People travel to Costa Rica for many reasons, maybe it is just to relax on a tropical beach for your honeymoon, climb a volcano with your friends, have a wildlife experience with family, or discover what there is to see off the beaten Costa Rican track as a solo traveler. Whatever your plan might be, it won’t be long before you get inspired by the exciting activities throughout Costa Rica, which you will not want to say no to.
You may want to reach out to one of the Costa Rican Destination Experts, who are incredibly knowledgeable about the country and have the best activities up their sleeve. Further, we have the ten most exciting activities in Costa Rica to spark your interest.
Outdoor enthusiasts can rejoice because if you find yourself here at the right time of the year when the weather is perfect, you will be spoiled for choice with the options for outdoor activities. It is one thing, taking part in a thrilling action but doing it in a jungle setting is just a fantastic and unbeatable experience, which is why this is the best destination. Just look at this Raft, Hike & Explore Costa Rica trip, for instance, featuring an array of fantastic, exciting activities to do, and there are even more where that came from.
Costa Rica makes a massive effort in being tourist-friendly, so you can rest assured that there will be safety guidelines, facilities, maintained bike/hiking routes, qualified staff, and the country as a whole is very safe to be, so you are in good hands.
Here are the 10 most exciting activities you need to check our in Costa Rica.
White Water Rafting
It’s safe to say that Costa Rica has some of the best rapids in all of Central America, and they range from 1-4 in class, which suits people of all experience levels. The best time to go white water rafting is during the rainy season, when the rain makes sure the rivers are at their fullest, so plan your trip well if this is high on your list.
Some of the best spots for rafting in Costa Rica are at the La Fortuna Rapids, Penas Blancas River, Rio Balsa, Rio Toro – for more of a thrill and a challenge, Sarapiqui River – for a multi-day rafting adventure and of course Turrialba – the rafting capital of the country. These are some incredible spots to make sure you get a taste of some of the most exciting activities in Costa Rica.
Ziplining
If Monteverde Cloud Forest is on your bucket list, which we are sure it will be, then this is an activity that you cannot miss out on while you are here. With a series of 3km of cables, including 770m long and 139m high, there is no way you can leave this spot without taking a swing through the jungle.
The Monteverde Reserve is also home to the 1km long Superman zipline, which is guaranteed to give you a thrill, and as you soar through nature, you will be glad you took this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If you fancy flying together as a pair, head to Diamante Eco Adventure Park, which is home to the longest dual zipline in all of Central America.
Surfing
Whether you are a novice surfer or a pro surfer, you have most likely heard that this is one of the best countries in the world for surfing. Here you can take on some monster waves at Playa Hermosa, which is not for the faint-hearted, opt for some beginner waves along the Pacific coast, Playa Jaco for easy waves during low tide and difficult during high tide, and the famous area of Santa Teresa which is suitable for all levels.
Surfing schools are widely available, so don’t hesitate to get some lessons locally before your big surfing adventure.
Volcano Trekking
You have probably planned a trip to Costa Rica because you have heard it is the best place to see extinct and active volcanoes, so why not do a bit of volcano trekking. Many of the volcanoes in the country can be explored, and two in particular that are the highlights for travelers are Irazu Volcano, an active volcano that last erupted in 1996, and Arenal volcano, which is the country’s most famous active volcano and exploded in 2010.
Irazu (Dec – Feb) offers you the opportunity to see inside the volcano, including its two craters, an incredibly unique experience, while Arenal (Feb – Apr) offers several hikes for all levels throughout the area.
Diving & Snorkeling (Nov – May)
One of the most exciting activities in Costa Rica has to be diving and snorkeling. The country has some incredible reefs, which are home to many types of fish and shipwrecks to be explored so that you will get that underworld feeling here.
Cahuita National Park and Gandoca Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge offer some fantastic snorkeling opportunities, while Canos Island and Cocos Island are ideal for excellent diving opportunities.
Canyoning
Canyoning is a terrific way to make your day even more exciting by hiking, climbing, abseiling, swimming, and scrambling in and out of canyons and down waterfalls. If you are a thrill-seeker, there are many options to do this in Costa Rica, including Arenal, Manuel Antonio, and Monteverde, to name but a few.
Mountain Biking
There are many options for mountain biking in Costa Rica for all levels. Some of the most unique include riding the 22km scenic coastal track of Las Catalinas, biking close to an active volcano at Rincon de la Vieja National Park, and Arenal, which offers several trails.
Hiking
Costa Rica is a gem in the crown that is Latin America, especially when it comes to nature, and where there is nature, there are trails. The country has taken pride in preserving its areas of natural beauty and has made them accessible to people of all levels, creating several trails in Monteverde Reserve, Manuel Antonio National Park, Arenal Volcano region, and Corcovado National Park.
If you are the type who wants more than some hiking, why not climb to Costa Ricas highest peak Cerro Chirripó standing tall at 3820m high. From here, you will be rewarded by coastal views, but make sure always to be prepared with the proper footwear, equipment, food, water, and clothes for any hike you might do.
Horseback Riding
There are many horseback riding tours available throughout the country, and it is one of the most exciting activities in Costa Rica, by far. Just imagine exploring all the diverse nature, including waterfalls, beaches, volcanoes, jungle, and forests via horseback, and you can only imagine this would be an experience of a lifetime.
Wildlife Spotting
Well, plan a trip to Costa Rica. You must be keen to see some wildlife, especially the exotic kind because this is a world-famous destination for wildlife spotting, especially spider monkeys, toucans, crocodiles, coatimundi (the local raccoon), turtles, Basilisco lizard, hummingbirds, sloths, and so much more. Still, we don’t want to spoil the surprise. Need some more inspiration? Check out this Nature Wildlife Float adventure.
