What are you looking for in an adventure vacation?

Although we all have our own variations of what we’re looking for, most of us want the same thing – that is to say, we want it all. The perfect vacation can’t be summed up by one facet. Not by a long shot. Instead, the perfect vacation is the culmination of a variety of essential factors coming together in travel magic.

Here are the six essential elements of the “perfect” adventure vacation.

1 » Excitement

Adventure isn’t for the timid. The whole point is to stir up a flurry of excitement, unraveling an epic story we will remember for the rest of our lives. An exciting vacation is one that evokes movement, passion, and stimulation, propelling us towards the next chapter of a story we don’t ever want to end.

2 » Sweat

If you’re not sweating, you’re not doing it right. Ever heard of a runner’s high? Try throwing in some biking, rafting, kayaking, and zip-lining, and then you’re really talking. Good fun can’t be given to you – it must be earned. The feeling of overcoming challenge and pushing yourself physically is an unrivaled asset of the perfect vacation.

3 » Beauty

Beauty is everywhere, but only travel has the ability to unveil the type of beauty you’ve never seen before. From evolving natural landscapes, to bustling foreign cities, to the colourful contrasts of ornate villages – the beauty discovered aboard an active journey is a worthy element in its own right.

4 » Bonding

The act of connecting with cultures abroad is enough to give you goose bumps. It also has a drastic influence on how we judge the place we’re visiting. Putting a face to the destination humanizes the art of travel and helps us remember the feelings you discovered when we were there.

5 » Dining

Active days make for hungry bellies. The joys of international dining are steepest right around dinnertime. There’s no more delicious way to discover the ways of the people than to join them in a feast!

6 » Surprise

The best vacations are never what you expected them to be. It’s the life that gets thrown at us along the way that makes the road worth walking.

This is the driving force that keeps adventure travel fresh. There are always new ways to see the world. It takes only a glimpse of prospective excitement to make us say, “I have got to go there and do that!”

Here are the current travel trends in a rapidly changing industry.

1 » Self-guided travel

The information renaissance continues to find new outlets, most recently in the form of self-guided travel. Digital mapping, GPS, online bookings, and computerized check-ins have opened the doors for independent travellers to experience the convenience of organized tours. Empowered with the logistical support of an experienced tour operator, travellers can now execute an itinerary without the necessity of a guide. The results are an unrestricted self-paced adventure, typically at a lower cost than guided travel.

2 » Point-to-point biking

Gone are the days of simply visiting a destination – it’s now how you get there. This has spawned a new yearning for point-to-point itineraries, allowing travellers to navigate across a country or even several. Biking is the most popular means of transportation, but kayaking, rafting, and hiking are often thrown in the mix as well.

3 » Culture is king

The world has gone social. We’re finally starting to realize that this beautiful world is meant to be shared, and that means meeting the neighbours. More and more travellers have shifted their focus toward cultural experiences. Meeting locals abroad is an uplifting experience that increases the quality of life for every party involved.

4 » Personalized itineraries

It’s never been easier to get what you want. These days, travellers have a good idea of what they want their vacation to include before they even start looking. Adding elements like extra activities, festivals, different accommodation, and private departures has become common place and will continue to push tour operators to increase their levels of customization.

5 » Responsible travel

Okay, responsible travel may not be a “trend” (at least we hope not), but it continues to grow. More and more, travellers are ensuring the companies they choose are responsible (both environmentally & socially). This continued shift in appreciation for responsible travel sets a stickier precedent for all travel companies and consequently, the countries they operate in. This trend touches the travel industry as a whole. For instance, airlines are testing biofuels and flying more efficiently by reducing cabin weight and rethinking their routes.

A major reason why Costa Rica is so popular is because it has something for everyone. It’s a small enough country to allow travellers to pick and choose their route, but big enough to prevent them from visiting everywhere if only visiting for one or two weeks.

So what are the best places to visit in Costa Rica? It really depends on what you’re looking for. Here is a simple list of good spots and what you’ll find at each of them.

1 » Manuel Antonio

Specialty: Relaxation, beach, & wildlife

Manual Antonio is a popular destination for pristine beaches and lush rainforest. It has its share of tourists and is becoming more popular with families than backpackers. Manuel Antonio National Park is great place to spot wildlife (both land and marine).

2 » Monteverde

Specialty: Cloud forest hiking

Monteverde is a Quaker settlement known for its beautiful cloud forests. Here, the warm moist winds from the Caribbean collect and cool among the trees, forming a wonderful cloud cover. It’s perfect for hikers and bird watchers. In fact, National Geographic went on record saying it was the best place in Central America for spotting the famous quetzal bird.

3 » Pacuare River

Specialty: Whitewater rafting

The Pacuare River is the best place in Costa Rica for whitewater rafting. The river grades range from class II to V depending on the section. It is surrounded by dense rainforest thriving with exotic animals such as jaguars, birds, and monkeys.

4 » La Fortuna

Specialty: Zip-lining, waterfall rappelling, & hot springs

La Fortuna is home to the Arenal volcano, Costa Rica’s most famous volcano. Since the volcano became less active over the last 10 years, La Fortuna’s spotlight is now shining on its outdoor activities like zip-lining, waterfall rappelling, and thermal hot springs.

5 » Samara Beach

Specialty: Sea kayaking

Samara has one of the most beautiful stretches of beach in Costa Rica. Its shining coast is home to numerous island pockets, ideal for day trips in sea kayaks. The waves can be moderately large, making kayak surfing techniques necessary for beach landings.

6 » Mal País

Specialty: Surfing

The legendary waves at Mal País have made it a global destination for surfers. The town is extremely small and underdeveloped. It is ideal for surfers or people wanting to learn.

7 » Puerto Viejo

Specialty: Peace and quiet

Known for its “laid back” attitude, Puerto Viejo is a good place to relax and take in nightlife. It typically draws the younger crowd looking for beach, music, and other travellers.

8 » Ostional Beach

Specialty: Turtles/eggs

Ostional beach is the best place for turtle watching in Costa Rica. The week before the new moon, thousands of sea turtles climb onto the beach to bury their eggs in the volcanic sand. It is a supremely special natural wonder to witness.

9 » Orosi Valley

Specialty: Biking

The Orosi Valley is an undiscovered paradise. Away from the typical tourist trail, it is home to fantastic views, steep sided valleys, and Spanish Moss. Since temperatures are cooler in this area, it is a favourite among mountain bikers wanting to take on the graded terrain.

10 » Osa Peninsula

Specialty: Off the beaten track

For travellers looking to get away from tourism altogether, the Osa Peninsula is the place to be. The one hour flight from San Jose is well worth it for the breathtaking scenery, empty beaches, and abundant wildlife.

Read more about adventure trips in Costa Rica »

Venezuela – The Motorcycle Diaries

Year: 2004
Staring: Gael García Bernal & Rodrigo De la Serna
Director: Walter Salles
Synopsis: The dramatization of a motorcycle road trip Che Guevara went on in his youth that showed him his life’s calling.

Brazil – City of God

Year: 2002
Staring: Alexandre Rodrigues & Leandro Firmino
Director:  Fernando Meirelles & Kátia Lund
Synopsis: Two boys growing up in a violent neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro take different paths: one becomes a photographer, the other a drug dealer.

Paraguay – The Mission

Year: 1986
Staring: Robert De Niro & Jeremy Irons
Director: Roland Joffé
Synopsis: 18th century Spanish Jesuits try to protect a remote South American Indian tribe in danger of falling under the rule of pro-slavery Portugal.

Argentina – Evita

Year: 1996
Staring: Madonna & Antonio Banderas
Director: Alan Parker
Synopsis: A film adapted from the hit musical based on the life of Evita Duarte, a B-picture Argentinian actress who eventually became the wife of Argentinian president Juan Perón, and the most beloved and hated woman in Argentina.

Guyana – Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple

Year: 2006
Staring: Rebecca Moore & Janet Shular
Director: Stanley Nelson
Synopsis: A documentary revealing new footage of the incidents surrounding the People Temple and its leader Jim Jones who led over 900 members of his cult to a settlement in Guyana, where he orchestrated a mass suicide.

French Guiana – The Life of Emile Zola

Year: 1937
Staring: Paul Muni & Gale Sondergaard
Director: William Dieterle
Synopsis: The biopic of the famous French muckraking writer and his involvement in fighting the injustice of the Dreyfuss Affair.

Uruguay – Alive

Year: 1993
Staring: Ethan Hawke & Vincent Spano
Director: Frank Marshall
Synopsis: A Uruguayan rugby team gets stranded in the snow swept Andes and are forced to use desperate measures to survive after a plane crash.

Falkland Islands – Pirates of Treasure Island

Year: 2006
Staring: Lance Henriksen & Tom Nagel
Director: Leigh Scott
Synopsis: A prequel/adaptation to the novel “Treasure Island.”

Chile – Missing

Year: 1982
Staring: Jack Lemmon & Sissy Spacek
Director: Costa-Gavras
Synopsis: When an idealistic writer disappears during the Right Wing military coup in 1973 Chile, his wife and American businessman father try to find him.

Peru – Raiders of the Lost Ark

Year: 1981
Staring: Harrison Ford & Karen Allen
Director: Steven Spielberg
Synopsis: Archeologist and adventurer Indiana Jones is hired by the US government to find the Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis.

Ecuador – Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World

Year: 2003
Staring: Russell Crowe & Paul Bettany
Director: Peter Weir
Synopsis: During the Napoleonic Wars, a brash British captain pushes his ship and crew to their limits in pursuit of a formidable French war vessel around South America.

Columbia – Proof of Life

Year: 2000
Staring: Russell Crowe & Meg Ryan
Director: Taylor Hackford
Synopsis: Alice hires a professional negotiator to obtain the release of her engineer husband, who has been kidnapped by anti-government guerrillas in South America.

Trinidad and Tobago – Affair in Trinidad

Year: 1952
Staring: Rita Hayworth & Glen Ford
Director: Vincent Sherman
Synopsis: A nightclub singer and her brother-in-law try to find her husband’s killer.

What’s truly disappointing, however, is saying something rude or hurtful when we should know better.

Here are 5 phrases we should remove from our travel vocabulary altogether.

“I’m in the middle of nowhere!”

This phrase is often used when we’re no longer oriented to our environment. It becomes taboo when we say it for all to hear, including the locals. Although this place may seem like “nowhere,” it’s probably near someone’s home.

“Wow, everything is so cheap!”

Yes, goods are commonly relatively less expensive in many parts of the world. This doesn’t mean we need to be arrogant about it. Shop owners, vendors, and employees don’t need a constant reminder of how cheap their country sells things compared to rich westernized countries.

“This place is backwards!”

Backwards compared to what? Our country? That’s like saying China is upside-down. Judging another country or culture soley by the values and standards of our own is ethnocentrism – a common character flaw that we can all do without.

“This place is boring!”

First off, places aren’t boring – people are. Secondly, comments of boredom almost exclusively come from people who aren’t taking it upon themselves to expunge the inherent excitement of their destination. We should travel to accept the destination for what it is.

“It’s not going to work out!”

The best way to tackle the obstacles the world throws at us is with optimism. Everything is going to work out in the end, so we might as well enjoy the ride.