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Best tours in Central America

Get our top picks for tours in Central America.
If it’s an adventure that you’re after, Central America delivers. This area of the world, and Costa Rica in particular, is full to the brim with ancient ruins, natural wonders and tropical beaches. Worried you might miss a trick if you organise your own trip? We’re here to help. Our Central America tours cover the region’s very best bits, so you can sit back, relax, and take it all in. Plus, if you choose one of our escorted tours, an English-speaking, local guide will join you on your trip, and there are no minimum group numbers, so your trip’s guaranteed to go ahead. Keep reading to get the details, and choose your tour…

When you're ready, check out our best Central American tour deals.

1. Costa Rica Discovery Tour

Fancy spending two weeks getting to know Costa Rica? This 14-night tour covers an impressive amount of ground, so you’ll be an expert by the time it comes to an end. From Liberia Airport, you’ll head to Rincon de la Vieja National Park, which is where the fun begins. You’ll hike the Las Pailas loop trail around the park’s active volcano, taking in hot springs and waterfalls on the way. It sets the tone for the next stage of the tour, where you’ll venture into Costa Rica’s mountainous Central Pacific region to visit several national parks. You’ll spy monkeys, crocodiles, armadillos and sloths before heading to the coast to pit-stop at Cano Island Biological Reserve and Violines Island. There’s more wildlife-spotting to look forward to, with a boat trip through the mangroves of Tortuguero National Park, a walk through the rainforest canopy via hanging bridges in Arenal, and a night-time jungle adventure. Then, you’ll fit in a Costa Rican coffee tour to round off an unforgettable trip.

Find out more about our Costa Rica Discovery Tour

Majestic waterfall in the rainforest jungle of Costa Rica. La Cangreja waterfall in Rincon de La Vieja National Park, Guanacaste

2. Costa Rica Grand Tour

If you’ve got seven nights to spare for your Costa Rica adventure, this tour’s ideal for you - it ticks off the country’s biggest sights and gives you a glimpse into Costa Rica’s wild side. You’ll kick off your trip by watching the sunrise in Arenal, before you take a seat in the saddle for a ride through the countryside on horseback. You’ll start your next day with a stop at the Don Juan farm to find out how sugar cane liqueur is made, before climbing the Arenal Hanging Bridges, and kicking back in the Tabacon Hot Springs.

On day five, it’s time to hit the Caribbean Coast. You’ll start with a visit to traditional Tortuguero town, where you’ll learn about the sea turtle conservation work there. Then, on your final full day, you’re free to explore San José city, and you’ll have a guided tour of the city’s cultural credentials before you fly home. Or, add a Multi-Destination holiday beach stay to your trip.

 Find out more about our Costa Rica Grand Tour
Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park in Costa Rica, Central America. Cloud forest.

3. Exotic Costa Rica Self-Drive Tour 

Fancy driving yourself around Costa Rica? This self-drive tour is ideal if you’re looking for a private tour where you get plenty of flex in the itinerary. Once you’ve picked up your hire car, you’ll set off for the Rincon de la Vieja National Park, where you can explore the jungle before you head to the town of Bijagua. Either relax here or book a trip to the Rio Celeste River – it’s your call. Next, you’ll have a chance to explore the Manuel Antonio National Park at your own pace before driving to Monteverde. Book a coffee plantation tour or a guided treetop walk, or go in search of handmade souvenirs in Santa Elena’s town centre. You’ve got a couple of days here, so there’s no rush to tick off everything you want to see before wrapping up your tour.

Find out more about our Exotic Costa Rica Self-Drive Tour
Foothills of Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Costa Rica. Tropical mountains after sunset. Hills with beautiful orange sky with cloud

4. Two Nights in Costa Rica Adventure Tour 

Some of our tours are exclusively available as part of a tour & stay break, including our two nights in Costa Rica adventure tour. It means you can tag a tour onto your holiday and get even more from your trip, and this one’s great if you’ve got a couple of extra days to play with. Itinerary-wise, things focus – unsurprisingly – on Costa Rica’s incredible wildlife. That means you can expect to be hiking along jungle trails, tubing down rapids, and zip-lining over treetops – so it’s definitely one for adrenaline-seekers. The group sizes are small, and you’ll have a guide on hand every step of the way, so you can focus on your Costa Rican adventure.

Find out more about our Two Nights in Costa Rica Adventure Tour
Capuchin Monkey on branch of tree, Costa Rica’s wildlife

5. Cloud Forest Tour 

Another option that’s only available as a tour & stay is our Cloud Forest Tour. It’s slightly longer at four nights so you get double the time to explore. You’ll head off on a lake trip and stop off at thermal springs, but the real star of the show is the Monteverde Cloud Forest. This vast nature reserve is cloaked in thousands of hectares of thick jungle, which you can explore up at canopy level on trails of hanging bridges. Tiptoe along them and you’ll get a money-can’t-buy view of the forest and the A-Z of animals that call this landscape home.

Find out more about our Cloud Forest Tour

All set to explore Central America?

Check out our full range of escorted tours. Plus, discover our top tours in Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Pssst. Head to the Discover homepage for our latest articles.

Author: Hannah Stratton an Katie Gregory

Last updated: 30.06.2023

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