Outdoor adventures await in Costa Rica
(Oct. 23, 2024) — I was soaking wet from the humidity, but a sudden swing of the machete brought instant satisfaction as the fresh coconut water jolted me back to life.
I was hot but I was happy to be where the motto “Pura Vida” is truly the way of life.
The plan was 11 days in Costa Rica with an itinerary set to adventure, as we wanted to see as much of this country as possible. Little did I know we would drive more than 550 miles covering the highlights of a country I can’t wait to visit again.
After an almost-direct flight, we picked up the rental car and settled into our first night’s stay at Villa Margarita. Open air rooms and a tasty breakfast made this eclectic place a family favorite.
The next stop was Jaco, a coastal town with warm waters, tasty waves and a beachfront resort. We did experience torrential downpours a few evenings, but this is the rainy season.
While in Jaco, we surfed and ate killer pizza. The trip highlight was a 50-mile tour on Jaguariders ATVs up through the rainforest canopy and into some lesser seen landscapes. We visited Tortuga Falls and settled into a private lunch spot called El Tigre.
We headed south, landing in Quepos – our jump-off spot to visit Manuel Antonio National Park. You need an advance entry permit and you can hire a guide, but we opted for a self-guided tour. White-faced capuchin monkeys, macaws, toucans, deer, pizotes, sloths and iguanas were all present during our hike.
Our favorite beach was Playa Espadilla Sur, which was near Puna Catedral. Check out El Avion for dinner – literally inside of a huge airplane – and Shana by the Beach for breakfast.
Roads in Costa Rica are a patchwork of asphalt, rock, dirt and everything in between, and the road to Santa Elena and the Monteverde Cloud Forest fit all these descriptions. We stayed at a hostel, Pension Santa Elena, which was an experience we won’t soon forget. Don’t miss Selvatura Canopy Zip Line Tour, which boasts a zip line more than 4,000 feet long that puts you high above the cloud forest at amazingly high speeds.
Next stop was La Fortuna, the famed Arenal Volcano and natural hot springs. High-end resorts like Baldi Hot Springs offer anything you could want, but we were more in tune with a short hike into the forest and pools of natural springs all along the river. Try dinner at Que Rico and make a trip to Mistico Hanging Bridges for a suspended bridge hike with views of Arenal Volcano sprinkled throughout.
We spent our last days river rafting the Pacuare River. We booked an overnight trip with Pacuare River Lodge that included two full days of rafting and an overnight stay at a solar-powered eco lodge. The rapids were flowing (upper and lower coffin are all hands on deck), the guides were top-notch and the trip was another highlight for the entire family.
If you want adventure, friendly people and a place where your vacations dollars go farther, consider Costa Rica. We are already planning our next trip.
Contact Kevin Parker with comments or questions by email at LukeHollywood@gmail.com
