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Costa Rica is a beautiful country with so much to do. There are adventures for the thrill-seekers and beautiful beaches for the loungers. There are quiet cities for relaxation and big cities for those looking for the hustling and bustling of a big city. The ecosystem of the country ranges from rainforest to beach to city. There is something for everyone. Costa Rica is the perfect destination for anyone.

Here are 10 things to do in Costa Rica!

Visit Manuel Antonio National Park

Imagine a beautiful secluded beach with white sand, turquoise water, and a warm sun beating down on you. A place full of wildlife.. Monkeys, parrots, iguanas, and raccoons? These are just a few of the animals we got to see when visiting Manuel Antonio National Park. Although the monkeys and raccoons were cute, they were quite mischievous. The second one would turn their backs, the monkeys and raccoons would be in your backpack stealing your food. The day spent at this beach was a day well spent. Because who doesn’t love a good beach day?

Go Horseback Riding in Monteverde

Riding horseback through Monteverde was one of my favorite things that I did in Costa Rica. It was my second time ever riding a horse and I was so excited. It was a two hour horseback riding experience through the rolling green hills of Monteverde. A picture-perfect view. And my favorite part… In the last half hour of riding, we got to witness one of the best sunsets over the hills, with the Pacific Ocean in view. Horseback riding in Monteverde is a must-do when visiting Costa Rica!

Spend an Afternoon Kayaking Lake Arenal

Being able to get a workout in while exploring a new place? Yes please! Rent a kayak and kayak across part of Lake Arenal, with views of the Arenal Volcano in the background. I say part of the lake, as Lake Arenal covers over 33 miles, which might be difficult to complete in one afternoon. The views are incredible, so why not get outside and enjoy it with a kayak ride!

Sit on the Edge of Costa Rica’s Most Active Volcano

I had never seen a volcano until my visit to Costa Rica, but I expected to see a mountain with lava running down the sides. That’s what we see in movies, right? Wrong, but the volcano that I saw was just as cool. We got to sit on the rim of the volcano, looking down into the pit of a green-blue sulfuric lake. What made it even more special was that it was forecasted as a cloudy day, meaning we probably wouldn’t even see halfway to the bottom. However, the clouds let up and we got to see this beautiful blue-green lake at the bottom of the volcano.

Go Zip Lining and Bungee Jumping

For all my adventure-seekers out there… This one’s for you! I went zip lining and bungee jumping at Monteverde Extremo Park and loved it. Ziplining in Costa Rica has been on my bucket list and I was so excited that I finally had the opportunity to do so. Costa Rica is the perfect place to go zip lining. You get to hike through the green mountains of Monteverde and then soar over them while zip-lining. It was amazing. We decided to end the day by jumping into thin air. Nothing but a cord attached to my legs. It was the most exhilarating, terrifying, and exciting thing that I have ever done. And I would do it all over again.

Soak in the Natural Hot Springs

Costa Rica has many different places where you can visit and soak in the natural hot springs caused by the geothermal activity from Arenal Volcano. This was the perfect relaxing activity after kayaking and hiking all day. Imagine being in a massive (but more cool) hot tub. It was a perfect place to unwind and I would suggest it to anyone visiting Costa Rica. There are many different hot spring areas around Arenal Volcano to choose from.

Hike Down to La Fortuna Waterfall

It’s a bit of a hike down to this beautiful waterfall, but when you finally get there, you will see why it is worth it. Plus… the hike is a lot harder on the way back up. So, enjoy the waterfall while you can! One of my favorite parts of travel is being able to be outdoors and exploring, so hiking to La Fortuna was right up my alley.

Take a Tour of a Coffee Plantation

Coffee is one of Costa Rica’s largest exports and it’s no surprise why. The coffee that is produced in Costa Rica is amazing. Don’t believe me? Head to Costa Rica and experience it for yourself! It was fun touring the coffee plantation and learning how coffee is grown, produced, and exported. We visited the Doka Estates Coffee Plantation, one of Costa Rica’s most popular and highest quality coffee plantations.

Spend a Day White Water Rafting

Another activity for the adventure seekers! Costa Rica is well-known for its white water rafting. It is the perfect country because of the many rivers and beautiful scenery. There are many rivers varying from calm to extreme, so there is something for everyone! White water rafting is an exciting activity to add to your list of things to do in Costa Rica. Bonus: the guides are extremely good looking.

Sit Back, Relax, and Enjoy the View

You are in one of the most beautiful countries in the world. A country full of things to do and places to see, but also a country that is full of beauty, so enjoy it. Find a cafe, order a coffee, and sit and read or journal and take in the view. This photo is from a cafe that we stumbled upon while driving around Lake Arenal, it was hard getting me to leave this view.