Explore The Real Costa Rica On This Jungle ATV Tour

There are a lot of fantastic outdoor activities to do around the Dominical area, and the Jungle ATV Tour is easily one of the best.

This ATV tour, based 15 minutes south of our Dominical luxury villas in the town of Uvita, features an eclectic mix of high-speed quad riding, rugged rainforest terrain, a breathtaking waterfall, and a whole lot of dirt and mud. If you want to truly explore the real Costa Rica, visiting lush mountainous areas and small towns that few tourists venture to, then the Jungle ATV Tour is right up your alley.

The tour company owner, Will, is an ATV enthusiast with a top-quality selection of Yamaha 350s, 400s, and 450s in his shop. These powerful, user-friendly quads feature automatic and push-button transmissions, so even if you’ve never driven a quad before, learning to operate one in short time is quite simple. He has a fantastic collection of Side-By-Side vehicles for those looking to ride as doubles.

When your group arrives at the tour office in Uvita, Will and his excellent, bilingual crew will get everyone fitted with the proper safety equipment and review all of the basics for operating each quad. Then, all the drivers take a slow, dirt-road cruise around town just to make sure everyone feels comfortable operating their vehicle.

Once all of the introductory stuff is settled, it’s off you go into the hills of Uvita and the Agua Buenas Mountains. With your thumb on the throttle, the tour guides will lead your crew up incredible terrain that plateaus at nearly 4,000 feet which, for Costa Rican coastal standards, is pretty high in the sky. There are lookout points atop the mountain range that feature stunning jungle-to-sea views, so be sure to pack a camera for that once-in-a-lifetime shot.

As you venture deeper and deeper into the jungle, the guides will stop and point out some of the native animals, including sloths and monkeys that live in the trees. There’s also a rest break in the small town of San Luis where the group can load up on beers, waters, and snacks.

The best part, of course, is saved for last.

As you begin to ascend the mountain range along the jungle trail, you’ll spot the San Luis Waterfall from a distance. The guides will lead you to the base of the waterfall, and the adventurous people in the group can climb up the rocks and actually swim in a small pool at the bottom of the waterfall. While this is going on, one of the guides will prepare fresh fruit for everyone to enjoy. They’ll also have snacks and drinks on hand. The only time of year that the San Luis Waterfall isn’t running at full strength is near the back half of the dry season, typically around March and April.

Following the waterfall visit, you’ll continue to descend the mountain. You can really cut the quad loose at this point as the roads begin to flatten out and get less bumpy.

All told, the Jungle ATV Tour takes about five hours to complete and covers nearly 30 miles of jungle terrain. The cost can be found here in our Tour Guide and is based on per person for a single rider or there’s an option for a two-passenger Side-By-Side. They can accommodate groups of any size, but the tour must be paid in advance. We can guide you through the entire reservation process free of charge. Simply email Stephen at [email protected] for information on any of the exciting tours we offer.

Here’s a bit of local advice: Take a change of clothes with you and leave them in your rental car. When you get back all dirty, you’ll be thankful for a clean, dry change of clothes. And most importantly, have fun on this high-octane ATV adventure!