Turn Up The Heat on Your Next Costa Rica Vacation with These High-Intensity Tours

Sometimes you have to throw caution to the wind, face your greatest fears and just let it rip.

In this YouGetHere blog installment, we’re going to deliver a swift kick in the keester to all of our loyal readers. Why so aggressive, you ask? Because we want to challenge everyone out there to step away from their comfort zones and try something totally different, radical even, while vacationing in southern Costa Rica.

Now listen, these local tour activities will test you both mentally and physically. You might suffer a bump or a bruise, maybe even have your cage rattled a bit. Please be sure that you’re fit for the task and making wise decisions with your health. At the end of the day, by conquering these incredible adventures you’ll walk away with enough confidence to tackle any challenge Costa Rica tosses your way.

Now let’s dive in — head first.

For Twenty Glorious Minutes, You Can Be a Toucan, Too

You know the old adage: “You can’t fly like an eagle when hanging with turkeys.” 

The same holds true for paragliding. If a bunch of people in your group are convinced that paragliding from the top of a jungle mountain (about 2,500 feet above sea level) onto the beach below is too perilous, politely tell them that they are all soft and can’t be taken seriously. And then have us book you a trip with Zion, the master paraglider in this region.

Zion and his uber-experienced flight crew are going to guide you to the top of a hilltop near Dominical. They’re going to strap you in with a professional guide, and the two of you are going to take flight above the Pacific Ocean. You’ll be up in rarified air for 20 to 25 minutes, living like a bird while also filming likable content for social media. When your feet eventually hit the warm sand below, it won’t be a sense of relief that washes over your vessel. No, no, no! You’ll be ready to go again, and again, and again. Because flying through the tropical air is an addictive rush unlike anything else. And those poor turkeys, they’ll never know the feeling.

Get Gnarly at the Naranjo or Go Crazy on El Chorro

There’s river rafting, and then there’s tackling the Naranjo.

The upper section of the river is referred to as “El Chorro.” It’s a high-intensity section that falls into Class IV and sometimes Class V categorization. When battling this beast, you’ll knife through volcanic canyons that are as tight as they are technical. 

With that in mind, you’ll be stoked to hear that our ace rafting guide, Felipe, has been going to work on this river for the better part of two decades. He’s also an experienced waterman in the United States, having led annual trips through the Grand Canyon that last for weeks at a time.

El Chorro is more of a summer spot, with the months of January through April considered primetime. When the rain starts back up and the water level rises, it’s time to head downstream to the Naranjo section. 

In the Naranjo section, participants can take their foot off the gas, but only slightly. This part of the river produces Class III and Class IV rapids, with the months of May through November considered the best time to participate in the madness. 

With wider gaps and more water running than El Chorro, the Naranjo section is ideal for intermediate thrill-hunters that are looking to push the envelope just a smidge. For example, if you normally order straight vanilla ice cream at Baskin-Robbins, this would be like topping it off with gummy bears, whipped cream, hot fudge, rainbow sprinkles and a cherry. Does that make sense? Hopefully it does.

Practice Rappelling Steep Walls of Water Like a Superhero

You’ve always wanted to rappel waterfalls in the jungle. It was just a matter of logistics.

Well the time is nigh, seasoned traveler, so no more excuses.

During this Uvita-based tour, you’re going to morph from complete canyoning novice into Spiderman or Spiderwoman in a matter of hours. Like a dart frog, you’ll bounce from saturated rock to saturated rock, moving downward at a timely pace, always strapped in for safety.

A half-dozen walls of water will be checked off the list during the course of the day, starting at 21 feet high and advancing to an impressive 80 feet for the final challenge. Afterwards, you’ll be a bit sore, but the glory of accomplishment is something they can never wrestle away from you.

So that’s about it. A trio of high-impact activities for those deranged enough to put a toe in the water and chuckle in the face of danger. As always, the team at YouGetHere Property Management is here to help with any tour reservations. Simply email us right here and we’ll answer any questions as well as assist in creating a tour schedule for you and your crew.

By the way, did we mention all of the incredible vacation villas that we manage in Dominical, Uvita and Ojochal? These are some of the nicest rental properties in the southern zone of Costa Rica, and right now we have space available well into December with big-time discounts on offer. You can check out all of our amazing homes right here.

Take care everyone, and pura vida!