Costa Rica is one of the most stimulating places you can visit in the world.
The kind of travel experiences this Central American nation can provide is quite surreal.
It does not matter if you are an adrenaline junkie or peaceful nature lover. Costa Rica is perfect for all types of travellers.
Now, even with a standard tourist itinerary, you are sure to have the time of your life.
Costa Rica is fun, adventurous and a nature-lover’s paradise.
However, there are certain unique experiences you can find in Costa Rica that is simply next level.
These experiences are all once-in-a-lifetime kind of thing. They will leave you mesmerized and awe-struck. Each of these experiences must be in your travel bucket list.
As an example, just imagine you are kayaking in the ocean during sunset. Just as the sun goes down, the entire ocean beneath you starts glowing in a neon blue light.
At that time, it is just you in the dark with the bioluminescence under you. The ocean shimmering, twinkling and glistening underneath you, in an avatar you have never seen before.
Or imagine exploring Costa Rica’s extraordinary rainforests in the night. The emotions and feelings you will experience.
More on these experiences down below. However, I hope it has wet your appetite for what you can do in Costa Rica.
A nation that contains more than 5% of the entire world’s biodiversity, Costa Rica is sure to leave you spellbound.
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Page Contents
- The Best 10 Unique Experiences in Costa Rica that will Blow Your Mind
- 1) Bioluminescence Kayaking or Snorkeling After Sunset
- 2) Jungle Night Tour at Manuel Antonio Nature Reserve
- 3) Canyoning in the Lost Canyon
- 4) Ecogarden Arenal Night Walk
- 5) Night walk and dinner inside a Rainforest
- 6) ATV Adventure through lush forest and waterfalls
- 7) Day Trip to Wildlife Rescue Center
- 8) Rainforest River Safari on a Float
- 9) Paragliding over the Rainforest
- 10) Indulge in a Costa Rican Chocolate Tour
- Important Tips on Booking Unique Experiences in Costa Rica
- Final thoughts
The Best 10 Unique Experiences in Costa Rica that will Blow Your Mind
When I say these unique experiences will blow your mind, I really do mean it.
Please do try all of them if you can during your stay in Costa Rica.
All of these experiences are perfect for people of all ages and preferences.
Simply pick the ones that appeal to you the most and book them right away.
1) Bioluminescence Kayaking or Snorkeling After Sunset
I have already written about this experience briefly in my introduction above.
Bioluminescence Kayaking After Sunset has got to be one of my favorite unique experiences in Costa Rica.
This activity takes place at Puerto Jiménez. There are only a handful of places in the world where you can experience ocean bioluminescence.
For the uninitiated, bioluminescence is a phenomenon where light is emitted by microorganisms.
These microorganisms such as algae or bacteria produce a delicate blueish light that glows from within the ocean.
It creates a surreal effect that you cannot describe in words. You need to experience it for yourself.
Coming back to the activity, here you will first go kayaking in calm ocean waters during sunset.
This in itself is a wonderful experience. However, as the sun goes down and it gets dark, you will suddenly notice the water glowing.
This glow is prominent as you paddle creating ripples in the water. If you are lucky, the ocean underneath will start to glow all around you.
In the complete darkness, this blue light emitted from within the ocean waters is an out-of-this-world experience.
If you are adventurous enough, you can even go snorkeling after dark. This gives you another perspective of the glowing microorganisms from inside the water.
Both kayaking and snorkeling is included by the local tour operators who manage this activity.
Kayaking especially is a safe and must-do activity for the entire family. Once you experience the bioluminescence, you will never see the ocean the same way again.
2) Jungle Night Tour at Manuel Antonio Nature Reserve
Manuel Antonio is probably the most famous place in Costa Rica for beach lovers.
Its beaches are some of the most beautiful in the world.
However, its forests are equally enthralling that you must experience.
What is even better, is if you can experience these forests or nature reserves in the night.
In this activity, you will be taken to one of Manuel Antonio’s dense forests which is also a nature reserve.
Here, you will walk with a certified naturalist who will guide you and show you breathtaking nocturnal creatures.
You will be provided with boots and a flashlight. The walking tour inside the forest at night is a crazy experience.
The sights and sounds are just so different from the morning or when you are in a vehicle.
3) Canyoning in the Lost Canyon
The Lost Canyon is near La Fortuna and Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica.
The canyon, river, waterfalls and thick forests all around make for an awe-inspiring environment.
Canyoning or rappelling down the cliff, through the waterfall, into a clear pool of water is a sublime experience.
In this activity, you are first picked up from your hotel near La Fortuna or Arenal Volcano.
After that, you will go trekking through the rainforest till you reach the cliffs for rappelling.
The hike through the rainforest is absolutely wonderful.
Once at the rappelling point, beginners are first tested on a 10-foot cliff. If you are comfortable and good to go, you are then taken to the main rappelling point.
This is a 150-foot plus cliff with waterfalls and gorgeous pool of water down below.
As per your comfort level, you can set your pace and go down rappelling enjoying the adrenaline rush.
Once you are at the bottom, the trek and the rappelling are just so worth it.
Do note that this activity needs a certain level of fitness and may not be suitable for all.
This is for all you adventure junkies out there.
4) Ecogarden Arenal Night Walk
The Arenal Volcano last erupted in 1968 and is considered as the most active volcano in the world.
The entire area around the volcano is extremely rich in biodiversity. It is one of the most nature-rich parts of the world.
Not too far from the volcano, is the Ecogarden Arenal, an ecological park.
Situated inside Costa Rica’s incredible rainforests, The Ecogarden Arenal is famous for its exotic wildlife.
Exploring this ecological park is a popular tourist activity.
However, what is truly exhilarating is to explore the Ecogarden Arenal at night.
Once darkness sets in the park, it brings out a completely different aspect to the wildlife.
The thrill of walking around a rainforest, finding reptiles, sloths, exotic birds, frogs, various mammals and other wildlife is surreal.
The nearly two hours walk on a predetermined trail is super exciting.
As with any of the forest night walks in Costa Rica, you get a completely new perspective of the jungle.
The trees, plants, bushes to the animals, birds and insects, it feels like seeing them for the first time.
I highly recommend doing at least one night walk of any of the rainforests or nature reserves in Costa Rica.
It is one of the most unique experiences anywhere in the world.
5) Night walk and dinner inside a Rainforest
I have already spoken about rainforest night walks or night tours above.
However, this experience takes things a notch higher.
In night walk and dinner inside a Rainforest, you do exactly that. First, explore the rainforest at night after dark.
Then, sit down for a delicious Costa Rican dinner while still inside the nature reserve.
I love this particular activity a lot. You not only get to experience the rainforest at night, you taste scrumptious local cuisine as well.
After the excitement of exploring and discovering incredible wildlife at night, you work up a good appetite.
What’s better than to have an authentic Costa Rican meal cooked on wood burning stoves in the forest itself.
This activity in La Fortuna includes night walk through the rainforest, dinner, breathtaking valley views and a frog sanctuary.
It is definitely worth opting for this unique experience for an evening of a lifetime.
6) ATV Adventure through lush forest and waterfalls
Riding an ATV through the lush rainforests of Costa Rica, exploring mountains and waterfalls is a fantastic adventure.
This unique experience takes place near Jaco Beach in Puntarenas Province.
As the name suggests, you start by riding an ATV along with experienced guides through the forest.
As you climb along the mountainous roads, you will go through incredible greenery.
Along the way, you stop at breathtaking waterfalls while trying to reach the summit.
Once you reach the Pura Vida waterfall, you can even take a 15-foot plunge into the natural pool below.
The looping road goes all the way to the Carara National Park before you make your way back.
I feel riding an ATV through the rainforest, rivers, waterfalls and mountains is a thrilling way to explore Costa Rica.
The ride is quite safe and people of all ages can participate.
The natural beauty all around is simply mesmerizing and words do not do justice. Not to mention the birds and wildlife you get to encounter.
It is pure three hours of exhilaration that you can experience only in the hilly rainforests of Costa Rica.
7) Day Trip to Wildlife Rescue Center
In general, you will see incredible wildlife in Costa Rica.
However, this half day trip from San Jose to the Toucan Rescue Ranch is a unique experience.
As the name of the tour suggests, Toucan Rescue Ranch is for rescued wildlife and forest conservation.
You will get up close and personal with the best of rescued Costa Rican wildlife.
This includes animals such as sloths and monkeys as well as exotic birds such as owls and parrots.
It is a fun as well as educational day trip considering the number of things you get to learn here.
You will find a new appreciation for Costa Rica’s incredible biodiversity. You will understand conservation efforts and importance of caring for the rescued wildlife.
Day trip to the wildlife rescue center is not just for avid animal lovers. It is for everyone who wants a unique experience while learning about Costa Rica’s outstanding biodiversity.
As an added bonus, you will know your trip also contributed to wildlife rescue and conservation efforts in Costa Rica.
8) Rainforest River Safari on a Float
This experience takes place at the Peñas Blancas river in La Fortuna.
You get a different perspective of Costa Rica’s rainforest while gently floating along the winding river in between.
It gives you a feeling as if you are in a National Geographic documentary or an adventure movie.
As you float along the river, you will see incredible wildlife.
There are colorful exotic birds, an array of animals like sloths and monkeys as well as reptiles such as crocodiles.
Of course, there is the natural greenery, trees and everything else that the rainforests are known for.
Rainforest safari on a float is a wonderful way to experience the dense forests and gorgeous rivers of the region.
Also, just in case you are wondering, the float that I am talking about is like a small inflatable raft.
It can hold a few people comfortably and is perfect for gently floating along the river.
9) Paragliding over the Rainforest
When in Costa Rica, you will have the opportunity to experience the rainforests with varied perspectives.
You can do a night tour, ride an ATV, float along a forest river plus more.
However, one of the most thrilling perspectives is to go paragliding over the rainforest.
To have a bird’s eye view of the majestic rainforest and all the greenery below you is a fantastic experience.
Rainforest paragliding activities take place near Jacó Beach and goes over the nearby forests.
This activity is a tandem flight with an experienced pilot, who also acts as your guide.
Therefore, it is extremely safe even for complete beginners. You can simply focus on the panoramic scenery below and enjoy your time.
A quick briefing and explanation about the local biodiversity is also provided making it quite informative.
10) Indulge in a Costa Rican Chocolate Tour
The last but not the least unique experience in my list today is going on a Costa Rican chocolate tour.
This is probably my favorite activity.
Costa Rica is actually one of the best destinations in the world for growing the cacao bean.
Its natural conditions are ideal for growing cacao and converting them into an indulgent chocolate.
During a chocolate tour, you are taken to an organic cacao farm. Here you will learn everything there is to growing, fermenting, sun-drying and roasting cacao.
You will learn the entire process of making chocolate – from bean to bark or bar.
Of course, there is the best part – actually tasting the chocolates.
The tour takes you around the cacao plantation, shows you the process of making chocolate and actually create some yourself.
It is a wonderfully indulgent activity and a unique experience not to be missed when in Costa Rica.
Important Tips on Booking Unique Experiences in Costa Rica
The unique experiences mentioned above will ensure you have the best time in Costa Rica.
However, to avoid potential disappointments, do keep the following tips in mind.
1) Book in advance
Most of the unique experiences in Costa Rica take place at remote locations.
This includes within rainforests, mountains, beaches etc.
If you book at the last moment, the activity operator may not receive your booking on time.
This is often due to poor network or internet connectivity.
Therefore, please book as much as in advance as possible. Do not wait and book just one day prior.
If you book in advance, then you are ensured of good service.
2) Weather dependant
Most activities or experiences are weather dependant.
This means that if you experience poor weather or heavy rain, the activity will be cancelled.
Always check with the place of booking about the weather-related cancellation policy.
3) Place of booking
From where you book your experiences matter a lot.
I suggest booking through Viator, A TripAdvisor Company for complete peace of mind.
Here you can book well in advance and cancel up to 24 hours prior for a full refund. They even offer a book and pay later facility.
Plus, you can provide a rating for the activity making sure you are given good service.
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Final thoughts
Costa Rica is one of the most brilliant places you will ever visit.
Its biodiversity and natural landscape are truly mesmerizing.
Please do try as many unique experiences as possible while in Costa Rica.
It will ensure you have the trip of a lifetime.
