Costa Rica is a touristy country with plenty of things to do. They have many beautiful beaches that are easily accessible, caves to explore, mountain ranges to hike and waterfalls to swim under.
Manuel Antonio National Park
Manuel Antonio National Park is a wonderful place for wildlife, beaches and hiking. Manuel Antonio is located on the Atlantic side of Costa Rica. There are many places to stay near the park. We made the mistake of not entering the actual park and just visited the beach outside. We would recommend touring the park and beaches inside. Our friends got to interact with monkeys when they entered and described a much better beach. Here is a link for more information on tours and entrance fees.
Jaco
Jaco beach town is also located on the Atlantic Coast. It’s a fun beach town with many bars, restaurants and a casino. There is a great place for tacos called Tacobar that is affordable and delicious. We stayed about 20 minutes from Jaco in a beach house listed on Airbnb.
La Fortuna
La Fortuna is a small touristy town that is located in the north central region of Costa Rica. It is home to an active volcano known as Arenal. Arenal has been said to be the top twenty most active volcano in the world. La Fortuna also has the number 2 top rated hotel on Trip Advisor called Nayara Hotel and Spa Garden. We were lucky enough to stay here for a couple of nights, as our friends were married here. It was an amazing property with a breathtaking landscape and wonderful staff. If you are able to stay here you definitely should. They also have many hot springs in the area that are offered at many hotels.
Arenal Sky Park
Arenal Sky Park is an adventure park located near the Arenal Volcano. They offer activities like zip-lining, hanging bridge tours, sky tram and mountain biking. Our group did the hanging bridge tour or Sky Walk and it was a great time. It was very scenic and we had an amazing tour guide. We got to see waterfalls, birds and exotic plants. The Sky Trek zip line adventure was absolutely amazing! The Sky Trek is a series of 7 zip lines throughout the mountains, one of which being over a mile long. While ziplining you will get unmatchable views of the Arenal Lake. Here is the link for more pricing information.
Venado Caves
Venado Caves are located about 45 minutes to 1 hour from La Fortuna. The main cave has a decent sized river that runs from it. While in the cave you will see many mineral formations such as stalagmites and stalactites, bats, and even a waterfall. There is a guided tour for the cave that is a great group activity. In 2015 when we went, the tour ran about $30 USD a person. This price included helmets with headlamps and a photographer/tour guide. I believe it was cheaper per person if you opt to forgo the photographs. Our tour guide gave lots of information and took many pictures of us which he compiled onto a take home CD. Inside the cave there are areas that require you to swim though small narrow spaces. The trek also requires some climbing and squeezing through narrow holes. If your only concern with the cave is having to journey back home dirty, there is no need to worry. The tour office has a set of showers that guests can use. Make sure to bring a good pair of water shoes, a change of clothes, a towel, shampoo, and soap. If you aren’t afraid of tight spaces, love exploring, and don’t mind getting dirty then I would recommend this activity.
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Author: Ashley
Updated: 10/19/15