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It’s time to … Be Adventurous
Experiencing Costa Rica’s charming people and its outdoor utopia is a place you must add to your Bucket List.
Whether you are looking for an action-packed experience or a slower-paced itinerary — Costa Rica will bring your dreams to reality!
Costa Rica is many things — a cultural haven for some, and an adventure hotspot for others. Which one is for you?
From jungle jaunts to chilling out along the golden coastline, Costa Rica is the tropical paradise you seek! During your journey under the lush jungle canopies, you will become an expert at spotting toucans in Monteverde’s steamy cloud forest, or recognize the distant whoop of the white-faced capuchins monkeys in the Manuel Antonio National Park. And while you’re sitting on the rich coastline in one of the laidback surf towns, you will truly begin to understand why the country’s unofficial motto is “pura vida” — the pure life!
Costa Rica has much to offer — tropical rainforest, active volcanoes, waterfalls, beaches and unrivalled exotic animals. You can experience a packed adventure itinerary, or decide that it’s time for a wellness journey where you can be rejuvenated with yoga sessions overlooking the Arenal Volcano.
So whether you are up for the ultimate hands-on action-packed Costa Rica experience, or enjoy a slower-paced itinerary to recentre yourself, we will find the right experience for you!
When thinking of a Costa Rica experience, we recommend 10 days to two weeks, which will give you enough time to cover all the major highlights. This will also include the time for travelling from one destination to another — it can take several hours to transfer from one location to another.
Here are a few places I think you should explore:
Cloud forests, coffee plantations, and canyoneering! Get up close and intimate with this land of natural wonders. Visit a sustainable farm, explore the incredible cloud forest of Monteverde, and have endless thrilling activities up for offer in the adrenaline capital of La Fortuna. These two locations will provide options for canyoneering, whitewater rafting, and waterfall jumping — you just need to choose your own adventure.
Your spirits will be lifted with a visit to Mi Cafecito Community Coffee Plantation, a project supporting 200 local farmers, before carrying on to the outdoor utopia that is La Fortuna. There, you’ll be treated to a world of wellness, with yoga sessions overlooking the Arenal Volcano, hiking, spend some free time meditating, then follow it up with a rejuvenating trip to thermal hot springs. Journey to the remote Rincón de la Vieja for more yoga and a therapeutic mud bath before a final stop in Playa Carrillo — home to a beach devoid of buildings, hotels, and restaurants that will give your mind a sense of clarity you may have previously thought impossible.
The travel style of the National Geographic Journeys will provide you with greater exploration, insider access, and the freedom to roam — without sacrificing comfort! Costa Rica has long been a leader in conservation and the protection of natural heritage. On an NGJ, you will experience a fun-filled adventure, taking you from the foot of an active volcano to the misty highlands and Pacific coast. Hear from a researcher at the National Geographic–supported Monteverde Institute, learn the art of tortilla-making with a local family, and seek out the country’s unique creatures — from blue morpho butterflies to howler monkeys — on hikes through the forest.
• There are more than 500,000 species of wildlife, 900 of them are birds
• Costa Ricans have a high life expectancy
• There is a sanctuary that protects millions of turtles
• There are more than 200 volcanic formations
• Twenty-five percent of the land is conservation
• Costa Rica has two distinct seasons — summer (December to April) and winter (April to November). Summer months are predictable with sunny, warm and dry days — it is also the highest season for travellers. Winter months the temperature drops and is the rainy season
• Costa Rica is a lot more expensive than its neighbouring countries
• Prices are comparable to the US; you can use USD or CRC (Costa Rican Colón)
• Costa Rica might be a small country, but it is a tough place to get around, due to all the protected national parks and reserves
• Don’t exchange your money at the airport (you don’t get the best exchange rate). Bring some essential amount initially and then withdraw the rest as your travel (Don’t forget to tell your credit card and bank you are travelling!)
• At least 10 percent of the population speaks fluent English and Spanish — so learn a couple of Spanish phrases to help you get by … which I have provided for you:
– Donde esta el baño = where is the toilet
– Hola = Hello
– Adiós = Goodbye
– Por favor = Please
– Gracias = Thank you
– Lo siento = Sorry
– Sí = Yes
– No = No
• La Fortuna Waterfall Swim
Take a walk, taxi, or horse just outside the town of La Fortuna to the nearby waterfall. Once at the gate, pay a fee then start the descent on rough steps (more than 500 of them!) to get to the base of the falls. The water cascades 65m (200 ft) down the side of the dormant Cerro Chato. Sit on the rocks, get sprayed, watch for iridescent blue morpho butterflies and then plunge into the cool waters.
• Kayak Lake Arenal
Zip up your life jacket, grab a paddle and get ready to be wowed by beauty in every direction. Admire Arenal Volcano as you kayak the blue-green waters of Lake Arenal, Central America’s second largest lake. Scan the shores for more than 300 species of birds, listen for howler monkeys and fish for sharp-toothed rainbow bass. Take time to float and soak in the stunning scenery of the rolling hills, secret coves and sky that stretches forever.
• Guided Cloud Forest Night Walk
Join a naturalist guide for a 1.5-2 hour tour in the cloud forest after dark. Learn more about the habits of the area’s nocturnal wildlife including mammals, birds, insects, reptiles, and amphibians, and keep your eyes and ears open on this slow-paced walk. You never know what you might see – it depends on the day and your luck!
Correspondent and Avid traveller