The Best Things to do in Sarapiqui, Costa Rica

The Best Things to do in Sarapiqui, Costa Rica

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The best tours in Costa Rica

Sarapiqui River Safari Guided Tour
Boat ToursGuided ToursSafari Float

The Sarapiqui River flows along the border between Costa Rica and Nicaragua and is home to some of the country's most gorgeous scenery. During this 2-hour river safari, you'll ride a comfortable boat down the Sarapiqui River and have ample opportunities to spot a range of wildlife.

White Water Rafting
Rafting

One of the best ways to experience Costa Rica is on a white water rafting trip—you see places, animals, and scenery that are often otherwise missed. There are several options for this rafting excursion on the Sarapiquí River, including Class II and III tours, Class IV tours, and a safari float.

Mi Cafecito Coffee Tour
Coffee TourCulturalEducational

This tour takes you to a coffee farm surrounded by colorful mountains. Along the way you’ll see every stage of the coffee production process, from harvest to cup.

Tirimbina Chocolate Tour
Chocolate TourCulturalEducational

Join one of the most popular chocolate tours in Costa Rica and explore the fascinating journey from cacao to chocolate in the heart of the rainforest. This immersive experience at Tirimbina combines culture, history, and flavor for a truly unforgettable tasting adventure in Sarapiquí.

Mini Coffee Tour
Coffee TourCultural

The Sarapiquí River courses through a tropical forest with fertile soil. Coffee thrives in this atmosphere, and on a mini coffee tour you’ll get a quick behind-the-scenes look at local coffee.

Hacienda Pozo Azul Hiking Tour - Costa Rica
Hiking

Hacienda Pozo Azul’s 400 acres (160 ha) include tropical rainforests, quiet pastures, scenic rivers, and powerful waterfalls. A hiking tour is one of the best ways to experience this incredible outdoor abundance.

Class IV White Water Rafting

For adrenaline seekers, tackle our expert-level 11km stretch of Class IV whitewater – a challenging rush of roaring rapids perfect for experienced paddlers. Feel the power of the river as you navigate thrilling drops and churning waves surrounded by lush tropical wilderness.

Tirimbina Night Walk
Night Tour

Experience the magic of the rainforest after dark with a night walk tour in Sarapiquí, Costa Rica. As nocturnal wildlife emerges, this guided adventure offers the chance to encounter fascinating species and see the jungle from a completely different perspective.

Horseback Riding Tour
Horseback Riding

Costa Ricans sometime refer to horses as the ultimate all-terrain vehicle. In many ways, this is true—you can forge across streams, trot through forests, and summit mountains on horseback. During this tour, you’ll get a taste of the Costa Rican countryside on these all-natural all-terrain vehicles.

Tirimbina Natural History Guided Walk
Naturalist GuideNature Walk

Take a 2.5-hour guided tour through the Tirimbina Rainforest Center with a naturalist guide. Along the way, you’ll learn about Sarapiquí’s intense variety of mammals, birds, insects, and amphibians.

Trips to Inspire

Costa Rica itineraries from local insiders

Explore hand-picked Costa Rica itineraries designed by local insiders who know every hidden corner. Each trip is completely flexible, customized to your pace, travel style, and budget.

9 days | $$$

Pura Vida Adventure Together

We both love nature and hiking so Costa Rica is ideal for both of those. We went during what’s considered the rainy season so you need to be aware of that going in. It rained at some point almost every day we were there but we still had a very enjoyable time. We visited La Fortuna and Manuel Antonio. We enjoyed La Fortuna more. La Fortuna was more jungle whereas Manuel Antonio was more coastal and felt more touristy.

Pura Vida Adventure Together

Costa Rica

8 days | $$$

Adventure Through Costa Rica's Wild Heart

Costa Rica was just magnificent. The people, food, jungles, beaches were all fantastic. Can’t wait until my next trip back.

Adventure Through Costa Rica's Wild Heart

Costa Rica

9 days | $$$

Big Multi Family Group Adventure

Embark on a vibrant Costa Rican adventure that juxtaposes bustling urban energy with lush, untouched rainforests, delivering a dynamic escape from everyday routine. From San José’s lively streets you’ll head to Monteverde’s cloud‑forest canopy for sky tram rides and hikes, then dive into Rio Celeste’s turquoise waters and trek El Silencio’s volcanic paths. Friendly locals and knowledgeable guides will immerse you in coffee farms, rainforest sounds, and volcanic vistas, leaving you with lasting memories of Costa Rica’s spirited hospitality and natural wonder.

Big Multi Family Group Adventure

Costa Rica

8 days | $$

Sisters Adventure Together

Incredible tours, hotels, and communities.

Sisters Adventure Together

Costa Rica

11 days | $$$

60th birthday jungle adventure

If you like the outside at all, Costa Rica is for you! It truly is a rich coast. The diversity of wildlife is mind blowing. It is spectacular.

60th birthday jungle adventure

Costa Rica

10 days | $$$

Winter Romantic Adventure

The people are so friendly!

Winter Romantic Adventure

Costa Rica

9 days | $$

Costa Rica Two Family Journey

Lovely, relaxing country. Lots of activities, everything from lounging to adventure and more. Friendly people, tasty food, family-friendly.

Costa Rica Two Family Journey

Costa Rica

12 days | $$$

Matt and Fran’s Costa Rica holiday

Costa Rica has a diverse landscape and every area is unique and different. We easily rented a 4 wheel drive vehicle and drove from the Caribbean to the Pacific!

Matt and Fran’s Costa Rica holiday

Costa Rica

11 days | $$$

Family Time in Costa Rica

Michelle and her family embarked on a multi‑generational adventure in Costa Rica, where mist‑cloaked cloud forests meet surf‑kissed Pacific beaches, offering a vibrant contrast of cool heights and warm tides. Your journey weaves through Monteverde’s canopy zip lines and canyoning thrills, the turquoise Tenorio River’s Class III/IV rapids, and La Leona waterfall’s lush river tubing. Guided by local experts and supported by a comfortable van, your family will soak up Pura Vida hospitality, returning home with shared stories of soaring forests and surf‑side sunsets.

Family Time in Costa Rica

Costa Rica

8 days | $$$

Family Adventure Through Costa Rica

Rachel and her family of four spent a week moving across Costa Rica, from Arenal to the Pacific coast, with every transfer and tour arranged door to door. In Arenal they rode the Sky Adventures aerial tram and ziplines, took on the Balsa River's Class II–III rapids, and walked the EcoGarden trails to find sloths in their actual habitat, not a roadside stop, then the falls at La Fortuna. On the coast at Manuel Antonio they hiked the national park with a local guide, snorkeled the reef, and chased the Mulguri waterfall. As Rachel said, these weren't tours with twenty other tourists trailing the buses. They were the real thing, reachable only through local connections, with the family's days handled start to finish.

Family Adventure Through Costa Rica

Costa Rica

Tours & Activities

More tours in Costa Rica

Everything else in this category, from half-day escapes to multi-day adventures, all run by the local insiders we work with year-round.

Tour

Tour

Canopy Tour

Sarapiqui

Canopy Tour

Tour

Tour

Rappelling

Sarapiqui

Rappelling

Tour

Anywhere mission
Anywhere Costa Rica

Insider-led Costa Rica Design & Concierge

Your insider team designs the trip around what you care about, then supports you in-country with private logistics, vetted partners, and concierge help when plans change.

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Private drivers; English-speaking available.

Avoid the crowds in private day tours.

Better stays, better pacing, better reservations.

Insider-only experiences and exclusive local partners.

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In their words