Costa Rica
With rugged rainforests and pristine beaches along both the Caribbean and Pacific, Costa Rica offers convenient access to endless Central American adventures.
Top Adventures in Costa Rica
Catch Waves and a Sunset at Playa Jacó
There are hotels nearby, but if you are staying in San Jose this is a great day trip since it is only a couple of hours away by bus. Jaco is a big, wide open beach with room for everyone. Even on packed days, it doesn't feel very crowded. It's a p...
Hike the Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges
The Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park is just a short 15 minute drive from downtown La Fortuna. Shuttles are available for $18-25 or you can find a tour that includes transportation, admission, and a tour guide (about $60). General admission i...
1.9 miles
Explore Playa Espadilla Beach
The beach just outside of Manuel Antonio National Park is called Playa Espadilla and you can camp here for free if you have a tent or hammock. This is a safe place, accustomed to tourists, but be careful with valuables while camping on the beach -...
Hike Costa Rica's Cerro Chato
Hiking the Chato Volcano, or Cerro Chato, is the perfect way to get an incredible view of neighboring big brother, Arenal Volcano. Arenal has the typical, conical shape that you think of when you hear volcano and is one of the areas most active vo...
4.5 miles
2750 ft gain
Hike to La Fortuna Falls
This is a nice 1/2 day trip. La Fortuna falls is popular with tourist and locals, not just for viewing the falls but there is excellent swimming holes just below the fall and you can also swim right in the pool the falls fall into but the approach...
1 miles
350 ft gain
Hike to Nauyaca Waterfalls
With so much to explore in Costa Rica, I suggest you try and make time for Nauyaca Falls.You start by going to a small office on the side of Route 243 between Dominical and San Isidro. There you can purchase your entry ticket ($8) and decide if y...
3.75 miles
Hike Around Poás Volcano
Poás Volcano was last active briefly in 2014, but most notably in 2009. It's one of the most active volcanos in Costa Rica. The main crater, Laguna Caliente, supports almost no aquatic life due to the incredibly high acidity.There's a $10 entry fe...
2 miles
1000 ft gain
Climb into the Terciopelo Cave
Riddled with stygian chambers much like the holes in Swiss cheese, Barra Honda is unique among Costa Rica's network of national parks. According to its website, the National Park's crowning glory is its 42 known caverns, less than half of which ha...
2 miles
100 ft gain
Hike the Las Pailas Trail
Rincón de la Vieja offers an immense variety of scenery and wildlife. The trail, Las Pailas, twists around the base of the volcano through jungle, geysers and low-dry foothills. The cinder cone volcano, Rincón de la Vieja (6217 ft/1895 m), is th...
Hike Cerro Chirripó
It's 4:55 a.m. and the wind is whipping, temperatures hover below freezing, and the sun is just starting to make an appearance on the horizon, above a thick blanket of clouds covering surrounding peaks. This is Cerro Chirripó, the tallest mountain...
12.1 miles
6500 ft gain
Swim at Llanos de Cortez, Costa Rica
Llanos de Cortez is a hidden gem in the northwestern portion of Costa Rica in the Guanacaste region. This region is known for being dry and flat so finding waterfalls out in this area are a nice treat. Accessing this waterfall is relatively easy....
Surf Playa Negra
Compared to its more famous neighbor Tamarindo, Playa Negra feels worlds away from the tourist crowds and beach hawkers. Due to the lack of tourist infrastructure in the surrounding area, the beach is often deserted except for surfers and guests ...
