Living the dream at Witches Rock.
It's no secret that Costa Rica has some of the best Adventure tours on the planet. From the Pacific to the Caribbean coasts, thrill seekers can choose from an incredible variety of different daily pursuits, from white water rafting to hiking active volcanoes, waterfall rappelling, visiting colonies of howler monkeys in their native habitat, dipping into hot springs, crossing over hanging bridges, speeding down zip lines ... the Adventure activity list goes on and on.
Of course, there's also world class surfing, and here at Adventure IO, that's usually where we start when figuring out a Costa Rican Adventure itinerary. Over the past couple years, we've been lucky enough to share a couple of the best Adventures in Costa Rica with one of our premiere guides, Clay McCutcheon. Clay is a professional Adventurist, guide, surfer, photographer and all around guru of all things Pura Vida.
Our trips to Costa have given us a pretty good idea of how to do Costa Rica right - here are some of Clay's recommendations, but be sure to message him directly through the Adventure IO app if you're thinking about a getaway in paradise ...
What to do in Costa Rica
It's a short commute from the boat to the peak.
Surf Trip to Witches Rock & Ollie's Point by Boat from Tamarindo: In our opinion, this is the best Costa Rican Adventure. From the moment you land at the airport, your guides can arrange for everything - cars, rides, surf spots, food, the works. On this particular Adventure, you'll go to a few of the best surf spots in the country with a professional surf guide. If you didn’t know, the famous waves of Witches Rock and Ollie’s point are inside the boundaries of Santa Rose National Park. We are so blessed to have these waves and landscapes protected by the park. Even if you’re not a surfer, it’s still an incredible experience.
Lola's on the beach.
Lola's Family Beach & Surf Experience: Escape the crowded beaches of Tamarindo, and spend the day at one of our favorite local beaches - Playa Avellana. Located just south of town, in Hacienda Pinilla, Playa Avellana is a beautiful stretch of white sand beach with great waves for all skill levels, and is home to one of our favorite beachfront restaurants, Lola's. We will have a table with an ocean view and umbrellas reserved for the day for your group. A surf guide will be provided along with boards if there is interest in surfing. There will also be the opportunity to get a stretch in on the beach with a local yogi. Whenever your group is ready you can enjoy a fresh and organic lunch from Lola's, made with local Costa Rican ingredients.
Costa Rica is among the world's best spots for sailfishing.
Tournament Sportfishing for Sailfish and Marlin: Hands down, the best offshore tournament style fishing for marlin and sailfish in the Guanacaste region of Costa Rica. Join an experienced captain and crew who regularly fish major bill fish tournaments up and down the coast of Costa Rica and experience the exhilaration of landing a 100” + sailfish or marlin! This adventure is equally as fun for adults as it is for kids. The crew is well trained and fabulous at helping young kids land their first bill fish. If you're lucky you may even land multiple fish at the same time which makes for an incredible photo and video opportunity! While you're out on the water you will likely see large pods of dolphins while you enjoy appetizers, fruit, and cold drinks inside the air condition salon. And there is always plenty of beer and kids drinks for everyone onboard.
Family Beach Horseback Riding and Photography: Enjoy a beautiful coastal horseback ride along the beaches of Avellanas, Playa Negra and more with a local legend Adrey Guiti and his family. Meeting you halfway through your ride will be your guide/photographer with a beautiful arrangement of light snacks, fruit and cold refreshments overlooking the ocean. Clay will document the experience with photos and video and share them with you after your ride. This is a wonderful way to get fun and natural family photos taken by a professional photographer.
Other Adventure Options:
Additional Details
Hotel Punta Islita is calling you.
Places to stay: Clay arranged our stays in a beautiful home in the Hacienda Pinilla suburb, just outside of Tamarindo. Luxury amenities, pool, golf course in the backyard and all the comforts of home. The Hotel Punta Islita offers the perfect blend of eco living and luxury, while the Four Seasons Papagayo is certainly no slouch either.
Best time to visit: Fall to Spring offers the most consistent swell and wind conditions for surfing. Morning sun and afternoon showers can be expected during the "green season" from May - November, while "dry season" is more suitable for all day adventures from Mid December - April.
Before you go: Make sure to check the latest Ministry of Health updates for any COVID restrictions/requirements here.
Video: In late Fall of 2019 the Adventure IO staff had the pleasure of visiting the Guanacaste region with AIO guide Clay McCutcheon for 5 days of Adventure "testing". We were blown away by the value of the trip, quality of surf, and attention to detail that went into the planning and execution of our multi-day Adventure. If you want to truly experience the Pura Vida lifestyle, we recommend letting Clay take the wheel ... #GOWITHTHEPROS
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