6 Outdoor Adventures for Gamblers in Costa Rica

At most hotels in Costa Rica, you will find a casino, but since there is so much to see and do in the country, gaming is only part of the fun to be had.

Costa Rica has become one of the main tourist destinations in recent years for people in the Americas.

In this beautiful country, you’ll find pristine beaches, amazing wildlife, and plenty of outdoor adventure.

Whether it’s just you and a partner, or your entire family, you’ll be able to visit their national parks that include activities like cave tubing, river rafting, hiking, or propelling down canyons in lush tropical rain forests.

The city of San Jose also offers more modern activities such as great shopping, luxurious hotels, and fantastic restaurants.

Many chefs have recently been opening establishments offering Latin and other types of fusion cuisine.

Some of the casinos in Costa Rica are larger than others, but most of the time, the gaming atmosphere is much more laidback than your Vegas-style casino which allows players to fully concentrate on their game.

Besides gambling in casinos, you can also bet on the ponies and the greyhounds while traveling in Costa Rica.

There are about 40 different gaming establishments here, half of which are located in the capital city of San Jose. Here are some of the best hotels and casinos:

• Croc’s Resort and Casino. This beachfront hotel and casino has a full-service spa, a large outdoor pool, poolside bar, several restaurants, and a smoke-free casino. Their gaming venue has over 100 slot machines and 28 table games that include craps, American and European Roulette, poker, and blackjack.
• Hotel Cocal and Casino. This venue is also located on the Atlantic Ocean and is one of the most popular casinos in the country. They offer complimentary drinks, plenty of slot machines as well as Texas Hold ‘Em, Omaha, roulette, blackjack, Caribbean Stud, and Tute, an Italian card game that is popular in Costa Rica. A VIP room is also available that can be booked for private events.
• Fiesta Casino Alajuela. This is one of the larger casinos in Costa Rica and also includes great food and live music. Located just northwest of the Juan Santamaria airport, they offer over 300 slot machines and 14 different table games of blackjack, baccarat, roulette, craps, and poker. Types of poker include Three-Card Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold‘em, and Five-Card Poker. They also feature poker tournaments and a VIP room for high stakes competition.
• Casino Europa at Radisson Hotel. Located in San Jose, this is one of the top casinos in the country. There is a large main gambling hall with plenty of space between tables and a separate poker room that has daily tournaments featuring No-Limit Texas Hold’em events. The facility has 120 different slot machines available and the list of table games include blackjack, Pai Gow, Let It Ride, Three-Card Poker, and roulette.

Of course, not everybody who comes to a beautiful country such as Costa Rica wants to spend the entire time inside, so let’s check out some of the many outdoor sights.

1 – Arenal Volcano National Park

If you want to go hiking or horseback riding, doing it at Arenal Volcano National Park is truly a magnificent way to go.

Close to San Jose, this is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. While enjoying the beauty of this perfectly symmetrical mountain you might actually be able to glimpse a lava flow.

You can view the volcano by using one of two main trails, the Sendero Colada and the Tucanes. The trails traverse through a rainforest and are well-maintained.

To enhance your experience, you can also hire a guide who will be able to point out interesting sights along the way such as the abundance of wildlife that includes monkeys, sloths, and mountain parrots.

There are also rappelling and zipline tour companies that can take visitors down waterfalls and across canyons at various locations within the park.

Entrance into the park is usually around $15.

2 – La Fortuna Waterfall

One of the most breathtaking waterfalls in Costa Rica is the La Fortuna Waterfall.

One of the preferred ways to travel to the waterfall is by horseback. This will take you through the valleys of San Carlos and lush evergreen forests.

After arriving at the end of the trail, you will then descend 500 steps to the basin of the waterfall, which will take only about 10 minutes.

This waterfall is over 230 feet high, and once there, you’ll be able to take a dip in its cascading pool.

The total time of the tour usually lasts around three hours, and entrance fees are $8 for adults and $6 for children. All fees go to the maintenance and protection of this natural wonder.

3 – Venado Caves

The Venado Caves are a series of eight chambers of underground limestone passageways that have been created over millions of years due to the movement of tectonic plates near the Arenal Volcano.

These caves were discovered in 1945 by a local farmer who happened to fall into them merely by accident.

During a tour of these natural caverns, you’ll see stalagmites and a whole host of underworld creatures including monochrome frogs, marine spiders, fish, bats, as well as a collection of marine fossils.

Before you’re guided underground, you’ll be outfitted with all the proper hiking gear and safety equipment including a helmet with its own searchlight.

Be sure to bring proper footwear and a towel because you are sure to get wet.

The caves are open from 8 AM to 4 PM and tours usually last around two and a half hours.

4 – La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park

Another park near San Jose is the La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park. This privately-owned nature preserve is an ideal family outing that features five waterfalls and a mist-enshrouded rainforest.

This park includes over two miles of hiking trails and a number of viewing platforms. There are several aviaries where handlers will feed various types of birds including toucans.

Other types of animal exhibits featured at the park include white-faced monkeys, spider monkeys, snakes, pumas, jaguars, margays, ocelots, and frogs. There is also a petting zoo for the young ones.

Touring these exhibits is usually self-guided but you can also hire a guide if you desire.

There’s also a buffet consisting of fresh fruit and traditional Costa Rican dishes if you happen to become hungry after touring the park.

The owners of the park have said that their mission in building the preserve was to protect the natural environment as well as educate and entertain the public.

Entrance into the park is $48 for adults and $32 for children 12 years and under.

5 – Tabacon Hot Springs

This network of natural hot springs is located in a private rainforest preserve and is part of the Tabacon Thermal Resort.

Relaxing in one of these geothermal pools amongst lush, mountainous landscapes is perhaps one of the most relaxing experiences anyone can have. It’s a great way to take a break from the casino games!

There are multiple mineral water pools throughout the resort. Some of which are private, and they are heated at varying temperatures.

The resort also features a series of cascading thermal waterfalls, as well as a sunbathing and swimming area, an in-pool bar, and a thermal water slide.

There are day passes available for tourists who aren’t staying at the resort.

6 – Rainmaker Aerial Walkway

This collection of six suspension bridges is located in the tropical rainforests of Quepos in Manuel Antonio National Park.

These rainforests are home to over half of all animal and plant species in Costa Rica so you’re sure to experience some of the best sights to be found anywhere in the country.

Walking along bridges at a height of 250 feet, you’ll be traversing some of the most beautiful canyon scenery in the southern hemisphere.

Up amongst the treetops, you’ll be exposed to the sights and sounds of amazing waterfalls and active wildlife such as tropical birds, amphibians, reptiles, and monkeys.

You’ll need to be in fairly good shape to walk through these forest canopies. And if you’re planning to bring children under the age of three years old, make sure you bring a child-carrier backpack.

After your forest trek, you can visit the lunch cafe of Casados where two local ladies will cook up a traditional Costa Rican meal for you at only $7 per plate.

Self-guided tours through the park start at $20 or can hire a guide at a cost of $75 per adult, $55 for children ages 11 through six, and kids five and under are free.

Conclusion

Do you know of any other outdoor spots to visit while in Costa Rica? Let me know what you think in the comments!