Have you ever wanted to drop what you’re doing and immediately fly to Costa Rica? I know I have.
Maybe it’s because Costa Rica is a land of relaxed locals, stunning beaches, exotic wildlife, and exciting activities. And while there are many exciting things to do in this Central American nation, we’ll be discussing five activities that I’ve personally experienced and can recommend for any Costa Rica vacation.
And no, we won’t be lazing around like the monkey in the featured image. Our itinerary will be much more action packed than that.
So, with that being said, let’s take a look at 5 exciting things to do in Costa Rica.
1. Visit The Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge
Cano Negro is an impressive wildlife refuge close to the border of Nicaragua. The refuge consists of wetlands and can only be explored by boat. However, seeing as though there are Caimans (a species similar to Crocodiles) in the area, maybe staying on a boat is the best choice.
A guided tour will take you down the Rio Frio and you’ll be exposed to monkeys, caimans, and more species of birds than you can possibly count. Cano Negro is also home to predatory cats such as jaguars, cougars, and ocelots but odds are that you won’t see any of these elusive animals.
At the end of an enjoyable boat tour you’ll “cross” into Nicaragua. I used parenthesis because there’s only a sign that says welcome to Nicaragua and the guides will let you take a few steps past the sign. So even though you technically step foot into Nicaragua, it doesn’t really feel like you did.
Overall it’s a great experience in a unique and biodiverse region of Costa Rica.
2. Spend A Day At Conchal Beach
Conchal Beach is probably the nicest beach on Costa Rica’s pacific coast. Whereas it’s somewhat rare to see Caribbean-esque water on any pacific coast beach, Conchal is as blue as blue gets.
The reason for this is that the beach isn’t made up of sand.
Um, what?
You heard me! Conchal Beach is actually made up of seashells that have been crushed into tiny pieces and washed onto the shore. I’m no scientist but I’ve read that the seashells are what gives the water it’s cerulean blue color.
If you don’t believe me you can just walk over to the nearby Brasilito Beach, which is made up of sand, and see how murky the water looks over there. It’s safe to say that you won’t see anyone swimming on Brasilito Beach.
Another thing that’s cool about Conchal is that there are jet ski rentals, massage chairs, souvenirs, and people grilling food right along the beach. That means that you can post up with your toes in the seashells and have all of your earthly desires fulfilled without going anywhere.
3. Photograph Wildlife In Manuel Antonio
Manuel Antonio is both the name of the national park and the general tourist area near the town of Quepos in Southern Costa Rica. It’s definitely a tourist hot spot but it also has some of the most accessible wildlife in all of Costa Rica.
You’ll find monkeys, macaws, toucans, sloths, lizards, and various other species that inhabit this area. The most common place to photograph these animals is within the Manuel Antonio National Park. It’s a small but biologically diverse protected park that features an abundance of wildlife as well as one of the best beaches in Central America.
The downside is that it’s usually packed with tourists.
If you do go, be sure to get there as soon as it opens. You should also bring plenty of water/snacks because there aren’t any options for food inside of the park. However, you have to be careful of what food you bring inside as certain items like chips aren’t allowed for conservation related reasons.
If the idea of a crowded national park doesn’t appeal to you then I’d suggest choosing a hotel or hostel that has greenery nearby. If you do so, you’ll definitely see wildlife from the property itself. I stayed at a place called Hostel Plinio and there was plenty of wildlife in the general area.
4. Hike Through Tenorio Volcano National Park
Tenorio Volcano National Park is a stretch of tropical rainforest in Northern Costa Rica. There are numerous companies that will take you on a guided tour of the park and it makes for a great day trip from the Arenal/La Fortuna de San Carlos area.
Aside from the jungle-like setting, the main attraction of Tenorio Volcano National Park is the extremely blue Rio Celeste and the photogenic waterfall that it produces.
The Rio Celeste is fed by two colorless rivers that produce an optical illusion called Mie scattering when they meet. This is to say that the contents of the water aren’t actually blue. If you were to fill a cup with water from the Rio Celeste, it would be completely clear.
Weird right?
Regardless of the science behind it, the river looks incredibly blue and it creates a fantastic contrast among the dense greenery in every direction. You can hike, take photos, and you’ll even cross a couple of hanging bridges along the way.
5. Literally Any Activity With A View Of Arenal Volcano
There are tons of exciting things to do near Arenal in Northern Costa Rica. However, simply appreciating the grandeur of this immense stratovolcano should be high up on your list. If you can do so during sunrise or sunset, even better!
Most people who decide to visit Arenal will end up staying near a small town called La Fortuna de San Carlos. While there are countless options for hotels and hostels in this area, you’ll definitely want to reserve one that has a view of the volcano.
If you feel like getting up close and personal with the volcano, I would recommend visiting the Arenal Volcano National Park. You can hike through through this park and stumble upon numerous lookout spots that feature impressive views of the volcano. There’s also an abundance of natural hot springs in the area that can be enjoyed for a small fee.
Whatever you end up doing, just make sure that the Arenal volcano is front and center. And maybe bring a camera while you’re at it.
Now that I’ve shared some ideas for exciting things to do in Costa Rica, it’s time to go out there and experience them for yourself. From wildlife to waterfalls to volcanoes, there’s plenty of excitement to be found in Costa Rica.
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I loved this blog and the photos are so beautiful, I really need to go here some day!!
Thanks for the comment Zoe. Yes it’s a fantastic country to visit.
Costa Rica looks amazing!
Yes it really is!
“Have you ever wanted to drop what you’re doing and immediately fly to Costa Rica?” Yes, and then I saw the plane ticket prices… Anywho, especially #4 ran all its way to my bucket list!
– Laura || afinnontheloose.com
Haha yeah plane tickets can be expensive, especially if you want to go when Costa Rica’s weather is nice. Thanks for reading!
YES YES YES! I am going to Costa Rica in the fall and I am so excited! I’ve been looking for some fellow bloggers to share their input so this is extremely helpful! I will be bookmarking this for future reference. Thanks for sharing!
That’s exciting! I’m very to happy to hear that the article was useful to you and I hope that you have an amazing time 😎
Great guide! I love Costa Rica. Went there on our honeymoon. We were in the rainforest area and it was gorgeous!!!
Thanks Kimberly, I imagine that it’s a fantastic honeymoon destination!
Great suggestions – there are so many options in Costa Rica!
Yes and this list doesn’t even cover most of them! Thanks for stopping by 😃
Great read, wonderful guide.
Thankyou
I’m glad that you liked it Lyn!
I’ve been wanting to go to Costa Rica for a while. Oooh, there are so many different animals out there! I know the beach is definitely my vibe. Oooh, the waterfall at the national park looks amazing! Thanks for sharing all of these tips!
Nancy ♥ exquisitely.me
You’re welcome Nancy! It sounds like you need to go to Costa Rica ASAP
Conchal Beach looks so beautiful! Reminds me a lot of Boracay in the Philippines. I’ve actually seen an increase of friends posting Costa Rica trips on Instagram. Don’t blame them – it’s a beautiful place!
☼ cabin twenty-four
Yeah the tourism scene is exploding there! Ooh I’ve heard of Boracay and that looks amazing as well. #somanybeachestochoosefrom
Great post! I really like to discover new places in the world, especially when someone tells you what is worth to see. Article is very useful!
TopBeautyWoman
Thanks for the comment Michelle! I’m glad to hear that you found the article to be useful 🙂
Great blog…love the maps! Really good idea.
Thanks Karl! Yeah I like showing the locations of each activity so that they’re easier to visualize.
I’d love to visit Costa Rica one day. The activities you mention so fun and amazing! Thank you for sharing!
I hope you’re able to go someday!