Top 10 adventure things to do in Costa Rica
Top 10 adventure things to do in Costa Rica
if you are like me
You feel that the best trips are the ones where you immerse yourself in experiences you could never repeat at home. Costa Ricans have a saying: “Pura Vida”, which means pure life. And in Costa Rica it’s not just a saying, it’s a way of life. Today we will show you the best adventure things to do in Costa Rica.
Costa rica at its best
a place to crush comfort zones. Immerse yourself in some of the most incredible ecosystems on the planet and experience the unique local lifestyle of Pura Vida.
Voted the happiest country
happiest country in the world in 2017. Costa Ricans have many achievements to be proud of. In 2015, the country was able to produce 99% of its electricity using renewable resources. And they continue to make progress toward their goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2021. All of their efforts are aimed at saving their incredible ecosystems. They are home to more than 500,000 species.
Costa Ricans
are friendly and welcoming. And they are happy to encourage visitors to experience all that their beautiful country has to offer:
Adventure things to do in Costa Rica:
Nature: Up close and personal nature
It’s easy to appreciate the attention to preservation and protection throughout the country because of the amount of nature you can experience! From beaches to cloud forests, even when you sit down to dinner outdoors – wildlife is everywhere! There are many protected areas throughout the country that you can tour to get an up close and personal look.
We had incredible experiences
with wildlife in all the places we visited. In total, our group estimated that we saw more than six dozen new and exotic creatures that we had never seen in real life before. And the best part is that along with the animals. There are beautiful views of lush green landscapes that are totally postcard worthy.
One place that enchanted us
spectacular views of a natural wonder was the Arenal waterfall. It was 360 degrees of pure beauty. The 500 or so steps down to the swimming hole were a challenge. but worth every step!
Suspension bridge:
In the Monteverde Cloud Forest, we first opted for a suspension bridge experience.
In a cloud forest, each layer, from the ground to the treetops, is home to different animals. Suspension bridges allow you to walk among the wildlife spending time in the upper regions of the cloud forest, while glimpsing creatures on the ground on intermediate walks. Our guide was very knowledgeable and we learned a lot about the species we were spotting.
Night Tour in the rainforest
We also decided to take a night tour of the Monteverde rainforest, because a completely different group of animals only appear at night. This tour with Don Juan Tours was combined with an educational course on coffee and chocolate (both grown locally in Costa Rica), which was a great way to start our evening. We learned that the process of making our beloved java is much more complicated than we imagined! We were able to sample several coffees and chocolates to understand the differences in quality.
As we left the educational center
educational center and preparing for our night walk, we encountered a mother scorpion in the eaves with dozens of her babies on her back. That surely got the adrenaline pumping for our trip into the darkness of the jungle.
On our night walk
We followed our guide into a humid jungle to find porcupines eating fruit, toucans nesting in the vegetation, and we were even lucky enough to have a bunch of leaf cutter ants trying to make our slippers their new home! But don’t worry, they don’t bite.
National Parks
We visited two national parks in Costa Rica: Arenal Volcano National Park and Manuel Antonio National Park. Both parks offered easy to moderate hiking options and provided a number of opportunities to see animals. We were concerned that walking through these parks without a guide might make it difficult to spot the animals we were so eager to see, but after spending some time in Monteverde, our group began to know where to look.
The more
Highlights included seeing a group of capuchin monkey families, as well as several sloths! Pro tip: Both parks are hot and humid, and it is best to bring plenty of drinking water for your hikes!
Manuel Antonio National Park
is also home to beautiful beaches and protected viewpoints. It is definitely worth spending a day there to enjoy all it has to offer. Just be careful; the animals in this park are VERY outgoing and will do almost anything to get your food! The park’s strict rules about what you can bring in help reduce animal intrusion, but trust us, watching a raccoon reach for a banana through his backpack is a little worrisome.
Adventure Tourism: Extreme
The parts of the trip that our group enjoyed the most were the adventure activities. With different landscapes and terrains just a few hours away in any direction. The country offers everything an adrenaline junkie could want. From horseback riding to ATV adventures. From bungee jumping to rafting, there’s not much more you could ask for.
Ziplining
Ziplining is definitely an activity that Costa Rica is famous for. I have been ziplining all over the world and nothing compares to the thrill of ziplining in the Cloud Forest at
The best adventure things to do in Costa Rica: Monteverde
We chose the best value for money zipline experience: 100% Aventura, which boasts the longest zipline in Latin America. Their course also includes two Superman-style lines (upside down, suspended from the harness on your back) that average 250 feet off the ground. As well as a 13-story Tarzan Swing that sends him into a heart-stopping free fall in three seconds. The views are spectacular and I can safely say that this is as close as you will get to flying.
White Water Rafting
This was the first time I tried whitewater rafting and to be honest. I was worried that it wouldn’t live up to my expectations. But the trip down the Sarapiqui River with Desafio Adventure Company near La Fortuna was incredibly fun and challenging. It was the perfect mix of excitement and relaxation. With the icing on the cake of great guides and breathtaking views along the way. We rafted for a full two hours – and the complimentary lunch was out of this world delicious!
Hot Springs
Now, the hot springs in La Fortuna/Arenal are not necessarily what I would consider extreme. But the experience is definitely challenging at times and you can’t get it anywhere else.
Best adventure things to do in Costa Rica:
the hot springs of Baldi’s is located inside their beautiful resort and spa; a nice change from the rustic outdoor activities we had been doing most of the trip.
Baldi’s is located inside their beautiful resort and spa; a nice change from the rustic outdoor activities we had been doing most of the trip. As you explore, you can experience 25 thermal pools that increase in temperature as you go deeper into the resort. Ending with a steaming experience at the top. Where a waterfall cascades down with water temperatures reaching nearly 120 degrees. There’s something strangely fantastic about the heat – if you can stand it!
Along with these beautiful pools,
Baldi’s has fantastic wet bars that you can swim in. Beautiful water features including a “grotto” that has an impressive steaming cave. Children’s area with slides and other water fun. As well as an excellent buffet to do. Just make sure your drinks don’t hit you too hard in the hot water.
One thing about Baldi that is definitely extreme is their water slides. And boy did we underestimate them! You’ll fly off these slides at high speeds. But they are a lot of fun.
Surfing
In Manuel Antonio, our group decided to try their luck with surfing. Most had never surfed before, and those who had were still considered novices. Surfing in Manuel Antonio was perfect for beginners – our group rented boards at our hostel and received free surf lessons! Some of our friends got up, albeit briefly. While the rest of us enjoyed a beautiful sunset on one of the most beautiful beaches we’ve ever been to.
Adventure things to do in Costa Rica: Snorkelling and diving
We had a beautiful boat ride
boat ride with enough complimentary drinks that we quickly forgot about the rain. Some fun water slides and delicious traditional Costa Rican food. We also took it upon ourselves to start a conga line that eventually got everyone on the boat out of their seats, dancing and having a great time – yet another example of how making the best of a bad situation can create amazing memories!
On the boat with enough complimentary drinks that we quickly forgot about the rain. Some fun water slides and delicious traditional Costa Rican food. We also took it upon ourselves to start a conga line that eventually got everyone on the boat out of their seats, dancing and having a great time – yet another example of how making the best of a bad situation can create amazing memories!
