MOUNTAIN BIKING
With its countless kilometers of dirt roads and paths traversing a variety of terrain, Costa Rica has enough mountain biking routes to keep a serious biker rolling for years.
Mountain bikes can be rented at most resort towns, or we can arrange for you a special Mountain Bike tour package at any of the several regions thru out the country.
A good selection of one-day tours head out of San Jose to nearby attractions, such as Irazu and Poas volcanoes, and the inspiring Orosi Valley. A more strenuous day of pedaling takes you through the forest of El Rodeo, a protected area near Ciudad Colon.
There are also multiple-day mountain bike tours, which range from a two-day exploration of the area around the Arenal Volcano to a six-day tour of the Osa Peninsula. Bikers will find no shortage of routes in Costa Rica. The southern Nicoya Peninsula, which is crisscrossed by sparsely traveled dirt roads, is the perfect region for mountain bike touring, as is the southern Pacific Coast, especially the area around the Golfo Dulce. |
HORSEBACK RIDING
There are opportunities to go horseback riding almost every where in Costa Rica, and climbing onto the back of a spirited equine can be a wonderful way to spice up your vacation. The selection of horse back excursions ranges from morning trail rides in the mountains above San Jose to all-day expeditions through the rain forest.
Mountain resorts and nature lodges located all over the country are the starting point for horseback excursions, which can lead to pastures, tropical forests, up volcanoes, down beaches and often stopping at waterfalls and swimming holes.
Horseback tours are also excellent opportunities for bird watching and getting close to timid wild life. |
CANOPY TOURS
A growing number of tours let visitors explore the elevated eco-system of the rain forest canopy, a luxurious and little known realm that is home for most of the junglesâs plant and animal species. It has only been in the last two decades that biologist have began to seriously study the canopy, using such varied devices as mountain climbing equipment and construction cranes, and tourists now have the opportunity to follow them into that biological frontier.
Those opportunities range from a ride on a modified sky lift that takes passengers floating through the tree tops to platforms set in the crowns of massive tropical trees, more than a 100 ft above the jungle floor. All those tours offer a monkeyâs-eye view of the rain forest canopy, where thick branches serve as platforms for an incredible diversity of smaller plants, and such animals as tree frogs, vine snakes, sloths and hundreds of bird species.
Adventurous travelers may want to try one of the more rustic canopy tours, which entail strapping on a mountain climbing harness and pulling your self along suspended cables to a series of wooden platforms built in the tops of trees. One private reserve even has a small hotel room built in the top of a tree, for those who want to spend the night in the canopy.
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SPORT FISHING
Cost Rica is an anglerâs dream come true. The countryâs Pacific port and beach resorts provide access to some of the best deep sea fishing in the world, while the canals and rivers of the northern Atlantic coast feature world class snook and tarpon fishing. Billfish are the countries biggest attraction with abundant sail fish and marlin of the Pacific coast, but the fisherman also hook plenty of other feisty fighters, such as wahoo and roosterfish. Though deep sea fishing is the countryâs forte, there is also greet fresh world fishing in lake Arenal and the larger rivers in the northern region, where anglers can fight with the small but ordinary guapote, a hump-backed also known as the rainbow bass.
Costa Ricaâs central Pacific coast has long been known for its world class sail fish, marlin, yellow fin tuna, and dorado (Mahi-mahi) Sport fishing. We catch and release hundreds of billfish a year!!!
Our prime fishing season is December ö May. But we catch fish year-round because the Gulf of Nicoya is a magnet for many different species of baitfish. The prime fishing season is also dry season, so the seas are generally calm Dec.- May. The waters abound with whales, dolphins, turtles, manta rays, and many other species of marine life through-out the year.
In and around Cahuita National Park, the sport is practiced using small canoes with 15 or 25 hp engines. Jacks, Snapper, Snook, Tarpon, and Lobster are easily caught. |
DIVING / SNORKLING
Costa Ricaâs underwater wonders range from coastal coral reefs to offshore islands. Those varied dive spots contain divers an d beautiful marine life that includes giant manta rays, timid sea turtles, colorful angel fish, intricate coral formation, psychedelic sea slugs, spiny puffer fish, delicate sea fans, curious dolphins, and rare occasions, whales.
Though the countryâs waters contain enough marine life to please the most experienced of divers, you need be a little more than a curios swimmer to catch a glimpse of some of itâs underwater sights, since there are plenty of spots that are perfect for snorkeling, Costa Rica is also an excellent place to learn how to scuba dive , since most dive centers offer inexpensive certification courses in English that can be completed in less than a week.
CARIBBEAN
There are several excellent snorkeling areas along the southern Caribbean coast. The countryâs largest coastal reef is protected within Cahuita Nation Park, south of the town of the same name is the town of Puerto Viejo, also has a coral reef wrapped around it that makes for convenient diving. Punta Cocles and Punta Uva, two points to the south of the town, have healthier coral formations with plenty of fish around them. Manzanillo, a small fishing village a few miles further south, also has some decent diving off shore. There are also a few good diving spots near the city of Limon, such as the water surrounding Uvita Island. Thre best visibility in the Caribbean is from March to early May and from mid August to mid November.
PACIFIC
The Pacific has the countryâs best diving, with less coral, but plenty of big fish. The most popular Pacific diving area is the north west, where dive excursions are offered to several spots in the Culebra Bay and the Bat Islands, to the north west, where divers often see sharks and manta rays. The Santa Catalina Islands, abought five miles off shore from Flamingo offer an excellent spot tosee shark and other big fish. The best visibility and water temperture in the NW are from June to Sept.
There is good snorkeling in Curu National Wildlife Refuge, and near the beach resorts of Tambor and Montezuma. There is also usually good snorkeling off the second beach in Manuel Antonio Nat. Park, and around the points and Islands between Dominical and Marino Ballena Nat. Park. How ever, the best diving off the Pacific coast is found at several underwater reefs near Ca–o island, the best visibility occurs during the dry season, though the water tends to be pretty clear year round.
COCO’S ISLAND
A national Park located some 330 miles south west of the C.R mainland, has the countryâs best diving by far. While the island is covered with virgin forest, the ocean that surrounds it contains abundant marine life, and the visibility is good year round. Divers at Cocoâs Island regularly see such impressive animals as manta rays, dolphins and hammer head sharks, sometimes gathering in schools of 30 or 40 animals. It takes 36 hrs. to reach Cocoâs island. Regular dive cruises are offered which last ten days and include 3 dives per day. |
WHITE WATER RAFTING
Costa Ricaâs mountainous topography and copious rainfall are together responsible for one of the best white water river selection in the world. About half a dozen rambunctious rivers are regularly opt for rafting. River trips not only provide plenty of excitement, they also pass some gorgeous scenery. Not only do white water enthusiasts flock C.R, including several Olympic Kayaking teams, but every year tens of thousands of visitors experience the thrill of rafting for the 1st time.
Costa Rica is the perfect place for the first white water rafting experience , since it has several rivers that offer a combination of rational rapids and beautiful floats. There are even rivers that are great for family excursion and bird watching, since they lack big rapids and flow through forest full of birds and other animals. In fact almost all river trips offer chances to see a bit of the countryâs wildlife. A wide selection of excursions down the countryâs most accessible rivers using trained river guides and modern equipment.
One-day river trips include transportation, breakfast, and a picnic lunch on the river bank. Overnight trips include lodging in riverside cabins and meals.
An overview of rafting rivers:
Reventazon: The Tucurrique section (class III), the Pascual section (classIV-V), |
Pacuare: (class III-IV) |
Sarapiqui: (class II-III) |
Savegre: (classII-III) |
Naranjo: (classIII-IV) |
El General: (classIII-IV) |
Corobici (class I-II). |
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The river routers available to rafters range from the turbulent waters of the lower Reventazon, where you hardly have a enough time to catch your breath between rapids, to the meandering curves of the Corobici, where you spend more time watching wildlife than paddling. The most popular rafting trips offer a good combination of challenging rapids and calmer stretches where you can sit back and enjoy the passing scenery. If youâve done a bit of rafting up north, youâll find the comfortably cool water of Costa Ricaâs rivers a nice switch from the chilly water of the northern rivers. All rafting trips can also be done in kayaks, but kayakers must be experienced.
Paddling a kayak on the open ocean can be an exciting way to experience C.Râs marine and coastal wonders. CRE offers sea kayaking tour along the different parts of the Pacific coast. Sea kayaking is much easier than river kayaking, and most trips can be done by people who have never tried the sport before.
A sea kayaking tour is an opportunity to get a close look at the myriad of life below and above the oceanâs surface from flying fish and sea turtles to frigate birds and pelicans and to explore some hard to reach offshore islands and coastal estuaries. We are currently offering tours in the Bahia Culebra, out of Guanacasteâs Hermosa Beach, around the islands and estuaries near Manuel Antonio and Curu National Wildlife Refuge, and the Golfo Dulce area, out of Puerto Jimenez and Golfito. |
SURFING
Costa Rica already has quite a reputation among surfers, who are drawn there from near and far, by the quality and consistency of its waves. Though the country gets plenty of the big waves that true surf fanatics live for, there are also days and spots that are perfect for people who have little experience with the sport, or who have been away from the ocean for a long time, and would like to try it again.
With 755 miles of coastline on two oceans, C.R has more breaks than you can shake a stick at. The countryâs selection of surf spots range from idyllic beach breaks to coral platforms where the water leaps up and tubes like a miniature pipeline. Having coastline on two oceans is quite an advantage, since one ocean is flat, there is usually something breaking on the other side of the country. Often enough, there is good surfing pumping on both coasts.
And the countryâs surf is complimented by its comfortable water temperatures, you can leave that wet suit at home, beautiful scenery and convenience of variety of restaurants near most breaks.
Since it is 5 times longer than the Caribbean coast, the Pacific has considerable more surfing spots. Many of the countryâs best breaks are found in the northwest province of Guanacaste, but there are also excellent spots in the Central Pacific and Southern Region. And the few breaks that are available in the Caribbean province of Limon are certainly nothing to complaint about.
The following is a listing of the countryâs best surf spots / beaches:
North Pacific: Guanacaste, Potrero Grande, Playa Naranjo, Playa Grande, Tamarindo, Playa Langosta, Avellanas, Playa Negra, Nosara.
Central Pacific: Boca Barranca, Tivives, Jaco, Hermosa, Manuel Antonio, Dominical, Matapalo, Pavones.
Caribbean:Playa Bonita, Cahuita, Puerto Viejo, Cocles, Manzanillo.
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