Costa Rica (Lonely Planet, 9th Edition) - Matthew Firestone [392]
MARK NEWMAN
River kayaking is not as popular as rafting, though it has its fair share of loyal fans. The tiny village of La Virgen in the northern lowlands is the unofficial kayaking capital of Costa Rica, and the best spot to hook up with other like-minded lovers of the sport. The Río Sarapiquí has an impressive variety of runs that cater to all ages and skill levels.
With 1228km of coastline, two gulfs and plentiful mangrove estuaries, Costa Rica is also an ideal destination for sea kayaking. This is a great way for paddlers to access remote areas and catch rare glimpses of birds and wildlife. Difficulty of access varies considerably, and is largely dependent on tides and currents.
Return to beginning of chapter
DIVING & SNORKELING
There’s good news and there’s bad news. The good news is that Costa Rica offers body-temperature water with few humans and abundant marine life. The bad news is that the visibility is low because of silt and plankton, and soft corals and sponges are dominant. If you are looking for turquoise waters and plenty of hard coral, head for Belize and Honduras.
top five
SPOTS TO DIVE & SNORKEL
Playa del Coco Home to manta rays, sharks and dozens of species of fish, all in large numbers.
Isla del Caño A top dive spot famous for giant schools of fish.
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca An emerging dive center that is good for snorkelers and novice divers.
Isla del Cocos (Click here) A truly world-class destination inhabited by an astonishing amount of marine life.
Cahuita and Manzanillo Popular Caribbean reefs that are good for snorkelers.
Dive deeper than the fish near Isla del Caño.
JOHNNY HAGLUND
However, if you’re looking for fine opportunities to see massive schools of fish, as well as larger marine animals such as turtles, sharks, dolphins and whales, then you have arrived in exactly the right place. It’s also worth pointing out that there are few places in the world where you can dive in the Caribbean and the Pacific on the same day, albeit with a good amount of effort and some advanced planning.
The Caribbean Sea is better for novice divers and snorkelers, with the beach towns of Manzanillo and Cahuita particularly well suited to youngsters. Puerto Viejo lays claim to a few decent sites that can be explored on a discovery dive. Along the Pacific, Playa del Coco and Isla del Caño up the ante slightly, offering a variety of beginner- and intermediate-level sites.
Isla del Cocos is the exception to the rule – this remote island floating in the deep Pacific is regarded by veteran divers as one of the best dive spots in the world. In order to catch a glimpse of the underwater world of Cocos, you’ll need to visit on a liveaboard, and have some serious experience in your logbook.
Return to beginning of chapter
FISHING
Sportfishing enthusiasts flock to both of Costa Rica’s coasts for the thrill of reeling in mammoth marlins and supersized sailfish. Add dorado, wahoo and dolphin to the list, and you can easily understand why the country has produced so many record-breaking catches. Of course, Costa Rica has an eco-image to maintain, which is why the vast majority of sportfishing companies encourage ‘catch and release’ practices in an effort to maintain existing fish populations.
top five
SPOTS TO FISH
Tamarindo Pacific sailfish swim in these waters between December and April.
Puerto Jiménez Costa Rica’s top spot for fishing, especially for dorado, marlin, sailfish and tuna.
Zancudo Excellent for snook, which inhabit the surrounding mangrove swamps.
Bahía Drake Claims more than 40 fishing records, including sailfish, three kinds of marlin, yellowfin tuna and wahoo.
Caño Negro (Click here) Another good inland spot that harbors snook.
The ocean is always open for fishing. As a general rule, the Pacific coast is best in June and July, though you’ll get better fishing on the south coast during that period, while the Caribbean is best from September to November. Unless you have your own boat and tackle, you will need to book a trip through an operator (Click here for listings).
Sportfishing