Costa Rica is the ultimate destination for adventure seekers. Whether you enjoy rappelling down a waterfall or zip-lining through the cloud forest, this incredible Central American country has something different in store for you.
I spent 11 days exploring Costa Rica on a new small-group trip called Epic Costa Rica: Craters, Rainforests and Hanging Ten , which is part of the new travel style called ‘Roamies’ - a collaboration between G Adventures and Hostelworld. ‘Roamies’ trips are small group adventures for 18-35 year olds who are looking to explore different destinations around the world while sticking to a budget.
This particular trip started in the Costa Rican capital of San Jose and included adventures in the towns of La Fortuna, Monteverde, Nosara and Tamarindo. Here are some of the highlights:
Visit the Mi Cafecito coffee farm in the Alajuela province
Mi Cafecito is a coffee farm found at the foot of the Poás Volcano in the Alajuela province of Costa Rica.
The Mi Cafecito Coffee Tour was originally created by a local co-operative to help find ways for the coffee producers in the region in 2009. Unfortunately, they did not receive enough visitors to sustain the business, and were at the point of shutting down when G Adventures’ non-profit partner, Planeterra, began working with them to develop a sustainable enterprise.
Now, Mi Cafecito is able to continue its support of over 200 small farmers that produce organic coffee from the four regions of San Carlos, Sarapiqui, Heredia and Alajuela.
During our tour of Mi Cafecito we enjoyed a typical Costa Rican lunch of locally caught Tilapia fish, followed by a tour of the grounds and a great cup of coffee.
Stay at the Arenal Poshpacker hostel in La Fortuna
La Fortuna is a town in the Costa Rican northern highlands and offers the jaw-dropping Arenal volcano as its scenic backdrop. There is something particularly special about the moment you see the Arenal volcano rise up on the horizon as it looks as though it was painted there.
My ‘Roamies’ group had a two-night stay at the Arenal Poshpacker hostel. The hostel has lovely staff and a welcoming vibe, with a swimming pool complete with swim-up bar. It’s also a great location to check out the nearby waterfalls, hikes and hot springs.
It’s worth spending a few days in La Fortuna to get in as many activities as possible, such as aa safari rafting tour or heading torappel down waterfalls
Take a dip in Poza los Coyotes
About two hours from La Fortuna is a great local swimming spot called Poza los Coyotes which is known for its clean, aquamarine blue water.
There are a number of points you can swim at and plenty of spots to use a rope swing or just jump in. It only costs around 1,000 colones or €2 to enter.
Our group spent a great morning here enjoying the water and listening to the wildlife in the rainforest. As it’s not hugely popular with tourists, we practically had the area to ourselves!
Zip-line through the cloud forest in Monteverde
Monteverde is a town nestled in the Cordillera de Tilarán mountain range in the Puntaneres region of Costa Rica. A trip to this evergreen area is not complete without zip-lining through the cloud forest.
The Aventura 100% Adventure Park has a total of 10 zip lines including the longest zipline in Costa Rica (5220ft), a hammock bridge, one rappel, and a mega Tarzan swing. On two of the ziplines you can get hitched up ‘Superman’ style to give you the sensation you’re flying through the cloud forest.
There’s also an option to do the Tarzan swing at the end. You may want to back out of it because it seems terrifying but it's one of the most exhilarating experiences. While rigged up, you need to bravely step off a 45 foot drop and free fall before being jolted back into the air. A great way to get over a fear of heights, trust me!
Try traditional Costa Rican Cosada in Rosie’s in Nosara
Nosara is a laid back, beach town on Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula. The beach here, Playa Guiones, is ideal for surfing and it’s also known as a yoga hub with plenty of places to take a class in the village.
There’s a wide variety of restaurants, bars and cafes in Nosara too, but Rosie’s Soda Tica is a great place to grab some traditional Cosada - a dish consisting of rice with black beans, a small salad and a piece of fish, chicken, or beef. Rosie’s has the best Cosada I tried while on the trip and it only costs 3,500 colones or just over €5.50.
Surf the waves in Tamarindo
If you would like to try your hand at surfing, the beach town of Tamarindo on the Nicoya Peninsula in northwestern Costa Rica, is a great place to start out. It’s actually ranked as one of the top 10 beaches in the world for learner surfers.
Our last day as a group was spent surfing together at the Iguana surf shop, Tamarindo’s original surf shop operating since 1989.
A group surf lesson starts at €45 per person with a dedicated instructor, for two hours spent in the water.
Stay in the Selina hostel in Tamarindo
Selina hostels are found across South and Central America and this one on the Tamarindo beachfront had so much to offer. With Selina hostels, you’re guaranteed clean bunks in the dorm rooms with plenty of plug sockets for chargers, great wi-fi and an on-site tour operator to book day trips and activities.
However, this Selina was one of the best I’ve stayed in. The staff were particularly friendly and the activities on offer were very different from what you can usually expect. This one definitely takes a more holistic approach, with morning yoga classes and sunset walks on the beach.
Our last night as a ‘Roamies’ group started with the Selina cacao ceremony, where cacao is used in a ritualistic way, allowing you to connect with yourself. After the ceremony, we sat down to a three-course vegetarian meal by a campfire with Selina brewed beers accompanying each course. This was probably one of the most unique hostel experiences I’ve had to-date.
For more information on the Epic Costa Rica trip and other Roamies trips, visit the G Adventures website .
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