GREAT ADVENTURE TRIPS IN COSTA RICA

Apart from being an incredible destination for environmentally conscious travelers, there is a multitude of adventure activities in Costa Rica to satisfy even the most adrenalin junkie of travelers. Costa Rica truly has something for everyone. Its pristine beaches, lush green jungles, countless waterfalls, and laid-back culture offer the perfect blend for anyone looking for an awesome holiday, relaxing or adrenaline-pumped. Best known for its untouched beaches, abundant sunshine, and relaxing atmosphere, Costa Rica has a well-earned reputation for being a great destination for those looking for some quiet downtime. However, the country also offers plenty of unique opportunities for adventure too, giving travelers the chance to leave the plush resort life behind in favor of some adrenaline-pumped activities instead. Here are some great adventure trips in Costa Rica.

 

Snorkeling The Reef

 

Explore the Caribbean and the Pacific Coastlines

Your Costa Rica adventure vacation will never be complete without exploring the underwater wonders of the country’s coasts. The clear, blue tropical waters surrounding Costa Rica are ideal for diving and snorkeling. Snorkelers to the Gandoca Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge on the Caribbean Coast will see sea turtles, dolphins, manatees, and maybe even crocodiles. Colorful fish are abundant in the coral reefs, inlets, and islands of the refuge. On the Pacific Ocean side, the Catalina Islands offer rare diving and snorkeling experiences. Formed from volcanic rock, the waters around the Catalina Islands are filled with sea turtles, reef sharks, moray eels, octopus, and a whole assortment of tropical fish. Cano Island Bio Reserve is arguably the best place to go diving and snorkeling in the entire country The crystal-clear, deep-blue waters found just offshore are home to dolphins, stingrays, eels, tuna, barracuda, and numerous other species. On occasion, even whale sharks and humpbacks will swim by.

 

Surfing the Pacific Ocean

Watch Sea Turtles lay their Eggs

 

Take the road less traveled and head to Tortuguero National Park, a beach-studded enclave located in the Limon Province. Home to an array of sea turtles, Tortuguero is one of the best Costa Rica attractions, and with good reason. With luck on your side, you might be able to spot any of its four endangered sea turtles: the Hawksbill, Green sea turtle, Loggerhead, or the Giant Leatherback. Each of these species nests during specific seasons, so do your research beforehand. This wildlife conservation may only be accessed by domestic flight or boat. It can be difficult to visit Tortuguero alone, which is why we offer this as part of our nature itineraries. Ask us at Va Expeditions for more information here. 

 

Head out Whale Watching

 

The best time to see humpback whales in Costa Rica is January, February, July, August, and September. This is when they come to breed and raise their young. You can see whales all along the Pacific coast of Costa Rica during those months. Officially, the humpback whale season in Costa Rica is from December to April and July to November. Uvita, a small beach town on the South Pacific coast is the only place that has a great abundance of humpback whales during both times of the year. For this reason, Uvita is one of the best places in Costa Rica to see humpback whales. You can also see them along the Osa Peninsula, Tamarindo, the Gulf of Nicoya, Papagayo, and Tortuga Island.

 

Whale Watching

 

World Class White water rafting

 

White water rafting is one of the most exhilarating adventure sports in the world and Costa Rica has some amazing rivers for travelers to try. Whether you're looking for a leisurely paddle with occasional rapids to maneuver or you want a non-stop roller coaster ride along a raging river, you'll find plenty of opportunities there, including numerous destinations with Class I-III water that is particularly beginner friendly. In a country blessed with plenty of rivers to explore, the Pacuare is inarguably amongst the very best. In fact, it may be one of the top whitewater rivers in the world, which makes it a must-do for adventurous travelers visiting Costa Rica.  The Pacuare River is on the list of the 10 best rivers in the world to do rafting (place 6) with the categories lll to lV, which makes it simply impossible to not include it on any list of the most exciting extreme adventure activities in the country. The most interesting thing about The Pacuare River is that the part of the rafting is up to 30 km long. It starts at 1´500 m and goes to 350 meters above sea level. In the rainy season, it can overcome category V, which is really extreme, and sometimes they even have to stop this sport for a time.

 

Ziplines!

 

Costa Rica is often credited as the birthplace of the adventure sport, which sends participants flying over scenic landscapes while harnessed to wire that is suspended high above the ground. The combination of speed and height makes for a thrilling experience that is tough to top. There are numerous places to go zip lining in Costa Rica, with the best options allowing daredevils to go flying above the canopy of the lush rainforest that makes up most of the interior of the country. 100% Aventura offers some of the best lines to ride during its canopy tour experience, with the longest stretching for more than 1.2 miles. Ziplining goes to the next level when you do it in the “superman position”, because like this the speed is faster while you fly with all excitement through the treetops of the cloud forest in Monteverde. Furthermore, there is the longest and most extreme cable in the whole of Latin America, with a total distance of 1´590 meters (5216 ft).

 

Zipline Monteverde

Visit Arenal

 

The Arenal Volcano is one of the country’s most popular locations, and viewing it is one of the best activities in Costa Rica. The jungles and volcanos of Costa Rica provide endless adventures for nature lovers. Hiking trails wind their way through rainforests, beaches, jungles, and mountains, giving hikers a chance to see the lush plant life and the wildlife up close and personal. This 1,670-meter high active volcano located in north-western Costa Rica cannot be climbed, but picturesque hiking trails that lead to spectacular viewing decks prove that the journey is just as much of a treat as the destination.

 

Ride The Waves

 

Surfing is a popular sport in Costa Rica and for good reason. There are a number of great locations on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts that are considered to be amongst the very best in the world. Jaco is a prototypical surf destination, offering excellent opportunities for beginners and experts alike. More seasoned riders can head to nearby Playa Hermosa to get a taste of some of the best and most consistent waves in all of Central America. If you're looking to take up surfing, or simply just want to hone your existing skills, head to the Safari Surf School in the town of Nosara.  The waves at Tamarindo beach are considered to be the best ones in Costa Rica to surf. It is one of the most crowded beaches in the country, since access is really easy, and just one hour away from the international airport in Liberia. The waves at Tamarindo are perfect for beginners and experts, looking to catch the perfect wave.

 

Caribbean Sunset

Climb an Active Volcano

 

Climbing to the summit of a volcano is a popular adventure activity in Costa Rica, with several amazing hikes to be had. Probably the most popular of them all is Arenal Volcano in Arenal National Park. This volcano rises 5436 feet in height, providing some amazing views of the surrounding countryside, which is mostly made up of rainforests and coffee plantations. Due to its location and ease of accessibility, Arenal can get extremely crowded at times. For an exciting trek that is a bit more off the radar, try Turrialba Volcano instead. Located not far from San Jose, this peak is a bit trickier to get to, and as a result, it is often overlooked by tourists. The trails aren't quite as well developed as some of the other options, but the rustic feel adds to the sense of adventure. This highly active volcano provides some spectacular views along the three-hour hike to the top, making it well worth a visit.

 

Arenal Volcano

Mountain Biking

 

Whether you're an absolute beginner or a mountain biking pro, Costa Rica has plenty to offer. The country has some of the best single-track trails in the world, including the Rincon de la Vieja, an 18-mile-long route that runs down the side of an active volcano. Much of the riding takes place within the rainforest, allowing travelers to go at their own pace. While some will love the fast and flowy downhill, others will prefer to just roll along at a slower pace, soaking in the wildlife and scenery as they go. For an epic Costa Rican adventure, try taking on La Ruta de Los Conquistadores, a three-day mountain bike event that bills itself as the toughest race on the planet. La Ruta is not for the faint of heart, but it is definitely something you won't forget.

 

Canopy Tour

 

Spotting wildlife in the rainforest isn't the only way to take in Costa Rica's lush jungles. One of the best and most tranquil ways to explore the biodiversity of the cloud forest is to take a canopy tour, which uses a series of rope bridges and slacklines suspended in the trees to give visitors a bird's eye view of the surrounding landscapes. Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve offers a more laid-back, quiet approach. The result is a fantastic hike amongst the treetops that allows travelers to go at their own pace while stopping to spot exotic birds, monkeys, and other local creatures.

 

Canopy Walk, Monteverde