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SURFING IN COSTA RICA
The country's selection of surf spots range from idyllic beach breaks to coral platforms where the water leaps up and tubes like a miniature Pipeline. And it’s complemented by its comfortable water temperatures, beautiful scenery, and the convenience of a variety of accommodations and restaurants near most breaks.
Since it is five times longer than the Caribbean coast, the Pacific has considerably more surfing spots. Many of the country's best breaks are found in the northwest province of Guanacaste, but there are also some excellent spots in the Central Pacific and Southern Zones. |
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BUNGEE JUMPING
In Costa Rica, jumps are done from the "viejo puente sobre el Rio Colorado," an old bridge that spans a 300-foot-deep gorge located about half an hour west of San José. Jumps are usually done Saturday and Sunday mornings, but they can be arranged at other times for small groups. The jumps are done with 100-foot bungee, which means jumpers have dropped about 200 feet when the chord stretches to its limit.
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RAIN FOREST AERIAL TRAM
A one of a kind adventure explores the mystery of the tropical rain forest canopy. Travel one hour from San Jose to Braulio Carrillo National Park to reach the private reserve. Climb into and above the treetops in six passenger cars suspended over 1.3 kilometers. This unique excursion offers visitors the chance to see wildlife found only within the canopy system for the first time.
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CANOPY TOURS
A growing number of tours let visitors explore the elevated ecosystem of the rain forest canopy, a luxuriant and little-known realm that is home for most of the jungle's plant and animal species. It has only been in the last two decades that biologists have begun to seriously study the canopy, using such varied devices as mountain climbing equipment and construction cranes, and tourists now have the opportunity to follow them into that biological frontier.
 Those opportunities range from a ride on a modified ski lift that takes passengers floating through the tree tops to platforms set in the crowns of massive tropical trees, more than 100 feet above the jungle floor.
All those tours offer a monkey's-eye view of the rain forest canopy, where thick branches serve as platforms for an incredible diversity of smaller plants, and such animals as tree frogs, vine snakes, sloth’s and hundreds of bird species.
Adventurous travelers may want to try one of the more rustic canopy tours, which entail strapping on a mountain climbing harness and pulling yourself along suspended cables to a series of small wooden platforms built in the tops of trees. Several private biological reserves also have platforms in the canopies of large trees that people are simply hoisted, or hoist themselves, up to.
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CLIMBING
Vertical Challenge
 If you want to know a new way to enjoy nature.... Try Climbing!!!
If you like the highest, the force and the limits imputed, you are probably a good candidate to enjoy climbing. In Costa Rica there are persons that bring basic courses of Climbing with ropes, vertical rescue and rappel down hill. They also teach the Tiroles Technique, when you join two points with a rope by passing from one side to another. The first steps you got to do it is to climbing vertical wall of approximately 9 meters.
The course has a teorical part that teaches you about history, classification and way to enjoy the sport without risking your life. It last 5 hours if you really like it; you can go on with the next step; the middle course that combine rock climbing and hiking, where you can go to Santa Ana, Cerro de la Muerte, Cerro del Dragón (Laguna de Aserrí), Piedra Aserrí, Río Grande y Bajo Canet (San Pablo de León Cortés).
La Paz Waterfall Gardens
Hike along nature trails and suspended staircases to five magnificent waterfalls with 9 viewing platforms. A rare combination of cloud and rain forest is the setting for an up-close and personal experience of Costa Rica's diversity. Visit the largest Butterfly Observatory in the world along with hummingbird and orchid gardens. |
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DIVING
Costa Rica's underwater wonders range from coastal coral reefs to offshore islands. Those varied dive spots contain diverse and beautiful marine life that includes giant manta rays, timid sea turtles, colorful angel fish, intricate coral formations, psychedelic sea slugs, spiny puffer fish, delicate sea fans, curious dolphins and, on rare occasions, whales.
 Though the country's waters contain enough marine life to please the most experienced of divers, you need be little more than a curious swimmer to catch a glimpse of some of its underwater sights, since there are plenty of spots that are perfect for snorkeling. Costa Rica is also an excellent place to learn how to scuba dive, since most dive centers offer inexpensive certification courses in English that can be completed in less than a week.
There is good snorkeling in Curu National Wildlife Refuge, and near the beach resorts of Tambor and Montezuma. There is also usually good snorkeling off the second beach in Manuel Antonio National Park, and around the points and islands between Dominical and Marino Ballena National Park.
Cocos
Cocos Island, a national park located some 330 miles southwest of the Costa Rican mainland, has the country's best diving by far. While the Island is covered with virgin forest, the ocean that surrounds it contains abundant marine life, and the visibility is good year round. Divers at Cocos Island regularly see such impressive animals as manta rays, dolphins and hammerhead sharks, which sometimes gather in schools of 30 or 40 animals. |
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HORSEBACK RIDING
There are opportunities to go horseback riding almost everywhere in Costa Rica, and climbing onto the back of a spirited equine can be a wonderful way to spice up your vacation. The selection of horseback excursions ranges from morning trail rides in the mountains above San José, which get you back to your hotel in after lunch, to all-day expeditions through the rain forest that will leave you walking like John Wayne.
 Though you might not associate it with a tropical country, Costa Rica has quite a cowboy culture. The tradition is primarily based in the province of Guanacaste, one of the first parts of the country to be settled by the Spanish, where vast cattle ranches cover rolling hills and forest-draped volcanoes tower above it all. Nevertheless, mountain resorts and nature lodges located all over the country offer horseback excursions, which can head through pastures, tropical forests, or down beaches, and often stopping at waterfalls and swimming holes.
Horseback tours are also excellent opportunities for bird watching and getting close to timid wildlife, and the people who lead them often have eagle eyes peeled for interesting critters. |
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MOUNTAIN BIKING
With its countless kilometers of dirt roads and paths traversing a variety of terrain, Costa Rica has enough mountain biking routes to keep a serious biker rolling for years. But you need neither be an enthusiast nor willing to deal with the hassle of dragging a bike along as luggage to enjoy the sport there. Mountain bikes can be rented at most towns, and several local companies offer mountain bike tours of the country's less visited areas, many of which are mellow enough for people who haven't been on a bike for years.
 A good selection tours head out of San Jose to nearby attractions, such as Irazu and Poas Volcanoes, and the inspiring Orosi Valley. A more strenuous day of pedaling takes you through the forests of El Rodeo, a protected area near Ciudad Colon. There are also multiple-day mountain bike tours, which range from a two-day exploration of the area around Arenal Volcano to a six-day tour of the Osa Peninsula. Bikers who bring their own wheels will find no shortage of routes in Costa Rica. The southern Nicoya Peninsula, which is crisscrossed by sparsely traveled dirt roads, is the perfect region for mountain-bike touring, as is the southern Pacific Coast, especially the area around the Golfo Dulce.
After a short, scenic bus ride to Turrialba, we begin our biking tour heading for the spectacular Guayabo Canyon Falls, continuing on through Guayabo National Monument, the most significant Pre-Columbian archeological site in Costa Rica. Here you will have time to explore the excavated central part of a 10,000-inhabitant city that existed from 1000 B.C. to around 1400 A.D. Most of the ruins are still undiscovered. The length of this trip is 20 miles (32kms) and is rated moderate to advance.
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PARAGLIDING
Have you ever dream to fly like a bird or to explore in the clouds?
Just a few years ago, that was only for a little group of people that had the opportunity to feel this kind of freedom.
 The parapente was born in the bases of a ram air parachute with a bigger wing with a perfect aerodynamic side. The nylon wings are made of open cells in the front and close on the back. The air that blows in to the cells makes the wing rise up and jumps to the emptiness. You don't have to jump from a plane to have these experiences; you can do it from a little hill or a mountain.
The pilot is seated on harness and controls the "parapente" with both hands; the parapente waist 6 kg and the pilot can be ready in only 5 minutes, searching a speed up to 40 km/h. Is the easy, fastest, practical, safe and economic way of flying. There are almost 500 000 active pilots around the world that practice these air sport.
The first fly was done in 1978 when a crazy climber decide to get down from the top of a mountain; jumping on a parachute. Immediately this system was adopted from all the young sport climbers in Europe and all over the world.
In Costa Rica you can have the experience specially near the coast. |
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SEA KAYAKING
 Paddling a kayak on the open ocean can be an exciting way to experience Costa Rica's marine and coastal wonders, and several companies offer sea kayaking tours along different parts of the Pacific coast. Sea kayaking is much easier than river kayaking, and most trips can be done by people who have never tried the sport before.
A sea kayaking tour is an opportunity to get a close look at the myriad of life below and above the ocean's surface -- from flying fish and sea turtles to frigate birds and pelicans -- and to explore some hard to reach offshore islands and coastal estuaries. Outfitters currently offer sea kayaking tours in the Bahia Culebra, out of Guanacaste's Hermosa Beach, around the islands and estuaries near Manuel Antonio and Curu National Wildlife Refuge, and the Golfo Dulce area, out of Puerto Jimenez and Golfito.
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WIND SURFING
 The Trade winds blow across Costa Rica with incredible force and consistency during the dry months, creating windsurfing conditions in the northwest part of the country. The western end of Lake Arenal is one of the world's premier windsurfing spots. During the dry season, the wind speed averages 33 miles an hour, a velocity than only experienced windsurfers can handle. As the gale increases, the lake's surface becomes choppy, and expert surfers use the waves to jump high into the air.
There are several hotels near the western end of the lake that rent windsurfing equipment and offer private classes. There are also some spots along the Pacific coast that have good conditions for practicing the sport. |
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SPORT FISHING & DIVING
The sail fish, marlin, tuna, and macarela are some of the species that lovers of sport fishing will find in Costa Rica. Either in the canals and rivers of the Costa Rican north Atlantic side as in the peaceful coast you can practice this activity in places with international acknowledgement. Also in Arenal lagoon and in rivers of the north area you can do sport fishing. |
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