Exhilarating Adventures in Costa Rica

Spread the Word and Share!

Adventures in Costa Rica can take you out of your comfort zone and get your heart pounding. That is, if adventure is what you are after. If you’re an adventure seeker or even a light adventure seeker, Costa Rica should be on your must-visit list. There are endless activities to keep you busy, and you are more likely to run out of vacation time than adventures in Costa Rica. Here are some of my favorite Costa Rica adventures.

White Water Rafting

River rafting is an exciting way to incorporate both adventure and nature while in Costa Rica. The Sarapiquí River has class II-III rapids that run through the beautiful Sarapiqui rainforest. Rapids with names like “Roller Coaster,” “Superman,” and “Air Force” will provide you with a thrilling ride

However, if you want to kick it up a notch, Aguas Bravas offers an intense class IV white water rafting trip. Throughout 12 kilometers, you will encounter more than 30 exhilarating rapids down the San Miguel section of the Sarapiquí River! With huge waves, deep holes, and obstacles to challenge you along the ride, this is not for the faint of heart.

Neither trip is complete without jumping from the cliffs above and swimming in the river.

It’s an exhilarating way to spend a few hours. The river rafting tour is accessible from multiple parts of Costa Rica, such as Sarapiqui, San José, La Fortuna, or Arenal.

What to pack for a Costa Rica Rafting Trip

If you are going white water rafting, there are a few essentials to take with you:

A good camera is essential

A waterproof phone pouch

A bag for dry clothes

Men's quick dry pants

Women's quick dry pants

Women's open toe shoes

Men's open toe
shoes

Men's lightweight rain
jacket

Women's lightweight rain jacket

Canopy Tour (aka zip-lining) in Monteverde

Zip-lining through the cloud forest in Montverde is an exhilarating experience. Imagine wind whipping through your hair as you fly through the treetops. Your adrenaline will flow as you soar across the magical cloud forest, taking in the richness of the flora and fauna around you.

Monteverde’s cloud forest is a diverse biodome with more than 100 species of mammals, more than 400 types of birds, countless insects, and over 2,000 types of plants.

The cloud forest is a special place, even if you’re not a diehard National Geographic fan. With nature’s beauty as your backdrop, zip-lining in Monteverde is one of the must-do adventures in Costa Rica. The experience is surreal, gorgeous, and downright fun.

Canopy tour operators

There are multiple canopy tour operators in Monteverde, and all offer something a little different. For instance, the canopy tour we did at Selvatura Park in Monteverde, provides the most cables, with 13 cables built within the forest (as opposed to above the treetops), including a 1 km cable, 15 platforms, and an optional Tarzan Swing and superman zip-lining experience. There is a total of 2.2 miles of total cable length, which is more than enough to get your fill of zip-lining. The platforms are attached to the trees in the middle of the cloud forest. These platforms let you quickly move from one platform to the next without a long wait in between zip lines.

Our trip was not complete without opting for the Tarzan swing. Wow, does that swing wake up your heart (and stomach). You jump off a platform and drop down before you swing high, and I mean high into the treetops. If you look closely, you can see the sheer terror on my face. I was so scared you could hear me screaming on the other side of the world. My husband mistook my screams of fear for cries of joy and thought I was having the best time. With my feet back on the ground, we had a good laugh and an unforgettable experience.

A second option is Sky Trek where 7 cables take you to staggering heights above the treetops and from mountain to mountain. The platforms are a little wider than at Selvatura Park and allow you to move around to reposition to take pictures.

A third option is Monteverde Extremo Park. There is a reason the word “extremo” is in the name. Here you have the opportunity to go bungee jumping, hop on the extreme Tarzan swing, go repelling, and fly like superman on the zip line.

What to wear ziplining

The following is Sky Adventures’ list of things to bring, and I agree with all of them. Many of these are the same suggestions I made if you are going river rafting.

- Wear comfortable and light clothes, better if they are breathable. I wore camping type pants and a moisture-wicking shirt (in case of rain and frankly, heat), and I was comfortable. You can scroll up for my selections available on Amazon.
- Bring a jacket or raincoat. These zip-lining excursions are in the cloud forest, which is often misty or rainy, so it’s a good idea to have a light rain jacket in case of a rain shower.
- Wear hiking or tennis shoes, preferably something comfortable and enclosed. I wore hiking boots.
- Sunscreen is a must.
- Insect repellent is also a must because you are in the forest with thousands of different kinds of insects. If you are susceptible to bug bites, like me, insect repellent is a necessity.
- Don’t forget your camera.

Hike around Arenal Volcano

Arenal Volcano is a large and imposing volcano standing at 1,657 meters (5,436 feet) tall in the district of La Fortuna. On a clear day, its lush green cone shape is visible far and wide.

For years, you could see lava spewing down the sides of the volcano and gas billowing from its top.

While it is a little eerie being so close to an active volcano, this threat is currently not an issue. Arenal Volcano has not erupted since 2010. While still alive, it is in a sleep state. Despite the recent inactivity, it’s worth taking time to hike in the Arenal National Park to see the gorgeous green hillsides, the wildlife, tall stocks of grass, and the lava fields.

You can choose the level of hiking (or walking) that best suits you. Check out these websites for more information about hiking in Arenal National Park.

https://www.bookmundi.com/t/arenal-volcano-hike-the-best-trails

https://www.twoweeksincostarica.com/hiking-in-arenal-national-park/

https://mytanfeet.com/activities/hiking-arenal-1968/

What to pack for hiking in Costa Rica

When I go for a hike, there are a few standard items I wear and take with me depending on the weather. These items are similar to the suggested items to bring on a canopy tour and white water rafting.

- Hiking shoes
- Hiking socks
- Bug spray
- Hat
- A snack for along the way
- Breathable clothes. It can get hot and sticky on the trail.
- Camera
- Rain jacket
- Backpack

Surfing

Surfing in Costa Rica is popular and for a good reason. Costa Rica consistently receives excellent swell for surfers of all levels, and the water temperature hovers in the low 80s year-round. The towns of Tamarindo, Santa Teresa, Mal Pais, Nosara, and Peninsula Papagayo are all popular surf destinations. You can find high-end accommodations coupled with incredible surf in these beach towns.

During our stay in Santa Teresa, my husband surfed every afternoon. He rented a surfboard at our hotel (Florblanca) and walked over to a break at Playa Santa Teresa. He came back stoked every afternoon, even after colliding with a reef.

For a change of scenery, he also surfed at Playa Hermosa. A beautiful beach with great waves. On most weekdays, there were only a few other people in the water.

He also surfed in Punta Islita in front of our hotel (Hotel Punta Islita), where the waves were a bit bigger – although it could have just been the day.

In Tamarindo, both Playa Tamarindo and Playa Langosta are popular surf spots. However, surfers with more experience favor Playa Langosta.

In Nosara, surfers of all levels can enjoy the sandy bottom and beach break at Playa Guiones.

Two other popular surf destinations near Peninsula Papagayo are Witches and Ollies. Tropic Surf at the Four Seasons arranges regular boat trips out to these surf spots.

If you want to try surfing or surfing is your passion, Costa Rica is the place to paddle out and catch your stoke!

For more information about the best breaks in Costa Rica, click here.

What to bring

You can rent surfboards in the local surf towns. However, there is nothing like having your own surfboard on a surf trip. You may also want to bring sunscreen and a rash-guard to protect you from the afternoon sun.

Horseback Riding

Your checklist of adventures in Costa Rica is not complete without a horseback ride! Whether I am riding in the mountains, on the beach, or at a cattle farm, the scenery is always magnificent. The lush forests with beautiful flora and fauna are so pretty that you feel like you are in a movie.

While staying in Santa Teresa, we ventured north toward the small fishing village of Manzanillo to go for a ride at a family-owned cattle farm called Hacienda Arío. Hacienda Arío treats the horses well. The horses tend to be of the smaller Spanish breed, which is easier to ride. The rolling green hills in the background and the wide-open pastures in the foreground create a magical place that we get to see only by horseback.

If open green spaces are not your ideal place to ride, imagine galloping down the beach to the sound of the waves. These picturesque places and well cared for horses make me want to come back for more.

I highly suggest you give horseback riding a try as part of your adventures in Costa Rica.

What to pack for a horseback riding adventure in Costa Rica

I once wore jeans with thick seams on the inside of my legs and ended up with scars near my knees from the friction of the inseam. My mistake. So now, I prefer to ride in long lose pants. I also wear closed-toed shoes for obvious reasons. You never know what you might need to step in to mount your horse. Depending on the riding area, I also wear insect repellent. And most importantly, don’t forget to bring your camera.

Driving in Costa Rica

Believe it or not, driving in Costa Rica is an adventure. There is plenty to be mindful of between the dirt roads, potholes, steep drop-offs, washed out roads, limited signage, and rising tides.

The good news is that there are well built and maintained highways across Costa Rica. The adventure starts when you turn off the highway into the little towns. The streets are often dirt roads with potholes the size of cars. Driving down some of these roads can be uncomfortable, and slow going is a necessity.

To combat the roads, some people opt for ATVs so they can navigate around the potholes. They even bring their dogs along for the ride.

Riding an ATV works out well if you are staying in a small town, and it’s not rainy season. If you go this route, the ATV adds an extra level of adventure. Just a tip, though: make sure you wear a bandanna around your mouth so you don’t inhale dirt and wear sunglasses to protect your eyes. However, if you are thinking about venturing out, I highly suggest you rent a 4×4 SUV.

Navigating the Roads in Costa Rica

Now that you have a car, the next adventure is finding where you are going. The easiest way to stay on the optimal route is to rent a Garmin or other type of navigation system. On the wicked ride from Arenal to Montverde, we accidentally veered right and ended up way off our intended route without realizing it. However, we were able to get back on track because of the navigation system. To save a few dollars, you can also try your luck with Google Maps, but it’s not perfect.

If you are planning on driving to Monteverde, which you should, you can read more about the exciting drive, how to get there, and tips for renting a car here.

The dander of rising tides in Costa Rica

The last issue to keep in mind are rising tides and how they can impact your journey. Numerous creek beds in Costa Rica appear dry in the morning, but by the afternoon, they are rushing rivers. Depending on where you are going, you must check the tide charts. Gary waded into the water to make sure our little SUV could make it through, and it did!