Think adventures. Think sports. Think treetops. Think raging waters. If outdoor thrills are your thing, Costa Rica has it all for you. Costa Rica is a haven for exhilarating sports activities. Visitors will have no problem incorporating an active itinerary into their vacation plans. From extreme sports such as whitewater rafting or canopy exploration to snorkeling or sports fishing, there is plenty to do.
Fort the truly adventurous, whitewater rafting on the challenging rivers of Costa Rica is a memorable experience. The Pacuare River is one of the top five rafting rivers in the world. Pass through deep gorges past thunderous waterfalls and serene streams while you steer your raft over interchanging calm and powerful waves. Costa Rica offers Class I-V rivers affording ‘hang on’ fun for novices or beginners.
For a more sedate adventure, kayaking the tranquil waters through a maze of magnificent scenery is a truly rejuvenating experience. A kayaking adventure around Arenal Lake includes a spectacular view of the mighty Arenal Volcano continuously spewing lava from its peak.
If flying 40 meters above the ground among the treetops seems an exciting and unique idea, then join a canopy tour. Get a monkey’s eye view of the verdant rainforest canopy where broad branches serve as platforms set on top of huge tropical trees more than a hundred feet above the jungle floor. Canopy tours or zip line adventures involves climbing a harness up to a tree platform. Once on the platform, you click the harness into a pulley and then glide across the cable to the next platform. Upon reaching the last platform, you rappel back to the ground. For the faint-hearted, an aerial tram takes spectators through the rainforest in the comfort and safety of an enclosed cable car. A series of hanging bridges link treetops for picture –perfect views.
Costa Rica has an abundance of marine life. Along the Pacific Coast of Guanacaste, there are live corals and reefs. Divers will discover a myriad of colorful fishes and soft corals. But the best diving site are the Murcielagos Island and Catalinas Island. Here, groupers, snappers, sharks, as well as tropical species abound. At the Punta Gorda dive spot, thousands of eagle rays swim in giant columns. Whale sharks can be found at the bottom and marlins hiding in pinnacle rocks.
Costa Rica has some of the most stimulating and picturesque biking/hiking trails in all of Central America. Mountain biking/hiking can be done on trails around the lush tropical forest and national parks. They range from smooth and relatively flat paths that are easily accessible for hikers/bikers. Others, however, are conservatively rated as strenuous. The more difficult trails are recommended for only the most physically fit and experienced trekkers. Several local operators and hotels offer group tours. Most are suitable fro all levels of competence. Majority of the tours involve cycling/hiking on the volcanoes so expect to be going up most of the time.
There are many different places conducive to sports fishing in Costa Rica. Barra del Colorado has four of the busiest sports fishing camps in Costa Rica. Tarpon is common in this place together with Gar, one of the oldest fishes on earth dating back from about 90 million years. Lake Arenal, 1,800 feet above sea level is brimming with elusive fishes and is popular with anglers and local fishermen. Lake Arenal is home to Guapote, the fiercest among fresh water fishes; machaca, a close relative of the piranha and the tasty but slippery Mojarra. Giant marlins, sailfish and tuna swim within reach off Nicoya Coast.