Manuel Antonio is a national park, located on the mid-Pacific coast, close to the town of Quepos. The park is open daily, except on Mondays, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and is one of the most popular national parks in Costa Rica. It’s advisable to plan your visit early in the day. Entrance to the park costs US$10 and you can hire a guide to show you around.

Before reading about what you can do in Manuel Antonio, make sure to also read about the Things to do in Quepos , as this is where you’ll most likely be looking for accommodation.

Here is a list of some of the things to do while visiting Manuel Antonio

Spend some time at the beach

There are quite a lot of beaches within the national park where you can spend your time but Playa Manuel Antonio is ,by far, the best within the park The waves are gentle and the current is not strong. You can spend some time soaking up the sun or enjoying a picnic after you’ve hiked in the jungle. Just make sure that someone is guarding the backpack all the time as the coatimundi really like to try to get to any food you might carry.

Hike in the jungle

There are four short trails (1-3 km) which can be tackled easily by anyone. Just make sure you wear comfortable and appropriate shoes.

Take a wildlife watching tour

Such tours cost from US$20 per person and the guide will tell you more about the animals you spot.

However, it is possible to see the animals on your own. The Capuchine Monkeys are known to move fast from one place to another , while the arboreal porcupines are high in the palm trees (use the zoom option for best photos). You may even spot some iguanas in some logs near the beaches.

Try some water sports

You can book an adventure trip and enjoy whitewater rafting on Rio Savegre or Rio Naranjo. Or if you’d rather stay away from the extreme sports, try snorkeling or sea kayaking.

Take a horse ride on the beach…or mountain

Horse riding on the beach can be a lovely, romantic way to explore the nature. While riding a horse on a mountain gives the opportunity to see views you might have not experienced otherwise.
There is a ranch located about 40 km from the park where you can book such tours. You don’t even need to have riding experience to try this.

A day at the spa

There are quite a lot of spas to choose from , all located close to the National Park. After a day exploring the park, you can invest some money for you own pleasure and relaxation.

Learn to surf

Kids and adults alike will have a lot of fun learning to surf. There are several companies which offer surf lessons.

Sport fishing

If you like to spend your time waiting for a fish to bite, then the park is a perfect place to nail a marlin or a sailfish. There are tour companies which offer sport fishing options.

Sunset Sail

There are companies which offer the possibility of sailing at sunset. The boat makes a stop along the way and you can swim or snorkel in the calm waters. The sunset sail also includes dinner. So you can easily turn this activity into a romantic escape with your loved one. Such a sunset cruise costs US$75 for an adult.

Ziplining in the rainforest

There are four companies which offer such activities. For example, Canopy Safari’s adventure includes 17 platforms, 19 zip lines and 3 rappels. The 5 hour safari costs US$75 for both adults and children. A meal is included in the price. Along the safari you’ll be able to spot different tropical birds, plants and flowers. A visit to the butterfly farm and serpentarium are also included in the price.

Photo credits:Playa Manuel Antonio , Wildlife , Horse ride on the beach , Surf lesson , Zip line

Original article can be found here: Things to Do in Manuel Antonio

Costa Rica has long been known as great beach destination that also offers eco-activities like jungle tours and ziplining. It’s also a legendary surf spot, but riding the waves isn’t the only way to make a splash in Costa Rica. There are actually several other water sports in Costa Rica that are easy to do and will show you another side of this beautiful country.

If surfing isn’t you thing, you can try sea kayaking, go diving or snorkeling, set sail on a boat, or simply cast a line for some fresh fish. For a lightly more active experience, try white-water rafting or try your hand at rappelling down a waterfall which provides an adrenaline rush that hiking just can’t do.

Some of the activities can be done on your own, but to make the most of your time check out adventure tours in Costa Rica. A guide will provide transport and all the equipment, plus they’ll know exactly where to go for the best experience. Some tour companies can even provide you with an entire package – from flights to San Jose to all accommodations, activities and transfers – all for one price. Costa Rica offers the best of both worlds in that respect for adventure tourists; there is enough infrastructure to make planning your trip a breeze, but the country is still undeveloped enough to offer plenty of wild spaces for adventure.

Photo by geekgirlnyc

Original article can be found here: Unique Ways to Get Wet in Costa Rica

If you are anywhere outside of San Jose, it might seem like you are always on an off road trail! But if you are looking for something a little more exciting than an unpaved road that is riddled with potholes, don’t worry, there are plenty of great off road trails for both motorbikes and other off road vehicles. Some of these trails are for experienced riders and drivers only. Otherwise, you run the risk of getting stranded in the middle of the jungle, which is no good. Not to mention there is no tow truck service out there!

Pit Bull Pass

Located near Orosi, Pit Bull Pass is not for the faint of heart. Starting at the town’s church the trail follows a gravel path towards Tapanti National Park. At Kiri Lodge a steep gravel road leads up to the mountain, taking about 35 to 45 minutes to reach the summit. Once at the top of Pit Bull Pass there are incredible views of the Turrialba Valley. The trail descends into primary and secondary rainforest, is quite scenic, filled with wildlife and offers a very technical, challenging ride. The route winds through the villages of Pejibaye, Tucurrique, Cachi and back to Orosi. The trail is 45 miles long (72.41 kilometers) and is recommended for advanced riders. Most riders take about six hours to complete the journey.

Drake’s Bay – Aquila de Osa Inn

Isolated, self sufficient and eco friendly, this rainforest inn has added mountain biking trails to their list of offerings for adventurous travelers. Drake’s Bay is accessible by boat or by a handful of dirt roads through the rainforest. The bike trails make use of some of these roads on routes that begin at Drake Bay’s beach and, depending on the route chosen, take from 1 ½ to almost 3 hours to complete. The simplest, known as Drake’s Planes takes you down into a river canyon, across a rope and wood suspension bridge and then uphill to Los Planes. Riders then can head back down towards the beach or take one of the side trails that loop through more old growth forest and pastures. The initial trail is suitable for beginners; the side trails are steeper and perhaps best for those with a bit more mountain biking experience. Bikes and helmets are available at the inn.

Irazu Volcano

Irazu Volcano tops out at over eleven thousand feet and last erupted in 1963. This intermediate trail starts in the parking lot, starting off on pavement then switching to a rough semi-graveled jeep trail after about 2 miles (3 kilometers). Working your way through ruts, loose rocks and segments of sand you are rewarded with impressive views of the valley, rich farmlands and lush primary rainforest. The trail has three options to finish. One is an off-road descent suitable for advanced riders that leads to Santa Cruz, the second is an easy ride on a paved road down to Capellades and the third is an incredibly scenic paved trail all the way to Turrialba.

Lake Arenal North and South Shore

Costa Rica’s Lake Arenal is the largest inland body of water in the country and is also home to the very active Arenal Volcano. Two distinctive bike trails ring the lake and offer impressive views of not only the surrounding countryside but of the imposing volcanic cone on the eastern shore. The northern trail is great for beginners offering a relaxing ride on a gently sloping, paved road starting in either Nuevo Arenal or Fortuna. The southern route is more challenging. A thirty minute boat ride takes you from Lake Arenal dam to Rio Chiquito. From there, a dirt road crossing several creeks leads you to the village of El Castillo and then the ride becomes a bit easier. A gravel road travels along Arenal National Park eventually meeting up with the paved road to Fortuna. Most riders take about three hours to make the trip from Rio Chiquito to Fortuna.

Poas Volcano to Doka Estate Farm

Beginning riders can combine the fun of chasing rainbows and looking for Quetzel birds along a part paved, part graveled trail with a visit to one of Costa Rica’s most productive and prized coffee farms. Start your ride at the Poas Volcano parking lot and follow the road down to the town of Poasito. Continue downhill to Sabana Redonda, home of Doka Estate Farms. Take a tour of the mill and roasting facilities, enjoy a buffet lunch and of course sample the coffee. The total ride distance is 13 miles (21 kilometers) and is rated easy.

Fortuna to Nuevo Arenal Epic

One of the most challenging and scenic rides in Costa Rica starts on a dirt road near a cemetery leading to La Guaria. After crossing the Arenal River (in the water, the bridge is past its prime) the trail climbs toward Monterrey and Lindavista ending at a mountain top overlooking the Vanado Valley. Continuing south takes you past the Vanado Caverns and the town of Tigra and eventually to the six thousand foot ridge that overlooks Lake Arenal’s northern shore. The return is on a downhill dirt road that takes you to Toad Hall. From there it is 28 miles (44 kilometers) of paved road back to Fortuna. The ride itself is about 6 or 7 hours, but when taking in the scenery becomes an unforgettable all day journey.

Original article can be found here: Off Roading Trails in Costa Rica

Rainforests have an incredible, magical draw to them. So for someone who especially loves animals, they are truly a nature lover’s paradise! If you always been fascinated by the jungle and yet have never gotten to actually go, then you have got to go on your next vacation to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve in Costa Rica! The park is known as one of the most stunning nature reserves in the entire world, and is home to home to over 2,000 species of plants and trees, a hundred species of mammals, 490 species of butterflies, over 400 species of birds, and about 1,200 species of amphibians and reptiles.

Check out some other things to do in Monteverde.

What to Expect

The Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve is on the west side of Costa Rica and is in the Puntarenas province. It is about a four hour drive from the capital city of San Jose. The reserve was actually initially created by a group of Quakers in the sixties. Luckily for the rest of the world, they were determined to preserve this watershed area.

The park has a totally unique cloud canopy system. While other rainforests are usually really rainy (hence the name rainforests), cloud forests are comparatively dry. Cloud forests are located at a higher altitudes, making them cloudier than a rainforest. So the plants in a cloud forest actually receive moisture from all the water that is in the air. This makes the park really surreal.

The Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve has a ton of great trails for hiking, however most of them are not meant for beginning hikers. At some points, the trails are muddy and slippery. And additionally, the cloudy conditions can make it hard to spot animals and birds. But if you don’t want to hike, you don’t have to. You can also take a skywalk or rappelling tour of the forest. In these tours, you go on a series of bridges and cables that offer higher views of the reserve below.

There is an amazing array of wildlife and plants that make the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve their home. Tapirs, ocelots, jaguars, pumas, and tons of variety of monkeys. The park is home to Costa Rica’s most famous bird, the rare and beautiful quetzal. The park is also home to a the golden toad. This toad lives nowhere else in the world except for the Monteverde Reserve. It lives on the continental divide and is actually both deaf and dumb. The males of the species are a pretty bright orange color, and at certain times of the year, they are easy to find. The park is also home to more than 300 species of orchids and 200 species of ferns.

Tips fro Visiting

If you are planning on going to the park, and you are really serious about seeing the animals, there are several things that you should know before you go. First, because the plants and animals in the reserve are so fragile, only 120 people are allowed on a single trail at a time. Access to the trails are given on a first come, first served basis unless you booked a guided tour beforehand.

If you are an experienced hikers and you want to stay in the park overnight, you can. There are three backpacking shelters within the park, all equipped with bunks, showers, hydroelectricity, propane stoves, and even pots and pans. You will have to bring your own food and sleeping bag, and you will have to make reservations to camp in the park in advance. The huts are locked so that only those with reservations can get in. It costs anywhere from $3.50–5.00 if you decide to stay the night.
Make sure that you bring warm clothing and raingear. The visitors center sells trail maps and wildlife guides, so if you would rather go without a guide, you can. However, since they know the park so well, going with a guide can increase your chances of seeing wildlife.

Original article can be found here: Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve

You may not already know it, but Costa Rica is a fantastic vacation destination. Costa Rica is the most politically stable country in all of Latin American and is very Americanized. Many Costa Ricans are bilingual, making travel much easier. And, of course, the country boasts some of the most gorgeous attractions you could ever imagine! Volcanoes, acres and acres of lush rainforest, fantastic waves for surfing and gorgeous white and black sand beaches. Its pretty much paradise!

There is a ton to do in Costa Rica, so it helps to know where to go! One of my favorite cities in Costa Rica is Quepos. It is just a tiny little town, but there are a ton of great restaurants, places to stay, and things to do. And the city is right next to one of the most gorgeous national parks in all of Central America; the Manuel Antonio National Park.

<what to Expect
In the Manuel Antonio National Park, there are tons of trails through the rainforests and gorgeous beaches. In a single day I saw an incredible variety of wildlife. If you stay in the park long enough and keep your eyes open, you will be amazed at what you can see! There are incredible giant shiny blue butterflies, and there are disgustingly cool giant spiders with equally large webs who feast on bugs such as the butterflies. There are tiny crabs with giant red claws and huge iguanas that live in trees right on the beach. The iguanas don’t seem to care about the dozens of beach-going tourists. I also saw some monkeys, a coati (it is a little bit like a raccoon), and a three toed sloth!

I fell in love with the park, so much so that I just had to see more! The next day, we signed up for a Safari Mangrove Tour of the park. How it works is you get on a small boat that holds about fifteen people. There are bilingual guides who take you deep into parts of the park that you can’t really get into if you are just walking through the trails. Because of this, you get to see a ton of animals! I think a lot of them hide back there to stay farther from the tourists (although in general none of the animals we saw even seemed to care that we were there). It is so fun because you can kind of sneak up on the animals and get really close! We saw crocodiles, (yikes!) the back end of an anteater, and a ton of monkeys! There were loud, scary howler monkeys as well as smaller squirrel monkeys. The squirrel monkeys actually even came right down onto boat! It was such a great tour and an amazing experience!

Tips for Visiting

I absolutely recommend going to the Manuel Antonio National Park and going on the Safari Mangrove Tour! It was one of the coolest things I have ever gotten to do! But here is a little bit of advice if you plan on going. First of all, bring your camcorder! I didn’t because I was worried it would get wet, but my camera was fine, and I wished I would have brought my camcorder, too. It is quite wet on the boats though, although they do keep them really clean. Costa Rica is just a wet place. So you might want to wear a swimsuit or bring a poncho.

Water inevitably gets in the bottom of the boat, so I would recommend flip flops. Also, they don’t have anywhere to lock away your stuff, so don’t bring a ton with you. You never have to leave your things, though, so you do not have to worry about them being stolen. Those are some things I wish I would have known about before I went on the Safari Mangrove Tour, so I just wanted to pass them along. There are a ton of amazing things to do in Costa Rica, but this was one of my personal favorites!

Original article can be found here: Safari Mangrove Tours in Quepos

Costa Rica is an incredible travel destination, and there are enough activities to entertain the adventuresome traveler for years! So when you only have a little bit of time, you definitely need to know what you want to do before you go! On Costa Rica’s western coast is a city called Quepos. It is an adorable little town that is authentic enough to be absolutely delightful while being Americanized enough to be easy to navigate. There are tons of fun shops and delicious restaurants in Quepos. Right next to Quepos is the Manuel Antonio National Park. It is actually one of the best national parks in all of Central America.

So if you love hiking, looking at wildlife, and hanging out on the beach, the Manuel Antonio National Park is the place to go! There is a ton of local wildlife, and you can see a lot of it in the park, but not all of it. There are actually dolphins and whales right in Quepos, and I really wanted to see them, so we decided to take a Planet Dolphin Cruise.

What to Expect

There are different kinds of cruises available, but we did the Planet Dolphin Cruise’s sunset tour. You get on a nice and comfortable catamaran that holds about forty people. The boat takes you of a tour to the islands off the shore and up and down the coastline a little bit. At first, we didn’t see anything, so I thought I was going to get bored. Every once in awhile they take a tour out that does not see any dolphins. But then just seeing the view up and down the coast ended up being incredible! The coastline had all these pretty rock formations along the edge of the water that you obviously cannot see from just any old beach. It was just so pretty! After I got home, I read online that Costa Rica has some of the prettiest coasts in the world! I did not expect that!

As we went, though, a pod of dolphins caught up with us and we got to watch them play in the wake the boat was making. There were some younger kids on the boat who were in love with the dolphins; it was fun to watch them, too. Finally, we got to a spot where the snorkeling was supposed to be good, and so you could dive off the side of the catamaran if you wanted to and go swimming. I did not do it, but the other people who did said they saw some really cool fish.

Finally, the sun started to set and we just got to relax and watch it go down! They actually feed you, too, so we enjoyed fruit, grilled fish skewers, pasta salad, and drinks as we watched the sun melt into the ocean. All in all a really great experience, and I would recommend doing a Planet Dolphin Cruise to anyone!

Tips for Visiting

If you are going to go, here are a couple of tips to make it even more fun for you! I do not like snorkeling, so I had not intended to go. I did not wearing a swimming suit on the cruise, but I wish I had worn just because I was pretty warm from the sun by then. If I had to do it again I definitely would have at least hopped in the ocean. And don’t forget your towel for when you are done snorkeling!

And finally, do not expect to see everything! Planet Dolphin Cruises advertise that you can see dolphins, whales, and sea turtles, but seeing a sea turtle or a whale is more rare than seeing dolphins. Some people were really disappointed that we did not see the whales and turtles, but it is a real life tour! It’s not like you are at a zoo. These are wild animals! So you can’t expect them to just always be hanging around for tourists to spot them.

Original article can be found here: Planet Dolphin Cruise

When you are a tourist visiting another country, you can sometimes feel like you are missing something. You have heard so many great things about a particular place, but when you go there yourself, it just is not what you expected. Maybe you simply aren’t eating at the right places or seeing the right things? It can be very frustrating, because you are usually on a time crunch and you want everything you do on your vacation to be magical!

Well, I have always been wary of hiring an sort of tour guide on my vacations. Usually just because I am cheap. It just makes me feel like I have a huge sticker on my chest that says ‘tourist.’ But when you go somewhere foreign to you, especially when you don’t speak the language, getting a tour guide can actually be one of the smartest things you can do. I recently took a trip to Costa Rica and while I really don’t think I could have gone wrong with any activity I chose to do in Costa Rica, we used a tour guide a couple of different times, and they helped to make our trip that much more magical!

What to Expect

It is just a little company called El Aguila Mayor Nature Tours. They do not even have a fully functioning website yet. (Don’t worry; they have fully functioning email and are easy to get a hold of, they just aren’t wasting their time and money creating a web page but instead rely more on word of mouth). The owner, Juan, gives many of the tours, and it is amazing how much he knows about local wildlife, plants, activities and restaurants, and even government.

El Aguila Mayor Nature Tours’s goal is to show you the local’s view of the Costa Rica. These guys know Costa Rica inside and out, and will pretty much take you wherever you want to go! If you don’t know where you want to go, they have plenty of suggestions. They are located in Quepos, which is one of the best tourist cities in Costa Rica.

Before we went on our tour, Juan had taken a different group on a kayak ride and then to one of his favorite local restaurants. We went on a tour of the Manuel Antonio National Park with Juan. His English is really easy to understand, and it was a good thing we were with him! Some of the animals were so well camouflaged that we would have never even noticed them he hadn’t pointed them out to us! He brought a pair of binoculars so that we could see tropical birds and monkeys high up in the trees easier.

Final Thoughts

At the end of our tour, he also gave us suggestions of places we should eat at and how to get to the best beaches in the city (most of the beaches are rather hidden, so you have to know where you are going). I had been skeptical, but getting a tour with El Aguila Mayor Nature Tours helped us see and experience way more on our vacation than we would have on our own!
Next time I visit Costa Rica, I will definitely use El Aguila Mayor Nature Tours again. Instead of eating food that wasn’t that great and only seeing a few animals in the national park, we felt like we really enjoyed everything we did, thanks to the great insider suggestions Juan had. If you are going to take a El Aguila Mayor nature tour, there are a couple of things I would recommend. First, if you have some at home, bring your own set binoculars. Also, tell your guide if there is a particular animal you would want to see most, because whatever it is, they will probably know where that animal hangs out.

Original article can be found here: El Aguila Mayor Nature Tours

Exploring the jungles and waterways of Costa Rica is something every visitor to Costa Rica wants to do. Unfortunately, this isn’t something that should be done on your own. It is way to easy to get lost and there are way to many dangers out there. It is for these reasons it is in your best interest to see these marvels of Costa Rica with a guide or tour company. The Canoa Aventura tour operator is a great one to go exploring with; be it by canoe or hike. They offer several exciting tours that last the better part of the day.

What to Expect

The Canoa Aventura tour operator offers a variety of tours, but the most popular are either the hiking tour or the canoe tour. Both are equally as cool, but you will have to decide for yourself which one is up your alley.

Canoe is the Mode of Travel – Safari Float

Stay alert because you will not want to miss a thing on this tour. The gentle lapping of the water as the canoe makes it way down the Rio Peñas Blancas (River of White Rocks) is about as peaceful as it gets. The cost of this tour will certainly be worth every penny spent. The topical birds and other wildlife are quite abundant. There is also a good chance you may catch a glimpse of the morpho butterfly. This American butterfly which is also a tropical has lustrous blue wings. The guides on these tours are extremely knowledgeable. You will probably end up learning more about the animal life in this area than you ever thought possible.

If Walking is more Your Style – Arenal Volcano Tour

If you want to explore the lush rain forest on the Arenal volcano, this is the perfect tour. Only a few minutes into the hike you will immersed in the lush rain forest. Depending on what time of the day you go, you are likely to see all kinds of wildlife. You can pretty much bet on seeing, or at least hearing, monkeys, toucans, and plenty of other jungle animals. Don’t expect to feed any of these animals, but be ready to snap some pictures for sure.

An hour and a half walk through the rainforest will allow many photos of the lush tropical beauty to be added to your vacation album. Relax at the end of the tour at the Tabacon Hot Springs. Like heaven on earth, surrounded by the lush jungle and waterfalls that will take your breathe away, the ultimate in rest and relaxation is possible here. And speaking of waterfalls, if you want to see the most overwhelming view of a waterfall, the La Catarata de la Fortuna is the one. With falling water from 70 meters, this is an exhilarating experience.

If you are really ready for some excitement, the Arenal Volcano which has been an active volcano since 1968 constantly erupts. This has been going on daily since that time and often you will hear thunder associated with the eruptions. After dark this is a spectacular show as the red rocks spewing from the volcano make their way down the side lighting the night.

Tips for Visiting

Arenal Volcano Tour lasts about 4 hours, so prepare yourself beforehand and wear comfortable shoes. This will be extraordinary sights that you will remember for the rest of your life. If you would like to stay closer to the volcano there is a new hotel which has been built, Hotel Arenal Kioro which is a great place to stay for a spectacular view of the volcano. The straight shot view of the active volcano will make for a wondrous show. If you are into nighttime photography you can get some spectacular shots of this volcano erupting and showing its own fireworks display.

When choosing Arenal La Fortuna, Costa Rica for your vacation, there are two seasons. The rainy season or green season and the high season make a difference in what prices are charged at many attractions and hotels. If you are on a budget but want to see the beautiful area, the green season is the time for budget minded people to take their vacation here.

Original article can be found here: Canoa Aventura in Arenal La Fortuna

One of the most breath taking and exciting things you can do in Costa Rica is an Arenal hanging bridge tour. These walking bridge tours allow you a chance to take your time and enjoy the natural surroundings at your own pace. There are many other different scenic tours you can take in Costa Rica, but very few offer the broad range of things that you can see on an Arenal hanging bridge tour. If you are looking for an outdoor adventure that takes you back in time and shows you a glimpse of what the world was like millions of years ago an Arenal hanging bridge tour is a perfect choice.

>>Tips for Visiting Arenal and La Fortuna

What to Expect

The Arenal bridge tour offers travellers a chance to really get out into the Costa Rican wild. There are several different options as far as tours go and each has their own unique sites to offer. You can take a guided daytime tour in which an expert will show you around the hanging bridges and point out and teach you on all the different things to see. This tour culminates in a trip to Arenal, one of the worlds ten most active volcanoes. As with any of the Arenal tours it will be the centerpiece but the guide can tell you about all the different flora and fauna you see along the way. There are many different plants and animals that are unique to the Costa Rican rainforest.

Take a tour with an expert guide and they can let you know all about what is there. If exotic birds are something that interests you, take an early bird watching tour. Over 50 different species of birds can be seen on these tours. The guides that take you on the bird watching tours are experts on all the different varieties you will see. Even if you are not a bird expert they will help you spot and identify all the different types. If you are looking for something a little bit more adventurous you may want to try a night walk tour. This tour offers a unique look at all the frogs and other animals that only come out at night. If you are lucky enough when you get to Arenal it may be erupting. The view at night is indescribable. Any of these three tours offers something different for each person. The one thing they all have in common is getting a close up look at Arenal.

Arenal is the most active volcano in Costa Rica. Learn more about Arenal National Park here. Similar to Mount Fuji in Japan the volcano towers a mile above Lake Arenal. It has been active for the last 7,000 years and looks to remain so for quite some time. It has daily eruptions that come with slow lava flow that can be easily observed on the evening and night tours. Every three to four years Arenal will have a significant eruption with lava shooting high from the top of the volcano. If you are patient enough though you should be able to see some kind of eruption.

Tips for Visiting

A trip to Arenal and one of the hanging bridge tours can be fun for anyone who wants to see nature at its most raw and primal. These tours offer a chance to see many different kinds of natural phenomenon that should keep even the most fickle travellers entertained. I recommend taking whichever of the tours seems most appropriate to your family. Pack a lunch and plan for at least a half day at the park. You can stay longer if you would like, but at minimum you will be there for this amount of time. Definitely bring a camera to get pictures of all the wonderful things you are sure to see. Do not forget to also be patient as some of the eruptions will take time to occur. Most importantly though have fun and enjoy the natural beauty of Costa Rica.

Original article can be found here: The Hanging Bridge Tours in Arenal

One of the most interesting natural wonders that you may ever have a chance to explore is the Venado Caves of Costa Rica. Located just outside of Arenal Lake and Volcano in the town of Venado, this series of caves was created when years of water currents penetrated through the surrounding limestone of the area millions of years ago. The result is a fascinating tourist attraction which is of interest to those travelers who like to explore the outdoors, see unusual sites and get a little bit off the beaten path with their travels. Although the Venado Caves of Costa Rica are a popular natural attraction, they are not a major tourist spot because of the fact that they require a bit of physical activity to be enjoyed.

Be sure to check out these posts as well:
Tips for Visiting Arenal and La Fortuna

What to Expect

Visiting the Venado Caves of Costa Rica isn’t like visiting some of the caves that you might have explored elsewhere in the world. If you’ve been to caves that are well-lit and easy to navigate with your tour guide then you don’t know what to expect at a set of caves like the Venado Caves. These caves are not lit at all so you will be required to carry a flashlight and to wear a hard hat when you come to explore this site. You will also be required to do some stretching and some crouching to navigate through the different tunnels in the caves so this isn’t the right place for you if you’re not cut out for a bit of physical activity.

The Venado Caves are also not designed to attract people who are concerned about getting a little bit dirty. In addition to the general dirt and rocks that you’ll find in the caves, you are going to encounter some water and mud while you traverse the different rooms of the attraction. Most people love the little rivers and waterfalls that they’ll see on a tour of these caves but some people are hesitant about this part of the trip. And there’s something else that you should be aware of before you enter these caves; there are bats in here. They rarely bother anyone who is visiting the caves but they’re something to be aware of before you go.

Those people who are relatively fit and who have a great sense of adventure about them, however, will really enjoy visiting the Venado Caves. They are an impressive natural wonder with some rooms that reach as tall as twenty feet and others that are tiny little crawl spaces. The guides who will take you through these different areas of the caves are all passionate in their love for this natural wonder and they’ll have a lot of educational information to share with you about how the caves formed and why they do tours of the caves now.

Tips for Visiting

If all of this sounds like something that is worth checking out, you’re right. To do this, you will want to choose a good group or individual to give you a guided tour of the caves. After selecting the group, you can book an appropriate tour through the caves. The exact times and length of the tour can be set up with your tour guide but give yourself at least a few hours of exploration to really enjoy this attraction. Do your research in advance to see if there is anything specific that you want to keep an eye out for (such as fossils or certain rock formations) and then inform your guide of that desire before your tour begins. Once you’ve started your tour, simply enjoy the opportunity to explore a natural wonder that formed over fifteen million years ago!

Original article can be found here: Venado Caves Near Arenal