Top 7 Things to Do in Costa Rica

Seven Life-Altering Nature, Culture and Adventure Activities in Costa Rica

 #1 Jump Out of Your Boots the First Time You Hear the Ear-Pounding Call of a Howler Monkey on a Hike in the Rainforest.

The pristine Corcovado National Park with its old growth rain forest is located on the remote Osa Peninsula, boasting some of the most abundant wildlife populations in the country (including howler monkeys). It is GreenSpot.Travel’s most frequently recommended destination in Central America for travelers focused on immersion into nature, while staying in the eco-luxe comfort of boutique lodges.

#2 Smile Like a School Kid as You Stand Up on a Surfboard for the First Time.

A variety of beach breaks and conditions allow Costa Rica to make every surfer happy, form world champions to those aspiring to get started. Lessons are available in a number of fun coastal areas from knowledgeable and colorful instructors, many of whom offer a money back guarantee that you’ll stand up on your very first lesson.

#3 Reach Peace with the Power of the Ocean in Search of Dolphins, Whales, Stingrays, Barracudas and Giant Sea Turtles Snorkeling the Reef of Caño Island.

Just off the southwest coast of Costa Rica, you’ll find Caño Island. Its waters are unquestionably some of the best in the country for snorkelers and divers seeking marine life and gorgeous underwater scenery.

#4 Keep Your Heart in Your Chest While Rafting Down the Narrow, Winding Class IV Rapids of the Pacuare River Canyon.

Twists and turns, plunging waterfalls and soaring cliffs rising straight up out of the water characterize the difference between descending the larger rivers of North America and the tighter rugged jungle-cloaked terrain of a rafting trip in Costa Rica.

#5 Scream and Shout at the Top of Your Lungs While Ziplining past the active Arenal Volcano.

If you’ve reached this point on the list and haven’t yet screamed or shouted, flying over half a mile through the air over the rain forest canopy with the grumbling Arenal Volcano in the background, all the while harnessed onto what at the time seems like an impossibly thin metal cable should do the trick!

#6 Eat a Little Too Much of a Home-cooked Meal with a Local, followed by a Nap in a Hammock with the Afternoon Rain Pounding on the Thatched Roof.

‘Relax to the max’ at Don Jon’s Lodge in Santa Teresa on the southern tip of the Nicoya peninsula of Costa Rica.  The lodge is located only 100 meters distance from the white sand beach ‘Santa Teresa’, one of the most consistent surf  breaks in Costa Rica.

#7 Stay Up Insanely Late to Catch a Glimpse of Baby Hatchling Sea Turtles Scampering into the Surf on the Caribbean Coast.

Staying up late to quietly observe as many as 60 to 100 baby sea turtle digging their way out their nest in the sand and inexplicably flapping their way down the beach to the surf is as emotional as a wildlife encounter can be for even the most seasoned nature traveler.