Costa Rica See And Do
When you come out of the jungle, Costa Rica has plenty of other activities to keep you busy (unless you'd prefer to chill out on the beach, of course).
Diving
Because it has long been a tourist destination, the Pacific Coast is where you'll find the most diving options. Diving Safaris travels to more than 20 dive sites along the coast (506-2672-1259; www.costaricadiving.net). In Manuel Antonio, Oceans Unlimited has trips to what many say is the country's best dive site, Canto Island (506-2777-3171; www.oceansunlimitedcr.com).
Rafting and Kayaking
If you prefer to stay above water, Ríos Tropicales has white-water rafting trips for all skill levels on various rivers, including the Savegre and the Pacuare River (506-2669-6262; www.riostropicales.com). Near Manuel Antonio National Park, Amigos del Río offers half-day or one-day rafting trips on the Naranjo and Savegre rivers (506-2777-1084; www.adventuremanuelantonio.com). In nearby Quepos, Iguana Tours offers kayaking trips through the bird-filled mangrove forests (506-2777-2052; www.iguanatours.com).
Horseback Riding
Based in La Fortuna, near Lake Arenal, Desafío Adventures has horseback-riding trips that take you all the way to Monteverde—bypassing the terrible roads along the way (506-2479-9464; www.desafiocostarica.com). Hacienda Guachipelín, based near Rincón de la Vieja National Park, has a stable of around 50 horses and organizes scenic tours around the area (506-2665-3215; www.guachipelin.com).
Puntarenas
Costa Rica
The remarkable Corcovado National Park is what draws adventurous types to the Osa Peninsula on the Pacific coast (506-2735-5036; www.costarica-nationalparks.com). This remote area is incredibly rich in biodiversity, with the largest primary tropical rain forest in the region and an incredible array of animals and birds, from pairs of scarlet macaws to pods of pilot whales which hug the shores during their migration. There are abundant eco-lodge accommodations around here, from simple wooden cabins with shared bathrooms to luxurious villas with every amenity, such as Lapa Rios. Because this region is so remote, arrange your lodgings in advance. Towns like Puerto Jimenez—the last before you reach Corcovado National Park, and a good base—are best reached by plane rather than via a torturous ten-hour drive from the capital. Catch flights to the local Palma Sur airport from San José through SANSA (about 45 minutes; 506-2290-4100; www.flysansa.com) or from Pavas through Nature Air (about 50 minutes; Nature Air; 506-2299-6000; www.natureair.com).
Nicoya Peninsula
Costa Rica
Development has forever changed the landscape of the Nicoya Peninsula, which juts into the Pacific Ocean near Costa Rica's northern border with Nicaragua. Fishing villages are packed with t-shirt shops, and once-pristine stretches of shoreline are crowded with hotels and condos. But the region does have some spectacular beaches in the Guanacaste area (Playa Tamarindo, Panamá, Coco, Flamingo, Ocotal, Hermosa, and Grande, to name a few), as well as equally spectacular hotels; guests tend to stay here for some R&R after their adventures are done. And there are plenty of adventures to be had nearby—for example, at Rincón de la Vieja National Park and its namesake volcano (506-2666-5051; www.costarica-nationalparks.com). There are three more volcanoes—Tenorio, Orosi, and Miravalles—in the Guanacaste Mountain range, plus a remarkable biological inventory in the tropical dry forest of the Santa Rosa Sector of the national park.
Lake Arenal , Alajuela
Costa Rica
Not far from Monteverde, Lake Arenal is the country's largest body of water. This is a relatively undiscovered region, so it's easy to find last-minute accommodations, even during high season (Monteverde Lodge and Gardens, Sí Como No, Tabacón Grand Spa Thermal Resort). Activities range from horseback riding to windsurfing. The only place on the tourist trail here is Volcán Arenal, one of the country's most popular attractions. Visitors often stay overnight just to catch a glimpse of the country's most active volcano, which blows its top constantly—sometimes several times an hour—sending house-sized chunks of rock crashing down. Because of this, hiking in Arenal Volcano National Park is limited to the volcano's lower reaches (506-2461-8499; www.costarica-nationalparks.com). At night, people gather to watch the lava flow down the volcano's western side, but seeing an actual eruption is a roll of the dice, as clouds often obscure the top.
Manuel Antonio National Park , Puntarenas
Costa Rica
The highlight of Costa Rica's southern Pacific coast is Manuel Antonio National Park (506-2777-0654; www.costarica-nationalparks.com; closed Mondays). It's small but popular because of its white-sand beaches and dense rain forest. Nowhere else in the country is it so easy to spot wildlife, including the increasingly scarce mono tití, or squirrel monkey. Get here early, especially on weekends, as the park fills up quickly with sunbathers headed to the half-dozen beaches. Lodgings, many of them on the luxury end of the scale, are in the nearby village of Manuel Antonio. This stretch of coastline between the Nicoya and Osa peninsulas has several other low-key beach towns, including Playa del Jacó, but none have the appeal of Manuel Antonio, with its proximity to the national park.
Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve , Alajuela
Costa Rica
www.monteverdeinfo.com
One of the country's highlights, Monteverde is also one of the hardest sights to reach, requiring an arduous uphill drive on unpaved roads. Despite being only 105 miles from San José, it takes about four hours to drive to the main town of Santa Elena, where most lodgings are located. But the trek is worth it to hike through the cloud forest, where you'll see a wide variety of flora and fauna that thrive in the moist environment. High on everyone's bird-spotting list is the quetzal, an iridescent green bird with an extravagant long tail. Hiring a guide is a good idea, as most of the birds and animals are hard to spot in the lush foliage. One of the best times to visit is at night, when you can see the eleutherodactylus, or rain frog, and other colorful amphibians. Knowledgeable guides (your hotel will arrange) can lure tarantulas out of their lairs. It's also possible to travel up through the rain forest in a Sky Tram, which has excellent views of Arenal Volcano. If you're brave enough, zipline back down through the trees.
Of all the Central American capitals, San José is the most appealing (if you've been to places like Managua and San Salvador, you know this isn't the biggest compliment). The city has some interesting attractions, such as the Museo del Oro Precolombino, which exhibits gold dating back to 500 A.D. (Plaza de la Cultura; 506-2243-4202; www.museosdelbancocentral.org); the Museo del Jade, with its impressive, ornate jade collection (INS building, Avenida 7, between calles 9 and 11; 506-2287-6000; portal.ins-cr.com/Social/MuseoJade; closed Sundays); and the pretty, late-19th-century Teatro Nacional (Plaza de la Cultura; 506-2221-1329; www.teatronacional.go.cr; closed Sundays). You can go on some interesting day trips from the capital, such as to coffee plantations or Volcán Poás.
The northeastern coast is sparsely populated, with many miles of rain forest between villages. There's also Tortuguero National Park and its endangered green sea turtles, which are the main draws in the region (506-2710-2929; www.costarica-nationalparks.com/tortugueronationalpark.html). Even if you're not here between June and October, when the turtles return to the beach where they were born to lay eggs, there's plenty to do. Explore the rain forest by boat through a system of canals that bring you close to spider monkeys and three-toed sloths.
There are no roads to the small town of Tortuguero, which sits on a narrow piece of land with the Caribbean on one side and a lagoon on the other. Most visitors catch a boat from the port of Moín, near the town of Limón, which takes approximately one hour, or a flight from Limón (around 20 minutes). A guided tour of the park is recommended; otherwise, you're likely to miss most of the wildlife. The best gudes are employed by the local lodges, such as Mawamba Lodge, a 54-room hotel on the beach that also offers tours of the canals, hikes into the park, and bird and turtle watching (506-2293-8181; www.grupomawamba.com). Alternatively, you can book guided tours through Agencia Mitur (506-2255-2262; www.mitour.com). Costa Rica Expeditions provides tours as part of a package to Tortuga Lodge (Calle Central and Avenida 3; 506-2257-0766; www.costaricaexpeditions.com).
