Costa Rica Dreaming

Costa Rica is well known as a destination for winter weary adventure travelers. Located south of Nicaragua and north of Panama, the country enjoys a stable political climate and predictably sunny weather. Close to one third of the country is protected in parks and preserves so nature lovers will be thrilled. Scenic beauty and a rich ecological environment will guarantee an unforgettable trip. Right now as I eye the -25C thermometer in Calgary that’s sounding pretty good.

Costa Rica is also easy to get to with lots of international flights taking you to San Jose, the capital. Once there it’s a piece of cake to get around the country through a combination of small airplane flights, renting a car or hiring a driver. The last option is a surprisingly good one – prices aren’t bad, drivers are very reliable and you get insight into the country if you can converse with the driver. Plus if one of the notorious pot holes swallows the car, you’re not paying.

I was there a few years ago for two weeks. I could easily have spent another month – there’s so much to do.

Here are some great activities to do in Costa Rica.

• Visit Corcovado National Park in the south of the country. It is the most biologically diverse place on earth with over 100 mammals and 700 birds. Obviously it’s a great place to be if you’re into bird watching and the snorkeling and diving off some of the small islands is excellent. Jungle hiking is also an option. A few interesting places to stay include the Aguila de Osa Inn or the Lapa Rios Ecolodge . There are also many unique timeshare resorts in Costa Rica which offer a little more comfort and a helpful concierge staff;  a few examples are the Villas Sol in Playa Hermosa and the Costa Rican Villas in Playa Del Coco.

• Check out Manual Antonio National Park. It’s reportedly a beautiful spot to visit and a place I’m sorry to have missed. Expansive white beaches, great birding and wildlife plus a number of small islets to visit off the coast are the big draw.

• Visit the beautiful cloud forests of Monteverde – home to the resplendent quetzal and an incredible assortment of butterflies. Bring raincoats and sweaters – it can get chilly here – since there’s a misty rain happening much of the time.

• The area around Arenal Volcano is a must see and in fact the most visited attraction in Costa Rica. Listen for the regular burping of lava and watch big boulders tumble down the volcano’s slopes. Numerous naturalist guided tours take you up to an observation point where you get close up views. You can stay at any number of places around the base including the town of La Fortuna and Tabacon Hot Springs. We stayed at the Arenal Observatory Lodge – nothing fancy – but they were good about arranging all manner of tours in the area – including mountain biking, rafting and horseback riding. And the bird watching from the breakfast table was divine.

• Raft the Ri­o Pacuare – one of the world’s top 10 rivers for whitewater rafting.

• Hike to the crater of Poas Volcano where the deep blue waters of Botos lagoon contrast with the surrounding vegetation.

• Head to Tortuguero National Park – famous as a nesting spot for green sea turtles. The park is set along natural inland waterways on the east side of the country, and is best explored by small boat.

• Costa Rica’s Gold Coast offers 800 miles of coastline – a surfer’s paradise. Lots of surf schools will help get you up and going but a little upper body weight training before you arrive would be helpful.

• Mountain bike for a day or a week. There are lots of tour companies who can tailor a tour to suit your wishes.
• Go ziplining. I’ve never seen so many companies offering tours as I did in Costa Rica.

• Take a tour of a coffee plantation or better yet stay for a night on one. Finca Rosa Blanca Coffee Plantation and Inn, close to San Jose looks like a winner.
• Horseback ride if you want some real adventure. We decided on a combination boat, horseback ride and drive to get from La Fortuna to the Monteverde Cloud Forest area. I am a nervous horseback rider at the best of times but the trip we did was something else. After the boat ride across the lake we were met by a Spanish speaking gaucho leading our two horses. I hopped on mine- and it immediately starting trotting – putting me in high fear mode right off the bat. Then we forded streams and climbed over 2000 feet through thick mud in the jungle to some remote hut in the middle of nowhere – with rain falling and the temperature dropping into the hypothermia zone. For $50 each it was one of the most terrifying four hours I have ever had. But what an adventure. No pictures either – as I had to hang on for dear life the entire time.
• Sea kayaking is offered by many of the resorts along the coast – though it can get very wavy in a hurry.
• Or do nothing but laze on one of the beautiful beaches.

Have you been to Costa Rica? If so can you recommend a special place to stay or visit? I’d love to hear from you.

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