Travels to Central Pacific
Jaco may be popular for its consistent surf and miles of grey-sand beach, but its lush mountain backdrops peppered with secluded waterfalls are ideal for a leisurely horseback ride. While there is no shortage of tour operators promoting such excursions in the area, as an avid rider and proud horse owner, I made sure to do my research and choose a reputable outfit that properly cares for its animals.
With nine healthy and happy steeds, Discovery Horseback Tours, owned by British-born Chris and Andrea Wady, came highly recommended. Rayna and I met Andrea for the waterfall …
Location: Central Pacific, Jaco and Playa Hermosa »
Activities: Day Spas, Horseback Riding, Waterfalls »
Fully caffeinated by 6:30 a.m., we were raring to go on our morning hike through Carara National Park. With a local population of nearly 450 birds, the park is one of the country’s top areas to view the scarlet macaw. We were joining two other travelers on our excursion with King Tours, a full-service operator in Jaco that also specializes in deep-sea fishing.
As our naturalist guide Roy explained, Carara is unique in that it hosts both the wet rainforest of the southern Pacific and the dry tropical forest of the northwest. Located in this transition …
Location: Central Pacific, Jaco and Playa Hermosa »
Activities: Bird & Wildlife Watching, National Parks & Reserves »
It was another glorious sunny day, typical of summer in Costa Rica, when we departed for Jaco beach. Just 73 miles southwest of San Jose, it is easy to see why this Central Pacific beach town is popular with Ticos and travelers alike – accessibility. In addition to great surfing, Jaco is notorious for its lively party scene and adventure sports, including everything from parasailing and sport fishing to horseback rides along secluded mountain trails.
I was traveling with my co-worker, Rayna, who would be photographing our tours and joining me on culinary adventures as we …
Location: Central Pacific, Jaco and Playa Hermosa »
Activities: Sport Fishing »
