If you are in or ever go to Costa Rica...
1. Eat the local foods!
Traditional Costa Rican food is similar to foods in Colombia. There are generally fruits, a form of potato, chicken or seafood, and plenty of rice variations.
2. Horseback riding to Nauyaca Waterfalls.
On my trip to Costa Rica, I had the amazing opportunity to take this tour. The guides were friendly and helpful, breakfast and lunch were included, and the waterfalls were so cool. The guides even climbed the second waterfall and helped people jump off into the spring below. I can now say I have jumped off a waterfall!
3. Snorkeling/Scuba Diving.
I have never been diving, but snorkeling was a really cool experience. There are plenty of places in Costa Rica to go snorkeling or diving, not too difficult to seek out!
4.Visit Monteverde.
Monteverde in itself can be a whole trip. There are so many things to do here. My parents took a trip here for their 5 year anniversary and they loved it.
5. Drive through the mountains.
You can actually accomplish this by driving on the highways throughout the country. They wind through the mountains and it's amazing. A lot of locals know where the roads slow down and they will be there waiting to sell snacks and bags of water.
6. Relax and appreciate.
During the "summer", or non-rainy season, Costa Rica has beautiful weather. It's often pretty humid, but there's a breeze to go along with it. I spent a day laying out in the back yard of the home we rented and I can honestly say it was high on the list of favorite days. My family came and went around me and I chilled out while taking in my beautiful surroundings.
7. Go hiking.
There are many opportunities for hiking in Costa Rica. Trails weave all throughout the forest. Make sure you're taking a marked trail. There are some areas that are less tolerant of people.
8. Beach day!
Take a day trip to one of the many beaches in Costa Rica! There's so much to do on the beach: 4-wheeling, surfing, sailing, swimming, snorkling, and more.
9. Practice your Spanish.
Okay. So, I've had 4 years of high school Spanish and a college semester of Spanish and I can get by, but I'm not what I would consider fluent. It's really great if you learn some Spanish before coming to a Spanish-speaking country, but in some places like Costa Rica, the natives are bilingual and can speak pretty good English. Some of my guides have had easy conversations with me during our trips in order to help me practice. They've even corrected me sometimes!
10. Canopy tours.
Sadly, I didn't get to experience a canopy tour. I did however meet a family who said it was their absolute favorite thing they've done. There are a couple of different places to do this and different lengths of trips, but I would definitely go if given the opportunity!
Lastly, make sure to support the local restaurants and stores. There are Subways, casinos, and other chains, but the Costa Rican people put a lot of effort into living traditionally with minor modernizations. They do what they can to help visitors find their way and experience their culture in the best ways possible. Altogether, I would 5 star recommend taking a trip to Costa Rica or a similar country and experiencing life in a new way!
