Costa Rica is a destination with an
abundance of thrills and adrenaline for lovers of adventure
tourism. The whole year round, and in most parts of the
country, whether it is on water, land or earth, you can
select among a great variety of activities for all of the
family. Usually they take place in natural environments,
where you will have unforgettable experiences.
The most important element to enjoy from
adventure activities is safety.
Aware of this, in Costa Rica we are directing adventure
tourism companies towards the regulations and operation
licenses awarded from the different governmental entities.
Owing to the excellent characteristics of
adventure tourism in Costa Rica, some international media
have acknowledged our country as the best destination for
adventure.
Experience the thrill of aquatic
adventures in the different options offered by Costa Rica
for the most daring, but also for those liking the milder
versions. Dare to master the river currents in groups of
five persons or more, while rafting, or well, learn how to
kayak.
While you feel the excitement of our
rivers and their whirlpools, you’ll enjoy a totally natural
world. If you’d rather settle for calmer waters, you’ll be
surrounded by beautiful landscapes, admiring wildlife and
lush, captivating forests that will make you feel one with
it all.
Kayaking may also be practiced at sea;
experience the thrilling motion of the waves under the
shining sun; get to know Costa Rican beaches with its many-coloured
sands, surrounded by exuberant vegetation. Your trip may be
soothing if you’d rather opt for a canoe trip by the rivers,
canals, lakes and wetlands, in natural scenaries of
exquisite beauty.
One of the most attractive activities for
tourists visiting Costa Rica is diving, in the surface or
"snorkel" version, or deep sea diving with a tank. You’ll
get in touch with a colorful, underwater world, with the
possibility of observing the spectacular whale shark,
white-finned sharks (at Coco´s Island*), devilfish, schools
of different species, eels, lobsters, the beauty of coral
reefs and so much more.
* Cocos Island, one of the 10 most important marine places
in the planet , was declared as World Natural Heritage
site by the UNESCO in 1997, for this reason, the visits
to the island are regulated by the SINAC- MINAE, the
government environmental office. The island is located
about 500km (appox. 300 miles) from Puntarenas and it
takes approximately 20 hours to get there.
When you engage on a hike to have a
closer contact with nature, you’ll discover the amazing
trails crossing mountains; they are an invitation to search
deeper into every corner of our land, appreciating the
imposing rivers and waterfalls.
Scenic beauty, challenging paths and lots
of fun are expecting lovers of mountain bikes.
Horseback riding may be enjoyed almost
anywhere in the country, guided by an expert. Hit the
trails in the forest or if you’d rather, come in closer
touch with Costa Rican culture, in a friendly experience
with the people of the community, while learning about
interesting towns.
But the thrills are not over yet: go to
the underground, mysterious world of caverns: Speleology; it
adds up another dimension, the beauty of a rare adventure,
not without its risks.
You might go for adventures that take
place over the imposing structures of hanging bridges where
all of the family will have a closer view of the river
landscapes, the canopies and the depths, while learning
about life on the tree tops.
If you’d rather choose the kind of
adventure involving ropes, in Costa Rica you’ll find the
place to face those extraordinary challenges.
One of the options is rapel, an exercise
that makes you descend from the highest top of trees,
waterfalls, cliffs or rocky formations, to the ground. You
only need some comfortable clothes and selecting the tour
that best matches your needs for adventure.
One of the activities that has attracted
attention and promoted adventure tourism in Costa Rica is
the tyrolean or canopy, as it’s commonly called. This activity consists of gliding at
different speeds, holding unto steel cables suspended
between platforms located on the canopy of the highest
trees. Some of them involve crossing over river gorges,
making it necessary to climb a mountain to continue your
journey.
During the trip and from the high
platforms, you can delight with the imposing natural
landscapes and views of the forest from up high. The
Canopy’s advantage is that it may be practiced by almost
everyone, depending on the level of excitement you wish to
experience.
If you can overcome vertigo, enjoy the feeling of flinging
yourself in a free fall. Bungee jumping in Costa Rica has
been booming since 1991, it is practiced with ropes in
different sites of the country.
In Costa Rica you’ll find everything to experience
exciting, memorable activities, in an extension of barely
51,100 km2. You make the choice of the kind of adventure
you want to have and the exact place for it to take place.
