Duration: Full Day · Price: From $225 USD per group of 1–4 · Difficulty: Easy
About this tour
Somewhere in the cloud-forested hills of Bajos del Toro — about 90 minutes north of San José — a Tyrannosaurus rex is waiting for you in the trees. Not a painting, not a museum exhibit: a full-scale animatronic predator that moves and calls from the undergrowth, set inside real Costa Rican rainforest so dense that you round a bend on the trail and the thing simply appears. That moment — the involuntary startle, the laugh, the immediate reaching for a phone — is what Dino Land Costa Rica does better than anywhere else in the region. It turns a working jungle into a prehistoric ambush, and the ambush lands every single time.
The Dino Land trail winds for roughly a kilometer through primary and secondary forest, with 25 life-sized dinosaurs positioned along it — some visible from 30 meters away, others hidden in the canopy until you're almost on top of them. The park's designers clearly understand pacing: the gap between encounters is just long enough to let your guard down. Your kids will lead you through it faster than you expect, doubling back to show you what they found. Adults, for the record, react exactly the same way.
Beyond the dinosaur trail, the park has two highlights that stand on their own regardless of age. The Río Agrio waterfall drops into a pool of volcanic turquoise — the same electric color as Río Celeste, produced by the same chemistry: silicate minerals in the water catching the light at a specific wavelength. You can't swim in it (the acidity protects both the ecosystem and your skin), but the 15-minute hike down to the viewing platform delivers one of the most genuinely stunning waterfall views in Alajuela province. The second highlight is the dry slide: 195 meters of stainless steel track dropping through the forest, the longest slide of its type in Central America. Two descents are included in the tour.
This is a full-day excursion with private round-trip transportation from San José area hotels. Pickup is early enough to reach the park at a comfortable hour, see everything without rushing, and be back in San José before dinner. Note that park entrance fees are paid directly at the gate on arrival — these are not included in the tour price, and our team will give you the current fee amounts when you book. The dry slide has a minimum height requirement of 1.10 meters and must be reserved in advance, which we handle for you.
What's included
- Round-trip private transportation from San José area hotels
- Bilingual driver-guide
- Two dry slide descents (Central America's longest — 195m)
- All in-park logistics handled
- Bottled water and snacks for the journey
Not included
- Park entrance fee (paid on-site at the gate — ask our team for current pricing)
- Lunch (restaurant available on-site)
- Gratuities
- Personal travel insurance
- Celestial Pools access (subject to river conditions on the day)
Good to know
- Dry slide minimum height: 1.10m — children below this height cannot ride
- Advance slide reservation required — we handle this for you at booking
- Park is closed Tuesdays — tours do not operate on Tuesdays
- Río Agrio waterfall water is naturally acidic — swimming is not recommended
- Celestial Pools are a natural feature and may be unavailable depending on river conditions
- Drive from San José is approximately 1.5–2 hours each way
- Wear comfortable walking shoes — trail has roots and uneven terrain
- Free cancellation 48 hours prior