Are you thinking about taking your family on a vacation this year? Perhaps it will be just you and your significant other going to a tropical paradise. If you do want to go to a place that is perfect for large groups, or even if you are traveling by yourself, Costa Rica is the place you should be. If you can travel during the latter half of the dry season, right before it rains, you are going to see some of the most beautiful birds, some of which will be migrating. If you travel a little earlier, during January and February, you will have great weather and get to see amazing waterfalls and tropical destinations that have no compare. Here are a few ideas for you to consider if you would like to go on one of the top Costa Rica excursion tours that is currently available.
What Is An Excursion Tour?
When you go on a vacation, if you take short trips while you are there, this is typically called an excursion tour. For example, if you go to a location like Hawaii, they have excursion tours for snorkeling, boating, fishing, and many others. The reason that I mentioned the Hawaiian islands is that despite being a beautiful place to visit, it does not compare to Costa Rica or the excursion tours that you will go on there. It is really a beautiful location, one that really has no competition when it comes to sheer beauty. Some of the excursion tours in Costa Rica will take you into the jungles, rain forests, or you can go boating if you are in the low lands. You can also be taken to multiple places to do birding, one of the best places in the world to go on one of these excursions. Let’s begin by looking at some of the more popular excursions that people talk about when they are in Costa Rica.
Visit The La Fortuna Waterfall, Hanging Bridges, And Do The Arenal Volcano Hike
This is an excursion tour that is multifaceted. Instead of going to one specific location, you get to go to several, and each of them is magnificently different. It begins with driving to the National Park of Arenal. You will begin your tour by hiking for just under three hours, all the way to the base of the Arenal Volcano. You will be given some background on the volcano once you arrive, and then you will head back for another 30 minute drive. This will take you directly to the La Fortuna waterfall. It’s one of those rare visits to a waterfall that allows you to go all the way to the base, and even swim in the waters that surround the falls. From there, you will cross a total of 16 bridges, technically called the Mistico Hanging Bridges. It is highly recommended that you bring rain gear if you are traveling during, or close to, the rainy season. It’s a good idea to do this during December and January to see the waterfalls as full as possible.
Tortuga Island Daytrip From San Jose
This is completely different from your hike into the jungle. You will be on the coast and you will board a catamaran. The trip will take a total of 12 hours, departing from San Jose on your way to Tortuga Island. Everything is going to be provided for you, including the snorkeling gear that you will need if you decide to snorkel on the coast. It is all-inclusive, and they even have vegetarian options plus free hotel pickup and drop-off. This particular excursion tour is a little bit different than all of the others because you are actually departing from Costa Rica to head to a tropical island. You will get to do diving, fishing, snorkeling, and go on additional boating trips. Once you get back, you will then want to consider going on a whitewater rafting trip.
Go On A Rafting And Zip Line Tour
One of the best is a full day class II – III whitewater rafting trip, combined with a Zipline excursion, on the Balsa River. You will be traveling through the rain forest, at upwards of 40 mph, and the zipline is nearly 3/4 of a mile long. You will be provided with a Costa Rican lunch, and all of the rafting gear, plus food and beverages, will be provided while you are there. As with most of the excursions in Costa Rica, they provide a free pickup and drop-off to your hotel. If you would like to experience the jungles of Costa Rica while whitewater rafting, this is an excursion you will always remember. There is one more excursion that you need to consider, one that will take you deep into the jungles of Costa Rica.
Full Day Jaco Jungle Adventure
A full day in the jungle is one way that you can really get to experience Costa Rica. This particular excursion is not just about hiking. You can do ziplining, horseback riding, waterfall repelling, and you will also get to ride an ATV throughout the Jaco Jungle. Not only will you have fun, but you will also see enormous trees, nesting macaws, and monkeys that are very beautiful. Lunch is included, something that you will certainly need after repelling down the side of a 180 foot waterfall. As you probably guessed, hotel pickup and drop-off is probably included, depending upon the hotel that you are staying at.
These are just a few of the many different excursions in Costa Rica that you should really consider going on. If you haven’t done this before, or if you have never been to Costa Rica, these excursions are a great way to fully experience this beautiful country. For some people, it’s all about the birding, which is why thousands of people come every year. However, there is so much more to this country, and you will certainly get to experience some of the best aspects by going on these excursion tours.
