Waterfall swimming

Don your hiking boots and follow a local guide along a mountain river trail deep into the Costa Rican rainforest, where giant trees close overhead and howler monkeys call from the canopy. The path winds beneath a shifting green light, tropical birds flitting between branches as the sound of water grows louder with every turn. Along the way, pause at a faithful replica of a traditional Cabécar rancho, a thatched house built in the style still used by Costa Rica's Indigenous communities, and learn how they have lived in balance with the forest for generations. A sharp-eyed guide points out what most walkers miss: a poison dart frog camouflaged on a leaf, a blue morpho butterfly catching the light, perhaps even a toucan overhead. The trail passes a string of smaller cascades before reaching the main event, a towering waterfall crashing into a crystal-clear pool. Wade in, swim beneath the falls, or simply float on your back and let the rainforest close in around you. It is one of the most rewarding things to do in Costa Rica for anyone who wants their luxury Costa Rica vacation to include a genuine, sweat-earned wild swim.