Hiking Reserva Biológica Bosque Nuboso Monteverde:
Photo courtesy of flicker: Wha'ppen
Walk along the tree tops in the clouds…can’t do this anywhere else! This area has a constant mist to it, thus the name ‘cloudforest’. It is rare to suggest to anyone to go to a rainy or wet area but, its unique climate brings along unique wildlife including the legendary long-tailed Quetzal. Catching a glimpse of this colorful bird is a rare treat and an experience you won’t forget.
Santa Teresa Surf Camp:
Photo courtesy of flickr: VancityAllie
Off the Nicoya Peninsula, on the Pacific Coast, this place is a surfer’s paradise. You can get huge swells and some days less, making it a great destination for beginners to advanced riders. The area as developed in recent years and is seeing a lot of travelers but it doesn’t take away from its natural beauty. If the surf is no good, there are great day hike in the nearby National Park, waterfalls to jump off of and lagoons to meander in. Best in dry season from January to April.
Rafting Rio Savegre:
Photo courtesy of flickr: Kansas Sebastian
Go rafting down this river. Costa Rica is renowned for its biodiversity. A nice river trip on the Rio Savegre, near Quepos allows you not only to get a new perspective on all of it but its also throws-in a few good thrills. Water levels tend to be better right after the rainy season, January top end of February. By mid-March and April, its still do-able but not as many thrills offered. A great activity for the whole family.
Biking Laguna de Arenal:
Photo courtesy of flickr: C Wood
Take a day to ride a bike around this Lake. You can easily rent a bike in the town of La Fortuna and enjoy a day away from the crowds. Most come to this area for the hot springs but, spend a little bit more time and enjoy the views of this active volcano from all possible angles as you circumnavigate the lake.
Hiking Cerro Chirripó:
Photo courtesy of flickr: biologo
From the top of this mountain, you can see both the Pacific and the Caribbean Ocean on a clear day. Camping is not allowed in this park and there is only one refugio near the summit hikers can stay in. This makes reaching the summit a big challenge as everyone must hike the entire way up in one day, a good 8-10 hour ordeal depending on your level of fitness. After a quiet evening in the refugio, get up at the crack of dawn to see the sunrise over the mountains and hike all the way back down. If time is not an issue, it would be well worth it to spend two nights at the refugio before coming back down in order to enjoy the area a little longer, and at a pace that is not so physically demanding!
Hiking Manuel Antonio National Park:
Photo courtesy of flickr: kristinpia
Any time of year, this park is a great place to wander around or just relax on one of its secluded beaches. Usually, one can never guarantee to see wildlife, but this is one place you pretty much can! Cappucino monkeys, howler monkeys, squirrel monkeys, sloths, tapirs, iguanas, over 180 species of birds, you name it, Manuel Antonio has it and you’ll see it all in its natural habitat! A real treat and a must despite its popularity!
By Denis Houde
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Erin Kiskis is the Community Manager at Ruba, a new online travel site that lets users share their favorite places and travel experiences in a highly visual guide format. She’d rather spend all her time actually traveling if she could.
Her favorite places to travel are Kenya and Australia and her favorite things to do on vacation are take photos and eat bizarre and delicious foods.
