Costa Rica has plenty of unqiue expereinces to offer your clients, here we’ve chosen just five to give you a flavour of what’s on offer:
Kayak the canals in Tortuguero
Kayaking through Tortuguero’s rivers at dawn offers a front-row seat to jungle life as it wakes up.
Located on the Caribbean coast, Tortuguero officially became a national park in 1970, and as well as being famed for its beach where turtles come to hatch (from July to October) it has mangrove swamps and canals.
Kayaking offers a sustainable option for visitors, and as noise is kept to a minimum, it provides a better chance of spotting wildlife such as howler monkeys, sloths, caiman and iguanas. Birdwatching will also be plentiful in Tortuguero with toucans, parrots and many more species in the park.
Hike around Arenal Volcano
In the country’s fertile northern lowlands sits Arenal Volcano National Park, a place high on the list for many visitors who want to see the imposing Arenal Volcano, which stands at 5,437 feet. It last erupted in 1968. There are a multitude of hiking trails that wind through the forests. Visitors don’t need a guide to walk around the park, but tours are on offer which will give your guests the chance to learn more about their surroundings and the wildlife.
Zip through the rainforest in Monteverde
For those adventure-seeking clients, then ziplining through the cloud forest of Monteverde is a must-do experience.
Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, which is in the north of the country in the Puntarenas region, is packed with wildlife, including more than 400 species of birds.
The 100% Aventura Adventure Park has 10 ziplines including the longest in Costa Rica at almost a mile. Two of the lines are ‘superman’ style, meaning guests are given that feeling of flying horizontally through the forests. Tours last around two hours and cost from US $67.
Dive in the waters of Caño Island
Do you have clients that are keen divers? Naturally Costa Rica does not disappoint when it comes to marine life and tiny Caño Island is a biological reserve full of a variety of species.
The island is on the Pacific Ocean side of Costa Rica, close to Corcovado National Park, around a 1.5-hour transfer from Drake Bay, where a number of beach hotels are located.
Clients can expect world-class scuba and snorkelling here, with several dive spots dotted around the island offering the chance to see turtles, manta rays and reef sharks, amongst other marine life. Importantly, Caño Island is protected, the number of divers at one time are limited, so make sure you plan ahead with reputable operators for your clients.
Visit a coffee plantation near San José
Coffee is a big deal in Costa Rica. It has thrived as a top coffee-growing region since beans arrived from Cuba in 1779 and they are now nicknamed ‘grano de oro’ — the golden grain.
The country’s warm climate and fertile volcanic soil provide ideal growing conditions and a tour of a farm is a great way for clients to understand the importance of coffee Costa Rica.
If you have clients who have time in the capital pre-or post-tour then they could consider a Britt Coffee Tour. Located 20 minutes from San José in Herieda, Britt has been offering a range of tours since 1991.
Guests can wander around the farm learning about the entire coffee process, from cultivation to the art of roasting, and of course take part in a coffee-tasting session. Tours range from two hours through to a full day trip, which includes a visit to the Toucan Rescue Ranch, a licensed wildlife refuge, to learn about the local wildlife rehabilitation and conservation.
