Surprising package holidays: Costa Rica

Why Costa Rica?

Sandwiched between Nicaragua and Panama in Central America, a whopping 51% of Costa Rica is covered in thick jungle. That means it’s an adventure playground of rushing waterfalls, tangled forest trails and white-water rapids. Think of it like running around your very own Jurassic Park – only, you know, without all those man-eating dinos.

You have to...

Hike through the rainforest at Sarapiqui. You could come face-to-face with sloth bears, colourful toucans and the country’s famous red-eyed tree frog – thanks to this fella’s bulging eyes and blue legs, you can’t miss him.

And... action!

1. Try white-water tubing. The Tenorio River, on Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast, is a popular spot for white-water rafting. But even more fun is climbing into a rubber ring and letting the river take you for a ride.

2. Zip line through Monteverde Cloud Forest. The best view of this misty, magical mountain forest is undoubtedly from a zip wire: hook yourself on and squeal your way through the tree tops.

3. Trek around an active volcano. Arenal Volcano – active, but currently ‘resting’– is Costa Rica’s signature sight, an imposing cone of black rock looming over green hillsides. Get up close by trekking the surrounding frozen lava flows and dense rainforest.

And relax...

1. Bathe in Tabacon Hot Springs. What better way to soothe those post-volcano-hike muscles than sitting under a thermal waterfall, hidden among lush palms?

2. Be a beach bum in Playa Tamarindo. It’s the top spot for the country’s favourite pastimes – surfing and partying.

3. Watch turtles hatch on a secret beach. The little village of Tortuguero is a back-in-time gem with no roads or streets. It literally sits in between a jungle river and a Caribbean beach so it’s the perfect place to unplug. Every year, thousands of turtles arrive on the beach to nest. Catch the babies hatching between November and January.

Inspired?

To book your own adventure, check out our Costa Rica holidays here.

Author: Laura Chubb