
Puntarenas, Costa Rica
To Spanish explorers, the rumors of gold and vast riches could only mean that this section of Central America was the costa rica - the "Rich Coast."
Hailed as the Switzerland of the Americas, Costa Rica occupies a unique position, lying between two oceans and two continents. On both coasts, tropical rainforests rise to the mountains of the interior, many of which soar over 13,000 feet above sea level. In the west, a seemingly endless succession of brown-sand beaches forms the nation's Pacific coast. Puntarenas is your gateway to Costa Rica's wonders - and to its capital city of San Jose.
Points of Interest
- San Jose & National Theater
- River Cruise
- Coffee Plantation
- Costa Rica Animal Center
- Sarchi
- Costa Rica Rainforest
- Thermal Springs
- Rainforest Aerial Tram
Scenic Drive, Cultural Show & Shopping (Wheelchair Accessible)
This tour is designed for those who wish to experience the beautiful Costa Rican countryside with minimal walking, including a visit to Esparza, a rural town where you will enjoy a traditional dance performance.
Wheelchair Accessible, Easy Activity
$44.95
Scenic Drive, Cultural Show & Shopping
This tour is designed for those who wish to experience the beautiful Costa Rican countryside with minimal walking, including a visit to Esparza, a rural town where you will enjoy a traditional dance performance.
Easy Activity
$44.95
Coffee, Chocolate & Sarchi Experience
- Coffee Plantation
- Sarchi
Learn the secrets behind Costa Rica's famous coffee and chocolate with a tour of the Espiritu Santo Cooperative Coffee Plantation. Then, a visit to the Eloy Alfaro Oxcart Factory in the town of Sarchi offers a look at traditional hand-painted oxcarts and the talented artists.
Moderate Activity
$59.95
San José on Your Own
Perfect for independent travelers, discover the wonders of San José on your own on a full-day adventure in this vibrant capital city. Transportation provided. Lunch is not included.
Easy Activity
$59.95
Jungle Crocodile Safari
- River Cruise
Costa Rica's natural splendor abounds when you board the Jungle Crocodile Safari eco-cruise and set off down the Tarcoles River in search of the powerful American crocodile. Take in the lush vegetation, home to over 50 species of colorful birds, then refresh with a fruit snack and souvenir shopping.
Easy Activity, Includes snack
$64.95
Eco-Jungle River Cruise
- River Cruise
Board a boat at the mouth of the Tarcoles River for a gentle cruise through the beautiful Guacalillo Estuary, a world renowned site for exotic birds and crocodile spotting.
Easy Activity, Includes snack
$69.95
Corobici River-Raft Float, Scenic Drive & Lunch
- River Cruise
Travel to the breath-taking Guanacaste Province for a super-fun, laid-back raft trip down the magnificent Rio Corobici, home to a wide variety of wildlife, including otters, monkeys, anteaters and iguanas.
Moderate Activity, Includes meal
$89.95
Train Ride & River Cruise
- River Cruise
Travel back in time on the historic Pacific Railroad, once used to transport Costa Rica's valuable coffee harvests. Then, board a boat at the mouth of the Tarcoles River for a gentle cruise through the beautiful Guacalillo Estuary, a world-renowned site for exotic birds and crocodile spotting.
Easy Activity, Includes snack
$89.95
A Walk in the Clouds
- Costa Rica Rainforest
Costa Rica is paradise for ecotourism, and this full day exploring the magnificent San Luis Park and breathtaking cloud forest is a wonderful opportunity to commune with nature. Walk along lush rainforest trails, get a bird's-eye view from suspension bridges 100 feet in the air and visit a butterfly garden.
Shopping Opportunities, Strenuous Activity, Includes meal
$99.95
San Jose, National Theater, & Lunch
- San Jose & National Theater
Experience vibrant San Jose, Costa Rica's capital and exuberant urban center, on a panoramic driving tour that showcases historic neighborhoods,eclectic architecture and includes a visit to the prized, neoclassical National Theater and the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum, a subterranean museum below Plaza de la Cultura. A traditional lunch is included.
Easy Activity, Includes meal
$99.95
Pura Vida Gardens
- Costa Rica Rainforest
An oasis of floral splendor, beautiful cascades and colorful wildlife awaits at Pura Vida Gardens. Voted the number one garden in Latin American, Pura Vida immerses you in its natural beauty and the breathtaking majesty of Costa Rica's tallest waterfall. Then, travel to Tarcoles Bridge to photograph the world's largest population of crocodiles.
Shopping Opportunities, Moderate Activity
$99.95
Original Canopy Zipline & Country Drive
- Costa Rica Rainforest
Fly through the amazing Costa Rican forest canopy, via an intricate system of pulleys and cables, on this super fun zipline adventure that allows you to soar free as a bird.
Strenuous Activity
$99.95
Andalusian Horse Show & Countryside
An authentic Andalusian horse fiesta is a celebration of Spanish equestrian traditions, music and garb. Visit Rancho San Miguel, one of the best equestrian facilities in Central America, tour the grounds, then watch a spectacular show celebrating culture, artistry and horsemanship. A stop for souvenirs at El Jardin completes the day.
Easy Activity, Includes snack
$99.95
La Paz Waterfall Gardens, Country Drive & Lunch
Magnificent natural beauty welcomes you at La Paz Waterfall Gardens, where you'll hike among spectacular rainforest scenery and into cloud forests to discover the colorful flora and fauna that call this tropical paradise home. Lunch is included.
Moderate Activity, Includes meal
$99.95
Coffee Plantation, Botanical Garden & Lunch
- Coffee Plantation
This fascinating cultural trip includes a visit to Costa Rica's famous Palmares church and the Doka Estate coffee plantation, before a tasty lunch and a tour of the magnificent botanical gardens at La Garita.
Easy Activity, Includes meal
$99.95
Scarlet Macaw Sanctuary, Boat Tour & Country Drive
- River Cruise
The Scarlet Macaw symbolizes the exotic beauty of the tropics and this half day nature tour is your chance to view these magnificent birds at close quarters, plus enjoy a cruise through the mangroves.
Easy Activity, Includes snack
$109.95
Starbucks Coffee Tour & Oxcart Factory
- Coffee Plantation
- Sarchi
The aroma of coffee wafts through Hacienda Alsacia, Starbucks' first and only coffee farm. Experience an extensive tour and learn the process from bean to brew, then sample a cup in the cafe. After that, visit Sarchi, home of Costa Rica's best wooden crafts and the Eloy Alfaro Oxcart Factory.
Moderate Activity, Includes meal
$129.95
Sabana Adventure
Go on an African safari without leaving Costa Rica! When you board an open-air tram at the Ponderosa Adventure Park, you can watch zebras stroll through knee-high grass, feed a carrot to a giraffe, admire the massive horns on the ibeks and gemstocks and more.
Moderate Activity
$139.95
Rainforest Canopy Zip line & Aerial Tram Combination
Thrill to one of Costa Rica's top attractions, the Rainforest Adventure Eco-Park, located in an expansive private reserve, offering both the excitement of ziplining and the serene experience of the aerial tram. Try both on this all-day tour that makes the most of the spectacular rainforest scenery and includes lunch.
Strenuous Activity
$139.95
Sloth Sanctuary, Botanical Garden, Oxcart Factory & Lunch
- Costa Rica Animal Center
- Sarchi
Support and tour the Costa Rica Animal Rescue Center, a nonprofit facility dedicated to protecting endangered wildlife and providing medical treatment and a safe haven for animal harmed by humans. Then, admire magnificent floral blooms at La Garita Botanical Gardens and shop for mementos in Sarchi.
Shopping Opportunities, Moderate Activity, Includes meal
$139.95
Arenal Volcano And Hot Springs
- Thermal Springs
Indulge your senses and pamper your soul with a visit to natural hot springs fed by the therapeutic sulphur waters from the Arenal volcano. Sit under a tumbling, hot waterfall and feel the relaxing pressure of the water or dip into any number of warm pools.
Moderate Activity, Includes meal
$149.95
Aerial Tram, Butterfly Garden, Sloth Sanctuary & Lunch
- Costa Rica Animal Center
- Costa Rica Rainforest
- Rainforest Aerial Tram
Marvel at the wonders of Costa Rica's tropical rainforest, taking in its scenic beauty from an open-air gondola high above the treetops, followed by an optional guided nature walk that explores a butterfly garden. Then, visit the Costa Rica Animal Rescue Center to learn how they're protecting the forest's endangered wildlife.
Shopping Opportunities, Easy Activity, Includes meal
$149.95
Local Connections: Macaw Lodge, an organic and Sustainable Wonder
Visit one of the world's most sustainable resorts, nestled within the Macaw Sanctuary, a private, 264-acre reserve set in the rolling hills and lush forests of Turrubares. Explore the grounds with its creator and local expert and engage in a cooking demonstration utilizing organic produce grown on the premises that is then served for lunch.
Moderate Activity, Includes meal
$154.95
Best of Puntarenas: Aerial Tram, Tarcoles River & Sloth Sanctuary
- River Cruise
- Costa Rica Animal Center
- Costa Rica Rainforest
- Rainforest Aerial Tram
Discover the wonders of Costa Rica's tropical rainforest by air, by waterway and up close. Ride an open-air gondola above the treetops for stellar nature views, glide down the Tarcoles River on a jungle cruise, and visit the Costa Rica Animal Rescue Center to learn how it is protecting the forest's endangered wildlife.
Shopping Opportunities, Easy Activity, Includes meal; Includes snack
$199.95