Divers come to Costa Rica for the incredible variety of tropical marine life and the thrill of swimming with big schools of big fish. Imagine being surrounded by a school of 200 hammerhead sharks or 50 manta rays, docile white-tip, nurse and bull sharks. Many divers have been treated to the sight of a magnificent whale shark, often while diving close to shore.

Divers will also see, shrimp, seahorses, many types of eels, turtles, dolphins, enormous manta rays, spotted eagle and bat rays, large schools of jacks and many varieties of sea snakes.

Costa Rica has well-equipped dive shops and dive boats, most offering Nixtrox as well as compressed air, and many of them have re-breathers.

With a fantastic diversity of tropical marine life, lots of big fish, warm water, excellent visibility and first rate dive outfitters, it's no wonder that Costa Rica is a world leader in dive sites.

Hawaii...Cabo San Lucas...Pebble Beach...Myrtle Beach...

Imagine golfing at these popular golf destinations before they were discovered by the golf traveler. This will give you an idea of the golf vacation that awaits you in Costa Rica. You will re-discover "no-hassle" tee times and the enjoyment of playing unhurried rounds of golf on courses designed by well known golf architects George Fazio, Robert Trent Jones II, Ron Garl, Ted Robinson, Mike Young and Tracy May. Here you will find all the ingredients for great golfing and the added bonus of experiencing the scenic beauty and natural attractions of Costa Rica.

The lure of playing golf in Costa Rica is quite simple: Costa Rica is a beautiful country that naturally provides spectacular location for golf courses. The government and people of Costa Rica have a long history of sensitivity toward the Ecosystem and many years ago instituted measures to protect their natural resources and environment. The new generation of golf course maintenance professionals prides themselves in their use of environmentally friendly techniques and products. The best aspect of designing a golf course in Costa Rica is that you do not have to create a beautiful setting; you only have to make good use of the existing land to bring about incredible results.

Entering the magical and abundant world of nature in Costa Rica and experiencing it becomes even more intriguing when one does it from the seat of a bicycle: because of this, mountain biking has gradually gained popularity and is currently one of the many adventure attractions tour operators offer tourists who want to enjoys nature and be in direct contact with trees, rivers and the constant harmony produced by this original ensemble.

Many visitors like to hike in the national parks and wilderness areas. Hikers should be adequately prepared for this. Always carry plenty of water, even on short trips and bring maps and extra food.

The primary attractions for many naturalists are the birds, of which some 850 species have been recorded. Costa Rica has far more species here than are found in any one of these continents, North America, Australia or Europe.

For many visitors the hummingbirds are the most delightful birds to observe. Over 50 species has been recorded in Costa Rica and their beauty is matched by extravagant names, such a purple-throated mountain gem, white-crested coquette, and red-footed pkumeleteer, to name a few.

Other exciting birds include brightly colored scarlet macaws and 15 other parrot species; six different toucans with their incredibly large and hollow bills; the huge and very happy eagle, which is capable of snatching monkeys and sloth's off branches as it flies past; and large array of other tropical birds such as flycatcher (75 species), tangers (45 species), antbirds (29 species) and cotingas (19 species).

With water everywhere you know the boating in Costa Rica has to be great. Rivers, lakes and two oceans provide the perfect setting for leisurely cruising down tropical waterways, taking in the splendid scenery.

It is not by accident that Costa Rica has become one of the best surfing destinations in the world, not only for its heaven-like oceans, but also for its variety of surf sports.

Surfers have learned that to make a surfing vacation unforgettable, you know where to find consistent and regular waves. One of the advantages of surfing in Costa Rica is that during any season there will be good swells. Surfers from around the world come to Costa Rica to take advantage of prime surfing conditions created by the perfect blend of wind and geography.

Because of the relatively small size of the territory and the large variety of surf locations, it is very easy to surf "good waves" all year along. The short distances between locations allow you to arrive quickly from destination to destination, and the fact that Costa Rica has two oceans is a gift from Mother Nature... You may begin surfing at dawn on the pacific coast and just a few hours later enjoy the Atlantic swellsover white-sandy beaches.

Horseback riding in Costa Rica can take you along beaches, at the edge of the country roads, through pastures and along forest trails. Although not strictly necessary, a little equestrian experience will stand you in good stead since ranch horses are usually rounded up for trail duty. Lessons on how to control your mount and special assistance should be requested before setting out on any trail ride.

Costa Rica lends itself so well to this exhilarating sport due to the variety of swift rivers, reliability of stream flow, and relatively warm waters, all offered on a year-round basis. Because Costa Rica has so many rivers and seasonal flow is far more predictable than any region in the U.S. or Canada, kayakers are seldom disappointed.

Kayakers can easily find the class of rapids desired, whether you're a beginner seeking class II rapids or a top expert craving hazardous class V and VI rapids, Costa Rica has it all.

Sea kayaking is also very popular providing a great way to travel quietly to secluded shelters and mangrove forests for an up close and personal view of the wildlife.

This adventure sport is new both to Costa Rica and to the rest of the world, and if the fact of flying through treetops at 40 meters from the ground seems to you as both an incredibly frightening and exciting idea, just imagine what it must be like to do it among the tree tops of the tropical rain and cloud forests. The sport originated from mountain climbing in that it also uses safety climbing harnesses and ropes to displace the person from one inaccessible point to another.

The technique was developed by scientists in the US to study the canopies of trees in forests there without disturbing the life in the limbs and trunk by having to attach ladders or climbing equipment to the tree. It was not until a few years ago that scientist were able to study the canopy ecosystems in great depth through the use of this technique, and once it was developed, the rainforest became the optimal target for its use due to its large and complex ecosystems.

Virtually every destination in Costa Rica offers rafting expeditions on a number of rivers. Nothing compares with braving world-class rapids while traveling through some of the most beautiful breathtaking scenery in the world.

Costa Rica's warm tropical waters are home to an abundance of big fish, which lure fishermen from around the world.

Sailfish, blue marlin, striped marlin, roosterfish, tuna, snapper, wahoo, tarpon and snook are just a few of the species caught in large numbers off the Pacific coast.

According to the International Game Fish Association, Costa Rica holds 44 line class records, 17 fly rod records and 18 all-tackle records, a total of 79 world records! The line class records include a 162 pound blue marlin caught on 4 pound test and a 110 pound Pacific sailfish landed with 2 pound test line. There are five fly rod records for sailfish, and two each for blue and striped marlin.

Costa Rica also offers excellent freshwater fishing, and even trout fishing up in the mountains.