Costa Rica Adventures that should be on Every Bucket List

Are you an adrenaline junky?

Someone who lives life to the fullest, never missing the chance to experience new and bold adventures?

Or, do you prefer something more relaxing, a nature enthusiast who enjoys communing with wildlife and playing in the ocean under postcard sunsets?

No matter what is on your bucket list, Costa Rica has an adventure for you to check off. In fact, we’ve hand selected the best tours, adventures, and excursions in the whole country.

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Here are just a few highlights:

​Sport fishing 

If you want to experience some of the best deep-sea fishing in the world, come aboard a privately chartered boat for a day of hooking Pacific Sailfish, Blue, Black and Striped Marlin, Yellow Fin Tuna, Dorado (Mahi-Mahi), and Wahoo, among others.

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Horseback mountain and beach excursion 

​Saddle up for an excursion up to the mountains, 2,000 feet above the coast, or trot along the beach through the sand and surf. Enjoy the unique flora and fauna in virgin rainforest. Swim in fresh natural spring pools, and play under the majestic waterfalls.

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Waterfall and repelling

What would a trip to Costa Rica be without hiking through the jungle to a beautiful cascading waterfall? You’ll zip line out over a 200’ waterfall, and then rappel down the face of four “smaller” 60 to 0-foot waterfalls! Make sure you bring your GoPro and waterproof camera on this one, because the photos will be once-in-a-lifetime. 

Aerial tram 

​The Aerial Tram is a can’t-miss activity for the whole family, one of the most fun adventures in all of Costa Rica. Fill one of the 18 modern, state-of-the-art gondolas with nine friends and embark on a natural adventure with a bird’s eye view of the rich ecosystem of the Costa Rican rainforest, including so many remarkable tropical flowers, birds, monkeys, and other wildlife that you’ll wish you had a camera crew with you!

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Crocodile tour 

This is one of my personal favorites, and perfect for an overcast or rainy day (not that we get many of those). Sitting safely in a river boat, traverse up the Tarcoles River in Central Pacific Costa Rica in waters teeming with American crocs of all sizes, as well as iguanas, lizards, and monkeys; a 2-hour tour you’ll never forget!

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ATV tours

Get muddy! Explore unpaved roads, rustic towns, untouched forests, and cattle ranches on an ATV tour with a group or in a private tour with your friends or family. ATV’s are safe and easy to operate, with automatic transmissions so even city slickers will have ear-to-ear smiles.

Surfing
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You can’t visit one of the most popular hotbeds of surfing in the world without waxing up your board and hanging ten. If you’re an experienced surfer, then I won’t need to remind you that Costa Rica was featured in the movie Endless Summer that started it all.

​The offshore winds, prolonged dry season, and dramatic rights up and down the Pacific coast make it the mecca of surfing. But even beginners will feel the exhilaration of paddling out and riding a wave in your first lesson with a local surf professional. Before you know it, you’ll be a true Costa Rican surfista!

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Trust me when I tell you that these are just the start of the amazing things you can do, see, experience, and explore in Costa Rica!  

We have a whole list for you in The Official Expat’s Moving to Costa Rica Handbook .

Pura vida and enjoy!