Relaxing rain forest tours in Costa Rica are easy to find across the country. Whether you visit Guanacaste, the Central Pacific coast, Osa, Corcovado or the Caribbean coast, you will discover a wide variety of tours. Cloud forests are more common in the north-central area. Choosing from the many rain forest tours here may prove the most challenging part of your tropical vacation.

You can tour the most rain forests on foot, by boat or even from the air. Walking expeditions may involve a guide or be self-guided tours. A good example of the self-guided variety is the private nature reserve behind Hotel Plinio in Manuel Antonio, which is free.

Manuel Antonio Park is also a delight, though the animal life is not as abundant as several years ago. At Monteverde, Corcovado and other National Parks, you must pay an entry fee and a small amount for a guide. It is worth the price, of course, because you’ll learn much more about the local flora and fauna of the several types of rain forest here. Press Pictures from Rain Forest Tours to see photos from the jungle

Costa Rica National Parks

One of our favorite cloud forests is at the Turrialba National Park. This is home of Volcan Turrialba, known locally as the “Lost Volcano” because so few visitors know about it. In addition to visiting the volcano (which is active, by the way), you can explore the ruins of nearby Guayabo National Park.

The newest National Park is situated along the banks of the Rio Savegre, in the Manuel Antonio area. Called Los Quetzales, it opened in July, 2005. It also enjoys several kinds of rain forest and micro-climates.

Several rafting outfits offer serene trips downstream through the rainforest, in addition to the more thrilling white water rafting. Rafting is a relaxing way to observe birds, monkeys, crocodiles, iguanas and other wildlife. Kayak outings can take you through the estuaries where the rivers reach the sea. Others involve sea kayaking. Again, these may be independent or involve a professional guide familiar with the area.

Then there are adventure tours such as zip lines and aerial trams. The best known is the zip line canopy experience, in which you fly through the air through the rain forest on a cable strung between platforms on a series of trees. But you will also find cable car-type trams that, because they don’t zip through the air, allow you to see more of the rainforest surroundings.

Even in San Jose, you are never far from the jungle in this country. The closest one to San Jose is about 40 minutes north of town.

Full day rain forest trips start at US$80.00 per person with breakfast and a delicious lunch included. All safety equipment and instruction, expert rain forest guide and pick-up at your hotel in Costa Rica.

Pick-up time: From San Jose 8:00 a.m Duration 8 hours approx.

Recommended gear: comfortable shoes, light clothes including a jacket, camera, binoculars, sun block and insect repellent.