ON FOOT · COSTA RICA HIKING TOURS

Costa Rica Hiking Tours: 10 to Book Next

10 hikes  ·  from $67 a head

This is the shortlist you would send a walking friend: 10 costa rica hiking tours that justify the airfare, each with its price, its distance and the one thing to know before you commit.

Hiking Tour of La Leona Waterfall with Lunch - Pools, caves, and three hours of active hiking
Costa Rica Hiking Tours, Hikes with Lunch, Hiking Tours, Lunch Experiences, Tour Reviews, Tours, Waterfall Hikes

Hiking Tour of La Leona Waterfall with Lunch

1.Hiking Tour of La Leona Waterfall with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 106 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $79Our pick

From Tamarindo, hike with a private guide through the Rio Blanco canyon to La Leona Waterfall. Expect rocky terrain, river crossings, caves, pools, ropes, and a short swim with a life jacket. Guides such as Jason, Dylan, Steven, and Noel are known for patient help and nature knowledge. Lunch and transport are included.

“Worth every penny. Mix of easy to moderately challenging hikes. About 20-30 mins easy hiking, 20-30 mins river crossing and clambering over rocks and 20-30 mins to get to final waterfall destination. Superb sights along the way and the La Leona waterfall final is not to be missed considering you can literally swim right up under it if you have the stamina. We arrived (self-driven) at 8:45am, were met by Jason and spent about 3 hours in total hiking there and back and an hour or so for lunch. Jason (our guide for the day) was super friendly, assistive when others in the party needed help with water activities and…”

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Manuel Antonio National Park Hiking Tour from Jacó - Breakfast, restrooms, and the Tucanes Tours center
Costa Rica Hiking Tours, Hiking Tours, National Park Hikes, Tour Reviews, Tours

Manuel Antonio National Park Hiking Tour from Jacó

2.Manuel Antonio National Park Hiking Tour from Jacó

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 93 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $135

Travel from Jacó to Manuel Antonio National Park with a bilingual nature guide, then walk easy rainforest trails to a beautiful protected beach. Guides such as Jeremy, Ronald, and Tyrone are praised for spotting sloths, monkeys, birds, reptiles, and insects with a telescope. Hotel transport, meals, drinks, and swimming time are included.

“Ask for guide Jeromy with Toucans Tours he was very knowledgeable and without his telescope we would missed 90% of what we saw. 9 sloths, 8 monkeys, multiple lizards, iguanna, exotic butterflies, land crabs, hermit crabs, giant rodent, birds including white King Vulture.”

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La Leona Waterfall Hike and River Tubing - River tubing through the Rincon de la Vieja region
Costa Rica Hiking Tours, Hiking Tours, Tour Reviews, Waterfall Hikes

La Leona Waterfall Hike and River Tubing

3.La Leona Waterfall Hike and River Tubing

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 90 reviews · 4 to 5 hours (approx.) · from $90

Near Liberia, hike through forest and shallow streams to La Leona Waterfall, using ladders and a rope to reach its cave and swimming hole. Then spend about 90 minutes tubing through the Rincon de la Vieja region. Guides such as Ronnie, Brandy, Victor, and Diego focus on safety and help with the tougher sections.

“Beauti nature! Alejandro was an excellent guide for our family. Learned a lot. No animals in the afternoon tour. Hike to the fall is not hard. Tubing is very safe. Water refreshing. The guides will help you if you need it.”

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Full Day Tour with Safari Float, Waterfall and Volcano Hike - The Peñas Blancas River float: the best wildlife setting
Costa Rica Hiking Tours, Full-Day, Hiking Tours, La Fortuna Hiking Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Volcano Hikes, Waterfall Hikes

Full Day Tour with Safari Float, Waterfall and Volcano Hike

4.Full Day Tour with Safari Float, Waterfall and Volcano Hike

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 89 reviews · 9 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $210

Start near La Fortuna with a peaceful safari float on the Peñas Blancas River, then swim at La Fortuna Waterfall, eat a traditional lunch at a family ranch, and hike old lava trails near Arenal Volcano. Guides such as Tony, Pepe, Oscar, and Francisco are praised for spotting wildlife and explaining local nature and culture.

“The best thing we did! This is a very sweet family owned company. The group was small, and our guide had so much knowledge to share with us. The boat ride is the perfect way to start the morning, tons of animals. He was so good at spotting them, and shared binoculars with the group. The waterfall was absolutely stunning, but if you are out of shape, give yourself enough time to get back up the stairs! The Arenal hike was less strenuous than I thought it would be, and very worth it! The highlight of the tour though, lunch with the family. I so value a home cooked meal,…”

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Arenal Volcano Hike - What the guide adds to a short hike
Costa Rica Hiking Tours, Hiking Tours, La Fortuna Hiking Tours, Tour Reviews, Volcano Hikes

Arenal Volcano Hike

5.Arenal Volcano Hike

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 76 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $73

Walk across Arenal’s old lava fields with a local guide, learning about the 1968 eruption, plants, and wildlife. Callidryas Tours provides transport, park entry, drinks, and fresh fruit. Guides such as Byron, Aaron, Diego, and Katarina have led engaging outings, though the hike is short and can be rocky, steep, and busy.

“Great hike and great experience. The tour guide was absolutely fantastic and super energetic. Answered all of our questions and explained a lot to us.”

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Arenal Hanging Bridges Hiking Tour - Fifteen bridges, several different views
Costa Rica Hiking Tours, Hiking Tours, La Fortuna Hiking Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Arenal Hanging Bridges Hiking Tour

6.Arenal Hanging Bridges Hiking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 69 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $66Cheapest way up

Spend about four hours exploring a 3.1-kilometer rainforest circuit near La Fortuna, crossing 15 suspended and stationary bridges. A professional guide such as Andres, Harvin, or Daniela may help you spot monkeys, snakes, frogs, birds, and sloths with a scope. Transport, park entry, water, and snacks are included.

“Our tour guide for our Hanging Bridges tour was excellent. He was very dynamic and enthusiastic about sharing his knowledge about the rain forest we were walking through. Having a guide is a very different experience from walking through the forest on your own. He explained so many details about the various trees, visitors could not possibly have gathered the information on their own. It was very fascinating. It was also very interesting walking along the various suspension bridges across the very deep gullies. Some were longer and swayed more than others and some relatively short. They provided a beautiful view of the forest. Though the walk was not especially…”

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2-Day Extreme Nature Hike from La Fortuna to Monteverde - Day one: six hours into the La Fortuna rainforest
2-Day Experiences, Costa Rica Hiking Tours, Hiking Tours, La Fortuna Hiking Tours, Nature Walks, Tour Reviews

2-Day Extreme Nature Hike from La Fortuna to Monteverde

7.2-Day Extreme Nature Hike from La Fortuna to Monteverde

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 66 reviews · 2 days (approx.) · from $160

This two-day hike links La Fortuna and Monteverde by remote mountain trails, with a rustic forest cabin overnight. Guides such as Hugo, Errol, Santiago, and Christian lead small groups of up to eight, prepare dinner, and point out wildlife. Expect a hard first day, river crossings, basic washing facilities, and an easier climb toward Santa Elena on day two.

“This has been one of the best things we've experienced in Costa Rica! We've felt so lucky about having Hugo as a guide, he was super nice, he cooked us a delicious dinner and shared with us his stories while also being super kind to Severino, the sweet old man whose house we've slept in :) The hike is challenging but not too hard, even though it wasn't too warm when we did it. The house is super basic, so be prepared (it might be useful to bring a pillowcase). This wasn't a problem for us but it's not for everyone. You are totally out of the world in many…”

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Corcovado National Park Hike - From Uvita - Reaching San Pedrillo and handling park limits
Costa Rica Hiking Tours, Hiking Tours, National Park Hikes, Tour Reviews

Corcovado National Park Hike – From Uvita

8.Corcovado National Park Hike – From Uvita

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 65 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $170

Leave Uvita at 7 a.m. for a 1.5-hour boat ride to Corcovado National Park. With a bilingual guide, hike for about three hours, look for monkeys, toucans, dolphins, turtles, and seasonal whales, then eat lunch before returning. San Pedrillo is the usual destination, though Campanario may replace it when park capacity is full.

“We saw plenty of amazing wildlife, and the guides were friendly and knowledgeable. The lunch was pretty good, but not as good as other tours I’ve been on. Also, when we finished the hike, some proprietors of an adjacent lodge came out to yell at us saying we were trespassing—this isn’t true because all beaches in Costa Rica are public (even the four seasons can’t keep the public off their beaches legally), but this woman pointed out that our hike was not through Corcovado National Park. If it’s important to you that part of your ticket goes to national park permits for conservation, then this might not be the tour…”

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Jungle Hike with Canyoning and Rappelling in Drake Bay - Hiking beneath the primary forest canopy
Costa Rica Hiking Tours, Forest & Jungle Hikes, Hiking Tours, Tour Reviews

Jungle Hike with Canyoning and Rappelling in Drake Bay

9.Jungle Hike with Canyoning and Rappelling in Drake Bay

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 48 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $115

From Drake Bay, Sukia Travel takes you by 4x4 into Corcovado National Park for a strenuous jungle hike, river crossings, swimming, and several rappels down waterfalls. Guides such as Emilio, Allen, Bryan, David, and Alan lead small groups of up to eight. Lunch is served during the route.

“Ended up being a private excursion with our guide Emelio. The company as a whole were attentive and aided us to make our experience both smooth and exhilarating. Emelio was knowledgeable, personable, and an amazing guide. Highly recommend to anyone seeking an unforgettable adventure.”

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Nativos Corcovado Night Hike in DrakeBay - Meeting the guide at 6:30pm
Costa Rica Hiking Tours, Evening Experiences, Hiking Tours, Night Hikes, Tour Reviews

Nativos Corcovado Night Hike in DrakeBay

10.Nativos Corcovado Night Hike in DrakeBay

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 45 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $68

Join a private evening hike near Drake Bay from 6:30 to 9:30pm, led in English or Spanish by a guide such as Emilio or Eric. Walk along the Rio Agujitas and through a former plantation and wildlife research area, using provided rubber boots and flashlights while looking for frogs, snakes, spiders, insects, kinkajous, ocelots, tapirs, and possibly pumas.

“What an amazing tour. I was surprised by the amount of animals we were able to see up close…vipers, frogs, spiders, a scorpion. It was an informative tour with lots of picture opportunities. Just be aware that you will have wet feet, since you‘ll be walking through a river. But you quickly forget about that when you have the first viper right in front of you :).”

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Other ways to spend the day on foot

Mountain & Summit Hikes356Volcano Hikes196Waterfall Hikes166Guided Day Hikes261Glacier Hikes90National Park Hikes123
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