Activities in Costa Rica

A travel agent for more than 30 years, Amy Glass specializes in New York City, Costa Rica, and soft adventure travel (think biking, bird-watching and

Backroads Tours combine cultural encounters with high-intensity cycling. T+L Trip pick

Functional, beautiful objects made from rainforest woods are created on site at this small store and wood shop run by American craftsman Barry Biesanz

Coffee is king in Costa Rica—and of the nearly 150,000 large and small coffee fincas (plantations) that dot the Costa Rican landscape (most in the Cen

Philosophy: That you can get as much of an adrenaline rush from chatting with a shepherd on a remote hillside as from shooting Class Three rapids thro

Corcovado’s 127,000 acres of lush primary rainforest protect an extraordinary array of wildlife. Central America’s largest population of scarlet macaw

The oldest and most reputable adventure outfitter in the country (founder Michael Kaye left his native New York to open the biz in 1978), Costa Rica E

A 1.7-mile zipline network in the Monteverde Reserve operated by Costa Rica Sky Adventures gives airborne guests close-up glimpses of forest-dwelling

Gentle walks and a focus on interaction with locals (such as lessons with schoolchildren in India or lunch with villagers in Costa Rica). T+L Trip pic

The eco-minded outfitter organizes customized itineraries with volunteer activities—protecting green, hawksbill, and leatherback turtle nests with par

The reserve protects 815 acres of coastal rain forest. Look for capuchin monkeys, toucans, and three-toed sloths along the reserve's well-groomed trai

This long established agency can organize botany, birding, or photography tours, and more.

Years as agent: 14. Other specialties: Costa Rica, Guatemala. Consulting fee: Varies. katien@travelpoints.com

Offers private custom tours with in-country offices, guides, vehicles, and 24/7 emergency support. The tour company also arranges intimate access to t

A lively mix of locals and globals gather at this casual beach bar to lounge in leather rocking chairs on the open-air patio and sample from an exquis

Just south of Quepos on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica are a series of wide, white-sand beaches backed by dense, tropical forest, mangrove swamps, an

While this Pacific stretch’s notorious breaks are mainly for experts, novices can learn to hang ten along the calmer shores of Manuel Antonio Beach.

More than 20 years of experience have provided Mark Hoyer with the know-how to guide travelers through the most beautiful places in the world. His are

A buzzing hive of commercial activity, this covered market is as much of a full-immersion experience as a shopping destination. The front areas, packe

Nearly 5,000 feet above sea level—and reached via a four-hour, precipitous, unpaved drive from San José—this 25,700-acre, amazingly biodiverse preserv

Whether climbing mountains or rafting on white water, few outfitters can rival the adventure chops and experience of this 40-year-old firm.

The Bozeman, Montana-based company specializes in itineraries to destinations throughout North and South America (as well as New Zealand, where it off

An independent group of naturalists directed by biologist Mike Boston leads custom wilderness treks on the Osa Peninsula.

The left point break at Pavones is the country’s most legendary wave—and a pilgrimage site for top surfers from all over the world. Beginners who’d li

Many of the nearly 400 bird species at Rara Avis can be found nowhere else in the world. Costa Rica’s first reserve, this is the place that kicked off