Chasing Waterfalls: Adventure Activities in Costa Rica’s Rainforests
Becoming as close to the world as possible can be achieved through a practice that encourages exploration and aims to experience environments rather than merely observe them, where views are served alongside an adrenaline rush. The most well-liked activities that occur near waterfalls—and occasionally from the edge itself—in Costa Rica’s cloud forests and Pacific plains will be examined in this activity guide. It’s ideal for both adventurers and seasoned tourists; in fact, you might be both. Unrolled and just off the path are hectares of breathtaking natural beauty that will overwhelm your senses.
Costa Rica’s Rainforests: A Natural Wonder
Blanketed with a plush green tapestry, Costa Rican rainforests are the heart and soul of this tiny Central American nation. Emerging on the 1,500-meter high mountains that serenade a visitor’s descent to the airport, and descending into the dirt and pollen-filled river on the west and the prolific rivers running to the north, the rainforests of the Costa Rican region are large facilities for the production of rain, which waters these rivers. Apart from providing breathtaking landscapes, the varying climate conditions combined with ranges of temperature make it possible for missing plant and animal species from around the world to coexist here. The result is a rich fabric of wildlife and vegetation found nowhere else in the world. These, in turn, offer a playground for adventure and exploration, bird watching, scientific discovery, and good old-fashioned jungle fun. In addition, temperatures are milder in Costa Rica than in other countries close to the equator, making these rainforests an ideal display of the grandeur of nature.
Take, for instance, the fact that this paradise is the home of more than 320,000 plant species and 1,500 identified types of bees. Some 5% of the world’s biodiversity resides in these Central American jungles. There is an estimate that no matter how many—or how few—wild things find their habitats within the forests, they contribute to a full 30% of the earth’s floral and faunal biodiversity. Bands of iguanas, pizotes, and quetzals showcase in ease their awe and splendor. About 2% of the global biomass is found in the forests and jungles of Costa Rica. Known to many as the cradle for big trees and ancient plant species, these places constitute the world’s premier hot spots and green carbon sequestrators, helping regulate climate change through photosynthesis and assimilation.
Waterfalls in Costa Rica
Waterfalls, while certainly breathtaking in their own right, are more than just Mother Nature’s live wallpapers. In Costa Rica, these stunning landscapes are integral parts of the country’s ecosystems. Their pools act as microhabitats, the banks of the rivers bring in nutrients and iridescent splendor, and they create motile corridors through the land through the waterways. This results in an increase in biodiversity, as rivers are important dispersal vectors for many species. In short, many exciting things can be found within Costa Rica’s waterfall paradises. In addition to this ecological hospitality, Costa Rica’s many cascadas are full of life, hosting celebrations and parties throughout the year. Some hold great importance to their local towns and perhaps most notably, Nauyaca Waterfalls’ eastern face was until recently a sacred site to the local indigenous tribe in the region.
Just being near a waterfall has a range of therapeutic impacts on the human psyche, such as stress relief and spiritual contemplation. Tourism to the waterfalls of Costa Rica contributes enormously to the local economy. Costa Rica is already known for its ecotourism: a fifth of its landmass is conserved as protected areas. As such, most visitors to the tropical paradise seek out nature and wilderness as much as possible. Conservation and management of waterfalls across the country must balance the desire to visit these beautiful places with the tiny footprint we humans tend to leave. While we want guests to be able to have access to the pastoral tranquility found in rainforests across Costa Rica, we also want to protect the very thing that they’re coming to see: the waterfalls.
Adventure Activities in Rainforest Waterfalls
Rainforest waterfalls are some of the most stunning natural areas in Costa Rica, and with waterfalls naturally come pools and canyons created by the force of all that water moving its way down from the top. Not only does this make for great pictures, but waterfall pools are also the site of some of the most exhilarating adventure activities—though for some, the height of the waterfall itself is enough of an adrenaline boost just to look at! Canopy tours over waterfall pools, hikes, and zip lines to incredible falls, swimming, and cliff jumping into massive pools: the opportunities abound for visitors and locals alike. And even though this is for the adrenaline-charged, we would be remiss if we didn’t remind you that the lushness and beauty surrounding waterfalls are absolutely worth the hike, even if risk is not your thing. As with all high-thrills adventures, there are definitely risks, so make sure to ask yourselves if you’re up for the challenges these waterfall sites present. If you are, there’s a good chance we’ll meet up with you at one of the waterfalls!
While fully aware that not everyone wants their adrenaline levels to approach the red zone, we do feel like we should probably cover the water-themed cliff jumping that occurs with the advent of Costa Rica’s green season. Only hotels with pools tend to close their doors during the rainy season, and in some parts of the country, the only time that you’ll have any sunshine at all is in the morning, at which time we highly recommend going to the closest, under-populated river. If you aren’t staying in a hotel with a pool, all the better. That means you’re near the nearest waterfall and waterfall pool. In addition to the hiking and swimming activities inside the river canyons, Costa Rica is filled with outdoor adventure companies, and many of them partner with different waterfall sites to either fly down a canopy or zip line into waterfall pools or just swim and cliff jump alone. Standards have been developed in order to protect visitors’ safety and health, but those standards also couple as environmental protection.
Canopy Tours and Ziplining
A scenic drive through Costa Rica’s varied landscapes of rolling hills or cloud-topped mountains, emerald-green carpets of pastureland, and primeval forests often reveals the “ribbon effect” of a ziplining cable vibrating through the rainforest as a half-seen human form races between treetops. Viewed from high above, the tree canopy is a mosaic of different shades of green separated by brown and gray lines. When a zipliner is speeding along a cable, with the wind in his or her ears and a harness for safety, it feels very much like flying but with the reassurance of a slender safety net of galvanized steel. Ziplining and canopy tours allow visitors a unique perspective on the primary or secondary forest canopy. Canopy tours feature five to ten cables that travel from launch points in tall, strong trees down to the forest floor, while ziplining consists of regular stops atop well-constructed platforms.
To prevent forest clearing, they are often installed on steep hillsides or in hard-to-reach interior sites. However, their environmental impact is low, as visitors travel in a confined space and do not need to march further into the forest. Canopy tours and ziplining activities are safe and are conducted by professionally trained, bilingual guides. Most companies offer pick-ups from local hotels. Tours usually end with a strenuous hike back out of the forest. Ziplining is not just an adrenaline ride but a way to really explore and see firsthand how complex and wildly beautiful the rainforest is. Rates are generally per person, plus a surcharge to be picked up from a hotel in the area. Rates are cheaper for children. Apart from physical challenges, ziplining is also beneficial for mental health, as it really forces an individual to let go, trust, and go with the flow. Most canopy and zipline operators show their visitors the finca, lomas, cascada, and mariposario on site, thereby doubling as an ecological adventure company, in many cases in partnership with local villagers as a part of community-based rural tourism initiatives.
Hiking and Trekking
Hiking in the Vicinity of Waterfalls For those who need a little more adventure in exploring the countryside or rainforests relatively close to waterfalls, hiking trails can lead you to your desired waterfall or to overlooks with breathtaking views of the Orosi Valley, central Pacific plains with the Bajos del Toro canyon, and the hillsides of Vara Blanca, located near Costa Rica’s largest cascading waterfall. Moreover, hiking in the rainforest is good for your health and also acts as a physical therapist, a stress reliever, and is beneficial for the mind and soul. Additionally, hiking opportunities in the surroundings of a deep canyon with several waterfalls in rivers that, when crashing to the bottom of the canyon floor, provide breathtaking sights such as the gigantic rocks and the legend behind the gorge. Also, there are several hiking possibilities in a cloud forest reserve with waterfalls that are more relaxed and enjoyable for hikers. Physical and therapeutic benefits generate a range of opportunities for people of diverse ages and conditions, ranging from very easy trails passing through comfortable, unbeaten paths to more arduous ones that involve steep trails and slippery routes.
Even while appreciating the nearby surroundings during the hike, the trekking experience is for those soaked in natural beauty and local wildlife and plant observation, as well as echoing and exploring the more distant environment filled with historical and cultural narratives. Because they provide important ecosystem services and recreational opportunities, many people enjoy visiting waterfalls. The popularity of this type of attraction, however, puts pressure on watersheds and the ecosystems that provide waterfalls in these scenic environments, which can result in negative social and environmental impacts. To prevent this, it is necessary to promote sustainable tourism, including guidelines that inform visitors about the importance of conserving the ecosystems that provide tourism resources, such as the positive social and environmental impacts of trails on visitors, and mitigating their negative impacts.
Swimming and Cliff Jumping
Regardless of the cascade, the clear water is cool, refreshing, and safe to swim in. It’s even safe to climb the rocks and dive off the cliffs into the natural pools that have been carved into the landscape over thousands of years. For people hesitant to cannonball off rocks into ponds, local expert guides are present to assist, demonstrating technique and providing an additional layer of security. It is important, however, to perform these activities responsibly. People who choose to step into the pool must be aware of the local environment and follow any safety and operational guidelines offered. There are established operating procedures and standards to appease multiple parties, including visitor safety, guide operation, and the protection of the local ecosystem.
Swimming is just the beginning of an alluring afternoon. As water serenely twists and turns its way down from the mountains, birds and bats swoop and flit above the walls of verdant jungle. The forest gets so tightly packed around the river that capturing a view of the surrounding rainforest becomes almost impossible. But the cascading waterfalls present a reprieve from the dense growth, a natural window to see kilometers of rainforest unfolding in all directions. Standing on the cliffs, you are aware of the incredible beauty and tranquility in your surroundings. It lends a profound sense of balance. Jumping from nearly sixty-five feet is a singular adventure. Instead of just standing on a precipice, the leap forward feels like charging and escaping at once.
Environmental Conservation and Sustainable Tourism
Costa Rica, the Switzerland of Central America, hosts some 5 percent of the world’s biodiversity across no less than 26 national parks, 58 wildlife refuges, and over 100 protected areas. In 2015, Costa Rica welcomed more than 2.5 million tourists – the vast majority of them from the USA and Canada – seeking that wildlife. The rise of tourism put a spotlight on the delicate ecosystems in these rainforests. The parks receive nearly 300,000 visitors a year, and many question the sustainability of this model.
Tourism can and does have a major impact on natural resources. In the event that a natural resource is destroyed, not only is the forest affected, but so too is the country’s economy, and efforts should be undertaken to counteract such destruction. Perhaps then, responsible tourism represents an opportunity to maintain said protected areas unharmed by means of an activity designed to raise awareness and change the psychological attitude and perspective towards the environment and conservation. Therefore, regarding the issue of the sustainable use of forest resources, it is essential to involve the local community in conservation programs as one of the key points for ensuring that biological diversity is preserved in perpetuity. Among other initiatives, ecological education and awareness raising must play an important role in these local communities. NGOs work actively across the country to promote sustainable tourism and conservation. In addition, the Costa Rican national ecology and conservation strategy has been to protect the most biodiversity-rich 20 percent of the forest areas for a cost of 23 million dollars per year, initiating a national program to provide and create conservation areas and parks, which would allow development and integration and safeguard our natural resources, as well as cultural attractions, all so that foreign guests could admire and enjoy the rich nature that still exists in Costa Rica.
However, those lucky environmental protection pioneers of 1920, and their modern-day successors, tirelessly promoting the stability that such outcomes contribute to local communities and the national economy, can still only do so much. They cannot always guarantee an enjoyable, safe visit for their main attraction – the great outdoors – and one cannot expect the people around the parklands to stop adventure activities altogether. The more people there are participating in activities such as ziplining, bird watching, trekking, hiking, and horseback riding, the more likely it is that the financial and educational benefits for all, including many local people employed by resorts now, will outweigh environmental costs. All visitors – foreign and Costa Rican – should be aware of their environmental footprint because of such activities and think ahead, plan ahead as much as possible, and ‘leave only footprints’ after they have sufficient fun that they are all wiped out by a magical waterfall at some jungle bar. After all, who doesn’t want to have fun and explore new activities that are more than worthwhile in our amazing variety of life zones? How else are we to promote and continue balanced economic development of local and national conservation areas if nobody goes? Yet at the same time, it is worth practicing such activities with environmental conservation in mind, especially if the majority of potential tourists are nothing but potential environmental stewards.