You can have it all! There are so many incredible animals and plants in Costa Rica’s gorgeous jungles, and thousands more that have not been discovered. If you love learning about and experiencing wildlife, it can be hard to figure out which activities in Costa Rica will provide you with the best glimpses of rare animals. If you want it all, then consider Selvatura Park! It is one of the most fantastic destinations for any animal lover!

What to Expect

Selvatura Park is a cloud forest conservation project located in the famous area of Monteverde. They have pretty much every activity you can think of wanting to do in the jungles from zip lines to guided tours. At the park they have a butterfly garden, canopy tours, zip lines, a hummingbird garden, a huge rainforest insect display, and a reptile and amphibian center. You can also learn more about cloud forests. There are restaurants, private guides available, and free transportation to and from the park. So get a hotel in Monteverde and you could practically have your whole vacation in the park!

The Monteverde zip line is super exciting and really popular. There are fifteen different cables to and from eighteen platforms. There is a great variety of views from each zip line. Some of them are really long and a lot of them were really high. You actually go through the trees and the clouds on the zip lines, and the experience can often be as exhilarating as a rollercoaster!
The canopy tour, by contrast, is much more relaxed. There are huge bridges that are built into the cloud forest instead of above it. The bridges were actually built in San Jose and then transported to Monteverde. Workers had to carry the pieces of the bridges on their shoulders and assemble them inside of the cloud forest so that the forest could stay as pristine and undamaged as possible. The park boasts both the longest, safest, and strongest bridge system in all of Costa Rica. The tour is very peaceful and takes between an hour and a half and two hours.

The butterfly garden at Selvatura Park is one of the world’s largest butterfly exhibits. After a forty-five minute long guided tour, you are allowed to stay in the butterfly garden for as long as you wish. There is also a “Jewels of the Rain Forest” exhibit of insects. It is one of the largest private insect exhibitions in the world, and there are over a million bugs on display.

Also, you will probably want to see Selvatura Park’s hummingbird garden. There are over fourteen rare species of hummingbirds native to the Monteverde region on display in the garden. The birds actually get so close to you that they will accidentally fly into you once in awhile!

Tips for Visiting

If you are planning to visit Selvatura Park in Monteverde, it is good to know in advance that if you decide to do multiple activities, you will get a discount. Also, there are discounts available for students.

If you are planning on doing the zip line, do not wear flip flops, because they will fall off into the forest. Also, if is a good idea to wear longer pants because the harness will make shorts ride up.

Don’t sign up for the zip line tour hoping that you will get to see a bunch of animals. The zip lines are really just for the high-speed fun they provide; you won’t cruise right past a quetzal or a pack of monkeys on a zip line. If you are more interested in the nature aspect, then you should go on the canopy tour. If you go on the tour group and get a guide, they know everything about the animals of Monteverde. They are especially adept at spotting wildlife hiding in the forest canopy, so make sure and bring your own binoculars, if you own a pair!

Original article can be found here: Selvatura Park

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

Mal Pais is a really small, but really cool place to visit. It is kind of a secret spot that only those in the surfing community really know about. Combine the lack of tourist information about there are with how hard it is to get there and you are blessed with a small town that is pretty unspoiled by modern development. Aside from the wealth of surf shops, everything here is pretty “local.” There are only a few places to eat, one club, and a handful of accommodations. There are however, plenty of things to do in the area, here are some of the most popular things to do.

Canopy and Zip Line Tours

One very popular activity for tourists while visiting Mal Pais is the canopy tours. Accompanied by an experienced tour guide, people can strap themselves into a safety harnesses and get ready for an absolutely thrilling adventure they will likely not forget. Climbing up the trees into the canopy to a platform in the tropical forest, a maze of zip lines awaits the thrill seeker. The individual will coast through the canopy of the forest, experiencing the ecosystem from a whole new point of view. Moving from platform to platform on top of the forest, the guides will educate the group on the diversity of plant and animal life in the area. A variety of local wildlife can be seen while on these tours including howler monkeys, coati, bats, iguanas, long-tailed manikins, coyotes, armadillo, opossum, marmot, parrots, birds and many more animals. There will be opportunities for people to take pictures and ask questions, all while taking in the amazing scenery of Costa Rica’s tropical forests with the occasional glimpse of the Pacific Ocean below in the distance. This is definitely one activity that should not be passed up while visiting Mal Pais. It combines thrill, adventure and nature into an exciting, action-packed afternoon.

Fishing

Many people travel to Mal Pais, Costa Rica for the fishing alone. Often times, people’s entire vacations will revolve around fishing on the Pacific for an entire week. Whether someone is an avid fisherman, or just wants to try and experience the life for a day, there is a tour available. There are a variety of fishing tours and charters available in Mal Pais. Go with the experienced local fisherman to the best spots and reel in the fish all day long. They can adapt the trip to your preferences or needs. They can use live bait, dead bait or even lures and can arrange for deep water fishing as well as shallow and flats fishing voyages. There are a variety of fish to be caught including yellow fin tuna, amberjack, Wahoo, sailfish, marlin, rooster fish, lady fish and many more. Whatever the individual’s delight, the local fisherman can arrange for it.

Surfing

One of the most popular surfing destinations in Costa Rica is Mal Pais. With the town’s shores located between the Central Pacific area and Guanacaste, the surfers in the area greatly benefit from the big swells associated with the wet season and winds. Add to this the absence of large crowds that would otherwise clog the area, and it is a surfer’s paradise. There are several spots in Mal Pais to catch a wave including Playa Hermosa, El Carmen, Santa Teresa, Playa de Los Suecos and Punta Barrigona.

ATV Tours

A great way to spend the afternoon exploring the jungles and beaches is by taking a half-day all terrain vehicle, or ATV, on a self-guided tour. The best part about these tours is that an individual can decide what they want to see and do at their own pace, without the worries of holding up a larger group. Self-guided tours also allow time for the riders to stop and enjoy the scenery as they feel necessary. Some riders will go through the jungle, spotting many different animals in their natural environment. Other people will choose to ride their ATV’s down to the beach for the afternoon and take a dip in the pristine waters of the Pacific ocean. There are always guided tours available for those who wish to experience an ATV that way. All terrain vehicles are exciting and can fulfill even the most adventurous tourists’ needs. The level of difficulty involved with riding these vehicles depends on the course of travel you choose.

Snorkeling and Diving

Many people travel to Mal Pais in order to get to Tortuga Island, one of the best diving spots in Costa Rica. This is a very famous diving spot, likely due to the fact that it is the only area in Central America with three sand banks. Only a half hour’s ride from the mainland, some of the most beautiful diving areas await the avid divers and snorkeling enthusiasts of all levels. Whether one prefers to dive the reefs or gigantic volcanic formations, during day or night, this place has it all. A variety of whales, sharks, rays, turtles, fish and crustaceans are plentiful in the area, making the experience unforgettable.

Original article can be found here: Things to Do in Mal Pais

If you are looking for a destination that has the perfect mix of touristy things to do and beautiful Costa Rican beaches, then Tamarindo is where you need to be. The area has become pretty developed over the years, but not so much that it is overrun with large hotels and chain restaurants. The Tamarindo area is nice because it really has something for every budget. Anyone from honeymooners to backpackers can come here and enjoy their stay. It is this reason we added Tamarindo to our top 10 cities in Costa Rica list.

Here are a few things you can do in the Tamarindo area:

Snorkeling

Tamarindo is also well known for its underwater masterpieces. Snorkeling is highly popular and widely recommended. Beneath the water’s surface lies a universe of color and wonder. Sea creatures of all kinds abound. Various types of coral as well as underwater volcanic formations may be viewed. Tours may be booked ahead of time and and vary from local short range snorkeling to longer range boat trips. Many tours are family friendly and encourage all ages participation. Peak season runs from December through April.

Learn to Surf

Do you want vacation photos to make everyone back home jealous? Looking for an out of the ordinary experience away from mundane days at the beach? Does dropping in and hanging ten sound like a great way to spend your time in Tamarindo? Have you ever considered surfing? Surfing, an exotic and aerobic pastime, is at its prime in Tamarindo. Burn calories while you learn to burn waves! The unique coastline of Tamarindo offers varying wave intensities perfect for the beginner through advanced surfers. Breaks all along Tamarindo are available to choose your own difficulty level. If you have never surfed before, lessons are available at the beaches. For advanced wave riders who know how to take off, peak surfing season is November through December, with waves at certain locales reaching up to twelve feet.

Go Turtle Watching

For those looking for a thrilling educational experience, witness the mating rituals of the Leatherback Turtle. Female Leatherback Turtles, the largest living of all sea turtles, come to Tamarindo each year between November and April to dig their nests and lay their eggs. The female turtle will dig a nest up to one meter deep, lay her eggs and then back fill the nest to prevent predators from uncovering her offspring. Two to three months later, the baby turtles emerge, dashing to the shore and hoping to evade predators. The Leatherback Turtle is an endangered species, with individual females mating only every two to three years. Sadly, many of her offspring will die off before they can reach adulthood. You can be witness to this beautiful nighttime ritual that takes place in so few parts of the world right from the beaches of Tamarindo.

Horseback Riding

If you want to get away from the sand and surf for the day think about trading in the snorkel and surfboard for reigns and a saddle. A wide variety of horseback tours are available for that needed change of pace. You can choose length and destination of your ride. Trail rides through the nearby Rincon de La Vieja National Park are available. Or, if you prefer, ride the sandy beaches while watching the sun set over the Pacific. There is nothing more romantic than experiencing first hand the wonders of Costa Rica on horseback with the one you love. The guided tours allow you to truly experience Tamarindo. From the saddle, you can see local dormant volcanoes, explore the jungle and view Costa Rica’s native flora and fauna.

Nightlife in Tamarindo

Nearly every night of the week there is a band playing at one of the many night clubs that Tamarindo has to offer. Live local entertainment brings the spirit of the South Pacific to life each night as nearly the entire town descends to party. The four most popular clubs in town are the Babylon, Mambo, Monkey and Pasatiempo. During peak season, these clubs are notorious for bringing in high quality entertainment along with droves of people ready to burn up the dance floor. If you are looking for a disco-style club there is the two-story air conditioned dance club Aqua, equipped with a 30 foot water fall. There are also two casinos in town for those interested in playing their luck. No matter what you are looking for, Tamarindo has it!

Deep Sea Fishing

Tamarindo, Costa Rica is world famous for big game fishing. Fishing may be done from the shore during peak season from December through April. Anglers from around the world flock to the sandy beaches of Tamarindo for big game fish like Blue Marlin, Wahoo or Sailfish. Off shore deep sea fishing charters are also available for those who want to spend time out on the open sea. Other smaller fish plentiful for reeling in include Grouper, Snapper, Sea Bass and Roosterfish. There are many choices of charter companies, with prices dependent on length of tour, reputation of the charter company and included amenities.

Original article can be found here: Things to Do in Tamarindo