International Archives – Page 2 of 14

Arenal Canopy Adventure Review

June 26th, 2023admin0 Comments

Overall we enjoyed our morning at the Arenal Canopy Adventure & Tarzan Swing. (See my full trip report here.) The company was very safe and the tour well run. There was a really large group at our tour time (maybe a dozen others in addition to our 11 people) and I was concerned about the wait time on each line. But unlike other zip lining tours I have done, they did not keep the whole group together. They had enough guides that they could continuously move people through the different lines instead of waiting for everyone to catch up on …

Arenal Zip Lining

June 26th, 2023admin0 Comments

When my husband and I came to Costa Rica in 2012, we were blown away by our zip lining experience with Sky Adventures. We took a tram to the top of the mountain and then the zip lines literally burst through the jungle treetops, with breathtaking views from every platform and line. The lines were so high and so long that my husband declared that if he had known what he was getting into, he never would have done it. So when it came time to sign up for zip lining on this trip, he said thanks but no thanks. …

Wave Expeditions Review

June 25th, 2023admin0 Comments

We had a fantastic time with Wave Expeditions. We took the Balsa River Class II & III tour, which was roughly 13 km and two hours long. (See my full trip report here.) The guides were really fun but still put safety first. We were given instructions on the bus and then we practiced following all the commands once we got in the raft. Once we got going down the river, it was non-stop excitement. It was much wilder than I expected for class II & III but that just made it more fun. Our guide Warner knew every rock, …

Rio Balsa Whitewater Rafting

June 25th, 2023admin0 Comments

Whitewater rafting was high on our adventure wishlist in Costa Rica, and with kids ranging in age from 8 to 16 in our group, we were looking for a family friendly rafting option. Rio Balsa provides class II-III rapids, which are suitable for kids 8 and up. Our travel agent booked us with Wave Expeditions, and they picked us up from our hotel and took us to the river. On the bus ride, they gave us detailed rafting and safety instructions. The instructions were very thorough (complete with a miniature raft for demonstrations) and it was obvious that the company …

Canoa Aventura Review

June 24th, 2023admin0 Comments

Canoa Aventura is a tour company in the Arenal area of Costa Rica. From hiking to more adventurous activities, they offer a huge variety of tours to fit every age and interest. While they offer many individual activity tours, they seem to specialize in combination tours. Chocolate and waterfalls? Volcano and hot springs? They can do it all. We did a combination tour that included Mistico Hanging Bridges, La Fortuna Waterfall, and the Trail of 1968. (Trip reports available by clicking on the links.) We were a group of 16 and had two tour guides and a bus for just …

Trail of 1968

June 24th, 2023admin0 Comments

Our final stop on our combination tour with Canoa Aventura was the Trail of 1968. Named after the huge eruption of Arenal Volcano in 1968, this trail runs along the hardened lava flows and offers amazing views of the volcano itself. The trail is only 1.2 kilometers but does include some steep uphill sections. From the parking lot, we got another postcard perfect view of the volcano. After taking in the views, one of our guides told us the history of the volcano and gave a wonderful explanation of the eruption of 1968. It was fascinating to learn that Arenal …

La Fortuna Waterfall

June 24th, 2023admin0 Comments

The second stop on our combination tour with Canoa Aventura was La Fortuna Waterfall. This impressive waterfall emerges through an opening in the jungle and plunges 200 feet to a pool below. You can reach the base of the waterfall by taking the stairs down – all 530 of them. (Remember of course that you’ll have to take them back up!) There is a viewpoint before the stairs begin, as well as a restaurant, souvenir shop, and bathrooms with showers and changing areas. The stairs are challenging (both up and down!) but worth it. Once you reach the bottom, there …

Mistico Hanging Bridges

June 24th, 2023admin0 Comments

Our first day in Arenal was jam-packed with activities. We did an 8 hour combination tour with Canoa Aventura that included Mistico Hanging Bridges, La Fortuna Waterfall, and the Trail of 1968. Mistico Park and the Arenal Hanging Bridges was our first stop. While the main attraction of the park is its hanging bridges, the views of the volcano are stunning from the moment you step out of the parking lot. We were extremely fortunate to be there on a clear day. Our guides must have told us a dozen times that we were so lucky because the volcano is …

Costa Rica Trip Planning

June 23rd, 2023admin0 Comments

I love trip planning – almost as much as taking the trip itself. I’ve planned trips for our family of 4, for my extended family of 14, and for vacations with one another family. But a trip with 4 families of friends was unchartered territory. 16 people ranging in age from 8 to 48 with differing interests, activity levels, and budgets was a whole new ball game. The travel logistics alone were daunting. Since we all wanted to still be friends at the end of the trip, it seemed best to bring in a travel agent to help us decide …

Seven Stars Resort & Spa Review

March 19th, 2023admin0 Comments

After our group selected Turks and Caicos for our girls trip, we pretty quickly narrowed in on Grace Bay as the ideal resort location for our stay. We narrowed it down to three or four options, including one splurge – Seven Stars Resort & Spa. Although the price point was definitely higher than we initially planned on, its location and amenities quickly won us over. Seven Stars has three seven-story buildings, two of which are considered ocean-front and the third ocean-view. We were in a first floor oceanfront room in the Alhena Building. I had mixed feelings about being on …