By Kelsey Childress
Costa Rica is a beautiful country on
Central America that sees a great number of tourists every year. It is next to Nicaragua and Panama, with borders on the east and west/south of ocean: the
Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Its name translates in Spanish to "Rich Coast." There are several fun activities to do and things to see while visiting this small country.
Zip-lining Through the Forest
Zip-lining is a popular activity in Costa Rica. It is a system of cables (usually metal) and pulleys that attach to a rider with a harness. The rider then "zip lines" from platform to platform, as gravity and the cable carry them down to the next platform. It is a great way to see the natural rainforest of Costa Rica. The platforms are usually several feet up into the air, so this is not recommended for those who are afraid of heights.
Selvatura Park
Monteverde Reserve
Costa Rica
Phone: (506 2645-5929)
Email: info@selvatura.com
Surfing and Other Water Sports
Because Costa Rica's weather is usually always in the 70s to 90s, it makes for great water sports. These may include surfing, sailing, wakeboarding, snorkeling, windsurfing and lounging by the beach. Lessons for some sports (such as windsurfing) are available from many businesses, including the Tilawa Windsurfing Kiteboarding Watersports Center at Lake Arenal, Tilaran.
Tilawa Windsurfing Kiteboarding Watersports Center
PO Box 92-5710
Tilaran, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Telephone: (011-506-2695-5050)
Email: windsurf@tilawa.com
The Hot Springs
There are three main natural hot springs in Costa Rica- Baldi, Tabacon and Quepos. These all have different pools with different temperatures and are all natural, getting their water from the Tabacon river. This is a great way to relax in a truly natural atmosphere. The five-star Tabacon Grand Spa and Thermal resort offers access to the Tabacon hot spring and also offers hotel accommodations.
Tabacon Grand Spa and Thermal Resort
La Fortuna de San Carlos
Arenal Volcano National Park
Costa Rica
Phone: (1-877-277-8291)
Nature Watching
From the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve to the Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica offers national parks are offer amazing views of wildlife and tropical vegetation in their natural habitat. There are several hotels around these parks in La Fortuna and Arenal that offer great views of the forest. One of these is the Lost Iguana Resort and Spa located in the La Fortuna area.
Lost Iguana Resort
1.5 km North of Arenal dam
La Fortuna de San Carlos
Arenal Volcano National Park A2004
Costa Rica
Phone: 011(506)2267-6148
Email: maritzalostiguana@mac.com
Active Volcanos
The Irazu Volcano National Park holds the highest volcano in Costa Rica, at 11,260 feet. It is still considered active, even though it has not erupted since 1963. This park is located near San Jose, the capitol of Costa Rica. There are many great hotels to stay that are a short drive to the Irazu Volcano National Park. This includes the four-star Rio Perlas hotel, which is less than 10 miles away.
Rio Perlas
Valle de Orosi
Orosi 95-7100
Costa Rica
Phone: (506-2533-3341)
About the Author:
Kelsey Childress runs a freelance creative business called Awen Creative that specializes in SEO Web content, social media marketing and blogging. She has been writing for online and in-print publications for over six years, and has a bachelor's degree in English literature and creative writing from Kansas State University.
