You can do it ALL in Costa Rica! Breathtaking beaches and towns with distinct personalities, majestic mountains, volcanoes, jungles, national parks, abundant wildlife, some of the best bird-watching on the planet, mountain pools, white-water rafting, inland and deep-sea fishing, golfing, and so much more. There is something for every type of travel personality, every interest and everyone who wants a fun-filled , exotic vacation in paradise. This Central American paradise is  just shy of the U.S. offers a premier location with that foreign, far-far away exotic appeal, as well as an  abundance of activities that make it the perfect vacation for families, individuals and couples alike. It’s a fairytale vacation that can be documented in a photographic storybook and long-lasting memories. Make sure you also checkout our Fast Facts page also right here on the website for some seriously educational information, but here are some top Costa Rica Must-Do activities that will entice you to book that extremely affordable vacation package that makes every traveler’s dream come true:

Take a specialized tour out to the islands near Guanacaste, like Coco’s Island, declared by UNESCO as Natural Heritage of Humanity; the popular Tortuga, Caño Island with its pre-Columbian legacy; and the islands of the Gulf of Nicoya.

Grab a car, bike, scooter or motorcycle and explore the charming districts and spectacular wonders of Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama.

Use high-powered flashlights to catch glimpses of various animals during a specialized night tour. Some of the better spots for night tours are Monteverde, Tortuguero and the Osa Peninsula.

Get your thrills and chills whitewater rafting on the Corobici River, and brave some of the fiercest rapids on the waters of Río Turrialba.

Enjoy one of the finest cups of coffee during one of Costa Rica’s many coffee plantation tours, which are packed with culture, history and of course, coffee.

Live the unforgettable experience of the green turtles spawning on the beaches of the National Park of Tortuguero near Guanacaste, from June through October.

Land the big one or talk about the one that got away fishing for shad and snook at Barra del Colorado in the northern Caribbean near Guanacaste, as well as marlin, swordfish and dorado in the North Pacific.

Explore the dual nature of the Palo Verde National Park where its simultaneously a spectacular wetlands and one of the best examples of tropical dry forests remaining anywhere in the world.

Get your adrenaline pumping surfing Salsa Brava, a fierce reef break that cuts close to shore in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca.

Catch a glimpse of the abundant wildlife hiking through trails at Parque Nacional Corcovado, labeled by National Geographic as “the most biologically intense place on earth.”

Snorkel the array of marine life on display at Playa Conchal, in the north of Guanacaste, or sit on the beach and enjoy the gentle caress of clear blue tides rolling in.

Quench your thirst for more adventurous water sports with deep-sea fishing and scuba-diving excursions, jet-ski rentals, windsurfing and kiteboarding.

Test your luck at a number of casinos in Costa Rica, where you can bet on having a great time.

Spot some of Costa Rica’s most spectacular bird species, like the toucan and the scarlet macaw, and the country’s largest crocodiles in the waterways of Parque Nacional Carara– a bird-watcher’s paradise just two hours from San José, but leave your swimsuit at home.

Swim in the turquoise waters of the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica, each with their own set of offerings, distinct personalities and a variety of activities and options for all tastes. Check area guides for beach information.

Indulge in the most amazing handmade churros in the capital, San José, as well as its many historical treasures and areas of interests. You can also get another sugar rush from the crispy doughnuts at Churrería Manolo’s, a San José perennial favorite.

Join tens of thousands of Ticos (Costa Rican residents) for a weeklong celebration, Las Fiestas de Zapote (December 25 to January 1), with all things Costa Rican, including rodeos, cowboys, carnival rides, fried food and lots of drinking in the suburb of Zapote, southeast of San José.

Visit the formerly small, quiet fishing village of Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, located in the Limon province on the shores of the Caribbean Sea, that’s become a hot tourist spot for its beautiful beaches and exotic flora and fauna, and a haven for surfer’s for its famed Salsa Brave Waves.

Greet monkeys, iguanas, howlers, capuchins, sloths and squirrel monkeys at Manuel Antonio National Park, a small coconut-filled National Park in the Central Pacific Conservation Area located on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, just south of Quepos, Puntarenas, and 82 miles from San José. Well known for its hiking trails and beautiful beaches, it’s the smallest Costa Rican national park and was listed as one of Forbes 12 most beautiful national parks in the world.

Trek the trails or climb the lofty heights of Costa Rica’s highest peak, Cerro Chirripó at Parque Nacional Chirripó.

Catch a boat and fall under the spell of Witch’s Rock at Parque Nacional Santa Rosa a wild space of pristine beaches, tropical dry forests, prolific wildlife and savannahs of thorn trees and jaragua grass. Just be careful near the estuary – a rich crocodile feeding ground. During the rainy months of September and October, you can also catch arribadas (mass-nesting) of up to 8,000 olive ridley sea turtles.

Hike or horseback-ride the circuit around the bubbling volcanic mud pots, waterfalls and thermal pools at Volcán Rincón de la Vieja.

Discover the surprising coexistence of the 3 Q’s, quetzals, Quakers and queso (cheese), in the cloud forest of Monteverde & Santa Elena.

Explore Arenal Volcano National Park Tours in Costa Rica, which is positioned in the fertile lowlands and on the foothills of the most active volcano in Costa Rica.

Spend an evening spying hatching turtles in Tortuguero (July – August) or see them roost at Playa Grande, where they’ve been laying eggs for thousands of years.

Join the locals as they celebrate Columbus’s landing (Columbus Day) at nearby Isla Uvita, with a four-to- five-day carnival filled with colorful street parades, dancing, music, singing and drinking. “The more the merrier” couldn’t be more true in this case.