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 There
are plenty of options for both soft and hard adventure,
ranging from biking, hiking, white water rafting, canoeing
and kayaking, diving, surfing,
windsurfing, and horse riding
to caving and mountain-climbing. These are discussed individually
below, or separately.
mountain
biking
Costa Rica is a marvelous
country for biking. The hills of the center can be quite
rugged, and the coast hot, but the sights can be spectacular
and smaller roads and paths can be very pleasant. Most
organized tours make sure you are mainly cycling downhill,
and that you have plenty to drink. Costa Ricans are enthusiastic
bikers, both mountain biking and cruising. Bear in mind,
though, that Costa Rican drivers can be dangerous on the
roads.
canoeing,
kayaking and white
water rafting
The
many fast-flowing rivers in the country are highly attractive
for rafters and kayakers. The main rivers are the Reventazon,
Pacuare, and
Corobici, and also the Naranjo river at Quepos.
Rafting is highly developed in Costa Rica, as the
rivers and scenery are fantastic, offering people of all
skill levels an exciting element to their visit to the
country. The coasts also offer many varied possibilities
for sea kayaking which is becoming increasingly popular.
Books:-
The
Essential Road Guide
for Costa Rica
by Bill Baker. Spiral-bound (1995)
The Rivers of Costa Rica : A Canoeing, Kayaking, and
Rafting Guide
by Michael W. Mayfield.
canopy
tours
There are many locations in various destinations of Costa Rica which literally give you a bird's eye view
of the jungle from the treetop or canopy level. They typically
consist of platforms at treetop level, linked by cables,
and you slide between the platforms suspended with a harness
from the cable. They require no experience. A motor-driven
version is the Rainforest
Aerial Tram located less than an hour from San Jose,
and located in the Braulio
Carrillo national park.
hiking
There are good opportunities around the country, although
paths are not sign-posted and may not be easy to find.
Organized tours, from half a day and longer, are starting
to be offered by operators, or customized trips with a
guide can be arranged. The toughest hike is probably climbing
the 3,819m Chirripo mountain, which needs a couple of
days and permission for staying overnight in the refuge.
Wearing the right clothing, particularly for the mountains,
is important.
horse
riding
This is very popular in Costa Rica, where this is quite
a culture, and so there are good opportunities for riding
tours around the country. Several hotels and lodges either
have their own facilities, or can arrange rides with local
stables.
motorbike
tours
Several operators have developed tours on Harley Davidsons
and BMWs, as this has grown in popularity. The comments
for the section on driving about the quality of the roads
and drivers apply, but the experience can be great fun.
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