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Things To Do
Zip lines- A canopy tour is a must on any nature lover's "to do" list since so much of Costa Rica's biodiversity exists in the canopy layer. These tours are one of the most popular tourism activities in Costa Rica. Most are zip-line style tours, but some include aerial trams, suspension bridges and lookout towers.
Canopy tours are intended to provide a unique perspective of the flora and fauna of this ecosystem. Bromeliads, tree frogs, orchids, monkeys and sloth all call the forest canopy their home. Panoramic views of distant mountain ranges, volcanoes and oceans make the canopy tour experience unforgettable.
Hot-air balloons- Ever want to experience the freedom of flight? A float over the rainforest canopy with gentle dips into rivers sounds magical, but in a hot air balloon, these experiences can be reality. Ballooning is available in both San Carlos, 20 miles east of Arenal, and in Turrialba.
Guests can relax knowing they are in the hands of experienced pilots while taking in spectacular scenery. Due to climatic conditions, balloons only fly at sunrise. Groups up to five people can charter their own balloon ride.
Water activities include- parasailing, surfing, sport fishing, snorkeling,white water rafting and tubing, kayaking, dolphin and whale watching, surifing, windsurfing, diving, and canoeing
Coffee Tour- Costa Rican coffee is known for its excellent quality and robust flavor. The Central Valley's rich volcanic soil provides the perfect environment for gourmet coffee production and Costa Ricans have found a way to integrate their agricultural way of life into the tourism industry. Coffee plantations throughout Costa Rica have opened their doors to the public to offer educational, interactive coffee tours.
Tours include a walk through the coffee fields where visitors learn about the history of coffee and how it grows, from seed to mature fruiting plant. Visitors are often permitted to pick coffee fruits for a few minutes if it is the harvest season.
The processing mill or "beneficio" where the coffee is removed from its husk is next, followed by the drying process and roasting mill. Finally, the reward. A fresh cup of recently roasted coffee.
Chocolate tour- To experience chocolate in its purest form, visit the ChocoRart organic cacao farm and chocolate factory in Playa Chiquita, just outside of Puerto Viejo. Owned and lovingly operated by a Swiss couple, their cacao is harvested, fermented and cooked in the same tradtional manner that the Mayan indians used for thousands of years. Sugar is added to the chocolate as are natural flavors such as: ginger, coconut, vanilla and nuts. Tours are offered by reservation only and chocolate tasting is included.
Volcanoes- In a country as small as Costa Rica it's a good thing that only five out of more than 200 volcanic formations are considered active: Arenal, Poás, Rincón de la Vieja, Irazú, and Turrialba. Most of these are located in the central highlands where people whizzing by in their cars mistake them for regular mountains.
