Costa Rica Multi-Sport Adventure

Costa Rica · Costa Rica

Moderate7 daysNorth America~£1,600 est.

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Overview

Costa Rica compresses more adventure per square kilometre than anywhere else in the Americas, and a well-built week strings it together without feeling rushed. Start at Arenal: the volcano's near-perfect cone (quiet since 2010) rises over hot-spring rivers, the hanging bridges of the Místico park and the 1968 lava-flow trails. Raft the Río Sarapiquí or the bigger Pacuare — Class III–IV through primary forest — then climb into the cloud at Monteverde for canopy walkways, zip lines and night walks that turn up sloths, side-striped vipers and, with luck, a resplendent quetzal. The wild finale is Corcovado on the Osa Peninsula — by National Geographic's famous reckoning the most biologically intense place on Earth. Day hikes from Drake Bay with the compulsory guide reliably produce scarlet macaws, tapir tracks and spider monkeys, and the boat ride in doubles as a dolphin watch. December to April is dry season and high season both — book Corcovado permits and Monteverde lodges ahead. Distances look short but roads are slow; allow five hours between regions by shuttle. Around £1,600 per person covers mid-range lodges, guides, rafting and shuttles, padded by £5 casado lunches that keep it honest.