As of Dec 12, 2020 - no date is set for re-opening to the public. It's extremely unlikely you will be able to visit before ~June 2021 Territorio de Zaguates is an extraordinary dog shelter located in the mountains above Heredia Costa Rica an hour from downtown San José. It achieved … [Read more...]
Hot Springs – Natural & Spas in Costa Rica
I gotta be honest with you. I've never really understood the popularity of hot springs in the tropics. With the thermometer sitting at 85° and the air laden with moisture at 98% humidity. Why on earth would you want to dunk yourself in hot water to push that to 99° and 100%?...except for the swim … [Read more...]
Best Things To Do in Costa Rica
Costa Rica gained fame as a natural destination with incredible wildlife watching in the rain forests and cloud forests of its national parks and wildlife refuges. As tourism grew international resorts began sprouting on the amazing beaches of the Guanacaste coast and the number of visitors surged … [Read more...]
Free Things To Do
We get a lot of e-mails especially from budget travelers asking what there is to do for free in Costa Rica. Turns out not much is totally free, but if you stretch your budget to a few bucks per person it opens up more possibilities. Our list of cheap or free things to help keep kids entertained … [Read more...]
Fishing
With a name like "Rich Coast" few are surprised to hear that Costa Rica has some of the finest deep sea and coastal sport fishing anywhere. The list of world records encompasses all types of tackle on both shores. The big sailfish in both the Pacific and Caribbean include Black and Blue Marlin and … [Read more...]
Coffee Tours in Costa Rica
Some of the best shade grown, high altitude coffee beans in the world are grown in Costa Rica. Family farms and artisan processing cooperatives are thriving with the growing popularity of fair trade and craft practices that produce the highest quality natural coffee. Because the crop is so … [Read more...]
Suspension Bridge Canopy Tours in Costa Rica
Canopy tours on suspension or hanging bridges (puentes colgantes) are one of the very best ways to explore nature in Costa Rica. Bridges are invariably located in some of the best wildlife refuges and national rain and cloud forest reserves and entrance fees contribute to the continued … [Read more...]
Surfing, SUP & Boogie Boarding in Costa Rica
As Mike Parise states in the introduction to A Surfer's Guide to Costa Rica "A country whose national exclamation is 'pura vida' (pure life) just had to have been created for surfers." With hundreds of kilometers of beaches, points and river mouths on both Pacific and Caribbean coasts it certainly … [Read more...]
Calm Water Kayaking & Canoeing in Costa Rica
In Costa Rica there are some habitats that can only be explored by boat - the mangrove estuaries, the water trails and canals of Tortuguero National Park and the flooded wetlands of Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge. No experience is necessary and paddling is surprisingly easy even the first time. … [Read more...]
Waterfall Rappelling & Canyoneering in Costa Rica
Seeing things from a different perspective adds to the fun of adventures, tours and activities in Costa Rica - canopy suspension bridges, zip-lines, scuba diving, rafting, para-sailing - all give a different view and I assure you that the view from the inside of a waterfall is different than the … [Read more...]
White Water Rafting, Kayaking & Tubing in Costa Rica
The Pacuare is the best rafting experience in Costa Rica and National Geographic lists it as one of the top three guided rivers in the world. White water rafting in Costa Rica is a whole different experience for travelers from Canada and the U.S. where the water in the rivers might have been … [Read more...]
Walking, Hiking & Trekking in Costa Rica
Walking is Mandatory in Costa Rica - Enjoy It If you're not comfortable climbing five flights of stairs and walking ten blocks you may want to consider a different destination. It's possible to take a private transfer to an all inclusive resort and ride a golf cart from your room to a lounge … [Read more...]
Tabaconcito – Las Fuentes Termales – Chollín
Down under the bridge where route 142 crosses the Río Tabacón northwest of the famous resort hot springs entrance is a bizarre monument to the melodramatic small town politics that constantly flow beneath the surface of La Fortuna like hot lava ready to erupt if a fissure in a tourist’s wallet … [Read more...]
Canopy Ziplines in Costa Rica
Canopy Zip-Lines A zip-line is more or less just pulley and harness rig used to slide a tourist along a cable strung between a couple of trees or hillsides but there are big differences between tours. There are three distinct types and the descriptions below will help you pick which is right … [Read more...]
Zip Rail & Canopy Bike
Canopy Curves The first innovation in zip in the past 1,000 years has been introduced to Manuel Antonio by its inventor Buddy Quattlebaum. Using a zip-rail instead of a cable allows the ride called El Avatar to turn corners and sail up and down hills like an aerial roller coaster. The … [Read more...]
Mountain Biking
Our first three trips to Costa Rica covered thousands of kilometers over several months in the saddle on mountain bikes and it's still one of our favorite activities. Most recently we covered the first and last legs of the human powered trans-continental trek on bikes. Many of the routes we … [Read more...]
Snorkeling & Scuba in Costa Rica
SCUBA Diving Costa Rica has a lot of ocean front and as you'd expect some excellent diving. However there are some limitations especially for beginners. Most of the really good locations are off-shore and in relatively deep water with strong currents. The best dive site in Costa Rica is … [Read more...]
Brenes Rappelling
Family Brenes Waterfall Rappelling Canyon at Finca Modelo (Model Farm) Monteverde Maybe a yolo or for your bucket list. Definitely not your average Costa Rica tour and definitely not for everyone, Brenes Canyoneering just north of Santa Elena outside Monteverde is a challenge for even … [Read more...]
Motorsports in Costa Rica
Please respect the risks. Personal motorized vehicles are dangerous and will allow you to be as stupid as you try to be. People just out to have fun die instead on 4Wheelers and Jetskis every year in Costa Rica. Don't drink and drive, do follow instructions and if you're unsure pick a different … [Read more...]
Activities & Adventures
The main attractions in Costa Rica are the tropical forests and beaches, but there are hundreds of other adventures and activities to explore. Choose from the menu or browse through the options below to get some ideas. (Click a symbol to jump to that … [Read more...]