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Things to do in Puntarenas Province

Our most recommended things to do in Puntarenas Province

San José: Tortuga Island Tour with Lunch & Hotel Transfer

1. San José: Tortuga Island Tour with Lunch & Hotel Transfer

Explore Tortuga Island on a guided tour with hotel pickup and drop-off included. Go on a quick tour of the other islands in a boat, then arrive at Tortuga Island. Go snorkeling or swimming, and eat breakfast on the beach. Opt to do other activities, such as renting a jet ski. Tuck into lunch. Begin your tour by getting picked up in an air-conditioned vehicle directly from your hotel in either Heredia, San José, or Alajuela. Once you arrive at the harbor, hop into your speedboat and set sail on your adventure. Listen to your guide tell you about the local area and take in the views. Go on a tour of the Gulf of Nicoya, and see islands such as San Lucas, Isla Cedros, and Jesusita. Use the opportunity to take photos. Along the way, keep an eye out for bottlenose dolphins that are residents of Puntarenas. See if you can spot whales or turtles, and stop to observe them. Upon arrival at the island, be provided with equipment to go snorkeling, as well as instructions on how to use them. Go searching for exotic and colorful fish underwater. Spend time relaxing on the white sand in the shade of palm trees. Opt to participate in other activities at an extra cost. Rent a jet ski or a kayak, or go paddleboarding. After you have explored the island, head back for lunch on the beach. Enjoy cold drinks and a coffee along with it. Hop back in the boat to be taken back to your hotel at the end of the day.

Manuel Antonio National Park Combo Tour from San Jose

2. Manuel Antonio National Park Combo Tour from San Jose

Expereince the stunning beauty of the Manuel Antonio National Park on this day trip from San Jose. Visit Crocodile Bridge and Tarcoles Beach. Discover the abundant wildlife on the park’s rainforest trails and eat breakfast and lunch at local restaurants.  Enjoy being picked up from the comfort of your accommodation in the San Jose area. Travel aboard an airconditioned coach on the way to have breakfast in a local restaurant located next to the biggest fruit market in the country.  Visit the market to observe a large variety of tropical fruits. Continue your journey with a stop at the popular crocodile bridge where you will have the chance to observe one of Costa Rica’s biggest crocodile’s populations.  Search for scarlet macaws in their natural habitat on Tarcoles Beach where they like to gather. Stop at the Jaco Bay lookout point and take pictures of Costa Rica’s most popular coastal town.  Travel to the Manuel Antonio National Park, hike the rainforest trails with your guide for about and hour and search for monkeys, sloths, toucans, and agoutis. Spend some free time relaxing on the park's pristine beaches or hiking to along rainforest trails. Savor a delicious lunch of local cuisine in a restaurant that provides great jungle and ocean views. Lunch is served in the early afternoon around 2 PM, after which you will be taken back to your hotel in San Jose.

La Fortuna or Monteverde: One-Way Boat Transfer

3. La Fortuna or Monteverde: One-Way Boat Transfer

Add a little adventure to your transportation needs between Monteverde and La Fortuna and avail of a transfer that includes an informative boat tour across Lake Arenal. Get spectacular views of Arenal Volcano and the cloud forests of Monteverde as you travel by van and boat. Choose from a morning or afternoon departure in either direction to suit your schedule, and relax in the knowledge that your luggage will be taken care of on every step of the journey. Depart La Fortuna and travel to Lake Arenal by van. Then, take a 30-minute boat ride to the town of Río Chiquito before continuing to Monteverde by van. For departures from Monteverde, travel to Lake Arenal by van. Cross Lake Arenal on an enlightening 30-minute boat ride to the earthen dam, and then continue to La Fortuna by van for drop off at your hotel.

From San José: Monteverde Hanging Bridges Day Trip

4. From San José: Monteverde Hanging Bridges Day Trip

Your tour begins in the morning with pickup in the San José area. Then travel towards the northern part of the country on a very scenic drive, with great views of beautiful mountain ranges, local towns and farms, and the Pacific coast. On the way to Monteverde, enjoy multiple stops. Learn about local fruits at the largest fruit stand of the country. Explore a place where several monkeys are normally observed in the wild at a very close range. Photograph amazing landscapes from a lookout point. Once in Monteverde, savor a delicious lunch and then proceed to do the amazing hanging bridges tour in the cloud forest. Hike with your guide for two to three hours, admiring the beauties of this rare ecosystem and searching for the local wildlife, including monkeys, emerald toucans, coatimundis, and the rare resplendent quetzal, the most beautiful bird of Costa Rica. This hike is approximately 3km (1.9 miles) long and is mostly on flat terrain with a few mild climbs.  Late in the afternoon, return to your accommodation in San José or to your accommodation in central Monteverde. 

Monteverde: Coffee, Chocolate, and Sugar Cane Day Trip

5. Monteverde: Coffee, Chocolate, and Sugar Cane Day Trip

Discover the flavors of Monteverde on this day trip from Monteverde or Santa Elena. Enjoy a day in the countryside and have the opportunity to taste local coffee, chocolate, and sugar cane on this tour to Costa Rican plantations. Enjoy the convenience of being picked up by a comfortable and spacious bus at your hotel in Monteverde or Santa Elena. Soak up the lush countryside on the way to a coffee plantation, which is situated in one of Costa Rica's top 8 coffee-producing regions. Learn about how this area has the ideal weather, required altitude, and volcanic soils to produce a fine cup of gourmet coffee. Sip on some coffee that is grown on site before hopping back on the bus and heading to chocolate farm. Complement your coffee tasting with a visit to the chocolate farm. Find out how to produce high-quality chocolate products. Indulge your sweet tooth as you try some fine Costa Rican chocolate. Continue to the sugar cane plantation to learn about its history, growing conditions, and processing. Have the opportunity to sip on some handcrafted sugar cane juice. Return to your accommodation at the end of your day trip.

Rafting Shuttle from Arenal Volcano to Manuel Antonio

6. Rafting Shuttle from Arenal Volcano to Manuel Antonio

Avoid long travel days! Why not amp up the adventure by taking a rafting shuttle on the way! Enjoy the best rafting tour of Costa Rica with class II & III white water rafting With our daily departures it’s easy to add adventure to any transfer and experience, Costa Rica, without missing a beat! We will pick you up in La Fortuna and you will raft on your way to your next destination. This is a great way to save time and money. Don’t waste a day just traveling, make it a rafting detour!

San Jose: Monteverde Sky Tram & Hanging Bridges Day Tour

7. San Jose: Monteverde Sky Tram & Hanging Bridges Day Tour

Discover the lush Cloud Forests of Monteverde on this Sky Tram and Hanging Bridges trip from San Jose. Travel to the Northern Highlands of Costa Rica on a very scenic ride where you will get great views of mountains, farms, local towns and the Coast of the Puntarenas Province. See the largest fruit stand of the country, where you will see a large variety of tropical fruits. Visit the “Monkey Lady House” and several white-faced monkeys at very close range. Once in Monteverde, savor a delicious lunch and then proceed to ride on the Sky Tram, with great views of the whole Monteverde-Santa Elena area. Spend about 15-20 minutes at the highest look-out point, and then ride the Tram down for about 15 minutes.  Then, walk on the amazing Sky Walk Hanging Bridges in the Cloud Forest, where you will hike with your expert naturalist guide for about 2-3 hours, learning interesting aspects of the flora and fauna of this rare and endangered ecosystem.

From San José: Manuel Antonio National Park Day Trip & Lunch

8. From San José: Manuel Antonio National Park Day Trip & Lunch

Admire the unique flora and fauna of the Manuel Antonio National Park on this guided day trip. Stop purchase a local lunch and take in ocean views on the ride in a spacious and climate-controlled bus from San José. Take a guided walk to a breathtaking beach and have free time to swim or explore.  Enjoy the convenience of pickup in the morning from select hotels. Relax aboard a comfortable bus on the drive through the mountains that surround the central valley. Pass along the main road that connects the capital with the coastal area. Stop at a restaurant where you can purchase a delicious typical Costa Rican breakfast in the Pacific area. Take the Costanera Sur highway into the park, enjoying beautiful views of the ocean, African palm plantations, and picturesque towns. Reach the Port of Quepos and from there continue to the National Park. Go for a walk in the rainforest along a nature trail of the national park until you reach the beach. Have free time to swim or go on a hike on one of the trails where you can spy monkeys, raccoons, iguanas, birds, and sloths. Spend some free hiking to Punta Catedral to capture pictures of the spectacular view. After having enjoyed the national park, walk back to the restaurant where a delectable lunch awaits your before taking bus back to the city.

San Jose: San Luis Rainforest and Zipline Tour with Lunch

9. San Jose: San Luis Rainforest and Zipline Tour with Lunch

Travel from the bustling streets of San Jose to the rugged countryside of San Luis on this full-day rainforest and zipline tour. Feel the adrenaline rush as you cruise above the treetops, hike narrow trails, learn about a variety of rainforest ecosystems, and hear scientific facts from your guide. Begin your tour with transportation to San Luise in an air-conditioned van, watching as the city skyline of San Jose transforms into a dense jungle. Upon arrival, listen as your guide details zipline safety instructions and the day's itinerary. Then it's time to harness up and fly through the trees. Follow your guide through the cable system, watching closely for wildlife like toucans, parrots, ocelots, hawks, iguanas, and howler monkeys. During lunch, learn about the rainforest canopy, its role in the protection of forest biodiversity, and current conservation and rehabilitation efforts.

Monteverde: Transfer to La Fortuna via Lake Arenal

10. Monteverde: Transfer to La Fortuna via Lake Arenal

Travel easy, safe, and fun between Monteverde and La Fortuna De Arenal! Also known as the Taxi-Boat-Taxi or Jeep-Boat-Jeep, this is the fastest and most popular route between Monteverde and Arenal, combining the excitement of an adventure trip with the convenience of a transport service. Experience the beauty of the Arenal Volcano National Park, a boat ride on Lake Arenal, and incredible views of the mountains and villages. Travel easily between Monteverde and La Fortuna de Arenal. This service is provided daily from Monteverde to Arenal. We will gladly pick you up from the door of your hotel, then you will get transported by vehicle to the lake and then board a boat for approximately one hour to cross the lake. Once you reach the other side, one of our professional representatives will help you load the luggage, board the vehicle, and take you to the door of your hotel. The Shared Arenal Lake Crossing operates daily. However, shared shuttles are by no means public bus transportation. Another nice feature of our shared shuttle is that there is at least one stop along the way where passengers can stretch, pose for photographs, use the facilities, and get food. The Private Arenal Lake Crossing can be scheduled anytime you wish and from any airport, hotel, private home, or identifiable landmark in Costa Rica. Another nice feature of our private transport is that it allows one hour of free wait time for the journey, giving your group opportunities to coordinate a road adventure, pose for photographs, take bathroom breaks, or enjoy a meal. Enjoy your way with Wi-Fi inside the vehicles to share every adventure of your trip. Our local drivers and guides who are eager to help your group move safely around the country will show you our amazing country. Trust is earned. Give us the opportunity to earn yours. We will be happy to be part of your next trip!

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Frequently asked questions about Puntarenas Province

What top attractions are a must-see in Puntarenas Province?

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Other Sightseeing Options in Puntarenas Province

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What people are saying about Puntarenas Province

Overall rating

4.7 / 5

based on 633 reviews

A great solid tour around Manuel Antonio national Park. I would not recommend going to the park without a guide as they are looking for a wildlife for you the entire time. We also had a slight break to go swimming at the beach so I would recommend bringing a swimsuit as I did not.

Fantastic time walking through this beautiful park with our guide Edgar. He was knowledgeable about everything related to the park and animals. He could spot even the smallest insect from a distance that amazed us. Highly recommend!

The guide was wonderful. We saw sloths,tarantulas,and birds. I was amazed how big the trees were. We were a party of 5 and everyone enjoyed the hike. I highly recommended this adventure.

Wonderful experience! Our guide Juan, was so knowledgeable and really cares about the environment and the animals. We saw heaps during the walk and were so glad we did it!

The other group in our party canceled, so we got a private tour with Jorge. He was amazing!