This weeks Top 5 Reasons to Backpack Costa Rica is brought to you by our friends Samantha and Yeison from the amazing travel blog Mytanfeet. Although both of us have traveled to Costa Rica, we couldn’t go past these two experts when it comes to Costa Rica backpacking! Enjoy!
It’s no surprise that when backpackers start planning their trip around Central America, Costa Rica is high on their list. As someone who has lived there for over 2 years, I can guarantee you that the longer you stay in Costa Rica, the more you’ll want to move there. Adventure seekers, outdoor lovers and wildlife enthusiasts, read on to have your wanderlust for Costa Rica jump through the roof! Check out our top 5 reasons to backpack Costa Rica and book your ticket today!
An Abundance of Wildlife
Did you know Costa Rica contains 5% of the biodiversity in the world? For a country that’s only 51,000 square kilometers, that’s a lot! With 26 national parks and more refuges, reserves and protected zones, wildlife simply thrives in Costa Rica’s protected land and waters, especially since they banned recreational hunting in 2012. You can spot over 800 species of birds, 4,000 species of insects and hundreds of mammals, reptiles and amphibians who call Costa Rica home. Some favorites are monkeys, toucans, whales, dolphins, turtles, sloths and crocodiles.
Adventure in Every Corner
Want to dive with bull sharks or rappel down a 200 foot waterfall or zipline across the top of a cloud forest? How about ATV on a beach with howler monkeys next to you? You can do all of that in Costa Rica! Adventure is never a hard thing to find and Costa Rica offers some of the best thrills and excitement all throughout the country. It doesn’t matter if you just want to go for a short hike through the virgin rainforest or go beach-hopping, every activity is bound to be an adventure on its own.
Fit in a Lot in Little Time
Because Costa Rica is a fairly small country, you can do and see more in less time. One day you can be lying on a beach in the Caribbean watching the sunset and two days later you can be hiking up a volcano crater in a rainstorm. With over 20 microclimates in the country it is impossible not to enjoy a range of different activities, climates and scenery. You’ll be able to get the best of everything!
Explore and Experience Nature at its Best
Everywhere you go in the country you’ll be able to experience nature to the fullest. Costa Rica has tons of waterfalls, beaches, volcanoes, mountains, rivers and forests all with unique characteristics waiting to be explored. Take a drive through the Central Valley and you’ll be amazed at the incredibly lush jungle laying just a few kilometers outside the city. Visit different beaches in the Guanacaste province and you’ll be shocked at all the types of beautiful beaches you can find. Venture a bit off the beaten path and you might find a little oasis all to yourself.
Learn How to Live Slower and Appreciate Life
There is a saying in Costa Rica: pura vida. In Spanish it translates to “pure life.” They use this to say thank you, hello, good bye, see you later or anything positive. Costa Ricans are a people who appreciate the little things in life and are grateful for what they have, understanding that the most important thing is to live a happy life. Pura vida is their way to reaffirm this belief and it is the country’s motto. Once you visit Costa Rica, you will experience pura vida. Everyone who goes there comes back with a new perspective and appreciation for life. That is the lasting impact Costa Rica leaves on their visitors.
About the Authors
We are Yeison and Samantha, an adventurous couple whose home base is Costa Rica. We’re on a quest to take our tan feet around the world while enjoying as many beaches and sunsets as possible. You can follow our adventure through our Facebook, Twitter or Google+.
They have 5% of the biodiversity? That’s pretty impressive. I think Costa Rica sounds amazing, especially the zip-lining.
5%, it’s crazy to think s country that small has such a high percentage! Costa Rica is awesome, you have to get there!
Totally agree, Costa Rica is awesome! Which volcano is that in the photo guys?
It is awesome! Not sure about the volcano, you’ll have to ask My Tan Feet!
It’s Poas Volcano 🙂 Most of the time you see it in pictures it is covered in clouds. We were lucky to go on a clear day!
I’ve been to Costa Rica for a very short time before and have been considering going back. I think you definitely have intrigued me with this post! The volcano part got me. 😉
My first time I was there for a few weeks, but I feel that it still wasn’t enough time. Hopefully we get there again sometime soon!
The Pura Vida motto is enough to make me want to go again!
Costa Rica is my favorite trip to date, I absoultely loved it there!
I’d love to try a zip line over the forest canopy, sounds awesome!
I never got the chance to do that in CR, but but it looks like so much fun. Just another reasons to go back haha
It is breathtaking. The one we did was over the Monteverde cloud forest and it was a 1KM long zipline. The view was stunning!
These images are incredibly motivating. I plan on taking the backpacking tour to Central America in November 2015 and will definitely add Costa Rica to the line-up. I wasn’t aware of the natures reserve and biodiversity within the country, I can’t wait to appreciate it myself.
Costa Rica, and just Central America in general, is just amazing! Our fav place in the world! Can’t wait to hear about your trip!
Costa Rica was my first solo trip and it has been one of the best countries I’ve been to, I love how there are things for every type of person, and you def feel the Pura Vida!
Costa Rica was also my first destination when I first landed in Central America. It was one of the first times i was truly alone on the road and it was an incredible experience. I hope to go explore it even more one day!
Exploring the nature would be absolutely fantastic for me. The landscape is just breath-taking!!
Definitely is! We just loved Cost Rica! Hope you enjoyed the article 🙂
They are such an incredible couple. When you see how much fun they have, who wouldn’t want to move to Costa Rica?
Yeah they certainly do inspire a trip down to Costa Rica! Their site is incredibly insightful and a must visit if you’re headed down there!
We’re traveling through Costa Rica now and really appreciating the biodiversity. Too bad there is so much difficulty with trash though. Sad to see it piled up next to the roads and beaches – I don’t hear as much discussion about that…
Costa Rica does have gorgeous biodiversity. I don’t remember much trash though, definitely not compared to the rest of Central America but it’s been a while since I’ve been. They are known for having a government really dedicated to preserving the environment but I suppose its hard to convince locals to do the same. It’s definitely something we’ve noticed in other parts of Central & South America, though, so sad 🙁
I love Costa Rica for the “pura vida” way of life that is so ingrained in their society!! I would love to return sometime soon and backpacking sounds like an awesome way to experience Costa Rica from a new perspective! Great article. Thanks so much!
Thanks Dana, we both traveled Costa Rica a very long time ago, so we’d love to go back and backpack it again as well. Glad you enjoyed the article, those two really know their stuff.