Our experts taking you on a unique journey across costa rica
Calling all thrill seekers to Costa Rica! With so many different things to see and do, you won’t know where to begin. This page will introduce you to our Costa Rican experts, where you will discover why Costa Rica is the best country for an adventure of a lifetime. Through their years of experience and knowledge in their respected fields, they’ll sure provide you with the best tips and off the beaten path tracks to suit your visit to Costa Rica. Get ready to start your adventure and find what gets your adrenaline going with our experts and guides below. Simply click on an experience below and find out why our experts have fallen in love with Costa Rica and how you can start your own adventure today!
Veronica Wessel
Director of Ario Tours
What makes them an expert?
Veronica Wessel was born in Costa Rica and chose to live in Santa Teresa (Nicoya Peninsula), a beautiful location where she has now lived for 10 years. She has also lived on the pacific coast of Costa Rica for over 15 years. She is currently the director of Ario Tours as well as a student for Natural Horsemanship (Parelli) & Dressage. Ario Tours specializes in horse trails around the family farm and has over 15 years of experience in the horse riding, tourism and hospitality industry.
What do you love about horse-riding in Costa Rica?
Freedom, Connection, Nature. A different perspective on how to appreciate what surrounds us. Horses are incredible animals, so sensitive and patient at the same time. It is her favourite activity because she is completely passionate about horses. Horses offer so much more than just a ride. It almost becomes like a therapy session for anyone who comes and rides at the farm with them. Horses can teach you a lot about yourself! To her, riding is about connecting with nature.
Top 3 favourite Locations
Top 3 tips
Sky Adventure
Adventure Park
What makes them an expert?
They are two brothers and one sister, originating from Monteverde Costa Rica. In 1997, they opened the first park in Monteverde, offering a tour of suspension bridges called “Sky Walk”. The success led them to venture into a new tourist activity called “Sky Trek” that consisted of a system of zip line cables hanging from platform to platform above the forest canopy. In 2004, the company expanded into the tourist area of "La Fortuna de San Carlos" in Costa Rica, where their services of Sky Walk and Sky Trek is offered, as well as a new service called "Sky Tram", based on a cable car system.
What do you love about Zip-lining in Costa Rica?
The adrenaline, the adventures, the people and because it is an extraordinary spectacular experience! Our guests can get the best experiences in our park. The combination of the cable car and circuit of zip lines is one of the most thrilling, ultimate adventures. Guests will feel like they're flying from mountain to mountain above the canopy without walking across platforms.
Top 3 favourite Locations
Top 3 tips
Expert coming soon
Daniel Arguedas
National Rafting Champion
What makes them an expert?
Daniel is a National Rafting Competitor and has represented his country across the globe in Japan, Dubai, Czech Republic and Ecuador. As a Professional Elite-level Sportsman for more than 23 years, Daniel has achieved first places and podium finishes on more than 60 occasions competing in rafting, adventure and cycling. As an Expert Guide, Daniel owns and operates his own adventure company ‘Agency Trocha Expeditions Costa Rica’, and offers amazing tours and experiences throughout the country.
What do you love about Rafting in Costa Rica?
For hundreds of years, torrential weather has shaped Costa Rica’s valleys and canyons, creating a landscape whose twists, dips, and bumps are ripe for rafting opportunities. Some of the country’s most well-known rivers for rafting – Pacuare and Sarapiqui – carve through dense forests and pass by inspiring waterfalls. Rafting options exist for all ages and abilities, and can range from manoeuvring through technical rapids to gliding along smooth stretches that are ideal for nature watching.
Top 3 favourite Locations
Top 3 tips
Ronald Bottger
Co-Founder of Explornatura
What makes them an expert?
Ronald was born in Peru but moved to Costa Rica in the early 90’s where he found and fell in love with one of the best places in the world to practice climbing and rappelling. In 1999, he helped fund ‘Explornatura’ where he developed his skills the field and now he specialises in creating customised itineraries for travellers looking for adventure in Costa Rica. Explornatura is one of the top adventure and nature tour companies in Costa Rica.
What do you love about Climbing in Costa Rica?
Climbing is unique in Costa Rica due to the destination’s abundance in rainwater that ends up in creeks and rivers that make up the canyon. In addition, Costa Rica is surrounded by tropical forests and incomparable diversity of plants and wildlife that no other destination in the world has.
Top 3 favourite Locations
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Suresh Krishnan
Founder of Desafio adventure
What makes them an expert?
Suresh Krishnan started Desafio Adventure Company over 20 years ago after falling in love with the Arenal region's many rivers. He was the one of the first to explore the rivers of the Northern zone and has been a pioneer of adventure, exploring rivers and canyons in Costa Rica ever since.
What do you love about Climbing in Costa Rica?
His favourite part about rafting in Costa Rica is being able to be constantly surrounded by nature. Costa Rica’s rugged, mountainous terrain is ideal for climbing and rappelling. Most climbing activities takes place in dry canyons and locations, however, in Costa Rica, visitors are able to rappel down warm, tropical waterfalls and rivers through humid rainforest canyons, which makes rafting in Costa Rica so different to any other destination.
Top 3 favourite Locations
Top 3 tips
Roman Urbina
Founder of La Ruta
What makes them an expert?
Roman is a Costa Rican expert living in San Jose, the capital. He has been a cycling professional for more than 30 years. He started the world famous mountain bike race ‘LA RUTA DE LOS CONQUISTADORES’ and considered as one of the oldest mountain biking routes and toughest endurance events in the world.
What do you love about cycling in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica is full of great cycling trails, routes and nature parks. Their routes range from the Pacific Ocean to the Caribbean Sea. There are a number of different trails and roads to cycle on along the way. Cycling is unique in Costa Rica not only due to its amazing landscapes, but also because of its variety in terrain, making it the perfect destination for hard-core cyclists or leisure riders.
Top 3 favourite Locations
Top 3 tips
Expert coming soon
Pura Vida Tours
Tour Company
What makes them an expert?
Jimmy, founder of ‘Pura Vida Tours’, has lived at the base of an active volcano all his life, exploring and enjoying the many beautiful rainforest trails, waterfalls, caves and mountains of Arenal Volcano. He started his own tour company ‘Pura Vida Tours’, guiding mainly his family and friends to some of Costa Rica’s secret locations. Since then, he has been helping visitors to create their very own experiences in Costa Rica.
What do you love about hiking in Costa Rica?
The reason why hiking is his favourite activity is because of its very close contact with nature. The feeling of freedom, the outstanding views and the history behind each place that he visits. With 30% of the land area protected by national parks, wildlife refuges, and preserves, Costa Rica hiking reveals a variety of well-marked trails for the adventurer.