Best Tours from Los Sueños & Herradura: What's Actually Worth Booking

Los Sueños and Herradura sit at the center of Costa Rica’s most tour-rich stretch of coastline. Within a 90-minute radius you have world-class sport fishing, a national park full of crocodiles, another one full of monkeys, a volcanic river system, and an island you reach by catamaran. Most resort areas give you one signature excursion. This one gives you ten, and half of them are half-day trips that have you back by lunch.

That’s the good news. The bad news is that everyone knows it, so the area has dozens of operators competing for your booking. Quality varies. Pricing varies more. This guide covers the best tours from Los Sueños and Herradura with real costs, honest time commitments, and the kind of practical detail that saves you from a disappointing afternoon.

Sport Fishing: The Reason the Marina Exists

Los Sueños Marina is the sport fishing capital of Central America. That’s not marketing copy; it’s where the Offshore World Championship and the Los Sueños Signature Triple Crown series are held. The marina has 200+ slips, a fleet of tournament-grade boats, and direct access to some of the most productive offshore fishing waters in the Pacific.

What you’re fishing for: Sailfish (the main event, peak season December through April), marlin (blue, black, and striped), yellowfin tuna, dorado (mahi-mahi), wahoo, and roosterfish inshore.

What it costs:

• Half-day charter (4-5 hours): $1,000 to $1,500 for a boat up to 4-6 anglers
• Full-day charter (8-10 hours): $1,800 to $3,500+ depending on boat size and captain reputation
• Premium tournament-grade boats (40ft+): $2,500 to $4,500 for a full day

All charters include captain, mate, tackle, bait, and typically drinks and snacks. Tips for the crew (15-20% of the charter cost) are customary and appreciated.

Who to look at: The marina is home to dozens of charter operations. CR Fishing Charters, Maverick Sportfish, and the boats bookable through FishingBooker are well-reviewed starting points. For a more intimate trip, smaller boats like the 28-32ft center consoles offer excellent inshore fishing at lower price points. Your vacation rental concierge can help match you to the right captain for your experience level and target species.

Best time: December through April is peak billfish season (dry season, calmer seas, highest sailfish counts). But the fishing is genuinely productive year-round. Green season (May through November) brings more rain but also more dorado, yellowfin, and surprisingly good marlin action at lower charter prices.

Insider tip: If you’re not a hardcore angler but want the experience, book a half-day inshore trip instead of a full offshore day. You’ll target roosterfish and snapper closer to shore, spend less time running to fishing grounds, and save $1,000+. Kids under 10 do much better on inshore trips where there’s more action and less waiting.

Zipline Canopy Tours

Vista Los Sueños Adventure Park is the closest and most popular option, located right in the hills above Herradura. You’re zipping through actual rainforest canopy with views of Herradura Bay and the Pacific below.

What it costs: Around $70 per person plus tax. The park also offers combo packages with ATV rides, horseback riding, and canyoning.

Duration: About 2 hours including the drive up, safety briefing, and the zipline circuit itself.

Difficulty: Low to moderate. You don’t need to be athletic. Weight and age restrictions apply (typically 35-115 kg, minimum age 4-6 depending on the operator). The park handles thousands of visitors per year with excellent safety records.

What makes it worth it: Unlike mega-parks in Arenal or Monteverde, Vista Los Sueños is 10 minutes from your front door. No 3-hour van rides. You can zip through the canopy in the morning and be at the pool by noon.

Insider tip: Go early. The 8 AM slot is cooler, less crowded, and you’re more likely to spot toucans and monkeys in the canopy. The afternoon heat makes the experience less comfortable, and wildlife tends to hide.

Crocodile and Mangrove Boat Tours

The Tárcoles River, about 20 minutes north of Herradura, has the densest population of American crocodiles on earth. Some of these animals are 4-5 meters long. You’ll see them from a covered boat as your guide navigates the river and its mangrove estuaries.

What it costs: Typically $40-75 per person depending on operator and group size. Budget operators start around $40 per person while premium tours with smaller groups and better equipment run $60-75. Kids are slightly less.

Duration: About 2 hours on the water, plus travel time (roughly 3 hours total from pickup to drop-off).

What else you’ll see: Scarlet macaws (Carara National Park borders the river), herons, ospreys, kingfishers, and if you’re lucky, boa constrictors in the mangrove roots. This is one of the best birding experiences in the Central Pacific region.

Best time: Early morning (7-8 AM departures) or late afternoon. The crocodiles are always visible, but birds are most active at dawn and dusk. Avoid midday; it’s hot on the river and the wildlife goes quiet.

Insider tip: Combine this with a visit to Carara National Park on the same morning. The park entrance is right next to the Tárcoles Bridge (where you can stop and look down at crocodiles from above, for free). A guided Carara hike adds about 2 hours and $30-40 per person, and gives you a real rainforest birding experience. See our Herradura area guide for more on Carara.

Tortuga Island by Catamaran

Tortuga Island (Isla Tortuga) is a small island in the Gulf of Nicoya with white sand beaches and clear water for snorkeling. The catamaran departs from Los Sueños Marina, which means your commute to the boat is measured in minutes, not hours.

What it costs:

• Full-day catamaran (shared): $150 per adult, $123 per child, plus tax. Includes lunch, drinks, snorkeling gear, and usually banana boat rides.
• Half-day + sunset option: Newer offering that combines a shorter island visit with a sunset cruise back. Similar pricing.
• Private boat charter: $2,900+ for a group of up to 10 on a 36ft boat.

Duration: Full day, typically 7 AM to 4 PM.

What makes it worth it: The catamaran ride itself is half the fun. You’re on a 55-foot boat with a waterslide, lounge beds, open bar, and music. The island has good snorkeling (tropical fish, some sea turtles if you’re lucky) and a beautiful beach. It’s the most “vacation day” you can have.

Insider tip: The shared catamaran can hold 80+ people. If you’re staying during high season (December to April), it will be full. For a more relaxed experience, the private boat option is genuinely worth the premium for groups of 6-10. You set your own pace, stop where you want, and skip the party-boat energy.

Manuel Antonio National Park

Costa Rica’s most visited national park is about 90 minutes south of Los Sueños. It’s small, beautiful, and packed with wildlife that’s habituated enough to human presence that your photos will actually turn out well.

What it costs: Park entrance is $18.08 per person (foreign adults). A naturalist guide (highly recommended) runs $25-40 per person for a 2-3 hour walk. Most tour operators bundle transport + guide + park entry for $90-130 per person from Los Sueños.

Duration: Half-day to full-day depending on the package. The guided park walk is 2-3 hours. Some tours add beach time at the park’s white sand beaches (bring your swimsuit).

What you’ll see: Three species of monkeys (capuchin, howler, squirrel), two-toed sloths, green iguanas, agoutis, and dozens of bird species. The white-faced capuchins here will absolutely steal your lunch if you leave it unattended.

Best time to go: Tuesday through Friday. The park is closed on Mondays. Weekends, especially during dry season, are significantly more crowded. Early morning entries (the park opens at 7 AM) give you the best wildlife sightings before the crowds arrive.

Insider tip: Tell your guide you’d rather see wildlife than walk fast. Some guides rush through to hit all the trail highlights. The best sightings happen when you slow down and let the guide scan the canopy. Also, bring binoculars. Sloths are high in the trees and hard to appreciate with the naked eye.

ATV Tours

Multiple operators run ATV circuits through the mountains behind Herradura and Jacó. You ride through rainforest trails, river crossings, small villages, and usually end at a waterfall where you can swim.

What it costs:

• 2-hour circuit: $70 per person
• 3-hour circuit: $90 per person
• 4-5 hour circuit: $120-150 per person

All prices plus tax. Most operators pick you up from your accommodation.

Difficulty: The 2-hour option is beginner-friendly. The longer circuits include steeper terrain and river crossings that require some confidence on the machine. No prior ATV experience is needed for the shorter tours.

Insider tip: The 3-hour tour hits the sweet spot. Two hours feels rushed; four hours on an ATV gets tiring (and dusty). If you go during green season, expect mud. Lots of it. That’s either a selling point or a dealbreaker depending on your personality. Wear clothes you don’t care about and shoes that can get wet.

White Water Rafting

Two rivers are accessible from Los Sueños for rafting: the Savegre (Class II-III, great for families and first-timers) and the Naranjo (Class III-IV, more intense). Both are about 1.5 to 2 hours from Herradura.

What it costs: $85-120 per person for a full-day trip including transport, lunch, and all equipment.

Duration: Full day. Expect to leave by 6-7 AM and return by 3-4 PM. The actual time on the river is about 2-3 hours.

Best time: June through November (green season) when water levels are higher and the rapids are at their best. The Savegre runs year-round; the Naranjo is seasonal and depends on rainfall.

Insider tip: The Savegre is the better choice for most visitors. The scenery is more dramatic (deep canyon, waterfalls feeding into the river), and the Class II-III rapids are exciting without being terrifying. The Naranjo is genuinely intense and better suited for people who’ve rafted before.

Whale Watching and Ocean Wildlife

Humpback whales pass through the Central Pacific waters twice a year: July through October (southern hemisphere whales migrating north) and December through March (northern hemisphere whales migrating south). Costa Rica is one of the few places in the world where you get two distinct whale seasons.

What it costs: $80-130 per person for a 3-4 hour boat tour departing from Los Sueños Marina or Herradura Bay.

What else you’ll see: Dolphins (bottlenose and spinner) are common year-round. Sea turtles, manta rays, and whale sharks make occasional appearances.

Insider tip: The July-October window tends to have more whale sightings because the southern humpbacks arrive in larger numbers. If whale watching is a priority for your trip, plan accordingly. But even outside whale season, the dolphin encounters alone are worth the boat trip, especially with kids.

Booking Your Tours: Practical Advice

Book through your concierge or property manager first. If you’re staying in a managed vacation rental in Los Sueños, your property management team can book tours directly and often knows which operators are running well on any given week. At Nest Stays, our concierge team arranges excursions for guests regularly and can recommend based on your group’s interests, ages, and fitness levels.

Book fishing charters early. During peak season (December through April), popular boats and captains fill up weeks or months in advance, especially around tournament dates. If fishing is the main reason for your trip, reserve your charter before you book your flights.

Pay attention to the tax. Most tour prices in Costa Rica are quoted before the 13% IVA (sales tax). A $150 catamaran trip is actually $169.50. It’s not a scam; it’s just how prices are listed here. Ask for the total price including tax when you confirm.

Tipping: $5-10 per person for guides on land tours, $10-20 for boat crew on water excursions, and 15-20% of the charter cost for fishing crews. Cash (USD or colones) is preferred.

What to Bring on Any Tour

• Sunscreen: Reef-safe if you’re getting in the water. The equatorial sun here is no joke, even on overcast days.
• Water: Some tours provide it, but bring your own bottle too.
• Cash: For tips and any extras not included in the tour price. Small bills in USD work everywhere.
• A dry bag: If you’re on a boat or near water, protect your phone and wallet.
• Bug spray: For jungle and river tours, especially during green season.
• Comfortable shoes: Closed-toe for ATVs, hiking, and ziplines. Water shoes for rafting and waterfall tours.

Planning Your Tour Days

For a week-long stay in Los Sueños, here’s a realistic pace that leaves room for pool time and relaxation:

Day 1: Settle in. Walk Herradura Beach. Dinner at the marina. Check out our Central Pacific dining guide for where to eat.

Day 2: Fishing charter (half or full day).

Day 3: Recovery day. Beach club, golf, pool.

Day 4: Crocodile tour + Carara National Park (morning). Free afternoon.

Day 5: Tortuga Island catamaran (full day).

Day 6: Zipline or ATV in the morning. Sunset at the marina.

Day 7: Manuel Antonio (if you want one more big excursion) or a slow morning before checkout.

That gives you four tour days and three rest days. Resist the urge to book something every day. This is vacation, not a boot camp.