Costa Rica has scores of tour operators offering a complete range of options. I recommend Costa Rica Expeditions (tel. 506/2257-0766), a pioneer in natural history and adventure travel in Costa Rica; it has a complete range of tour packages. Other recommended tour operators include Costa Rica Sun Tours (tel. 506/2296-7757), Ecole Travel (tel. 506/2234-1669), and Horizontes Nature Tours (tel. 506/2222-2022).
Cyclist in San Jose’s Parque la Sabana. Photo © Christopher P. Baker.
Costa Ricans are fond of cycling (both road racing and mountain biking), and bicycle racing is a major Costa Rican sport, culminating each November in the grueling La Ruta de los Conquistadores (tel. 506/2225-8295), which crosses the mountain chain from sea level to over 3,000 meters (9,800 feet) elevation.
Airlines generally allow bicycles to be checked free if they’re properly packaged.
The following Costa Rican Tour companies are recommended: Bike Arenal (tel. 506/2479-9020) and Coast to Coast Adventures (tel. 506/2280-8054). In the United States, Backroads (U.S. tel. 510-527-1555 or 800-462-2848) also has guided tours.
Few places in the world can boast so many different bird species in such a small area. However, bird-watching requires some knowledge of where you are going, what you’re looking for, and the best season. No self-respecting ornithologist would be caught without his copy of A Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica by F. Gary Stiles and Alexander Skutch; Birds of the Rainforest: Costa Rica by Carmen Hidalgo; or A Travel and Site Guide to Birds of Costa Rica by Aaron Sekerak. Even with these in hand, your best bet is to hire a qualified guide or to join a bird-watching tour. I recommend Karla Taylor (tel. 506/8915-2386). Another standout is eagle-eyed Pietra Westra (tel. 506/2574-2319). He leads bird-watching tours in fluent English, Dutch, or Spanish; his website provides an excellent primer on birds.
Dozens of companies offer bird-watching tours, including Costa Rica Expeditions (tel. 506/2257-0766) and Horizontes (tel. 506/2222-2022). In the United States, Cheeseman’s Ecology Safaris (U.S. tel. 408-741-5330 or 800-527-5330), Field Guides (U.S. tel. 512-263-7295 or 800-728-4953), and Holbrook Travel (U.S. tel. 800-451-7111) offer bird-watching tours to Costa Rica. In Europe, Journey Latin America (UK tel. 44/20-3432-9175) offers a 16-day bird-watching tour.
Natural-history cruise touring is a splendid way to explore Costa Rica’s more remote wilderness sites. Normally you’ll cruise at night so that each morning when you wake, you’re already anchored in a new location. You spend a large part of each day ashore on guided natural-history hikes or recreational-cultural excursions. Most vessels cruise the Pacific coast. Lindblad Expeditions (U.S. tel. 212-765-7740 or 800-397-3348) and National Geographic Expeditions (U.S. tel. 888-966-8687) offer weeklong itineraries combining Costa Rica and Panamá aboard the 64-passenger National Geographic Sea Lion. I escort two trips each winter; learn how to join me at www.christopherbaker.com. Windstar Cruises (U.S. tel. 877-827-7245) uses its luxurious 148-passenger Wind Song for nine-day itineraries December to March down the Pacific Coast and combining Panamá and Costa Rica.
Hiking tours with a professional guide can be arranged through nature lodges or local tour operators. The hardy and adventurous might try a strenuous hike to the peak of Cerro Chirripó, Costa Rica’s tallest mountain. Hiking in the more remote parks may require a high degree of self-sufficiency. If you plan on hiking in the Talamancas or other high mountain areas, you’re advised to at least obtain topographical maps from the Instituto Geográfico Nacional (National Geographic Institute, Ave. 20, Calles 9/11, tel. 506/2523-2000 or 506/2523-2619, 7am-noon and 12:45pm-3:30pm Mon.-Fri.), but I strongly recommend hiring a guide. Rain gear and a warm sweater or jacket are essential for hiking at higher elevations.
Hiking to San Pedrillo waterfall, Corcovado National Park. Photo © Christopher P. Baker.
Coast to Coast Adventures (tel. 506/2280-8054) specializes in hiking trips. In the United States, Mountain Travel-Sobek (U.S. tel. 510-594-6000 or 888-831-7526), and Wildland Adventures (U.S. tel. 206-365-0686 or 800-345-4453) all offer hiking programs in Costa Rica.
Horseback riding is very popular in Costa Rica, where the campesino culture depends on the horse for mobility. Wherever you are, horses are sure to be available for rent.
In Santa Ana, about nine kilometers (5.5 miles) west of San José, Club Hípico la Caraña (tel. 506/2282-6106) provides riding instruction. Scores of ranches nationwide offer trail rides, notably in Guanacaste, where city slickers longing to be the Marlboro Man can pay perfectly good money to get coated with dust and manure alongside workaday cowboys. Equitour (U.S. tel. 307-455-3363 or 800-545-0019) has 8- to 11-day riding adventures in Costa Rica.
Sea kayaking is quickly catching on in Costa Rica, and no wonder. The sea kayak’s ability to move silently means you can travel unobtrusively, sneaking up close to wild animals without freaking them out. The one- and two-person craft are remarkably stable and ideally suited for investigating narrow coastal inlets and flat-water rivers larger vessels cannot reach.
In San José, you can rent kayaks, canoes, and camping equipment from Mundo Aventura (tel. 506/2221-6934). Ríos Tropicales (tel. 506/2233-6455, U.S. tel. 866-722-8273) and Kayak Jacó (tel. 506/2643-1233) offer kayaking trips. In the United States, BattenKill Canoe (U.S. tel. 802-362-2800 or 800-421-5268) offers canoeing trips to Costa Rica, as do Canoe Costa Rica (tel. 506/2282-3579, U.S. tel. 732-736-6586) and in Canada, try Galaiano Kayaks (Canada tel./fax 250-539-2442).
Excerpted from the Tenth Edition of Moon Costa Rica.
