Top 8 things To do In Costa Rica!

Cahuita National Park

Most people when they think of Costa Rica think of relaxing on a nice beach with clear water and palm trees all around.  Yes, you can find beaches like that everywhere here, but there are many other amazing and adventurous things to do for all ages.  I’m sure you’ll be able to find just about anything you want here in this tropical paradise.  Here are my top 8 recommendations of things to do while visiting Costa Rica.

1. Sport Fishing – Costa Rica may be a relatively small country compared to others, but it is known for having amazing world-class sport fishing off both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts.  All who board the deep sea boats have the opportunity to possibly hook a marlin, sailfish, dorado, roosterfish, wahoo, or tuna, as well as other exotic fish.  Prices will vary if you choose a half day (7:00am to 12:00pm / 12:00pm to 5:00pm) or a full day (7:00am to 4:00pm) at sea.  Fishing is great year-round in Costa Rica, but it’s seasonal in certain parts of the country. Also, if you’re not ready to go out sea quite that far, most beaches have tours that will take you fishing for two to three hours close to shore.  Most of these tours in general will include some types of snacks, drinks or fruit, as well as everything you’ll need to catch some fish!  If you’re looking to have fun and try something new, then fishing in the tropics is something to consider.
2. Canopy (Ziplining) – Soaring through the air looking at gorgeous tropical landscapes is a breathtaking experience.  If you haven’t done this before in your life, then I highly recommend doing it in Costa Rica!  Where would be the best place to go and this? Monteverde, which is located in the Puntarenas, is known nation wide as the best place for ziplining, due to its lush green landscape, as well as being home to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. This reserve – including several other natural attractions near by, which draw large numbers of tourists each year – make it an amazing place to do this!  There are other canopy sites all over Costa Rica, even some beaches have them on near mountainsides.  If you’re an adrenaline junky, a person unafraid of heights and love adventure, then you definitely have to go ziplining on your next trip to Costa Rica!
3. Surfing – If your passion is surfing big waves, then Costa Rica has plenty of beaches that’ll catch your attention.  Surfers from all over the world flock to this tropical destination in search of some serious waves.  Beaches in the northern region between Tamarindo and Malpais are known to have some of the best surfing spots year-round.  Lots of beaches have surf schools that offer surf lessons to beginners for a small fee.  If you’re not interested in taking some lessons and just want to rent a board, most surf board rentals run anywhere from $5 to $10 for an hour to a few hours.  Hang ten!
4. Spelunking – Exploring caves is an extreme adrenaline rush for many thrill seekers. Located about 45 minutes away from La Fortuna, San Carlos, which is famous for the Arenal volcano, are the Venado Caves.  Slowly descend into the depths of the earth to see fossils, stalactite and stalagmite formations, as well as bats, marine spiders and waterfalls.  These limestone caverns run for miles and miles, and they’re open to explore on tours that last two to four hours.  It’s recommended that you be in good physical condition for this activity.  If you suffer from claustrophobia, are afraid of dark places, getting muddy or wet, or crossing underground rivers, then I strongly recommend that you DO NOT do this.  I did this tour in 2010 and had such an amazing time!   
5. National Parks – There are 28 national parks that encompass nearly 25% of Costa Rica.  You’ll be able to see lush landscapes, exotic birds, animals, volcanos and much more.  Some of the most popular national parks are: Manual Antonio National Park, Arenal Volcano National Park, Tortuguero National Park, Corcovado National Park and Ricon de la Vieja Nation Park.  Entrance fees vary from park to park, but I highly recommend that you visit at least one or more of these parks while in Costa Rica.  
6. Rafting – There are lots of rivers that run through Costa Rica, and many of them have class I to IV rapids.  Commercial rafting in Costa Rica only goes up to class IV rapids, but if you’re an adrenaline junky and enjoy extreme outdoor sports, you might consider rafting through one of these rivers.  The best time to do this activity is during the rainy season, which is from May to December, because the rivers are usually at their highest level at that time.  Safety is always first when it comes to these activities, so you’ll be wearing a life vest and helmet.  Work as a team with the group of people in your raft to get from point A to B.  
7. Volcanoes – Costa Rica has 67 volcanoes in total spread out throughout the country, but only 6 of them are active.  Arenal volcano, located in La Fortuna, is the country’s most visited volcano due to its perfectly-shaped cone structure.  It went dormant in 2010 – meaning that it hasn’t erupted since then.  There are numerous tours that you can take to get some amazing shots of these giants.  All these attractions are safe to go.  Some famous must-see volcanos include: Arenal, Irazú, Poás, Turrialba and Rincon de la Vieja.  It’s not every day you get to see a volcano, so why not visit one of these while you’re here!
8. Cloud & Rain Forests – Let’s first establish the difference between a cloud and rain forest.  A cloud forest is normally located at higher elevations and is cooler, while rainforests are located at lower elevations and are warmer.  The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve has been described as “The jewel in the crown of cloud forests” by National Geographic.  Located in the Central Highlands of Costa Rica, this extreme 26,000 acre-rich biodiverse reserve is home to over 400 species of birds, 2,500 plant species, thousands of insects, 100 species of mammals and over 120 amphibian and reptilian species.  Popular rainforests can be found in the southwest part of Costa Rica.  Corcovado National Park is famous for its gorgeous preserved rainforest, which is located on the remote Osa Peninsula.  Some wildlife that can be seen here are scarlet macaws, tapirs, tanagers, harpy eagles and possibly wildcats.