Costa Rica was an absolutely amazing country full of adventure and excitement. Over the trip I was able to try out some amazing activities, and let me tell you there was something to do for everyone. So without further ado, my top 10 activities from Costa Rica: 1. For the thrill-seeker: Horseback Riding A combination of entertainment and breath-taking views, horseback riding along the beach was hands-down one of my favorite activities to do. Our group of 8 decided to do this tour near Playa Tamarindo, and went with a tour company called Guti Tours. The entire session lasted about 3 hours, and included a trot (or in some cases a gallop) along the beach with a late afternoon lunch at a beachside restaurant. Our guides were hospitable and made sure all of us felt comfortable on our ride. 2. For the cocoa/coffee-connoisseur: Chocolate/Coffee Plantation Tour Costa Rica is known for having some of the best chocolate and coffee in the world. Take some time to see where your favorite drink and sweet come from. I really enjoyed getting to see how a bar of chocolate comes to be from a small seed planted in the ground. The chocolate tour that we took was in the Arenal Volcano area, and included a feature where we could create our own hot cocoa. As for the coffee plantation, we stopped at a small place while driving from San Jose to Monteverde. Since there are many plantations throughout the country, I recommend taking a quick stop to check them out. 3. For the adrenaline-junkie: Extreme Ziplining If you enjoy thrills and adventure visit Extreme Ziplining in Monteverde. The course consisted in 14 ziplines and even had one free fall line which was by far my favorite thing to do. This activity is definitely not for people who have a fear of heights, but if you somehow manage to get over this fear you can enjoy 2-mile long lines traversing some of the picturesque land in the country. 4. For the animal-lover: La Paz Waterfall Gardens Costa Rica contains 6% of the world's biodiversity. Take a moment to go appreciate all the amazing flora and fauna that the country has at La Paz Waterfall Gardens. Nestled in the mountains, the "gardens" do a great job of preserving wildlife in a very natural environment. My favorite part of the gardens was not seeing the animals; I really enjoyed seeing the stunning waterfalls. Although it was a bit of a hike, I do recommend taking the time to go see these amazing natural structures. 5. For the souvenir-shopper: Sarchi If you are looking to take home something special from Costa Rica without breaking the bank, take a short day trip from San Jose to Sarchi. The souvenirs you find here are the same as the ones that you'll find in tourist-heavy locations. Sarchi is also home to a unique art form of painting wood objects with intricate designs. 6.For the one who is chasing sunsets: Catamaran Cruise At Playa Tamarindo we were able to find a catamaran cruise that sailed over the water during sunset. Not only were the views breathtaking, but we also made a couple of stops along our journey where we were able to snorkel and enjoy being on the Pacific Ocean. This is also a great option for any photographers who want to enjoy some amazing lighting. 7. For the motor sport fanatic: ATV Tours While in the Guanacaste region of Costs Rica we decided to take a ride an afternoon to go on an ATV tour. The tour took us through some Teak wood plantations and over some small rivers. We were also able to catch the sunset from a mountain top that we had driven up to. I totally recommend this activity to anyone who loves speed and driving. Unfortunately, I cannot claim to be the best ATV driver, but nonetheless I had a phenomenal time exploring and taking in the views. 8. For the bird-watcher: Hummingbird Garden Nestled in the mountainside in Monteverde, the Hummingbird Garden is a sight to see for anyone enamored with beautiful birds. The small hummingbirds that are popular in this area will zip past you, and rest along feeders, which makes for excellent pictures. This intimate garden is a perfect stop before you leave my favorite region of Costa Rica: Monteverde. 9. For the engineer: Hanging Bridges If you love seeing man made structures tucked into one of the most scenic rainforests in the world, take a stop at the hanging bridges in the Arenal Volcano area. Fun fact about me: I am extremely afraid of bridges, and I'm not going to lie, these bridges were pretty scary to get onto, but the feast for your eyes was well worth the journey. 10. For the hiker: Arenal Volcano
If you love hiking, and want to see some interesting flora and fauna, take the hike through Arenal National Park. The hike is a couple miles long, and takes you through some of the richest vegetation in the nation. You can observe the black rock from the last major eruption of the volcano in 1968. We also got a chance to see some really cool snakes along the way like the Bocaraca and the Fer-de-lance vipers.
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Mahima Siripurapu18 years old. Industrial Engineering major. Dog enthusiast. Aspiring Khaleesi. Foodie. Land dweller. Struggling writer. Horrid chess player. Adequate chef. Thrifting lover. Environmentalist, and yes that does mean I'm a tree hugger. vegetarian. Archives
September 2018
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