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If you want to experience true pura vida, Paquera is the perfect Costa Rica travel destination. And while it’s peaceful and quiet, there is certainly no shortage of things to do!
We absolutely love Paquera and visited several times while living in Costa Rica. We had so many amazing experiences here, from snorkeling at the famous Isla Tortuga to kayaking among the bioluminescent plankton (which is a year-round phenomenon here, just FYI).
So if you’re looking for the best ways to enjoy Paquera’s natural beauty and fantastic marine life, then look no further! We’ve rounded up our top three experiences to help you get the most out of your visit to this lovely beach town.
Quick Pick: Our Favorite Tour
Don’t have time to read the full article?
Our personal FAVORITE tour is this kayak through bioluminescent plankton! See the water light up, enjoy the starry night sky, and spot wildlife too. Check out all the 5-star reviews and book this tour here!
Tip: This tour is popular, so book it in advance now and get free cancellation up to 24 hours before you go.
1. Evening Paquera Bay Bioluminescent Kayak Tour
- Price: $36 USD
- Duration: 1 hour
- Time: 6:30 pm
- Highlights: bioluminescent plankton, spotting bats and fish, informative guide
- Inclusions: all equipment, hot drinks, snacks
- Pickup from: self-drive
- Rating: 5 Stars (check 170+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: yes
This kayaking tour is our top choice of things to do in Paquera because it’s an amazing opportunity to see the bioluminescent plankton in Paquera Bay! Bioluminescence is usually seasonal, but in Paquera it happens all year round, so don’t miss the chance to see it.
We absolutely loved this tour. Kayaking around the bay was so special. Every paddle stroke caused a sparkling display of blue light beneath us!
And since we went on a clear night, we could see the stars overhead at the same time. It really was magical. In fact, it was one of the best things we have ever done in Costa Rica – or anywhere in the world, for that matter.
Our guide, Jose, was also really lovely and told us a lot about the area and the bioluminescence. We were in a small group of around 10 people, which was just perfect. The water is calm, too, so the kayaking itself was easy. It’s also nice to go after dark when it’s not as hot outside.
There’s a minimum age limit of 10 for this tour but other than that, this is one of those tours that’s suitable for just about everyone. It truly is a bucket list experience and for that reason, it’s highly likely to sell out in advance, so we recommend booking it ASAP!
Book this tour with over 170 5-star reviews in advance here!
2. Isla Tortuga Boat Tour with Lunch
- Price: $89 USD
- Duration: 6 hours
- Time: 9 am
- Highlights: epic snorkeling, visit to a spider monkey beach, relaxing on pristine beaches, volleyball games, small group tour
- Inclusions: snorkel equipment, guide, lunch, tea and coffee, cold drinks
- Pickup from: self-drive
- Rating: 5 Stars (check 23 reviews here)
- Free cancellation: yes
If you ask me, this boat tour to the Isla Tortuga pretty much sums up everything a Costa Rican vacation is all about. I mean, this trip has pristine beaches, clear blue water, wildlife, and plenty of time for rest and relaxation. What more could you want?
One thing that we love about this tour is that there’s a stop on the way to Isla Tortuga to see the spider monkeys that live on the beach at a nearby island. This is a pretty rare thing to see, and the monkeys themselves are just so cute!
But for us, the real highlight of this tour has to be the snorkeling. Isla Tortuga has some of the best snorkeling in the whole of Costa Rica, and we saw everything from turtles to angel fish and seahorses. It’s not uncommon to see whales and dolphins off the island either!
We also had plenty of time to relax on the gorgeous beaches and take a stroll through the rainforest where we saw iguanas, tropical birds, and even some wild pigs! Our group also played volleyball on the beach together, and then we sat down to enjoy a delicious lunch of freshly caught shellfish, rice, and salad. Chicken and veggie options are also available for those who don’t eat shellfish.
All in all, this was an absolutely dreamy day and we would do it again in a heartbeat. This experience really sums up what pura vida is all about!
Reserve this tour in advance here and get FREE cancellation 24 hours before you go!
Why We Book Tours with Viator
Viator is a trusted online booking system for tours around the world! We almost always book our tours using Viator for a couple of reasons:
- Free cancellation on most tours – Most of the tours on Viator allow you to cancel and get a full refund up to 24 hours in advance. This is handy in case plans change, or if booking an outdoor activity, the weather forecast is looking grim.
- Reserve now and pay later – You can secure your spot on some of the most popular tours well in advance and not pay until closer to the day of the tour.
- Lowest price guarantee – If you happen to find the same tour at a lower price elsewhere, Viator will refund you the price difference.
- Pay in your chosen currency – Avoid costly international transaction fees by choosing to pay in your home currency.
- Peace of mind – When booking with tour operators you find in person on the street or in small booking offices, you are often promised one thing and given another. This online platform holds tour operators accountable with a written description of inclusions as well as the opportunity for customers to leave reviews.
Check out the Viator website here! Or, for more info, read our detailed review about Viator here.
3. Private Half-Day Nature Tour in Curu Wildlife Refuge
- Price: $150 USD
- Duration: 4-5 hours
- Time: 7 or 8 am
- Highlights: spotting tons of wildlife, beautiful beaches and bays, private tour
- Inclusions: snacks, entry fees, local guide, private transport
- Pickup from: Santa Teresa, Montezuma
- Rating: 5 Stars (check 30 reviews here)
- Free cancellation: yes
Did you know that Curú wildlife refuge was actually the first of its kind in Costa Rica?
It’s such a beautiful place and it’s home to secluded beaches and bays, as well as lots of lush jungle. But the real reason that Curú is a must-visit is because it’s teeming with wildlife!
We saw SO much when we visited with this private tour, from spider monkeys and scarlet macaws to crocodiles, deer, and bats… the list goes on! It was actually hard to believe just how many creatures there were here.
Our guide, Ernesto, had a real knack for spotting wildlife and we saw so much more with him than we would have on our own. It felt like we saw something new with every step we took, and thanks to Ernesto’s spotting scope we were able to get close-up views and take amazing photos on our phones.
So if you’re keen to see as much wildlife as possible in Costa Rica, then we can’t recommend this tour enough. The fact it was a private tour also meant that we got Ernesto’s undivided attention and learned so much about the creatures that we saw.
We absolutely loved exploring the reserve and it was nice to have a little time to chill out at the beaches after hiking through the jungle, too. A minimum of two people is needed to book this experience, so it’s ideal for couples, families, and groups of friends. If you only do one wildlife tour in Costa Rica, make sure it’s this one!
Don’t miss out on this private experience – check availability and book this tour here!
Where to Stay in Paquera, Costa Rica
Once the charm of Paquera takes you in, you’ll want to stay a while. It’s a nice village to base yourself in for a bit as you explore the Nicoya Peninsula. While it is a smaller center, there are still lots of options for accommodations to suit every budget. These are our top picks!
Eco Boutique Hotel Vista Las Islas Reserva Natural – $$$
Enjoy amazing views over the Gulf of Nicoya from your private, furnished balcony at Eco Boutique Hotel Vista Las Islas Reserva Natural. This beautiful hotel is located at the top of a hill, only five minutes from the ferry port. There’s an infinity pool and awesome pool bar, private beach access, and spacious rooms with rain showers. There’s even a hotel restaurant serving traditional and international food when you get hungry.
Rooms here start at $170 USD per night. You can check availability and book a room here on Booking.com.
Restaurante y Cabinas Alemar – $$
For private rooms that are almost like mini-apartments, Hotel Alemar is a great choice. This is a nice place for families with lots of space, free parking, WiFi, and a nice pool and BBQ area. There’s also air conditioning, so you can cool off after a day at the beach. The restaurant here is good too with an excellent chef and really generous portions.
The rates here are around $50 to 72 USD a night. You can check availability and book a room here on Booking.com.
La Casa de Cachi – $
For a home away from home, La Casa de Cachi is a small property run by a local family in the residential area of Paquera. The owners are super nice and provide a delicious breakfast daily. There’s also a shared kitchen available.
It’s a cozy place that’s really affordable with rooms ranging from $17 to $71 USD per night. You can check availability and book a room here on Booking.com.
Getting Around Costa Rica
How you choose to get around Costa Rica is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make when planning your holiday here! How you do it depends on your budget, travel style, and comfort level.
Renting a Car
Without a doubt, the number one way to explore Costa Rica is in a rental car. We book rental cars on the Discover Cars website as we have had good experiences with them in the past.
One of the things you need to watch for when renting a car in Costa Rica is the mandatory insurance that the government requires you to have. There are a lot of very cheap rentals that don’t include this mandatory insurance (TPL) in the original booking price, but there are also ones that do. To avoid additional surprise charges when you pick up your rental car, be sure to rent a car that includes the mandatory insurance when you book.
Thankfully, on Discover Cars it’s easy to tell apart the companies that include the mandatory insurance and those that don’t. The trick is you can’t pick any car on their website. In the picture below, you can see this rental car, with pick up in Jaco, includes the TPL. That means the mandatory insurance is included in the price. Any cover you get above that is extra.
Of course, I still suggest getting the full coverage offered by Discover Cars, which covers you even more.
You can browse cars on Discover Cars here.
Book Shuttles
If renting a car isn’t in your budget, you don’t feel comfortable driving in Costa Rica, or you just don’t like driving, shuttles are the next best option. There are hundreds of shuttle routes available all over the country, and they are very affordable.
Shuttles in Costa Rica are specifically for tourists and often include pick up and drop off at your selected hotels and airports. The drivers also speak some English, and the vehicles have air conditioning. You’ll also be guaranteed a seat when you book a shuttle (which isn’t the case with the public bus system.)
To get the best price, use the website Bookaway. They compare all the offers and prices of shuttle companies in Costa Rica so you get the best price! Honestly, we have saved so much money using Bookaway!
You can search for shuttles online on Bookaway here.
Public Bus
Lastly, you can use the public bus system. On short journeys, such as from San Jose to La Fortuna or Uvita to Manuel Antonio, this system is great. However, the longer the journey the more hassle and time spent on a bus. It’s undoubtedly best to save the public bus in Costa Rica for short and straightforward trips!
The public buses are definitely the cheapest way to get around Costa Rica, but they are not always very reliable and schedules often change without notice and delays are to be expected. The buses can also be very crowded and hot – so just be prepared!
It’s also good to speak some Spanish if you plan on riding the public bus since most drivers and ticket booth operators don’t speak English.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance!
If you’re looking to save money on travel insurance, we currently use and recommend SafetyWing. We’ve been using their coverage since 2018 and they’ve had our backs when we needed emergency flights and got sick overseas.
SafetyWing is one of the cheapest providers out there and covers everything from medical costs to lost luggage, travel delays, and emergency flights. A huge difference we’ve found between them and other companies is that they let you take out a policy AFTER leaving your home country. We’ve also found it handy that it’s a monthly payment rather than a lump sum, and you can get a refund for unused time.
SafetyWing has helped us out in some scary situations before and their affordable coverage has given us peace of mind.
Pura Vida!
Even though Paquera is small, there is plenty to do! Whether you explore the incredible bioluminescent waters, have a relaxing day on the island, or check out the wildlife refuge, you can’t go wrong. We love visiting Paquera and try to get there as often as possible, it truly is those relaxed pura vida vibes Costa Rica is so famous for!
If you found this blog helpful, be sure to check out our other Costa Rica posts! We’ve been all over this country and have lived in a few spots – so we love sharing our expertise. Here are a few helpful blogs to continue your travel planning:
Is Costa Rica Safe? Travel scams, safety advice & more
MUST-VISIT volcanoes in Costa Rica
Things you NEED to know before visiting Manuel Antonio National Park