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

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

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

Quepos made our list of top 10 cities in Costa Rica because it is packed with plenty of things to do for the adventure minded traveler. From deep sea fishing to waterfall repelling, Quepos has it all. Unlike some other adventure oriented cities on our list, Quepos is also great because it offers up plenty of beach exploring as well. This is something other adventure destinations like La Fortuna can’t offer. Below are a few of our favorite things to do in Quepos.

If you have any other suggestions, let us know and we will add them to the list!

Charter Boat Fishing in Puerta Quepos

There is a wealth of activities in Quepos, some that revolve around the sea and other that take advantage of the scenic panoramas. One thing that is a must for any sports enthusiast is a sport fishing trip. There are literally hundreds of charters available. Most can be got and rented ahead of time so that you can be assured to get a boat. If it is a family vacation you and the whole clan can go out to sea and bring home the big fish. These fishing trips are usually an all day event so be sure to block out the appropriate amount of time. Getting out to sea off the coast of Costa Rica gives you a chance to see Quepos in all of its splendor. Moving out from puerto Quepos you can see the ocean village surrounded by mountain peaks that drop into the ocean. Once out to the deep sea there is all manner of fish to be caught and rest assured that it will be a challenge to even the most advanced of fisherman.

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike

For an affordable rate you can find half day hikes that will cover the majority of the park. The trails are fairly easy so you do not need to be an expert climber to enjoy this nature experience. Once out into the park you will be surrounded by the natural flora and fauna of Costa Rica. These hikes offer you unique chance to possible see monkeys and other native creatures while at the same time enjoying all the natural flowers and other plants. Views of gorgeous beaches and panoramas at the mountains peaks give you a once in lifetime look at this rain forest scenery. If you have never been to Costa Rica before this is a must do. The chance to see wildlife unique to Costa Rica is not something you can experience anywhere else.

Costa Rican Canopy Safari

A knowledgeable and friendly guide will take you through the tour high above the Costa Rican rain forest. Their insight and knowledge will teach about all of the different natural features of the Costa Rican environment. In addition you will be zipping from tree to tree at breakneck speed on your zip lines, so while the trip will be educational it is exhilarating as well. The guides will speak English so book a trip confidently even if your Spanish is not up to snuff. Most of the canopy tours are about five hours long so it will take up most of a day. There are also night safari’s available that will give you a totally different perspective from the day trip. The wild rain forest at night is something to behold.

Waterfall Rappelling

If you are a true outdoors man or woman and are looking for a challenge in the Costa Rican environment then waterfall rappelling is probably right up your alley. Strap in and descend down eighty five foot cascades on this once in lifetime activity. By going on a rappelling waterfall outing you will be literally immersing yourself in the Costa Rican environment. Get wet and dig in to enjoy Costa Rica in all of it’s glory. There is nothing quite like rappelling right down the middle of a waterfall in the middle of the rain forest. The company will provide you with all the equipment you need to hop in and get started right away. Feel the water rush past as you descend down the near vertical river. This is a once in lifetime experience you will not want to miss.

Tocari Waterfalls Horseback Ride

One of the most relaxing and casual activities that you can do in Quepos is a horseback ride to the Tocari waterfalls. Site back and let your expert guide take you down the trails to the gorgeous waterfalls. They will teach about the history of Costa Rica and give you lessons on all the local flora and fauna. A truly fun outing for the experienced and inexperienced rider. The trails are not to challenging and the horses can handle them easily. All you need to do is sit back and enjoy.

Original article can be found here: Things to do in Quepos

Due to its lack of commercial everything, Drake Bay made it on to our list of the top 10 cities in Costa Rica. While the area has gained some hotels and tour operators over the years, it is still very much untouched compared to some of the other popular destinations in Costa Rica. This is about as unspoiled of a place as you are going to find in Costa Rica. While the area is quaint, there are still a number of things to do in town and in the surrounding area. Here are a few of our favorite things to do in Drake Bay.

If you have any suggestions, let us know and we will add them to the list.

Isla del Cano and the Cano Island Biological Reserve

Visiting Isla del Caño and the Caño Island Biological Reserve is one of the most popular things to do Drake Bay, Costa Rica. The island is about a twelve mile boat ride from Drake Bay and is worth the journey. The island has beautiful coral reefs filled with fish and other wildlife which are waiting for a scuba diver to discover them. In fact, Isla del Cano is one of the most popular scuba diving locations in all of Costa Rica. The island also has beaches which allow easy access to the coral reefs for snorkelers.

Isla del Cano was also once home to a pre-Colombian civilization and is a great place to explore for the afternoon. The island has a cemetery and is home to some of the stone sphere sculptures that Drake Bay is known for. These stone spheres are thought to be carved by the ancient civilization that used to inhabit Drake Bay, but some mystery still surrounds them.

The Night Tour with Tracie

The Night Tour with Tracie is not for the squeamish or faint of heart. Tracie Stice also known as the bug lady leads nightly tours into the tropical rainforests to find and highlight the many bugs and insects that populate Drake Bay’s tropical rain forests. Tour goers should expect to see praying mantis, frogs, moths, and even snakes. Lucky Night Tour participants may even spot a tarantula or boa constrictor.

“The Bug Lady” Tracie Stice may know every fact and history of every bug in the rainforest but her approach to The Night Tour is definitely not boring or nerdy in any way. In fact, one of the many things she has researched is the military use of insects. Another interesting fact about The Night Tour is that there are very few biting bugs or mosquitoes on the tour so bug spray is often not necessary and fears of being led into the rain forest to be carried away by mosquitoes can be put to rest.

Drake Bay Canopy Adventure

When most people think of visiting the rain forests of Costa Rica, they think of traveling above the forest canopy on cables. The Canopy Adventure in Drake Bay does not disappoint. The six traverse cables link a series of platforms and raised walkways that allow you to soar above the rainforests wildlife and plants and truly get a bird’s eye view of one of the world’s last unspoiled tropical rainforests. One traverse cable is over three hundred feet long. The tour ends with a sixty foot rappel down to the ground near a stream.

Getting to the Canopy Adventure is also part of the fun, since the location is so remote you have to either arrive by a 4 x 4 or horse back. This adventure is a must do for anyone who seeks a thrill, loves to get back to nature and see the rainforest in its purest form.

Corcovado National Park

Corcovado National Park is one of the most famous rainforests in the world. National Geographic called Corcovado National Park “The most biologically intense place on Earth.” This national park is a definite must see for all visitors to Drake Bay, Costa Rica.

Corcovado National Park is home to the endangered baird’s tapir, American crocodile, jaguar, pumas, and even bull sharks. As with many tropical lowland rainforests Corocovado is also home to monkeys and a large array of plant life. Photographers will have the photo opportunities of their lifetime at Corcovado National Park.

The park can be walked in approximately two to three days by people in reasonably good fitness and there are a variety of guided tours available. Visitors can sleep overnight in a variety of ranger stations positioned throughout Corcovado National Park. Read more about camping in Costa Rica.

Visitors to Corcovado National Park may be drawn to the twenty three miles of beaches all of which remain unspoiled. There are also a variety of rivers and streams through the park. Swimmers should be careful because there are sharks and crocodiles in certain areas. Experienced guides lead tours through the park and know the safest places to swim and night swimming is even popular in some areas of the park.

Original article can be found here: Things to Do in Drake Bay

Ballena Whale National Park in Costa Rica – Marine Life Paradise

Ballena Whale National Park in southwestern Costa Rica has pristine beaches, coral reefs, amazing marine wildlife, and the crystal blue waters of the Bay of Coronado and Pacific Ocean. At this extraordinary marine park, there humpback and pilot whales, endangered hawkbill sea turtles, and bottle-nose dolphins. When you snorkel at the park, you see the gorgeous tropical fish at a coral reef that is the largest on the Pacific coast of Central America. You can plan your trip when humpback whales migrate to the park for mating. Another great time to visit is when endangered sea turtles lay eggs on the beach and baby turtles hatch.

What is It?

Ballena Whale National Park protects the shoreline of the Bay of Coronado, the island of Ballena, and the surrounding ocean. You can see whales at the park for for eight months of the year (November to March and July to September). Humpback whales migrate from Alaska, Baja California, and Hawaii to mate in the Bay of Coronado. Pilot whales and dolphins are also seen often in the park. The whales and dolphins give birth to their calves and nurse them for several months before migrating back to other parts of the ocean.

What to Expect

You can also see the endangered hawks-bill turtles at the park. They mate in shallow waters, and the females drag themselves ashore to lay their egss from May to November. The best times to come for the sea turtles are September and October. When the eggs hatch, the baby turtles race from the beach to the water and try to escape the sea birds diving down to catch the turtles. It’s survival of the fittest – heartbreaking but a fact of nature.

If you snorkel in the Ballena Whale National Park, you will see huge schools of Barracuda, Jacks and Grunts. Groupers, snappers, king angelfish, pelagic fish, Moorish idols, Trumpet fish, eels, crustaceans, and the giant conch also live in the coral reef. You can arrange tours that will take you to explore the best snorkeling areas where visibility is 25 to 75 feet. These snorkling tours will also show you the caves and rock fromations in the coral reef area.

The mangrove swamps in the park are also fascinating. The mangroves are the breeding gounds for an incredible number of Pacific fish. The tiny organisms living in the mud of the mangrove swamp are an essential part of the marine food chain.

You’ll love the park’s beaches. Playa Uvita is one of the most spectacular beaches of this region of Costa Rica. At Playa Uvita, there are 2 miles of white sand beach next to the blue waters that are perfect for swimming. If you want to save money, you may want to camp on the beach near the park’s ranger stations, which have fresh water. One ranger station is next to the beach at Hacienda Bahia, which is south of Playa Uvita. The other ranger station is at Playa Piñuela, which is in the southern part of the park.

While these is no hunting or fishing in the park, you can enjoy hiking, bird watching, and taking photos of the amazing flora and fauna. While you are at the park, help protect the ecology and cultural resources. Don’t buy archeological artifacts or souvenirs made from turtle shells, coral, or endangered animals. Don’t collect any flora and fauna from the park. Do not get too close to any wildlfie you may encounter on land or in the waters.

Tips for Visiting

You have a number of choices for accommodations when you visit Ballena Whale National Park. One resort with a wonderful ocean view of the park is the Whales and Dolphins Ecolodge, which is a four star hotel about 30 minutes from the Palmar Sur airport. There are also many budget guesthouses, hotels and rustic lodges in the Playa Uvita area. You will also find many great bars, restaurants, cafes at all price ranges in Playa Uvita. If you go to the park from May to December, the prices are lower because there’s more rain, but you’ll see plenty of marine wildlife.

Plan to spend many days in the Balluna Whale National Park so you can enjoy all the tours, activities, and sights. You will have the time of your life at this fantastic Costa Rican national marine park.

Original article can be found here: Ballena Whale National Park

Manuel Antonio is a popular spot for visitors who are interested in the eco travel that made Costa Rica famous. However, there are plenty of other types of activities just outside of Manuel Antonio. If you have seen everything there is to see in Manuel Antonio, make your way out of town on some of our suggested day trips. Everything listed below can easily be done in a day and give you plenty of time to get back to your lodging in Manuel Antonio.

Be sure to check out: Fincas Naturales Manuel Antonio

If you are on a budget, check out these free things to do in Costa Rica.

If you have any other suggestions for day trips from Manuel Antonio, please leave a comment in the section below the post!

Highway 34 to Dominical and Beyond

Going south of Manuel Antonio reveals miles upon miles of paved road that winds through beautiful palm oil plantations. The sights and sounds along this route will take visitors back in time where cars are replaced by cycles and people are unaware of anything called Internet. This tricky road is better traversed with the help of a 4WD. Just be careful to replenish fuel at every gas station.

Just 26 km from Manuel Antonio is the town of Dominical which is popular for its deserted beaches covered by thousand years old virgin rain forests. It is a town where tides crash into the nearby rugged cliff face. If you leave early then make it a point to spend a couple of hours at famous beaches just a few miles farther south. These beaches are relatively calm and abound in natural beauty. Along the way, you can stop at numerous coves, waterfalls and other picnic spots. It is best to hire a local guide who is well aware of the local places and will make sure that you get back in time for dinner. If you ever get late, stay at one of the comfortable budget lodgings and do not try to get back after dark.

Ballena Whale National Park

The park is home to one of the largest coral reefs in this part of the World. It will take a little more than an hour to reach this marine wonderland. The park provides ample opportunities to see Green Iguanas who feed on the abundant algae. Bottle nosed dolphins and hawksbill turtles are frequent visitors to the mainland. It is among the few places on earth where humans can come close to the breeding packs of humpback whales which congregate in large numbers near Las Tres Hermanas. The best time to see these giant mammals is from January to April.

To enjoy all that this park has on offer, try hiring a boat to take you to the remote fishing hamlets or ask someone to arrange a trip to Isla Ballena coral reef where you will be able to savor the splendors of sea caves and a large variety of migratory birds. Come equipped with all the camping facilities and fill up bottles of water at the Ranger station. The guides are available at nominal prices in and around Palmar, Uvita and Dominical. Just be careful who you wish to accompany as guide jobs are mostly unregulated.

>> Check out our review of Ballena Whale National PArk

White Water at Rio Naranjo

For adventurous and brave at heart, no side trip is better than facing the thrill of riding a class III or IV rapid along the winding stretches of Rio Naranjo River. The only pre-requisite to such tour is to have a little experience of rafting because elevation along the route can swiftly change from shallow pounds to fast moving currents. The best time to visit is between June and October when the season is ripe for riding along the most treacherous but rewarding patches of Naranjo.

Most tours operate from the town of Manuel Antonio where participants have a chance to select from half or full day journeys. The trips usually stop at halfway point near the tiny village of Londres which allows rafters to enjoy a well prepared meal and interact with native inhabitants. Due to the sheer competition, each company may provide other side trips free of cost. Feel lucky if your group stops at one of the lovely shallow lagoons to drench under the multi colored waterfalls. You should be physically fit to undertake this journey and be able to spend a little extra cash on buying accessories which may not be readily available with all tour operators.

Jaco

Jaco is the party capital of Costa Rica. If you ask locals, they will definitely tell not to visit the town as it is infested with beautiful prostitutes, drugs and many crazy people. While some of it is true, most westerners are tempted by the variety it offers to its international clientele. There are all those fine delicacies which are attributed to local cuisine. For the most delicious and low cost meal try the ever popular Gallo Pinto made of rice, onions, coriander and beans. For meat lovers, rice served with steak or pork with a fine blend of fried plantains, beans and salad is a Must.

For surfers, it is a paradise which provides safe year round surf and for sunbathers there is not a better place than lounging by warm waters. You can easily find a secluded spot on the beach even in the most crowded months. All along the beach and town center, numerous gift shops sell antiques not available anywhere else in Costa Rica. Things are usually expansive therefore beware of tourist traps and haggle on everything from Taxi ride to buying a Horcheta at seaside stalls. Once there, do not forget to take a romantic horse ride to the beautiful natural habitats north of the town.

Original article can be found here: Day Trips from Manuel Antonio