Costa Rica Vacations and Activities

Bordered by the countries of Nicaragua and Panama and the waters of the Pacific and Caribbean, Costa Rica offers a rich and diverse eco-system. A Costa Rica vacation is suited for those who love nature, as well as those looking for adventure tours and charters such as zip lines, white water rafting and sport fishing or just relaxing at one of the many spas or beautiful beaches.

Costa Rica offers some of the best year-round sport fishing in the world, while some of the best known places in Costa Rica for reeling in the big ones are Quepos, Tamarindo or the Golfito area. Another popular water sport and also world-renown, is Costa Rica surfing. If golf is your sport, Costa Rica travel wouldn’t be complete without hitting the links at one of the championship golf courses along the beach.

If your thing is nature then you are in the right spot because your Costa Rica travel can consist of one of the many eco tours available. Costa Rica is the leading authority of nature conservancy in the Americas. That is one of the reasons why each year millions of people travel to Costa Rica.

Wildlife viewing while vacationing in Costa Rica is superb and it is common to witness monkeys, sloths, iguanas, exotic bright-feathered birds, butterflies and countless other species. Some people even catch a glimpse of a big cat. Most of Costa Rica is federally protected land and comprises a total of 24 National Parks, making for great opportunity to witness the intriguing Costa Rica wildlife.

While traveling to Costa Rica, you may want to try a canopy tour in the popular Manuel Antonio National Park or the Monteverde Cloud Forrest. No wonder 1 in 4 of every Costa Rica traveler participates in one of these canopy tours.  Equally as impressive is Lake Arenal, which lies beneath the Arenal Volcano, where you may be able to view the spectacular volcanic eruptions at night. During the day, relax in the famous Tabacon hot springs. It’s part of what a Costa Rica vacation is all about.

Activities on your Costa Rica vacation are almost endless. Lake Arenal plays host to many activities such as windsurfing, ATV tours, horseback riding, or exploration of the area by means of a lake tour. Not far away you will find world class white water rafting. If you love water and rapids in a more tranquil environment you may want to go on one of the many Costa Rica waterfall tours.

This stable, peace-loving country is a popular family vacation destination, as well as an increasingly popular wedding and honeymoon destination.  A Costa Rica vacation offers plenty of opportunity to relax  -- on beautiful beaches, near stunning waterfalls, in natural hot springs and at luxury eco resorts and lodges.

Highlighted below are a few of Costa Rica's most popular attractions. Click on the regional links to learn more about the possibilities for fun, relaxation and adventure on your Costa Rica trip and when booking your Costa Rica travel plans, consider our custom Costa Rica tours.

Costa Rica's  Central Valley

La Fortuna is the perfect place to view the fireworks of Arenal Volcano and participate in many of the tours and activities at Lake Arenal, the leading Costa Rica travel attraction. Relax in the natural hot spring spas, linked by waterfalls and visited by butterflies. Take hiking and horseback riding tours through Arenal's emerald kingdom or enjoy the canopy at the Arenal Hanging Bridges.

Bungee jumping, white water tours, canopy zip lines and wildlife viewing boat tours are just some of the many activities your Costa Rica travel can include when you visit this region. The region is also home to the nation's capital city and starting point for many a Costa Rica tour: San Jose.

Costa Rica's   Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

One of the most outstanding wildlife sanctuaries in the Americas, the reserve can be explored via horseback tours, ATV tours, hiking tours and van tours. High platforms in the air allow you to view the rainforest canopy and provide take off and landing points for zip lines.

Costa Rica's   North Region

The Tenorio National Park's Rio Celeste with its vivid blue and turquoise waters is a main attraction here, and Class lll and lV whitewater rapids head the list of Costa Rica adventure activities here. La Carolina Lodge provides a comfortable and friendly place to stay, offering fishing, hot springs and horseback riding tours across open meadows to Rio Celeste waterfall.
   
Costa Rica's   Central Pacific Coast (The Gold Coast )

The perpetually sunny Gold Coast offers some of the most beautiful beaches in all of Costa Rica, as well as many luxury eco resorts, some of the best sport fishing in the world and a championship golf course. Enjoy the crystal clear waters and gorgeous scenery of beaches like Playa de Hermosa.  Visit the Quepos gateway to Manuel Antonio National Park where activities include wildlife viewing, scuba diving, snorkeling, sea kayaking, mountain biking, and hiking.

Costa Rica's  South Pacific

Here forest blanketed mountains rise up from the dramatic Pacific coastline and  Hacienda Barú National Wildlife Refuge offers eco hiking tours traversing pristine beach and orchid and butterfly gardens. Thrilling canopy tours include zip lines and tree climbing adventures. 

The beautifully rugged Osa Peninsula, declared by National Geographic to be one of the most biologically intense places on earth, offers wildlife viewing galore. Isla del Caño offers some of the best snorkeling and scuba diving in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica's  North Caribbean

Relatively remote and undiscovered, this region features lush forests, meandering rivers, gorgeous lagoons and some of the most exotic wildlife in Costa Rica and make it especially attractive to eco tourists. Sport fishing opportunities include the river and shore's 80-pound tarpon. The Refugio Barra del Colorado Wildlife Refuge and the Tortuguero National Park are located in this region.

Costa Rica Travel Tips

Keep in mind that December to March is the dry season and the Costa Rican summer. Advanced bookings are strongly recommended for this high season. April to November is the wet or "green" season. Most of the rain falls for short durations in the late afternoon or early evening, just enough to cool things off; however, storms sometimes linger.

When making your Costa Rica travel plans, remember to include clothing for the various eco regions. The highlands can be quite cold while the Pacific and Caribbean coasts are balmy year-round.

Spanish is the official language of Costa Rica, and most of the guides and tour operators speak both Spanish and English. U.S. dollars, Visa and MasterCard are all widely accepted. ATM's are the easiest way to get cash on your Costa Rica vacation.