active. Would it be better in yellow condition meaning more activities. Maybe.We had clear sky and got lucky. The place is what it is. The volcano is just as described.There are more conditions against you seeing it as it should be seen. I guess the odds are against you.Leaving negative review is like coming to CR in rainy season and complaining about the rain. Yes it’s sucks if you don’t see it and pay. But it’s not that expensive.

If you’re a tourist, this may be a worthwhile visit. While we were here the sky cleared up enough to see inside the crater.We also got really lucky as it ended up erupting, first large eruption since 2019!!

Nice view but unfortunately all trails were close, Buaetiful scenery drive up to the top of Poas volcano , Biu tickets in advance or at little souvenir store around 4km before you rich a entrance

I highly recommend Poas Volcano National Park. Make sure you wear good hiking shoes as the terrain is steep and slippery. We hiked 13 km in total.

Hands down the best volcano close to the San Jose area! The view of the crater and the lagoon is amazing! Wear tennis shoes and take your time to walk up to the lagoon. One way to the cater takes about 10 minutes, and one way to the lagoon (uphill) takes about 20 minutes with a break or two.

Probably the best view of our entire vacation. My only suggestion is to make sure you prepare for your entrance/ticket. There is no booth, so many people had to park on the side and pay on their phones.

Parking is easy, the rate was $5. Once you walk in you have to get a helmet, after that your fee to walk to the volcano, it’s about a 12-15 min walk not difficult at all as it’s on pavement. Once there you can have this beautiful view.They also have a bathrooms by the helmet station and to return the helmet you walk upstairs where there’s a souvenir and snack bar area next to it.

Visibility is by chance. We visited January 17th, 2024 and could see maybe 100 feet (so we could not see anything.) Just bad luck. We were also unprepared for the gale force winds and chill from being literally in the mist of the clouds. I failed to find a good source for weather forecasting at the park and suffered the consequences. The hike to the main viewing area is short, not steep (IMO) and on wide paved surfaces (which were quite wet but not unreasonably slippery, YMMV). We also took the short extra hike to the overlook of the inactive crater, Laguna Botos and could see; nothing. We took the alternate hiking path back down to the nature center and even it was paved (just a bit narrower.) We got tickets online ahead of time for $15 plus 13% tax each. I don't think it really matters what time you select for your pass. We were several hours later than the time listed on our passes and had no problem entering (it may have helped that we had a local driver/guide, but I can't say for sure.) We were there maybe an hour. Might have spent more time there if the weather/visibility had cooperated. This was the 2nd stop of our Doka Coffee Plantation/Poas Volcano/La Paz Waterfall Gardens tour day. Started in San Jose and ended in La Fortuna.

4.4

(892)

4.5

(3531)

Alajuela Province, Alajuela, Costa Rica

12 lists

We come to Jaco beach for kids friendly surfing 🏄‍♀️. It’s a great beach to learn. Sand is not the greatest as it is mixed with dirt and there are some stones while you enter the water but once you walk I in to the water a little bit stones disappear.

This beach was my least favorite beach to visit in Costa Rica, the grounds were not well-kept, the people seemed sketchy, at one point we saw, women, soliciting, sex, as well as we saw a person shooting up. The beach itself very packed, but not very clean not our favorite.

Seems like a lovely beach, we did not stay long because we had other places to be. We did not manage to find a restroom. The town nearby was very busy and touristy

Incredible vistas to stop doing the road. Walk down to the rocky beach for crabs and breaking waves along the coast.

This beach is nice but i have seen nicer.The beach is clean however nothing compared to manuel antonio. There you will find a lot of activities to do, surfing, flying, jet ski, or just spend the day in the sun.Here the sand is darker. There are waves that you can use for surfing and depending on the day is high vs low waves but definitely worth a visit if you are in the area. After you cross in the water, there is an area in the sand that is all big and small rocks which makes it harder to cross and play with waves or surf especially on a day with strong waves. However there are beach beds and umbrellas that you can rent and not a whole lot of vendors selling you the good stuff you will find in manuel antonio like cold coconut, shaved ice and other goodies.Recommend.

It’s a nice place to enjoy yourself. I didn’t like to see litter around.It’s accesible and you’ll get a nice walk. There are always surfing lessons going on as well as people riding horses with the tours available for.

Great water in February, nice waves for paddle boarding, water is murky so don’t see a lot of fish but crabs running around. The beach is not crowded at all. Black sand mixed with rocks. Very dirty seems like no security, cleaning or any investment from the shore hotels. Occasional local entrepreneurs not too pushy.

Was much nicer when it was a quiet blistering hot beach with a fishing village and no tourist infrastructure when I first visited there in 1990. Now an ugly mix of old new and unfinished, ugly casinos and everything grim that goes with it. Some nice parts and it's close to San Jose

Be aware of people trying to reapp you off. Parking is free. Don't stop to talk to the guy. Food is very mediocre here, just eat somewhere else.

Nice place. If your looking for a white sands don't expect it from Jaco. If you love surfing, you can get a not so big waves but good enough to have fun.

I had the pleasure of visiting Jaco Beach, and I must say it exceeded all my expectations! This pristine stretch of coastline is a true tropical paradise, offering a perfect blend of relaxation and adventure.The beach itself is stunning, with golden sands that stretch for miles and the inviting waves of the Pacific Ocean. Whether you're a surfer looking for the perfect wave or someone wanting to unwind with a beachside stroll, Jaco Beach caters to all.The surrounding area is filled with vibrant energy, offering a variety of restaurants, bars, and shops. I highly recommend trying the local cuisine, especially the fresh seafood dishes. The laid-back atmosphere of Jaco town adds to the overall charm, making it a fantastic destination for both solo travelers and families.One highlight was the breathtaking sunset over the Pacific. The colors were mesmerizing, and the view was simply unforgettable. I also appreciated the efforts made to keep the beach clean and well-maintained.For those seeking adventure, Jaco offers a range of activities, from zip-lining through the lush rainforest to exploring nearby national parks. The local wildlife is diverse and adds an extra layer of excitement to the experience.The hospitality of the locals was exceptional, with friendly and welcoming faces everywhere. The surf culture is vibrant, creating a unique and lively atmosphere that adds to the overall charm of Jaco.In conclusion, Jaco Beach is a hidden gem on Costa Rica's Pacific Coast. Whether you're a nature enthusiast, adventure seeker, or simply looking for a tranquil escape, Jaco has it all. I highly recommend this destination to anyone looking for an unforgettable beach getaway. Can't wait to return!

Jaco Beach is a lovely beach we've been coming to for over 12 years and there are some changes since our last visit 4 years ago. It's still a soft surf and easy to ride waves, people barbequing and families flying kites, people learning how to surf. It has become very popular over the years; the weekends it's gotten very crowded. I like seeing that there are lifeguard stations but we didn't see them being used this 3 week visit....not once. Horseback riding is here too. PLEASE TAKE CAUTION! Once the sun sets (some of the most beautiful you'll ever see). Go home to where you are staying. It's quite rough with people who might want to take advantage of you or want your money. During the weekends you'll find people wanting money saying "I watched your car for you". They might try showing you an obvious parking spot and want money. It's ALWAYS been free to park here but they will target tourists.

All kind of things to do! Sunset horse ride, surf, canopy, skating,ets.Also good restaurants and coffee places.

Good for surfing in the south end. However if you wanna enjoy the beach go more North where it's cleaner with less sticks and or people's trash.

A bit rocky at low tide in some places but a great view of the waves. The sand gets crazy hot.

Dirty beach south of the sewer river. North of bridge much cleaner. This time of year lots of wood debris. Nice sunsets.

Fabulous city setting, this beach is one block from the main drag. It has a bit dirty water and sand due to its location but still is one of my favorite places to visit

Very nice clean beach. Walk every day

Beautiful sunset and great waves for surfing. Aesthetically not my favorite beach because of the dark, murky sand due to the proximity to the volcano I believe. Too many rock ashore. Pretty rocks for rock collectors though.

4.4

(1596)

4.0

(1665)

Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica

1 list

We wanted to do something worthwhile and interesting close to San Jose on our last day in CR, and decided to book a tour at Rescate because I had heard they were a real-deal wildlife rescue. We wanted to see animals, of course, but also to have our money go to support a good cause and not contribute to certain animal welfare issues created by the tourist industry. Not only was Rescate huge, beautiful, and full of interesting animals (which could not be released for one reason or another), but the tour was so informative. Our guide was friendly and nice, and we could tell she was devoted to the Rescate mission and values.They really do put the animals first here. Animals brought to the rescue are rehabilitated and carefully released whenever possible, and only those animals that are too injured, too used to people, or too potentially dangerous stay at the rescue center. Visitors are not allowed into the wildlife hospital and are not allowed to touch any of the animals. The animals are also not forced to be on display at all times, with their large enclosures allowing them to move out of sight when they desire to do so. It was really nice to see the animals' comfort valued above visitors' curiosity.It was also really interesting learning about the animal trade in Costa Rica and what is being done to end it, as well as hearing different individual animals' stories. I highly recommend visiting and taking the guided tour, which is very reasonably priced. There are places to sit and grab a popcicle, a restaurant and a gift shop too if that's your jam, so there is a little something for everyone here.

Fantastic wildlife rescue centre. Animals well looked after and have big enclosures. Got to see many different native species including Jaguars. Staff lovely overall great experience, would highly recommend.

This was one of our favorite excursions while staying in Costa Rica. This place is not a zoo, they rehabilitate all of the animals and release them in the wild once they are recovered.This place has exceptionally friendly staff and such a huge variety of animals!! The food here was also incredibly good! They make the food fresh.All of the proceeds go to supporting all of their animals and staff and they truly need it. You could truly see how much everyone cares for these animals and it’s beautiful!! The only thing that was slightly disappointing was that there weren’t many sloths on the exhibits, but we cannot hold that to their fault!! They definitely had them but they were sleeping lol.

Stopped in one afternoon as I happened to be staying down the street. Very well kept and clean. Comparable to almost any zoo or animal rescue facility I've been to in the US in terms of the quality and size of the enclosures. All the animals seemed happy and well taken care of. Staff was very pleasant and many were bilingual . Definitely an enjoyable day... lots to see. I would suggest not going midday when the heat is at its height, as the animals are less active.

One of the best wildlife rescue centers! You can tell the animals are well taken care of. The center takes about 2-3 hours to fully see everything. All the staff are super friendly and helpful.

Amazing zoo experience, it is always a pleasure to see wildlife in such well cared for exhibits. Most animals were visible in the morning, all seemed content in their enclosures and a few surprises running around the walkways was also an amazing treat.Thank you for making the most enjoyable experience possible with your rehabilitation zoo.Great place to visit!!! Will recommend to everybody I know.

I am always skeptical about these things, but it seems like this is a real rescue center. The place is laid out well. The animals look healthy. Wikipedia states, “It is administered by a conservation nonprofit foundation called Fundación Restauración de la Naturaleza,[5] which also is responsible for the country's largest rehabilitation center in the Rescate Wildlife campus.” It looks like it started as a zoo and then they started conservation efforts. Note that the actual wildlife campus is off-limits to visitors. I absolutely loved the huge iguanas walking around everywhere along with the random other animals outside of the enclosures along the paths. The giant bamboo grove is stunning, so don’t miss that. The crocodile is huge. Finally, don’t miss some of the talking birds. They were totally amazing. It was interesting to hear birds who speak better Spanish than me.

Tons of beautiful animals, huge iguanas wandering everywhere that just don’t give a $&@%, and their work is very cool. But I personally felt a little irked about how small the spaces they were, although it was not their fault, these are injured animals that would not survive in the wild. The price was also high, which I hope is going to the animals as much as possible, although of course overhead is expensive. Note, my son disagrees with my assessment about the cages, and he could totally be right. Anyway, if you can’t go far from San Jose, and want to see a sample of Costa Rica’s amazing animals, this is the perfect place.

This place is 💯 worth stopping at! Took the family to explore and it feels like you're walking through the jungle and seeing a variety of plants and animals. Loved being able to get so close to the sloths, monkeys, ocelot, cougar and iguanas. Capybara we're running around under foot and there were wild birds flying around the enclosures of the kept ones.Animals look happy and well cared for - what an amazing place!

Where to start? This place is simply incredible! From the beautiful peaco*cks, iguanas, macaws, and toucans freely roaming around to the up-close encounters with big cats, tortoises, and monkeys, every moment was memorable. The shaded areas provided relief from the sun, and the staff was amazing. The gift store offers reasonably priced, hand-painted souvenirs that support a wonderful cause. We had ice cream scoops from one of the many snack stands scattered through the park and it was delicous. The restaurant, with its affordable prices, even has a cute play area for kids. Plus, they offer rentable push strollers. My favorite part? Walking through the giant bamboo, an absolutely magnificent experience with the breathtaking sound it made in the wind. We went on a Monday and quite literally had the park to ourselves. Clean restrooms and grounds. 100% would recommend. It’s a must see and enjoyable for all ages.

Great place that is definitely worth a visit. Large number of animals in spacious enclosures, groomed paths, information boards, good restaurant.However, the whole project is mainly used to return animals to the wild. on the one hand, those who got into the zoo due to injuries or captive breeding, but especially those that were bred here. Zoo Ave has an extensive breeding program focused on rare bird species, the flagship is the Scarlatt Macaw. These birds are then released into the wild in two centers in Nicoya and Golfito. Rescate Center also has a great volunteer program. Your entrance fee will go to a great beneficial thing.

Feels like a zoo, but a really cool place to be with the kids. They didn't wanna leave for 6h. Lot of animals strolling around freely like iguanas, tucans, peaco*cks etc. Everything is beautifully organized. We especially enjoyed the tapir. You can go there by Uber or public bus, there's a bus stop in front of the entrance.

We had an absolutely magical experience here at RWRC. We went with our 4 children ages 14/12/4/2 and they all loved it. We only saw two other people while there so it felt like we had the whole place to ourselves. We booked a private tour guide, Amy, who was not only lovely and knowledgeable but very patient ( as our youngest was a bit overtired that day ) she taught us a lot and made the whole experience a day to remember. Thanks so much Amy! The passion and kindness that the staff have for these animals is incredibly heartwarming. I would highly recommend stopping by if you're in the area.

It was pouring rain, but we had a great time. The animals look well cared for and the grounds are quite lovely! We would appreciate some info on the particular animals included on the signage. Also- golden orb spiders are EVERYWHERE- so if you are an arachnophobe, be aware of your surroundings.

Our family had such a wonderful visit to the wildlife rescue! It was definitely worth it. We got some amazing photos to bring back home with us.

This is not a zoo but a refuge for animals. It is expensive to get in (35$ USD/adult) but it is fine since they use the funds to save and reintroduce so many animals in the wild. It is sad to see that many of their animals have been hurt by human activity when it is not human cruelty. Animals deserve to have this kind of sanctuary and we truly enjoyed our visit knowing we were making a small contribution to this goal.Kids learned so much and got to interact with some animals that are roaming freely in the park.It takes about 2 hours to visit the park but we stayed for close to 4 hours.There is a nice restaurant as well and food is good and service excellent.

We paid for a tour guide and it was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. Our tour guide Eduardo was very passionate about his job and very knowledgeable about the animals. He was able to answer all of our questions and was very respectful to the animals. For those are deciding if they should go, you should definitely go. There is also a restaurant that had wonderful food options. I also want to note it is NOT a zoo, it is a wildlife rescue centre and you can tell how much the staff care and respect the animals. 10/10 experience would go again. Again, Eduardo was wonderful and you are definitely lucky if you get him as your tour guide.

I want to start off by saying this is an excellent place for the rehabilitation of sick and injured animals. The plan that is in place is well thought of in terms of keeping an animal for its safety vs releasing it back in the wild if the animal is prepared and can maintain an existing life. It is different from a zoo (which are banned in Costa Rica).Our tour guide Eduardo is an excellent tour guide for English speaking visitors. His knowledge of the animals there and his well thought of explanation for the history of the animals they have taken in provides excellent insight. He also takes time to explain about the vegetation around the place and will help you identify certain trees or leaves. He also takes time out to listen to your questions and provide excellent information.Because it is a nonprofit they rely on visitors and donations, I highly recommend to visit the place and learn more about their efforts

Its a great place to spend the day in this refuge walking along their paths and seeing all the different animals they have rescued, I really like the fact that they have a full working restaurant so you can plan having lunch right on the property. They have a petting zoo and I really enjoyed the ice cream stand right next to it, were you can relax a bit in the shade with yummy helado as they call it.

We had the guided tour of the sanctuary in January. It was very informative and amazing to see all the animals up close. Even some wild toucans, iguanas and other birds freely walk the property. I was amazed at how Costa Rica cares for the environment and its animals. I highly recommend everyone visit this sanctuary.

This refuge is on the way to La Paz waterfalls and Poas from San Jose. It’s the perfect stop for lunch and to stretch our legs coming from the central pacific coast. Only 30 min northwest from the San Jose airport. The animals were incredible. So up close and personal. It only took about 60-90 minutes and our whole family loved every part of it. Flora and fauna included. We ended with a light lunch (mostly ice cream!) on site and were on our way. We will be recommending to everyone!

So much to see and the rescue and conservation efforts of Rescate are truly fantastic. They also have a nice and reasonably priced cafe with many food and drink options. We had a great time and saw so many amazing animals in truly great enclosures.

What a great rescue center. Our guide was wonderful. This place is beautiful. And don't forget to leave a donation to help everyone's efforts and keep this facility able to provide the care the animals need.

Ein einmaliges Erlebnis. Kein Zoo im üblichen Sinne, sondern viel mehr ein Zufluchtsort für heimische Tierarten, die dort noch ein entspanntes Leben führen können. In vielen Anlagen gibt es keine/kaum Zäune, sodass auch viele Tiere wie z.B. Leguane und Pfauen einfach über die Wege laufen.Der Ort finanziert sich lediglich über Eintrittsgelder, den Souvenierverkauf oder Spenden, daher sind sie dankbar für jeden Besucher.Wir waren an einem Dienstag im Februar dort. Trotz hoher Temperaturen konnte man es in dieser Oase nahe der Hauptstadt sehr gut aushalten. Viel Schatten und kaum Besucher. Nehmt euch Zeit und entdeckt wundervolle Tiere und Pflanzen des Landes. Wir würden jederzeit wiederkommen.(Translated by Google)A unique experience. Not a zoo in the usual sense, but rather a refuge for local animal species that can still lead a relaxed life there. In many facilities there are no/hardly any fences, so many animals such as iguanas and peaco*cks simply walk across the paths.The place is only financed through entrance fees, souvenir sales or donations, so they are grateful for every visitor.We were there on a Tuesday in February. Despite the high temperatures, it was very easy to survive in this oasis near the capital. Lots of shade and hardly any visitors. Take your time and discover the country's wonderful animals and plants. We would come back at any time.

4.7

(4763)

4.5

(883)

2.3 km al este del cruce de Manolo's, ruta 3, hacia el B° San José, Provincia de Alajuela, Alajuela, Costa Rica

Such a great experience while we were in Costa Rica. Gustavo went the extra mile to make our experience wonderful.

I can’t even begin to say how thankful I was to find this place and how much fun I had! It was my favorite part of my entire trip! Adrian was our guide and he was the best! He was kind and we enjoyed his conversations. He took lots of video and pictures too. The horses are well cared for and so well behaved. The beach was beautiful and not full of people. The ride was just breathtaking. We had so much fun and will be back for sure! Gustavo was also very friendly and was kind enough to give us a ride back to Jaco because there were no Uber’s in the area. This place is the best horse company around.

It was 4 of us, we all had a great time. The guide/owner took a lot of pictures and videos. Very well behaved horses n easy to ride. Highlight of the trip.

These horses love Diego and are clearly loyal to him, but are conditioned to allow for some independence so their rider can have their own experience. The saddles are fitted, well padded and are not only beautifully made, but also worn nice n smooth. He handmakes his own halter and bitless bridles. (Smart, effective and humane!) Their feet are trimmed and healthy, their eyes calm and content. Just watch Diego go around his horses, how he tacks them up, how they stand calmly for him. This is a horseman who is in it for his love of horses. If you want a barn with fancy stalls and landscaping and clipped horses, you're expectations of the Costa Rican ranch are way off. We felt very safe with him. Gentle guidance with a sparkle of kindness in his eye...and clearly the community loves him too, judging by the personable greetings he received from everyone we encountered. The food and view were fantastic (see photo)! The tour is very informal and adapted to the demands of that day so don't expect a choreographed itinerary. Go with the flow and allow yourself to savor the contagious joy of horses with Diego. Thank you, Diego for a dream-come-true ride! (And Happy Birthday, David Bowie! Rest in peace)

Excellent ride at sunset with the family. Costa Rican cowboys Gustavo, Diego, and Adrian are very friendly and helpful. Adrian lead our ride and took great photos and videos. Horses are well trained and easy to ride. Very pleased with this ride.

We just went riding with Adrian and Gustavo today. This was such an incredible experience--a perfect day. The horses were beautiful and well-behaved, the beach was gorgeous, and Adrian was a fantastic guide. I was with my 12-year-old horse-loving daughter. Adrian really listened to her and what she wanted to do, and gave her the opportunity to walk, trot, canter, and gallop along the beach. This was really her dream come true. I felt the whole time that she was safe in such good hands, and I felt comfortable enough to trot, which I'm usually not secure about. He also took amazing photos for her -- she hasn't stopped looking at them all afternoon, she is so happy. Adrian also showed us beautiful birds and plants, we loved learning about these. He and his brother, Gustavo, were also such interesting and kind people. What an amazing day, I can't recommend this highly enough.A couple of tips -- you can leave your stuff at the restaurant where the tour leaves from and returns to; wear Keen's or similar -- your feet will get wet; you can arrange to stay on at the beautiful beach after the tour. I'm so glad we did this, the beach was empty, the water was warm. There is a riptide, so you can't go out too far, but still so great.Take this tour!

10 Stars! Had a great time Horseriding at the beach with my 11yr old daughter and guide Gustavo. We are experienced riders, had a nice trip with galop too. Horses Maryachy and Mango are well trained and Gustavo takes good care of the horses. Gustavo is really friendy, speaks spanish and english. Makes great photographs so we have souvenirs :-). Really enjoyed and would recommend! Thanks Gustavo! Pura Vida!

Happy, well-trained horses! what an amazing adventure riding with Adrian Solis. Kind, respectful, knowledgeable gentleman who took the time to take AMAZING photos and videos while I was riding! truly went the extra mile... and WOW, what AMAZING horses he has! Can't wait to go back and ride with Adrian again. ;-)

Magic. Pure magic. The best thing we did on our honeymoon- Gustavo and Adrian ensured we had the best sunset ride catered to me as a lifetime rider and my husband on his 2nd ride ever. If you only go one place and do one thing on your Costa Rica vacation - please do this.

4.7

(69)

5.0

(471)

sunrise avenue, rancho monterey, Provincia de Puntarenas, Esterillos Este, 60901, Costa Rica