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Costa Rica Adventure Vacations Article

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Costa Rica Adventure Travel Vacations

from: RL

For those craving adventure travel Costa Rica is a destination that delivers. Costa Rica is the second smallest Central American country, covering only 19,560 square miles. Costa Rica is bathed by the Pacific on the west and the Atlantic on the east. Because it contains about 6% of the world's biodiversity, Costa Rica is a natural paradise and Costa Rica adventure vacations are exceptional experiences.

Approximately 30% of the land is protected, so there is a wealth of national parks and protected areas to not only trek through but to experience with all your senses. There are dense tropical forests, cloud forests, tropical dry forests, and mangrove swamps as well, making Costa Rica a wonderful location for ecotourism activities.

On Costa Rica adventure vacations, you can experience the exhilaration of seeing jaguars, green tree frogs, capuchin monkeys, sloths, bats, any number of the 850 species of birds (including toucans, scarlet macaws and quetzals) and any one of the 2000 species of butterflies present on the island, all in their natural habitats.

For the hikers, there are 116 sleeping and active volcanoes, many of which you are allowed to hike up during Costa Rica adventure vacations. Indeed, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, Arenal Volcano, is located here.

You can hike through the rainforest, grassy hills, dry lands, and beaches, with trails covering a wide variety of difficulty levels from which to choose. Corcovado National Park, Manuel Antonio National Park, the Osa Peninsula, and the Monteverde Cloud Forest reserve are excellent locations for hiking.

For those who crave an adrenaline rush, you could raft or kayak in a tropical river or slide along a cable through the treetops of the rainforest. For those who wish to tone it down a notch, there is scuba diving and snorkeling among the amazing underwater ecosystems such as those found in the National Park of Cahuita and the Golfo Dulce. Immerse yourself in the habitat of whale sharks, dolphins, turtles, manta rays, and whales and explore the Caribbean reef and underwater wrecks.

If contact with water is what you crave, then the many varieties of kayak adventures will suit you. Sea, lake, and river kayaking are available, at a variety of difficulty levels. One of the most majestic kayaking adventures is to be had on the Arenal Lake, the largest Costa Rican lake, which offers you spectacular views of the still active volcano, complete with daily lava flows.

Costa Rica is famous for its Sailfish, Marlin, Dorado, Wahoo and Tuna, so prepare yourself for the fishing experience of a lifetime. Windsurfing and surfing are also available along the country's beautiful coastlines.

Getting back to land, you could choose a motorcycle tour through wildlife habitats or any one of a variety of mountain biking experiences. Guided biking tours of all levels take you through hidden waterfalls and jungle paths. And for the truly brave, there are multi-activity adventures involving white water rafting, hiking and mountain biking all in the same vacation.

Look on the internet for more information on Costa Rica adventure travel vacations. Travel books and magazines, found at your local bookstore or library, are also excellent sources for tips and suggestions. Whatever destination you head to, Costa Rica travel vacations are memorable experiences.