“The sparrow may be small, but all its vital organs are there” is a perfect idiom to describe Costa Rica. Republic of Costa Rica is a small country in Central America. Its size is slightly smaller than South Carolina. Despite of the size, there are tons of fun things to do you don’t want to miss out while traveling to this country. Costa Rica’s diverse environment allows you to relax and recharge you for your busy life, go on adventures, grow cultural knowledge, and experience many of once in a lifetime. Let Acanela help you plan out your best trip.

1.       Visit Volcanoes

With 66 volcanoes sprinkled across Costa Rica, it’s impossible to miss out on seeing at least one volcano. You can even spot some just outside the capital city of San Jose. However, there are a few volcanoes you must visit. Located in the northern part of the country, the beautifully symmetric Arenal Volcano is the icon of Costa Rica volcanos. Poas Volcano is one of the largest active volcanoes. It was closed in 2017 but is open to visitors now. Turrialba Volcano provides the most stunning views compared to other volcanoes. Difficult as the hike could be, the views from the top are breathtaking. Also, if you are seeking a quiet place, hiking up is the best choice for you. Let visiting volcanoes be the first and the most memorable thing to do for you.

2.       Soaking in Hot Spring

You cannot have volcanoes without hot spring. After visiting Arenal Volcano, you will want to bathe in some of the best hot spring in the area. Tabacon is the top choice of many people. Its serene waterfalls and its mineral-rich spring stand itself out. Next to it, Baldi is just almost as popular as Tabacon. It’s famous for its massive pools where you can swim and the bars by the pools for you to order cocktails and food. If these springs are too pricy for you, you can find some natural free hot spring by google search or asking locals. Although free hot spring can appear less fancy, the natural surrounding environment is nothing less than Tabacon and Baldi.

3.       Zipline & Canyoning

Have you ever dreamed of swinging from one end of the forest to the other like Tarzan? There’s no limit for you in Costa Rica. It doesn’t take many techniques but some bravery to make your childhood dream come true. Canyoning is easier than it seems to be. You don’t need to have previously trained skills to Canyon. You just need to follow the instruction and you will have fun and exciting experience. Zipline is like Canyoning in a sense of hanging your self on cables except you can experience more speed, overlook Costa Rica jungles on top. If you are looking for excitement, Zipline and Canyoning are things you want to do on this trip.

4.       Water Rafting

With 14 major rivers originating from Costa Rica’s mountains, it provides the best playground for people who love water sports. The best things about rafting in Costa Rica may not be the speed but various people can choose. There are many easy and relaxing routes for people who are not a rafter. You can take a safari float on Penas Blancas River and watch the lively wildlife and lush forest along the bank, or you can speed on raid Naranjo River flow to show off your skills. Many other levels are in between for you to explore and enjoy water rafting.

5.       Cultural Learning

Exposing yourself to nature is one way to learn about a country but you may also want to learn about the culture and history of Costa Rica by visiting its world-famous and festivals. Jade museum is located at San Jose. It collected the most pre-Columbian jade artifacts in the world and preserves the archaeological heritage of the region. Also, if you are fortunate enough to get out of the freezing cold United States and visit Costa Rica around February, you should attend its Envision Festival. The festival lasted for four days and is composed of various music performances, dances, art displays, yoga activities, and many more fun actives. The core purpose of this festival is to bring people together and break down the barriers among people.

6.       Fishing

If you have tried fishing at the lakes or sea around your neighborhood without much success, you should come fishing at the sea of Costa Rica. It claimed to be one of the best places to fish Roosterfish, Marlin, Snapper, Sailfish, and many more rare species. You do need to rent a license for roughly 15 $ a week. Also, due to the environmental protection policy, you should release inedible species after catching them. However, don’t forget to snap a photo with your bootie.

7.       Coffee & Chocolate Tour

Are you ready to head home after having so many fun activities and learning about the culture? Besides showing your friends some photos of the epic moments of your trip, you may also want to share with them some chocolate or coffee from this beautiful country. Even if you don’t drink coffee, you should go on a coffee tour to learn about the agriculture of Costa Rica and immerse yourself in the aromatic coffee and chocolate farm.

Seven may not seem a lot. However, there indeed are a lot more than these my seven favorite things to do. You can also go whale watching, looking for turtle nests, horse riding, mountain biking, making souvenirs at the local shop, etc. There are tons waiting for you to explore. Plan your best trip with Acanela and create the most precious memories in Costa Rica.  

Post written by Jack Chiu