Costa Rica Outdoor And Adventure Activities

Costa Rica is renowned for the diversity and affordability of its outdoor adventures, and many travelers come specifically to pursue these high-quality offerings. Activities run the gamut from scenic to strenuous, including sportfishing, surfing, scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking, white-water rafting, mountain biking, and golf. (Yes, golf. Costa Rica boasts the best 18-hole courses in Central America.) While tour groups and guides are even more widespread than típico food, their numbers have forced them to offer more competitive prices and to conform to wildly adopted and fairly stringent safety requirements.

Hiking

Scuba diving and snorkeling

Surfing

Views and vistas

Wildlife

Horseback riding

Kayaking and rafting

Sportfishing

Canopy tours and ziplines

Beaches

Attraction	Where To Find It
Costa Rica’s most famous peak, Chirripó , is a difficult 3-day trek that puts you on top of the world. Hike through waterfalls at Montezuma . Journey through cloud forests to the steaming crater atop Volcán Poás .
The waters of Isla del Caño , off the coast of Bahía Drake, are said to have some of the world’s most spectacular scuba diving. Swim with fish amongst the beautiful Caribbean reefs near Cahuita . Calm waters and diverse marine life make Playa Hermosa the perfect place for underwater exploration.
Surfers come from all over the world to conquer the waves at Pavones and Playa Negra . Jacó promises great surf by day and wild parties by night. With consistent swells, Mal País is a surfer’s paradise .
Enjoy sunsets from the white sands of Punta Uva . Tectonic plates collide to form the ridge trails of Monteverde , which offers amazing views of the entire Central Valley. Observe the glowing magma of Volcán Arenal from the safety of luxurious hot springs at its base. Bocas Town, Panama promises delightfully tropical views above and below the water.
Catch a glimpse of the rare quetzal in Monteverde . Rehabilitate baby animals at the Sanctuario Silvestre Wildlife Sanctuary , near Golfito. Over 50% of Costa Rica’s famous biodiversity can be found in Parque Nacional Corcovado . Protect and observe endangered turtles in Tortuguero .
Gallop through the waterfalls of Montezuma on a trusty steed . Observe thick jungles and rolling hills on a horseback hike between La Fortuna and Monteverde . Explore the beaches surrounding Jacó .
With Class II-IV rapids, Turrialba provides fun for visitors at every skill level. Spend an exhilarating day in the Class IV rapids at Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí . Kayak in the Pacific Ocean near Quepos .
Some of the largest catches lie off the shores of Osa Peninsula and Golfo Dulce . Spend a week on the rivers of Barra del Colorado , catching fish and a glimpse of local wildlife. Troll the Pacific waters around Quepos from the deck of a yacht.
The original canopy tour at Orotina stretches between the trees high above a rainforest valley. The timid and intrepid alike can find a zipline to suit their style in Monteverde . Watch smoke rise from Volcán Arenal from the hanging bridges of La Fortuna .
If there is one thing Costa Rica has, it’s beautiful beaches. Some of the best include Manuel Antonio , Zancudo , Playa Sámara , and Bahía Drake .

Organized adventure tours offer another way of exploring the wild. Activities include hiking, biking, skiing, canoeing, kayaking, rafting, climbing, photo safaris, and archaeological digs. Tourism bureaus can often suggest parks, trails, and outfitters. Organizations that specialize in camping and outdoor equipment like REI and EMS are also good sources of information. In Costa Rica, tourist agencies and hotels offer organized adventure packages, and there are many adventure tour agencies scattered throughout the country.

Bill Beard’s Costa Rica (☎1-877-853-0538; www.billbeardscostarica.com). Offers tours that range from a day to a little over a week. There are over 11 different tour packages that include rafting, hiking, ziplines, and kayaking. Bill’s also arranges honeymoon adventure vacations.
Costa Rica Expeditions, Av. 3, C. Central, San José, Costa Rica (☎2257 0766; www.costaricaexpeditions.com). Offers single- and multi-day tours throughout Costa Rica, including kayaking, whitewater rafting, and bungee jumping tours.
Costa Rica Ríos Aventuras (☎1-888 434 0776; www.costaricarios.com). A reputable rafting and kayaking operator, this company also offers mountain biking and canyoning for full-day and multi-day tours.
Specialty Travel Index, 305 San Anselmo Ave., Ste. 309, San Anselmo, CA 94960 (US ☎1-888-624-4030, elsewhere 415-455-1643; www.specialtytravel.com). Connects travelers to tour companies throughout the world. Search by location or activity.

Choosing The Right Canopy Tour. Though their domesticated cousins have become the rope-courses and obstacle challenges of American corporate retreats, these zipline labyrinths are anything but white-collar jungle gyms. Would-be flyers sail through the trees on swings, cords, and harnesses, getting an up-close view of canopy ecosystems along with stomach flutters and occasional motion sickness. Not every canopy tour is alike, however, and some cater to the faint of heart with safer indulgences: intricately connected suspension bridges and even gondola-style trams. Those who scoff at these low-adrenaline alternatives can head to the “old-school” establishments near Monteverde (see Canopy Tours) or Orotina (see Canopy Tours). Not all tours are made equal; be prepared to shell out a bit more cash for a reputable and safer tour company.