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Most Popular Sports in Costa Rica

Browse our hand-picked selection of sports tours in Costa Rica!

Sports and Activities in Costa Rica

Get active with some of Costa Rica's best sports tours and activities.

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Sports Tours in Costa Rica

Costa Rica has options if you love to test your body and mind.

Booking a Sports Tour

If you love sports and physical activity, whether competing with others or yourself, then Costa Rica is a perfect fit. It's not all about nature and beaches, you know. Costa Rica is about an outdoor lifestyle, which means a sporty lifestyle.

Soccer is the most popular sport by far among locals, but we're talking here about the types of things on offer for tourists.

Things like surfing (also popular among many locals), mountain biking (ditto), horseback riding, fishing, diving, golf, kayaking, whitewater rafting, and even cave spelunking, to name a few.

And we mustn't also forget the simple pleasures of swimming and going for an early morning run before the heat of the day kicks in!

Below, we take a look at some of the activities the more sporty type of traveler might enjoy in Costa Rica.

Surfing in Costa Rica

Surfing is by far the most famous and iconic sport for tourists in Costa Rica.

It's partly because of surfing that Costa Rica even became a tourism hotspot in the first place. Travelers have been coming to chase waves in Costa Rica since the 1960s, and most beach communities have surfing to thank for their development. In short, Costa Rica is home to a vibrant and developed surf culture.

Beginner, intermediate, and advanced surfers will all find their place in Costa Rica, their perfect wave. Both Caribbean and Pacific coasts offer both mild three-footers and gargantuan breaks for the brave – and everything in-between. It's no wonder Costa Rica hosts numerous international competitions and why it attracts surfers from all over the world.

Fishing in Costa Rica

Another sport in Costa Rica that attracts lots of tourists is deep sea fishing, or sport fishing. Whether you're reeling in yellowfin tuna, sailfish, and marlin offshore or catching tarpon and snook while inshore, you're in an angler's paradise in Costa Rica.

It’s an incredible feeling when your line bends with the first fish and you strap into the chair, ready to reel in the next Big One!

Golf in Costa Rica

If you crave a slower pace and some sport on dry land, check out Costa Rica's golf courses. Pristine greens dot the Pacific Coast and Central Valley. Several championship courses promise some of the best golf you'll ever play in the tropics.

Mountain Biking in Costa Rica

Mountain biking is an increasingly popular sport in Costa Rica. With near perfect weather year-round and plenty of challenging terrain to enjoy, it's not surprising. 

If you're interested in hitting the trails, Rio Perdido is an excellent spot, but ask us about other places, too!

Horseback Riding in Costa Rica

When you strip Costa Rica back to basics, without the tourism and the development, it's a rural society at heart. Horses and horseback riding is still a part of that traditional society.

To that end, horseback riding in Costa Rica is a real treat. The experience can range from galloping across deserted beaches to meandering across swathes of Guanacaste cattle country. Throw in some rainforest/cloud forest trails and coffee farm exploration for good measure.

Costa Rica is a delight for equestrians.

Contact Us to Get Active in Costa Rica

Aside from the activities mentioned above, there are plenty of other things to do. White-water rafting, hiking, stand-up paddle boarding, and kayaking are some of Costa Rica’s other sporting tours, where you can combine physical challenges with awe-inspiring scenery and memorable experiences.

Get in touch with us and tell us what you want to do while in Costa Rica. We'll tell you the best places to do them and tailor your itinerary around your favorite activities if you want. What are you waiting for?

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