Costa Rica vacation adventure packages are a fantastic way to fill 1 or 2 weeks with none stop adrenaline, fun, excitement and unique experiences. Here are 5 adventures that are exceptional in Costa Rica.
Diving the deep blue around Isla del Coco:
Isla del Coco is a legendary island for treasure hunters, thrill seekers, snorkelers and scuba divers, this stunningly beautiful Pacific island is rated one of the 10 best dive sites on the planet. Sitting approximately 550 km off the west coast of Costa Rica, the nutrient rich currents from the deep waters attracts a multitudes marine life to Cocos. Isla del Coco is surrounded by clear Pacific waters, with reefs that are literally teeming with life such as hammerhead sharks, manta rays, and even whale sharks.
The island has around 20 well known dive sites, that feature dives that include shallow to steep vertical drop-offs, drift diving, and deep pinnacles down to over 40m, and blue water dives.
The remote location of the island and has no overnight accommodations for visitors, you have to either rent a private boat or book one of the multi-day excursions on a live-aboard boat.
The island itself is covered with untamed and uninhabited tropical rainforest featured in the movie ‘Jurassic Park’. Coco Island is steeped in a rich history, a mysterious and magical place that time forgot.
Hiking Mount Chirripó:
The ultimate in Costa Rica hiking is to reach the summit of Mt Chirripó, the highest mountain in Costa Rica. Mount Chirripó is one of the few places in the world where it is possible to see both the Atlantic (Caribbean Sea) and the Pacific Ocean from the same point.
Take the trip and its elevation seriously, it will affect you and if you push too hard the effects can be sever, more than a few hikers have had to be rescued due to altitude sickness. Altitude sickness occurs when you cannot get enough oxygen from the air at high altitudes, causing headaches or worse – fainting.
Hiking to Chirripó’s 3,724m (12,215-ft.) peak requires some stamina and it will take you through uniquely different bioregions, such as low land forests and pastures, cloud forest and high-altitude near tundra landscape.
Windsurfing or Kitesurfing on Lake Arenal:
With steady, strong winds and stunning scenery, Lake Arenal in Costa Rica’s northern region, has become a major attraction for more than the world famous Arenal Volcano, windsurfing and kite surfing has also become a magnet for fun-in-the-sun thrill seekers.
Lake Arenal sits at the base of the majestic Arenal Volcano in the northern highlands of Costa Rica. The Volcano is the most active volcano in Costa Rica with nightly displays of flowing lava and spewing red hot rocks that can be seen for miles.
Lake Arenal is the country’s largest landlocked lake, covering almost 33 square miles (85 square km) and reaching depths up to 200 feet (60 m).
The lake receives local and international visitors throughout the year looking to catch a ride on the wind across this large scenic expanse.
Adventure Canyoning:
Canyoning or canyoneering as it is also called is an exciting new sport all over the world. Canyoning can involve hiking along and through the rivers and creeks of steep mountain canyons, and rappel down the face of cliffs and waterfall.
You can find canyoning adventure tours in the northern Arenal Volcano region as well as the Central Pacific regions.
Many of these tours also include zip or canopy tours horseback, or all terrain vehicle tours as part of the adventure.
Coastal Kayaking at Manuel Antonio:
Coastal Kayaking is a fun and exciting way to explore the tropical islands, marine life and the spectacular Pacific coastline of Costa Rica’s Manuel Antonio.
Manuel Antonio is one of the most visited tourist destinations in all Costa Rica, famous for the Manuel Antonio National Park that attracts over 150,000 people every year.
After paddling around the coast and small islands at Manuel Antonio and taking in the rich tropical scenery you can stop to snorkel above rock and coral formations and observe the exceptional marine life below. Species that are frequently spotted on this trip include whales, dolphins, sea turtles and uncountable numbers of tropical marine fish.