Eat...
- Fried plantains. Typically served along the standard beans and rice, fried plantains also come with almost every meal. If the taste is too bland for your taste buds, try it with honey.
Drink...
- Beer. And not just any beer—it must be Imperial: la cervesa of Costa Rica. You can’t miss the eagle icon on the label, and you’ll never forget the taste of the all-natural ingredients that made this beer known worldwide.
- Strawberry milkshake. The volcanic soils of the mountains make for some of the sweetest fruit in the world—so go ahead, be a kid and get a milkshake!
See...
- La Fortuna waterfall. It won’t take long for you to realize why locals named this waterfall “the fortune.” Dropping more than 200 feet to the bottom, the water gathers in a deep icy pond that is turquoise, black, and midnight blue.
- Arenal Volcano. Make the trip at night, if you can. It’s really the only time you can see the lava.
Do...
- Swim at the base of the waterfalls. If you visit La Fortuna, you’ll be surprised at how refreshing it is to jump in the icy water after that long hike to get to the bottom! *Not recommended for the beginning swimmer*
- Kayak in the Arenal Lake. Yes, standing in line to don a lifejacket and pick up a paddle will probably brand you as “tourist,” but it’s not everyday you can paddle right underneath a volcano. Leave your clothes behind because you will either fall out of the kayak, or it will start pouring rain.
- Soak in the natural hot springs. With some stone baths heated to over 150 degrees Fahrenheit by the surrounding volcanoes, it will definitely ease up your muscles after a long day of adventure.