Wonderful - Ease of Travel
Costa Rica
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Feb 13 - Feb 21, 2023
We used KimKim to book our transport and tours - we took care of the lodging on our own. Brittany and Jessica were both wonderful - and their care really took the concern out the logistics - everything went smoothly and according to plan. Thanks ladies!
Fortuna/Arenal Area
Volcano Hike & The Springs Hot Springs & Meal
Jacamar Naturalist Tours
Giavone Villalobos was our guide for the volcano hike - it was just a low key walk but very, very informative - it wasn't only about the volcano but it was a holistic talk giving the background of how Costa Rica came to be, the social/economic/cultural influences - why the volcano eruption was so important to really kicking of the development of the country as a whole, beautiful hike and great informative background - great way to set the ground work for a trip around the country.
The Springs were nice - but we had to set our own pickup time after being dropped off by Jacamar - we didn't really know, we were picked up at 9:30pm - after arriving around 5pm. If I had a recommendation - it would be to start the hike earlier in the day, spend a couple of more hours at the Springs. Husband and daughter enjoyed the water slide a whole lot - I enjoyed just soaking in the water. But felt rushed to soak, have dinner (dining closes at 9pm) and get picked up. We were unsure how long we could have stayed - still not sure what time the pools close or if we could have stayed until midnight.
Private: Canyoning in the Lost Canyon
Desafio Adventure Company
Rafi and Josea were our guides - it was just the 3 of us plus the 2 guides , and it was wonderful. This was such a fun tour, rappelling down the waterfalls, hiking down the absolutely beautiful creek bed, jumping in the deep pools, Costa Rican tsunami (you have experience it to know what it is) - our 15 yr old daughter said that was a great way to start the trip and she didn't know how anything can beat that tour. There was a large group that went down before us - I cant imagine this would be fun with a large group, private was the way to go. You will be hiking down the Lost Canyon, and you will also have to hike back up - we are a very active family so it was no big deal, but note it is a steep climb out, but its not very long.
Nocturnal Frog Excursion & Traditional Costa Rican Dinner
EcoTerra Costa Rica
This was great, we saw a sloth and her baby, lots of different frogs and birds, and some crazy bullet ants. Our guide - I forgot to write his name - was very, very educated and he told us so much about each species and just the ecology in general, his is working on his thesis with amphibians and fish farming techniques to clean the water. It was a fascinating tour - and the family home the tour is held at is just beautiful and the homemade meal was wonderful. The family also has a gift shop on site with things they make/grow right there. I purchased some peppercorns that we also sampled touring thru the gardens.
Venado Cave Spelunking & Exploring
Desafio Adventure Company
We weren't sure what to expect on this one - but it was so FUN!!! Upon entering the cavern, you are on your hand and knees crawling thru the underground creek and cracks and crevices, climbing thru shafts and under waterfalls. There are some cool spiders (they are BIG) in the cave and lots of little bat families. We climbed thru a shoot, up a rock wall, and down the other side in the cave. We were soaked by the end of the tour - and it was worth it. I love geology - so it was fascinating to me to see the large fossil beds and all of the different calcium carbonate formations and deposits. It was warm in the cave - and they gave us rubber boots and headlamps to wear in the cave.
Monteverde Area
100% Aventura Zip Line
100% Aventura
Its ziplining - what can I say? It was fun - and the 2 really long runs across the canyon are great because you are going thru the mist and the rainbows - but if I had limited time - I would bypass this activity. It was a huge group - and it felt rushed and since you are zipping thru so fast you cant really appreciate much of the amazing scenery - that's just our opinion. If you have never been zipling before - this is worth it.
Self-Guided Hike - Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve
Took a taxi from town to reserve, maybe 10 minute drive $13
We loved this, we didn't know what time we would get back to down after the ziplining - but we were able to catch a cab from Santa Elena - we missed the shuttle that runs regularly. It was sooooo beautiful - we hiked out to the far point, back tracked across the hanging bridge, and then out to the waterfall before returning. We had limited time because of the ziplining - but we could have spent all day here. We also found out they do guided night hikes in the reserve - next time for sure we will do this. Like this reserve because its run by the vo-tech and community - next time we would take a guided walk thru the reserve both night and day - but the reserve closes at 4pm so didnt get to stay as long as we would have liked.
Kinkajou Night Walk Tour - we booked this after getting back to town because it was recommended, we did this outside of KimKim - but I would NOT RECOMMEND. This tour was way too many people, and the guide leading the hike was just pointing to things that they probably spotted before the sunset. I found more critters with my flashlight than the guide - because he was just going from point-to-point (seemed predetermined) instead of shining his light up into the trees or along the bottom of the leaves, especially when we were walking along the creeks. And then - when I would point stuff out, he would call on the walkie talkie to tell the other guides and then big crowds of people would come stomping thru. If there were any creatures there - the volume of people would have scared them away. Then he mis-identified a tree frog species - and jumbled all of his facts up contradicting himself. It was so disappointing - go the Santa Elena reserve and get a night tour there!
Sky Adventures Hanging Bridges
Sky Adventures
We were again, a little skeptical of this because of our ziplining experience and the Kinkajou night walk- nearly cancelled this, but so glad we didn't! Our guide was Elvis, again, he was so educated and we learned so much from him. We happened to go before the clouds blew in for the day, so we got to see the top of the canopy and walk across the hanging bridges and even see the Pacific Ocean from one of the bridges. Elvis was amazing - definitely background in ecology, he was been working here for 6 years and he was able to answer any and all questions - we all said we should have hired Elvis to do a night hike for us!
Manuel Antonio Area
Ocean Kayaking & Snorkeling
Tucanes Tours
This was fun, its an easy kayak trip across the bay - there was no wind or waves. Our guide was fun, and hilarious, the snorkeling was fun, it was a fun way to spend the AM. BUT - if you are looking for impressive snorkeling - this is not it. After snorkeling the reefs in Belize - where you have lots of plants and a large variety of fish species - this was a disappointment. But it was a beautiful day - and the lunch included was very good.
Visit the Indigenous Boruca Tribe
Tucanes Tours
We debated canceling this tour because of the long day of travel the next day, but let me just say - THIS WAS AMAZING - I wish more people would do this tour. Jesus and Douglas were our guide and driver - they were wonderful. It is an all day event - but the drive is beautiful - and you get to see some amazing scenery. If you have flexibility in your schedule, it is well worth it to spend a day learning about these wonderful people. You see the Boruca masks sold around Costa Rica - but going to up to the tribal village where they grow and harvest and hand carve each piece was great. When we arrived, and took a hike with a tribe member down to their sacred water falls, learned their legend of how they came to be, learned about their relationship with nature, their industry, medicinal herbs, how the Boruca masks came to be popular and a way to help sustain their way of life - including a demonstration of the carving and painting process - and then they let us paint masks too - it was fun. We then had a wonderful traditional lunch prepared for us, smoked in the palm leaves - with fresh salads - it was delicious. We then had a demonstration of the plants the tribe uses to die their textiles and weaving into different items. We then got a tour of the museum, set up by they matriarchs of the community and learned some of their legends. Its fun just to learn about and observe the way of life of this indigenous tribe - they were so kind and so welcoming and we learned so much. Bring some cash with you - we purchased the most beautiful mask directly from the craftsman who made it - far superior to the masks they sell across the country. They also have hand woven textiles - unique crafts made by the people and the funds go to them instead of the tourist trap gift shops - something unique and the funds benefit the tribe. We weren't sure our 15 yo daughter would enjoy it - but she said on the way back that it was a great way to end the trip. Plus we still got back with enough time to spend a couple of hours at the beach.
Activity Reviews
