PHOTO OF THE MONTH:

Photo gallery of pictures from our ACTIVE NEW ZEALAND adventure vacation
Iguana Jan 2010
Travelling on two wheels is a great way to meet the locals and slow down to smell the coffee.

MEET OUR GUIDES:

ACTIVE NEW ZEALAND adventure travel guide
Sebastian Hansen
"Sebastian was amazing. He is so dedicated to making the South America experience a fantastic one, and is so obviously proud of his country and his heritage. "
Catriona Hellicar (New South Wales, Australia) Feb 2010 Condor
News Clips and Reviews
Finding the Real Gold in Costa Rica
by Linda Ballou

After nine days of non-stop fun on a multi-sport adventure with Active South America in Costa Rica, floating belly-up in a secluded cove at Playa Coyote gave me a chance to savor the journey. A morning swim in placid waters beneath pastel pink heavens soothed muscles put to tests that included mountain biking, white water rafting, pony trekking, hiking in rain forests, kayaking across blue-green depths to a picnic on a palm-studded island, and a night patrol with turtle conservationists along a strand of deserted beach. These were just a few of the high points of this holiday designed for those who want to breathe deeply of the landscape. Read more...

Find the real gold in Costa Rica
"I thought everything about Active South America was great! You do a tremendous job. My hats off to you all for a wonderful organization.I am so excited about the trip, the activities, the people we met, the beautiful scenery. I would love to go back."

Paula Sothoron (Maryland, USA) June 2008 Jaguar

Costa Rica Travel Vacation Planner

Adventure travel Costa Rica style is pura vida!

For adventure tours Costa Rica is the ultimate playground – steaming rainforests, misty cloud forests, raging rivers, dramatically active volcanoes and desolate tropical beaches along both the Caribbean and the Pacific coasts. Costa Rica is where the North and South American continents once collided, creating a slender strip of land roughly the size of West Virginia with over 20 different ecosystems and astonishing biodiversity. So you will travel far less and see much more on a Costa Rica adventure!

Adventure travel Costa Rica style takes adventure travel to a whole new level. Pura vida is more than a ubiquitous greeting, it’s also a reminder to strive for a “pure life” – simple, vibrant, rich – that is the essence of this stunning country. Whether it’s the diversity of the flora and fauna both on land and in the ocean or the welcoming friendly nature of the local Ticos, a Costa Rica adventure vacation will inspire you to take some pura vida home.

See maps and read more about Costa Rica in our latest brochure.

Costa Rica Adventure Tour

Our Costa Rica Adventure Trips:

Wilderness Adventure on the Pacuare River · Hike Cerro Chato near Arenal Volcano · Soak in Baldi Hot Springs · Hiking & Canopy Tour in Los Angeles Cloudforest · Sea Kayaking & Hiking in Manuel Antonio National Park · Night Hike on the Osa Peninsula · Snorkel Caño Island · Hike Corcovado National Park
Year round 12 days US$3999
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Costa Rica has it all when it comes to sheer beauty, wildlife and once-in-a-lifetime outdoor activities. The Macaw takes you on the best adventures this country has to offer in 12 unforgettable days. You'll hike, fly, paddle and snorkel your way around the country, exploring remote wilderness areas that simply don't have roads while staying in local accommodations with incredible views and meeting the friendly local Ticos, as Costa Ricans are known, along the way. The trip starts with a multi-day wilderness expedition on the gorgeous Pacuare River down to the Caribbean lowlands. Then you'll hike around Arenal Volcano and soak in hot springs at its base. You'll hike as well as get a bird's eye view of the private Los Angeles Cloud Forest Reserve before making your way to the Pacific coast, where you'll hike throughout and sea kayak near Manuel Antonio National Park, before flying down to explore the Osa Peninsula. Hike Corcovado National Park, one of the most bio diverse areas on the planet, and snorkel near idyllic Caño Island before returning to San José, Costa Rica's cosmopolitan capital city. The Macaw captures the absolute best of this small yet extremely diverse country, and is sure to make you sweat, stand in awe, and feel well looked after with amazing activities, incredible places to stay, fine food and warm Tico hospitality.
Macaw: 12 days San José to San José
Sat: Arrive San José
Sun: Wilderness rafting on the Pacuare River, hiking
Mon: Rafting on the Pacuare River, soak in the Baldi Hot Springs
Tue: Hike Cerro Chato, La Fortuna waterfall
Wed: Hike Los Angeles cloud forest
Thu: Los Angeles cloud forest zip line canopy tour, free beach time in Quepos
Fri: Hiking & exploring beaches in Manuel Antonio National Park
Sat: Sea kayaking in Manuel Antonio National Park
Sun: Fly to Osa Peninsula and jungle boat journey, night hike
Mon: Wildlife and hiking in Corcovado National Park
Tue: Snorkeling and hiking Caño Island
Wed: Jungle boat and fly to San José, depart
Raft Pacuare River · Visit a sea turtle rescue project · Explore and discover Coyote beach and the Pacific Coast · Hike Cerro Chato volcano · Visit Arenal volcano · Soak in Baldi Hot Springs · Cycle Lake Arenal · Hike Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve · Snorkel and sea kayak Tortuga Island · Explore San José
December - April
See our Quetzal trip for Costa Rica travel from May through November
11 days US$3499
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Costa Rica packs quite a punch when it comes to sheer beauty and first-rate outdoor activities. The Iguana takes you on the best adventures this country has to offer in 11 unforgettable days. You'll hike, paddle, cycle and snorkel your way around the country, exploring off-the-beaten-track locations and meeting the friendly locals along the way. The trip starts with a rafting expedition on the mighty Pacuare River down to the Caribbean lowlands, then you'll hike around Arenal Volcano and cycle on the fringes of the beautiful lake at its base. You'll hike in the Monteverde Cloud Forest before making your way to the Pacific coast, where we hike through Cabo Blanco National Park, snorkel with sea turtles and paddle sea kayaks to idyllic Tortuga Island before returning to San José, Costa Rica's cosmopolitan capital city.
Iguana: 11 days San José to San José
Sat: Arrive San José
Sun: Raft Pacuare River
Mon: Hike Cerro Chato, Catarata La Fortuna, Baldi Hot Springs
Tue: Cycle Lake Arenal, Monteverde
Wed: Hike Monteverde Cloud Forest, free afternoon
Thu: Explore Coyote beach and relax in a hammock!
Fri: Coastal hike to sea turtle rescue project
Sat: Cycle Montezuma
Sun: Hike Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve
Mon: Sea kayak and snorkel Tortuga Island, return to San José
Tue: San José, depart
Visit Nesting Sea Turtles · Raft Pacuare River · Hike Tortuguero Hill and Monteverde · Cycle Lake Arenal · Soak in Baldi Hot Springs · Sea Kayak Tortuguero Canals and Tortuga Island · Snorkel at Curu Nature Reserve · Discover San José
May - November
See our Iguana trip for Costa Rica travel from December through April
11 days
US$3499
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On this trip you'll hike, bike and paddle into the heart of Costa Rica's exuberant green environment. Paddling is a real highlight on the Quetzal - increased rainfall in the mountains provides us with an exciting rafting trip downriver, and this is the only time of year when you can sea kayak to Tortuguero National Park to see nesting sea turtles up close. You'll hike around the constantly erupting Arenal Volcano and cycle the fringes of beautiful Lake Arenal at its base. You'll hike through Monteverde Cloud Forest and visit a local coffee plantation before we make our way down to the Pacific coast, where you'll snorkel with tropical fish and paddle a sea kayak to idyllic Tortuga Island. While much of Costa Rica experiences heavy rain during the "wet season" when we run the Quetzal trip, we'll take you to areas that are truly at their best at this time of year. Your trip starts and ends in San José, Costa Rica's capital city.
Quetzal: 11 days San José to San José
Sat: Arrive San José
Sun: Raft Pacuare River
Mon: Sea kayak Tortuguero, Mawamba Lodge
Tue: Visit sea turtles, hike Tortuguero Hill
Wed: Depart Tortuguero, Baldi Hot Springs
Thu: Hike Arenal National Park, Catarata La Fortuna
Fri: Cycle Lake Arenal, Monteverde
Sat: Hike Monteverde Cloud Forest, free afternoon
Sun: Visit coffee plantation, explore Montezuma
Mon: Sea kayak and snorkel Tortuga Island, return to San José
Tue: San José, depart
Got Questions? Want to talk to a human?
Give Phil or Adrian (the good lookin' folks on the right!) a quick call. Even if you're not looking at taking one of our trips - they're always happy to give advice to fellow travellers. They get out occasionally to do cool stuff like kayak and run, but they're usually around, so call anytime!
Contact us or Request your FREE brochure