Boca Tapada Nature Reserve



Ignite your adrenaline in Arenal
I guarantee that Arenal will be all you hoped it would be, and so much more! Arenal is the activity and adrenaline capital of Costa Rica. There’s white water rafting, ziplining, hot thermal springs, horse-riding treks to thundering waterfalls – and the endless wildlife spotting opportunities of course (but that’s a given in Costa Rica!). Most famously though, Arenal is home to one of Costa Rica’s most famous landmarks – the Arenal volcano. Standing at an impressive 1600 meters high, you’d assume it would be quite easy to spot – not quite! Due to the weather conditions in the area, it’s quite a rare treat to see the summit. So, as you can imagine, I felt quite smug when I captured this….
Hiking the Arenal Volcano
Spotting the summit is one thing, hiking up to it is another achievement all together. The hike was gruelling, especially under the 42-degree heat of the relentless Costa Rican sun (and the sweatiness of the humidity!). But without doubt, worth every second.
Soaking in the hot springs
Where there’s a volcano to hike up, there’s usually a few hot thermal springs to soak your weary limbs in afterwards! Arenal doesn’t disappoint on this front. Scattered throughout the rainforest and around the town of La Fortuna are multiple hot spring pools that vary in temperature from 35 degrees all the way up to a muscle-soothing 65 degrees Celsius. It’s THE place to congratulate yourself on a good full day of hiking. The water was blissful and my legs absolutely thanked me for it in the morning!
The Sloth Tour
Arenal isn’t just about the adrenaline – it’s also about the sloths! I’d ALWAYS recommend a sloth tour in this part of Costa Rica. On the walk, not only did I get to see both two-toed and three-toed sloths, but a pregnant sloth and a sloth with a baby on her tummy!
Fly through the rainforest on a zipline
If you’re after a bit of an adrenaline rush – ziplining through the jungle has got your name all over it. We chose to hike up to the start, but there is an aerial tram available if you’d rather not build up too much of a sweat before your flight through the trees! (I think I’d opt for the tram if I have the chance to zipline here again!)

Explore the Wild and Rugged Northern Pacific Coast
The wild Northern Pacific Coast offers a mixture of beaches for all tastes. The wild surfing beaches of Playa Pelada, Guiones, Nosara and Santa Terresa, complement the calm gentle waters of Playa Matapalito, Playas del Coco, Potrero and Hermosa. It’s as beautiful as it is diverse, with white, grey and even black volcanic sands making up the long stretches of beach.

Be Spellbound by the Bioluminescence Phenomena on Isla Chiquita
A visit to the private island of Isla Chiquita off the Nicoya Peninsula is an absolute must. The bioluminescence boat tour gave me the opportunity to witness a breath-taking natural phenomenon that I’ll truly never forget. When the sun goes down and the night gets dark, a few very privileged locations on earth offer the rare opportunity to see bioluminescence light up the ocean. Produced by high concentrations of light-emitting plankton, it was like watching fairies dancing in the water. The ocean transformed into a starry nights’ sky before my very eyes and I was absolutely mesmerised. It was hypnotic to witness and a real first for me! If you’re considering a trip to this incredible country, do try and make sure you experience this!Manuel Antonio National Park
This is a national park with a difference! It’s generously edged with stunning white-sand tropical beaches which you can surf off or snorkel from and explore the stunningly colourful coral reefs.


Visit the mystical Monteverde Cloud Forest
Another highlight of Costa Rica for me is absolutely the stunning Monteverde Cloud Forest , one of the last tropical cloud forests in the world. Cool in temperature compared with my other adventures in the country so far, it was a refreshing change! A completely unique forest, Monteverde is home to a constant eerie mist that drifts across the canopy, consuming the trees below. This mysterious cloud-like fog is what gives the forest its name and is created by the high humidity in this area. 1,600 meters above the ocean , the forest is a very moisture-rich environment which shelters several thousand animal and plant species across its 26,000 acres .

Be Wowed by Nature on the Osa Peninsula
It takes a bit of effort to get here but without a doubt, one of the most spectacular places to visit in Costa Rica – the Crème de La Crème if you will! – is the Osa Peninsula. Declared ‘one of the most biologically diverse places on earth’ by the National Geographic Magazine, the pristine rainforests and the rugged natural beauty make this region a must for any Costa Rica itinerary. It’s so teeming with wildlife that at one point I saw 10 pairs of Scarlet Macaws in one tree!
