Costa Rica offers different levels of rivers and the important thing is to choose the most convenient for you. The proper dose of adrenaline and rest will make the biggest difference in your holiday. In the Atlantic zone of Costar Rica you can get daily departures from San Jose to the rivers of the Caribbean coast and to famous touristic places like La Fortuna de Arenal, giving the opportunity to start in a destination to finish in the place that most interests you. In the middle of the road, there are located interesting places ready to be explored by the tourist. The personalized service and innovation activities offered by the rafting tours, is the essence for the service offered by the travel companies. These companies have the best teams of guides, which will share with you their wide experience, skill, knowledge and love for the rivers during this exciting journey. The rafting tours to the north of Costa Rica generally offer:

• Transportation to / from San Jose-Caribbean-South- Arenal Volcano
• Delicious Meals: Breakfast and lunch
• Expert guides rafting
• Using the center of exploration: showers, changing rooms for the wet clothes, bar, shop
souvenir, parking and tropical gardens.

The tours to the rapid in the northern Caribbean is responsible for providing all facilities to make of the experience on the wild rivers something memorable for all tastes and levels of experience. You are invited to explore these beautiful rivers.

The best-known rivers of the area are Reventazón River and the Pacuare River. These rivers, on the side of the Caribbean Sea, can be traversed throughout the year and have waters of class II through V, depending on the section of the river and the season. From June to October is the time when it is considered that the rivers are more “wild”, which coincides with the rainy season but you will get wet no matter in what time of year you go. There are tours of rapids for all levels of experience. The tours encouraged passengers to use a lot of sunscreen cream and also must bring a change of clothes.

Rio Pacuare

This great river of tropical exuberance, is world-renowned among fans or experts to “rafting” that love travel in fast river in rafts or kayaks. It is considered by many as one of the most beautiful rivers in the world to practice such activity. It is a river class III and IV. During the tour you can enjoy waterfalls and tributaries of the Pacuare that are supplemented with the lush green vegetation. This always gives you a special value to this trip.

Rio Reventazón

This tour is ideal for beginners. It begins at the station of the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad, known as Casa Maquinas and ends in the town of Florencia. The duration is about 2 hours, the minimum age is10 years old and the journey is 12 miles.
One of the guides will give a talk on security and provide a little practice before facing the rapids. Once the tour of the river is concluded, the tour will go to the restaurants that are located in the area.

Cabuya in Costa Rica is located seven kilometers south of Playa Montezuma and just two kilometers from the Absolute Nature Reserve of Cabo Blanco. It also communicates directly with the Playa Malpaís only through a picturesque road suitable only for vehicles with dual traction. Cabuya is a rocky beach overlooking the open sea which has a beautiful coastal vegetation and with a very strong current in some parts. Cabuya also has a beautiful coastal scenery among which, the Cabuya Island has the particularity of having very old graves that dates from the pre-Columbian era that are quite interesting. During low tide the tourist can reach the island of Cabuya in Costa Rica walking through a rocky platform that connects the island with the coast directly.

You have to visit this island as it is a very special place for the practice of sport diving in some of its spectacular reefs, for that reason you should not forget to bring your scuba gear. A bus leaves every two hours from Montezuma and goes directly to Cabuya, the service costs about 40 cents per passenger. In addition, there are other activities available in the area such as surfing, visit beautiful beaches, canopy tours and excursions to the falls that are close.
Cabuya in Costa Rica is the ideal beach for long walks of exploration and observation of the nature in particular of Cabo Blanco. There are a few hotels and restaurants in Cabuya, but most of your needs can be resolved in most developed tourist places like Mal Pais, Santa Teresa or Montezuma.

Cabuya in Costa Rica is probably one of the most picturesque cities of Nicoya, on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Cabuya can be reached by air, taking a flight from the Juan Santa Maria airport which only takes half an hour in arriving at the airport in Playa Tambor. From Playa Tambor Cabuya can be reached through a trip by car about 50 miles through the towns of Montezuma and Coban. If you are traveling by car from San Jose, you have to arrive at Puntarenas, take the ferry to Paquera and then move directly to Montezuma that is located near Cabuya in Costa Rica.

In Cabuya there are a lot of things to do, tourists can practice horseback riding for a few hours or all day or take one of the tours that will take you to the beach of Mal Pais that is known as the heart of surfing in Costa Rica. Tourists can also walk or ride a bicycle in the Cabo Blanco National Park, one of the most visited destinations in the area. This great national park is one of the most beautiful destinations that can be found near Cabuya in Costa Rica with its beautiful white sand beaches and a variety of colorful birds, monkeys and more.

Cabuya in Costa Rica is basically the prelude to the Absolute Nature Reserve of Cabo Blanco because it is just 2 miles from this beautiful place. The tourist should try to visit the park early. The reason is very simple; in the morning is when visitors can see more species of animals of all kinds that have not been frightened by visitors. After touring the park with their long walks is good to have a room reserved for the night, because it is almost certain that you will return tired and hungry, so there is no better option than to eat a good plate of seafood or the famous lobsters that are served in the restaurants of Cabuya.

Zancudo Beach is located on the Osa Peninsula in the south pacific of Costa Rica. The community of Zancudo is small, about 300 people and some foreigners. Many of the inhabitants are dedicated to artisanal fisheries using fishing boats made from a tree trunk or are engaged in any business related to tourism. Many years ago, the area was dedicated to cultivation of bananas, then switched to the cultivation of African Palm, which is what is spent much of the land.

Many of the visitors of Zancudo are people who come from nearby towns like Villa Neily, San Vito, Sabalito, located on the border with Panama and Golfito. At present Zancudo beach is a place in constant development that offersg some hotels, restaurants, tours in the mountains, surfing, a safe place to swim and world-class sport fishing. The sport fishing packages cost around $ 2000 to $4000 for 3 to 7 days, but you can get more comfortable prices by contacting fishermen in the area.

Early Night Fresh Snapper Dinner in Costa Rica - Zancudo Beach

In the area there are many choices of accommodations, some of them located in from of the beach. That gives you the possibility of resting in your hammock under the palms surrounding the place. The prices range is between $ 7 and $ 200, according to the site and the services offered. You can find everything from a room to spend a night, up to rent a house or if you are a practical person, you can find an area for camping that allow you to feel the sea breeze.

Usually visitors are in love with this area and they wish to expand their visit. Some come with hammocks and spend the day resting between the palm trees, to enjoy a quiet tropical vacation and watching the ocean and the natural beauty of the surroundings.
If you likes to swim, Zancudo is an ideal area for this, in front of Playa Zancudo the waves are not very big, great for practicing bodysurfing or boogie boarding, but you just need to walk about 10 minutes to see a large increase in the size of the waves that in some parts are perfect to practice surfing but if you do not have Surfboard, you can rent one at the close store, or rent a kayak and enjoy a quiet tour in the sea to know estuaries that can be found in the Coto river, where there is an abundance of plants, flowers and fauna, among which you can enjoy bird watching.

Or if you like walking in the vicinity you can visit the shops or the gardens of the hotels where you can see many kinds of plants, flowers and orchids. In the Tour in the Coto River (takes about 4 hours and is worth about $ 40 / p), a river that is quiet and comfortable, but rich in wildlife, you will see many kinds of wild animals like monkeys, birds, crocodiles and anteaters among others, as well as heliconias, large trees, orchids and many flowers.

The Wildlife Refuge Curú is located in the picturesque town of Nicoya, in the province of Guanacaste. Regardless of its small size, this reserve is home to a great diversity of life forms, both terrestrial and marine. There also an important population of birds in the zone. It has a total area of 84 hectares and is located 151 kilometers from San Jose, Costa Rica

The existing habitat includes dry forest, swamps and tropical jungle near the beach. Some of the most common trees include the Panama tree and ancient cedars. The mammals that are found in these lands include deer, pacas, monkeys, coyotes and coatis to name a few. You can also find various kinds of reptiles such as venomous snakes and boas. The birds also form an important part of the eco system and can be found species such as hawks and eagles commonly.

The aquatic life of the zone includes hermit crabs, which are very numerous, oysters, lobsters and other crustaceans.

Rincon de la Vieja National Park in Costa Rica (translated it means The old woman corner) is a volcano which is 1916 meters above sea level spread out over 400 square kilometers of land. This park has an area of 14,084 hectares and is located 264 kilometers from the capital San Jose and features a dry-tropical forest with its characteristic plants and animals. It is a very biodiverse area contrary to what many might think.

It was formed due to the simultaneous explosion of several volcanic cones that grew and came together in a single mountain. It has been identified nine independent sites of volcanic activity at the top of the mountain. One is active while others are slowly being eroded by the elements. Steam geysers and hot springs and are a common phenomenon in this area. In addition, there are lakes that contain sulfur dioxide, with layers of steam in constant boiling.

Rincon de la Vieja National Park in Costa Rica

The thermal activity at the park increases in the rainy season by the amount of water constantly heated and evaporated. Studies carried out in the park have documented 257 species of birds. There are also small populations of mammals such as deer, tapirs and pumas and sloths bears.

Rincon de la Vieja is located in the north-eastern region near Liberia, Guanacaste. This park can be accessed by taking a dirt road of 21 kilometers, why we recommend going in a car with double traction.

The Corcovado National Park is located on the west side of the Osa Peninsula in the southern region of Costa Rica. Corcovado was declared national park in 1975. It covers an area of about 55,000 km2. The variety of species in this park, populated mostly by rain forest, mangrove and premontane forests is very impressive and is rarely found in this intensity elsewhere in the world.

In the Corcovado National Park there are over 500 species of trees, 140 species of mammals and 370 species of birds, in addition to some 150 species of orchids, 120 species of reptiles and amphibians and more than 6,000 kinds of insects. In the walks of several days the tourist can see a wide variety of animals, including four species of monkeys of Costa Rica, a lot of barnacles or red macaws and diverses toucans, pizotes and tolomucos, peccaries and with a little luck tapirs and snakes . Wild cats are fairly abundant here, but it is very difficult to observe them because they are very timid.

As a starting point for hiking in the national park, is the town of Puerto Jimenez on whose center and surrounding area there are several pensions and hotels in various categories. The administration of the park is located there. A visit of several nights in one of the shelters ranger has to be planned carefully. It is also recommended to make reservations well in advance.
You can get to Puerto Jimenez through the local airline SANSA from San Jose. In the car, the journey takes approximately 11-12 hours from San Jose.
The most important ranger stations inside the park are Los Patos (northern Gulf), San Pedrillo in South Drake Bay, Sirena (the largest station, located at the South Pacific part) and La Leona located at the south park entrance.

The trail system within the Corcovado National Park is well developed. There are paths from Los Patos to Sirena (about 20 km, 6-7 hours.), from Sirena to La Leona (about 13 km in parts of the beach), and from Sirena to San Pedrillo (about 26 km, nearly all by the beach). In the area around the station Sirena there are several paths by which you can hike fairly quiet with very good opportunities to observe animals without the annoying baggage.
The accommodations are offered only in the stations La Sirena and La Leona (cabins and rooms with multiple beds).Is important to bring mosquito nets and sleeping bags not too hot. In every season there is the possibility of spending the night in tents (which has to bring you), there are bathrooms available. The food must be ordered in advance at all stations.

The remote and magnificent Barra del Colorado Refuge is another of the diverse and beautiful parks in Costa Rica. Formally known as National Wildlife Refuge Barra del Colorado, the wildlife nature reserve is located in the province of Limon along the northern border with Nicaragua. Near the Tortuguero National Park on the south side (the two places are ecologically similar). The Barra del Colorado refuge is bordered by the Rio San Juan on the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the east.

Located along the glorious Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, the Barra del Colorado Refuge has an area of 92,000 hectares of land and rainy rainforests that are the habitats of many indigenous flora and fauna of the country. Reaching this place is a bit complicated because it is located about 225 kilometers northeast of the capital city of San Jose. You can reach the place by renting a boat and go through the north canal of Limon, or you can take a domestic flight from the Juan Santamaria International Airport to a private landing zone near the village of Barra de Colorado who is inside the shelter along the mouth of the Colorado River. It is just a 30 minutes flight to arrive here from San Jose. Most people come here through water because is easy to see beautiful scenery and listening the sounds of the nature throughout the entire trip.

The best time to visit the Barra del Colorado Refuge is from February to April when the weather is dry and you can see alligators, monkeys, toads, crocodiles and a variety of other animals like birds and reptiles within the splendours trees that are found here. This shelter has many rivers, creeks and lagoons that make it a fantastic place to fish, for that reason this place is within the best destinations for recreational fishing in inland Costa Rica. The place is famous for sport fishing lovers for having different species as the Snook, the snapper, the mackerel and the tarpon. But in the waters of the Rio San Juan is common the Full shark that has migrated upstream from the Atlantic Ocean. You can rent a boat here, or do it through the many cabins that are in the place.

While the north side of the Rio San Juan near the border with Nicaragua is primarily a evergreen forest, the south side of the river has been heavily exploited becoming a marshy land, unfit for agriculture or livestock. The conservatives are very actively involved in protecting this refuge for future operations. Despite this Barra del Colorado Refuge is a great place for tourists.

Heredia is a very interesting province of Costa Rica. The province is located in north-central part of the country. To the north it borders the San Juan River (border with Nicaragua), at east with the province of Limon, at south with the province of San Jose and at west with the province of Alajuela.

Heredia is located a very short distance of the capital San Jose. The lush and glorious province of Heredia is one of the most beautiful provinces of Costa Rica and its known for its green hills full of coffee plantations and its volcanic national park. This mountainous region also has dense tropical forests, stunning waterfalls and impressive rivers, which make it an ideal destination for those who enjoy nature. If you are in the region, definitely worth visiting the province of Heredia as it offers a plethora of activities both natural and adventure.

The capital of the province shares the same name of the province itself and is located only 10 kilometers north of the capital San Jose. Heredia is one of the largest cities in Costa Rica, with a very elegant environment. It is proud for having all the attractions that Costa Rica has to offer and this area is a great place to camp when a tourist is visiting the country. That is because in Heredia you are out of the tumult and trafficking of the capital and close enough to being able to enjoy everything that San Jose offers. With a small town atmosphere, in Heredia is easy to find enough hotels and accommodations to fit all budgets. Visitors can accommodate from resorts in the mountains to modern hotels in the heart of Heredia.

Heredia has several tourist attractions but probably the most famous is the Volcano Barva within the Braulio Carrillo National Park that is one of the few volcanoes that tourists can climb all the years. At the base of Volcán Barva are some wonderful green pastures and a majestic cloud forest near its top, where you can stay in a cottage with fireplace and some quiet restaurants that serve food grilled over wood timber of coffee. It is an idyllic environment for those who wish to enjoy a holiday surrounded by nature.

Braulio Carrillo and Tapanti National Parks are located north of Heredia and are filled with a plethora of wildlife. They are really beautiful with a dense forest due to the constant rain and offer to the ornithologists a rare vision of the quetzal, one of the most culturally significant birds in Central America. Among the animals that one can find here there are the puma and the tapir that tend to live in more dense vegetation. Another attraction that exists in Heredia includes the Butterfly Farm, The World of Snakes and the Zoo Bird, which provide a less dangerous but equally fantastic view of the wildlife of Costa Rica. The province of Heredia is very picturesque, full of history and old traditions. It has beautiful wooded mountains, plains and valleys watered by rivers which occasionally have waterfalls, lagoons or transit navigable for small boats, it also have attractitions as the Bosquede la Hoja, Monte de la Cruz, San Jose de la Montaña, Braulio Carrillo National Park in the sector of the Barva Volcano, the waterfalls of La Paz and the Angel. The region of Sarapiqui has been characterized by an increasing amount of tourist attractions like the practice of canopy, water rafting and hiking in the mountains.

In the other hand in the region of Santo Domingo is located the INBioparque which seeks to promote the value of biodiversity and the importance of conservation through recreation and education of visitors. Within its facilities can be found flora and fauna typical of the area that is being studied by the scientists.