Things to do in

River Tarcoles

Discover Jaco beach and enjoy a day of relaxation at one of Costa Rica's most beautiful destinations. See the Costa Rican countryside along with an expert naturalist guide. Relax on a panoramic drive through the countryside before your first stop at the Tarcoles River. Here, see the world's largest population of wild American crocodiles. Continue on to the famous Jaco Beach and admire the spectacular ocean views. Enjoy a tour of the city with your guide and visit the local souvenir stores. Arrive at the hotel located right in front of the beach, and get full access to hotel facilities including the pool, bar, restaurant, and beach club. Spend an unforgettable day at the beach and admire the views while enjoying a delicious lunch.

Experience a unique way to see the incredible natural beauty of Costa Rica with a tour that combines a 2-hour horseback riding trek and a 1-hour boat ride on the Tarcoles River. After being picked up from the cruise pier, enjoy a relaxing in the journey through the wonderful Costa Rican countryside and see from the vehicle many sights of interest including mango, coffee, sugar and citrus plantations, diverse fruit stands, and rural farming communities.  Meet your guide for the day, who help to pair you with the perfect horse based on your skill level. After receiving horse-riding instructions, embark on your riding adventure using a western saddle. Ride through lush mangroves, green rainforests, the beach, and across the river, where many wildlife species are easy to see. Continue to Tarcoles River, and go on a boat tour to see the abundant wildlife of the area, including huge crocodiles, multiple aquatic birds, scarlet macaws, howler monkeys, and other unique tropical species. After the boat tour, return to the cruise pier where you will be dropped off.

Head out into the river on an exclusive and unique boat tour in the river with a naturalist guide. Get up close to American crocodiles and observe a variety of exotic birds. Take a walk in the Carara National Park, see the rich wildlife, and learn more about biodiversity in this fascinating region of the Central Pacific Coast. Your breathtaking adventure begins with a relaxing 90-minute private drive from San Jose, through the wonderful Costa Rican countryside with air-conditioned transportation. Arrive at Tarcoles River, home to one of the world’s largest crocodile populations in the wild. Get up-close with American crocodiles of all sizes, and observe an abundance of beautiful exotic birds on a 90-minute boat tour. Enjoy spectacular rainforest scenery and cruise through dense mangrove forest canals. Spot jungle wildlife such as iguanas, lizards, and monkeys. Tuck into a delicious lunch and explore the souvenir store, before continuing to the Carara National Park. Go deep inside the rainforest in this rich and unique ecosystem, where many beautiful wildlife species are common to see such as the Scarlet macaw, monkeys, snakes, armadillos, and over 1,400 species of plants. After this great safari, return to your hotel in San Jose.

Experience a unique way to see the incredible natural beauty of Costa Rica with a tour that combines riding thrilling 2-hour ATV bike ride and a 1-hour boat cruise on the Tarcoles River. After being picked up from the cruise pier, enjoy a relaxing in the journey through the wonderful Costa Rican countryside and see from the vehicle many sights of interest including mango, coffee, sugar and citrus plantations, diverse fruit stands, and rural farming communities.  Pick up your ATV bikes and receive instructions and take test runs so you can feel comfortable on the bikes. Follow your guide along the jungle trails, teak plantations, 14 river crossings, bumpy dirt rainforest paths, and 2 different beaches.  If weather allowing, take a quick swim at Bochinche Beach, a pristine and almost private beach where the group will have a break. During the tour, your guide will provide bottled water and serve fresh tropical fruits.  Continue to Tarcoles River, and go on a boat tour to see the abundant wildlife of the area, including huge crocodiles, multiple aquatic birds, scarlet macaws, howler monkeys, and other unique tropical species. After the boat tour, return to the cruise pier where you will be dropped off.

Get picked up from the cruise pier. Journey through the wonderful Costa Rican countryside and see from the vehicle many sights of interest including mango, coffee, sugar and citrus plantations, diverse fruit stands and rural farming communities.  Begin your journey through the rainforest at the Tarcolitos River canyon, in a 200-hectare private reserve. You will be crossing the river eight times, in a cart drawn by a tractor, so that you can appreciate both the flora and fauna of the region. During the tour, make several stops for birdwatching and to discover the important trees of the area. If weather conditions permit, stop to get off the wagon and swim in a natural pool.  The tour will continue with a short drive to the Tarcoles River, where you will head out on an hour-long boat tour. Experience the abundant wildlife of the area, including crocodiles, multiple aquatic birds, scarlet macaws, howler monkeys, and other amazing tropical species. Finally, return to the Puntarenas cruise ship pier, where you will be dropped off.

Begin your journey by being picked up from your hotel, and going on a scenic 1.5-hour drive along Route 27, making your way to your first stop at Carara National Park. Head straight out onto some flat walking trails suitable for all fitness levels and wheelchair users, and admire the biological reserve's abundant jungle life in person. Look up to the 40-meter high canopy, and keep an eye out for bright scarlet macaws, agouti rodents, stunning poison dart frogs, spider monkeys, dozens of birds, fantastic fungi, and huge wild cashew trees. Next, enjoy lunch like a local and eat at a traditional soda diner, where you have the option of eating fresh fish or seafood. Re-energized, lower your gears and enjoy a relaxing optional boat ride for some birdwatching on the Tárcoles River. Admire the river's mangroves, which are some of the most unique and scarce ecosystems of the world, and considered to be biodiversity hotspots. Keep a lookout for the 6-meter-long American crocodiles — the largest of the continent. Finally, dig your toes into the white sand of a peaceful beach at your last stop, where you will taste some delicious seasonal fruits and relax with the sound of the waves before heading back to your accommodation.

Combine two amazing and fun experiences on your cruise stop in Puntarenas. Fly around the treetops of the rainforest on zip line canopy tour and embark on a 1-hour boat ride along the Tarcoles River, offering plenty of crocodile spotting opportunities. Get picked up from the cruise pier for your shorex adventure and head to Carara Adventure Park, a privately own reserve with 80 acres of rainforest with stunning views of the Pacific Coast, Carara National Park, and Puntarenas City. First, get a safety and orientation briefing during which the rules and regulations for your safety are explained thoroughly. It is imperative that you follow the instructions and adhere to the rules given throughout your experience. After the safety briefing, transfer to the top of the mountain by a modified open truck where the zip line begins. This zip line includes 12 cables, 15 platforms, and 3 hanging bridges. The longest cable is 1.200 feet long and the highest point about 100 feet. Set off on your thrilling zip line experience to fly around the treetops and catch some incredible birdseye views along the way.  Next, it is a short drive to Tarcoles River, where a 1-hour eco boat tour will allow you to discover the abundant wildlife in the area. As you cruise along the river you will have the opportunity to see huge crocodiles, multiple aquatic birds, scarlet macaws, howler monkeys, and other amazing tropical species. Then, return back to the Puntarenas cruise pier where you will be dropped off.

Join a naturalist tour guide on a guided walk along rainforest trails and hanging bridges above the canopies. Later, explore Tarcoles River on a boat tour and see the rich and diverse wildlife native to these habitats. Meet your guides at the Puntarenas cruise pier and drive over to the begin your 1.5-mile skyway canopy tour. Admire the beauty of the rainforest through as you cross the and five suspended bridges at more than 180 feet (55 m) above the ground.  Each of these bridges is 300 feet (91 m) length, crossing through the very heart of the tropical rainforest. This all-ages tour lets you observe the primary and secondary rainforest vegetation, making yourself one with the jungle.  Keep your eyes open to see the numerous bird species, mammals, and other varied fauna that call this forest home.  Continue with a short drive to Tarcoles River, and go on a 1-hour boat tour to see the abundant wildlife of the area, including huge crocodiles, multiple aquatic birds, scarlet macaws, howler monkeys, and other unique tropical species. After the boat tour, return to the Puntarenas cruise pier where you will be dropped off.

Experience a unique way to see the incredible natural beauty of Costa Rica with a tour that combines riding thrilling 2-hour buggy car ride and a 1-hour boat cruise on the Tarcoles River. After being picked up from the cruise pier, enjoy a relaxing in the journey through the wonderful Costa Rican countryside and see from the vehicle many sights of interest including mango, coffee, sugar and citrus plantations, diverse fruit stands, and rural farming communities.  Each buggy has capacity for bookings of a maximum of 4 persons and is private per group. So whether you are alone or in pairs, you'll have your own vehicle to enjoy. Get on your buggy and follow your guide along the jungle trails, teak plantations, 14 river crossings, bumpy dirt rainforest paths, and 2 different beaches.  If weather allowing, take a quick swim at Bochinche Beach, a pristine and almost private beach where the group will have a break. During the tour, your guide will provide bottled water and serve fresh tropical fruits.  Continue to Tarcoles River, and go on a boat tour to see the abundant wildlife of the area, including huge crocodiles, multiple aquatic birds, scarlet macaws, howler monkeys, and other unique tropical species. After the boat tour, return to the cruise pier where you will be dropped off.