Do you prefer your travels with a side of adrenaline? Adventure travel in Costa Rica serves up plenty! Costa Rica is a brilliant choice that will rightfully appeal to your adventurous side. It doesn’t offer just water activities, or just trekking, or just a small thrill here and there. Costa Rica adventure travel offers alllll of the thrills and WOW! moments you’ve set out to find.
There’s no better time to learn to surf than during adventure travel in Costa Rica.
These impactful moments making up the bulk of your itinerary will be sprinkled with smiles, laughter, and the charming essence of pura vida, which means “pure life” and embodies the country’s happy-go-lucky attitude.
Add to that the fact that Costa Rica tends to lean towards the more affordable end of the travel budget spectrum and is, relatively speaking, a safe and easy place to travel, and you’ve got a relaxing (albeit at times adrenaline-pumping), tropical adventure ahead of you!
How to prepare for adventure travel in Costa Rica
1. Safety first
This one right here is key! Don’t be so caught up in all of the excitement of planning your next big adventure that you forget to consider a critical aspect of adventure travel — your safety!
Take your time in researching the activities you want to do, the companies providing those activities, and their safety track record. It can also prove insightful to read through the reviews that trusty travelers who have gone before you have shared about a company or activity that you’re adding to your list.
Depending on your travel style, you may prefer to join adventure tours in Costa Rica. Going with a trusted tour provider can give you extra peace of mind in knowing that the activities they have included in your trip itinerary are safe. Plus, it eliminates some of the logistical work on your end.
Lastly, whether you’re a rookie to adventure travel in Costa Rica or have experience, know and respect your limits. Being self-aware of your physical abilities for swimming or snorkeling, hiking, and other activities will also help to keep you safe and adventuring on.
2. Zipline your heart out
Whether up in the air or on the ground, the jungle is a must-see.
A must-do on any Costa Rica adventurer’s bucket list is zip line! Costa Rica is lush with forests — rainforests, cloud forests, forests by the beach, forests in the mountains...take your pick. Anywhere you choose to harness up and feel the wind in your face as you zip from tree to tree will without a doubt give you a rush and up close views of the nature that surrounds you.
Not all zipline tours are created equal. They vary in duration and by the number of lines you get to zip! Pay attention to these details when considering your options. Also make a note of any additional costs for extra equipment you may need to provide yourself. Don’t forget the GoPro!
While some zipline tours are just that, others include rappel drops (descending from a platform by a rope), the option to go “superman” style (flying parallel to the ground versus zip lining in a seated position), or a giant jungle swing (exactly what it sounds like).
And, above all, remember to consider tip #1 when choosing the right zipline tour for you. Read reviews and make sure you’ll be flying with a reputable provider.
3. Pack your swimmers
Don’t forget your swimsuit! Adventure travel in Costa Rica would not be complete without taking to the water. No matter where you are traveling throughout the country, there is something for everyone.
Hanging on the coast? Surf’s up! Want to get up close and personal with marine life? Grab your snorkel or scuba gear. Hanging in the forests and mountains? Take your pick of canoeing, kayaking, or hold on tight while hitting the rapids. Just want to swim? Costa Rica has no shortage of natural swimming pools for you to cool off and go for a good ol’ fashioned swim.
Tranquila. If you aren’t a pro at these activities, you don’t have to be! Adventure tours in Costa Rica will offer a variety of levels from beginner surf lessons to surfing for the more experienced, for example, or different classes of white water rafting.
You’ll practically be a merperson.
If you’ve never been scuba diving but would like to seek new depths, there are plenty of reputable dive schools to help get you started. And if you’re new to adventure travel, you’ve come to the right place to get your feet wet! Check out adventure tours in Costa Rica specializing in surfing, white water rafting, and scuba diving.
4. Take the Leap
If the zip lining and water fun isn’t quite cutting it for you major adrenaline junkies, your next thrill is just a daring jump (and one long fall) away. Add bungee jumping to your Costa Rica adventure travel bucket list.
Whether diving off a platform suspended over a river in the middle of a cloud forest or taking in grand volcano views before taking the leap, you’ll feel gravity’s force either way!
5. Remember to respect the area where you’re traveling
Louder for the people in the back: Respect the area where you are traveling! This applies as much to adventure travel in Costa Rica and as it does to travel worldwide.
The cool thing about travel is getting to experience all that is new around you — local people, their culture and customs, nature and wildlife, and even your fellow travelers. But, you are a guest. Remember to be a polite one.
For a Costa Rica adventure vacation specifically, you’ll likely find yourself up close and personal with nature and wildlife. This can be tempting but respect your surroundings and the creatures who live there by keeping a safe distance, look but don’t touch (remember, safety first), and always leave an area exactly as you found it.
To be more straightforward, don’t be a trashy human! Dispose of your trash in the bin or look for areas where you can recycle.
6. Accommodation is adventureful
Sleeping in a treehouse is one of the best parts of adventure travel in Costa Rica.
Costa Rica adventure travel doesn’t have to be limited to your daily activities. Keep the adventure rolling by booking a fun and unique stay that’s not your average hotel.
Adventureful accommodation options in Costa Rica range from sleeping in a treehouse in the middle of nature reserves to a stay on a finca (farm).
Similarly, some eco-lodges and resorts have rooms that are only accessible via swinging bridges and zip lines. Pack accordingly — you may need to leave the giant roller suitcase at home!
7. Adventure includes food!
In between your outings of rafting and trekking, refuel with the best of the country’s cuisine. Gallo pinto, though maybe not what you’d deem adventurous, is a staple in the country and one that you’re sure to taste while you’re there.
Leaning a little more to the adventurous side, try out one or all of the country’s tropical fruit! Flavorful passion fruit, star fruit, guanabana (soursop), guava, and rambutan are just a few. Try them out on their own or enjoy them as fresh juice.
What’s your caffeine of choice? If you find yourself needing a pick-me-up, Costa Rica is for both chocolate and coffee aficionados so you can take your pick! Consider adding a tour of a cacao farm or coffee plantation to your Costa Rica adventure vacation. It will provide you the chance to see how cacao and coffee beans are farmed and to purchase some delectable treats to take home to share…or not!
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You’re ready for your Costa Rica adventure vacation!
Your Costa Rica adventure vacation will be full of new friends!
Pack you bags, a camera, your personal travel must-haves, and your great big sense of adventure — your Costa Rica adventure vacation will be one for the books!
It’s up to you to decide what thrilling experiences make it onto your itinerary. Choose one or two locations or explore multiple regions of the country depending on your trip length, budget, and, of course, the adventure you seek. You may also wish to consider buying travel insurance to give you extra peace of mind on your trip.
Before you know it you’ll be taking flight to the happy little country of Costa Rica, soaring through the forest landscapes, taking in volcanic views, and hitting the waves. Enjoy the relaxing, happy, and carefree tico lifestyle amidst your excitement and surges of adrenaline. Pura Vida!
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