Posts tagged Vacation Destination

One of the real strengths of Costa Rica as a vacation destination is just how good it is at doing action and adventure-type getaways. Costa Rica adventure tours are available virtually everywhere though in general there are two rules to consider.

Firstly, it is generally safest to book Costa Rica adventure tours through the hotel you are staying at if they offer such a service because it helps to protect you should anything go wrong. Speak to others who have been to Costa Rica and you will likely hear a number of stories of innocent tourists like you signing up for an adventure tour, paying their money in advance (which can come to several hundred dollars depending on what you want to do) and then being left high and try as a dodgy tout suddenly disappears and leaves you with nothing.

By booking through your hotel you can be reasonably sure that the adventure tour operators are legitimate because any problems in the past will hopefully have been ironed out by previous guests. For a further level of protection, Costa Rica is full of tourists, particularly in high season (January to April) so don’t be afraid to ask for advice from others by going into bars or restaurants and asking where people are staying, what trips they’ve done and what they would recommend.

I spoke to several American tourists while I was there and did my best to point them in the right directions.

The other thing to bear in mind about Costa Rica adventure tours is that the selection available is likely to be much, much wider in a more tourist driven area than a quieter, country area.

For example, Arenal is awash with adventure tour companies offering just about anything under the sun while some quiet, seaside areas might offer virtually nothing as the few tourists they do get are happy to just lounge on the beach.

Arenal, Monte Verde, Jaco, Tamarindo and so on, as the more tourist-driven areas, are the places to head to for adventure!

So what sorts of activities are available to you in Costa Rica?

Zip Lines – Long cables slung through rain forest along which you fly. Some of these cables are amazing. You end one on a platform in a tree, reattach yourself to the next one and off you go through the treetops again. It’s great fun and a fantastic way to see the rain forest from a different perspective but isn’t cheap – and isn’t for those scared of heights!

Rapelling – Think along the lines of abseiling down waterfalls. Yes, it is that mad. You will get soaked. It’s dangerous. But it’s also great fun. Make sure you have a complete change of clothes for the next day – too many people I met had got their only pair of shoes soaked and either had to wear them wet or try wearing flip flops the next day when trying to rock climb or something.

Rafting – There are several good-sized rivers in Costa Rica on which you and a small team of other adventure seekers can raft down in inflatable boats. Again, expect to get very, very wet.

Hanging Bridges – Possibly a little more sedate, these bridges are slung between trees but have high sides and are safe for people of all ages to walk across. You can actually look down on birds and monkeys in the canopy which is really nice and is something the whole family can do together.