Adventure Awaits in Costa Rica

“Costa Rica is different from any place I’ve ever visited,” says INSPIRED Magazine columnist Pat Nichol.

Along with Collette and a group of fellow adventurers, Pat will travel to the Central American country for nine days of cultural immersion amidst breathtaking landscapes, as host of one of INSPIRED Magazine’s sponsored tours.

“As a solo traveller, I often join a group and find kindred spirits all around me,” she says. “Most of my travels over the past years have been to large cities; this will be something completely different.”

Beginning on October 26, 2019, this guided tour opens in the heart of the Central Valley and, over the next several days, takes travellers to the country’s most interesting locales. With activities including a riverboat excursion, a coffee plantation tour, sightseeing at the famous Arenal Volcano, ziplining through the rainforest, a culinary demonstration and much more, there’s bound to be something for everyone! Between each adventure, travellers will relax in comfortable hotels and take advantage of their amenities.

The first stop on the tour will be an introduction to one of the most important aspects of the Costa Rican economy: coffee! Pat and her travel mates will tour a historic coffee plantation outside the capital of San José, learning about how the production of this crop has helped the country flourish in international commerce. Costa Rica continues to produce some of the world’s finest coffee. Armed with samples and new knowledge, the group will depart with an increased understanding and appreciation of Costa Rica’s gentle people and rich history.

Costa Rica’s beaches are a perfect place to relax, covered with white sand and lined with tropical palm trees. Photo courtesy of Collette.

Guanacaste’s sunny beaches and mesmerising ocean views are an iconic example of Costa Rica and a perfect way to enjoy the coast’s tropical weather. With temperatures averaging between 22–25°C, the palm-lined, white-sand beaches in Guanacaste are as picturesque as they are relaxing.

Pat and her travel companions will be free to explore the beaches or take in the resort’s delightful features before winding down at the beach town of Samara, one of the top sunset spots in Costa Rica.

Next, the group will travel back inland to the incredible Monteverde Cloud Forest. This rainforest is home to trees that tower over 30 metres high, as well as a host of unique and colourful flora and fauna. Some lucky travellers may even spy the resplendent quetzal, a rare bird eagerly sought by birdwatchers and associated with the serpent god Quetzalcoatl in Pre-Columbian Mesoamerican legends. More commonly spotted creatures include sloths, pumas, howler and capuchin monkeys, deer and over 1,000 species of amphibians and reptiles. Monteverde is also home to some 400 species of orchids, only a fraction of the 2,500 species of plants that call the forest home.

While the first day in Monteverde Cloud Forest will be spent on a leisurely nature walk, the second offers the opportunity for something more adventurous. Pat already knows her choice: “One of the things I am most looking forward to is the zipline!” At over 770 metres long and 130 metres above the forest floor, Monteverde Cloud Forest’s zipline is one of the longest in Costa Rica and offers an amazing aerial view of the lush forest below as visitors soar above the treetops.

For those who prefer to keep their feet on the ground, Collette will guide the rest of the group on a tour of the world’s largest butterfly gardens and the Monteverde Hummingbird Gallery, which contains more than 100 dazzling hummingbirds. After an informative experience, travellers will set out on a leisurely Hanging Bridges tour to gain a unique perspective of the forest and to see which creatures they can spot in their natural environment.

That evening, the group will convene for an expert-led discussion about the migratory birds that flock to Costa Rica during winter. This session will allow travellers to find out more about conservation, as well as the birds they may see during their trip – migratory birds tend to arrive around the same time, during October and November.

While exploring the Monteverde Cloud Forest, you will spot various types of wildlife – perhaps even a spider monkey! Photo courtesy of Collette.

A visit to a tree nursery continues the theme of conservation, allowing Pat and the group to learn about Costa Rica’s indigenous trees and the reforestation efforts being made in Monteverde. Though lush and beautiful, the forest has been damaged by years of human activity, and conservationists are helping to ensure this magnificent natural resource is not lost.

The monumental Arenal Volcano looms above the surrounding valley at over 1,600 metres and is one of Costa Rica’s most renowned tourist sites. Having fallen dormant in the summer of 2010, lush greenery has begun to reclaim the area for a beautiful juxtaposition of the towering volcano over a verdant field filled with colourful flowers. Adventurers will admire the volcano from the observation area before enjoying a delightful cruise on Lake Arenal, the country’s largest lake. Not only beautiful and an excellent place for a variety of water activities, the lake is also used for a hydroelectric dam, which provides nearly 12 percent of Costa Rica’s electricity.

Later that evening, Pat and the group will taste their way through a cooking demonstration given by a professional chef. Using fresh, local ingredients, they will learn how to create the meal before spending the evening dining on Costa Rican cuisine to a guitarist’s serenade. A relaxing evening to rejuvenate before another exciting day of adventure!

At the westernmost edge of the country lies the beautiful Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge, where Pat and her new friends will board a special covered canoe known as a panga for an unforgettable riverboat cruise. Home to the largest viewable collection of indigenous wildlife in the country, Cano Negro offers the opportunity to spot caimans, monkeys, river turtles, otters, bull sharks and exotic birds. Don’t forget your raincoat and camera!

En route back to San José, the tour makes a stop at the charming town of Zarcero to visit its famous topiary gardens. Created in a church yard in the 1960s by Evangelisto Blanco, they feature a wide variety of silhouettes, from arches to dinosaurs to flowers. The gardens have helped bring more attention to the beauty of this calm mountain city.

Finally, back in San José, the group will attend one final panoramic tour of the city and share dinner together. Bidding adiós to their hospitable hosts, Pat and her kindred spirits will head home, eager to share their memories of an experience of a lifetime.

For more details on the trip, visit: www.seniorlivingmag.com/tours
Contact your travel agent to book. Booking deadline is April 26, 2019.
Tour departure on October 26, 2019. Tour spans nine days and includes 14 meals.

Collette rates this tour’s activity level at 3 out of 5. The tour includes moderate physical activity and blends some longer days with shorter days and leisure time. Walking tours, including some longer distances, up stairs, and uneven surfaces should be expected.