About two months ago I started my marketing internship with Tropical Adventures and during this time I have already had many chances to go and visit many of our volunteer projects and also explore a bit better the beautiful country of Costa Rica. This weekend I took advantage of a free Monday, so called Guanacaste day celebrating the annexation of this region to Costa Rica. I had heard many positive things about a jaw-dropping beauty of a Costa Rican place called Manuel Antonio  which is a national park and a beach resort at the same time and I decided to spend these three days there.
The trip took about 3 hours from San José and I was very kindly welcomed in a hostel named Backpackers Manuel Antonio right on a half way from Quepos to Manuel Antonio. This position offers a very good chance to get fast to both places, during the day by very frequently going buses and at night by quite cheap taxis. And trust me – you don’t want to be too far from Quepos since it offers you many more chances to enjoy a night life as well as you enjoy the day at Manuel Antonio.

As I said, I was welcomed very friendly and met many other backpackers really fast. We together visited a national park which is open from the early morning until 4 pm. A very interesting thing about this park is a fact that you are crossing a rain-forest, observing wild animals and after a few other steps you end up at a beautiful beach with limpid water. This combination is truly extraordinary and you will have no problem to spend a whole day there without even realizing it. The entrance is also quite affordable – a foreigner enters for 10 dollars, locals pay much less as usual here in Costa Rica.

Manuel Antonio  became a very favorite resort among foreigners as well as locals. Nevertheless, it is not losing any of its beauty and it definitely one of the most magical places I have visited in Costa Rica. You can find beaches with a lot of privacy as well as beaches with a lot of life, bars and restaurants where you can spend more than a few moments sharing a few glasses of Piña Colada and still feel the sensation of being at a beach, not at a crowded mall. You neither have to worry about ruining your wallet. If you are a backpacker traveling on a budget you can find a lodge for as low as 12 dollars, for example the one I stayed in - Backpackers Manuel Antonio. The ticket from San José costs 7 dollars and as I said – the entrance to the Manuel Antonio National Park about 10 dollars. Of course, the most important thing there – the beach is for free :)

It doesn’t matter if you go on your own, with a group of friends or with your family - Manuel Antonio is still a place you shouldn’t miss once you are in this marvelous country.

(By David Kolesa – Marketing Intern)

What do you imagine when someone says adventure? Rappelling down a 200-feet waterfall? Rafting in a wild river? Hiking through a rainforest and being exposed to a pure nature?

And what about combining all these things together and coming to Costa Rica for the Arenal Volcano 4-Day Super Adventure tour?

Tropical Adventures, a voluntour provider, together with Desafío, expert in all kinds of adventures in the region of Arenal, prepared a 4-day tour full of adventure and of course – fun. And if I say expert in adventure I mean it. Last week Desafío was ranked as one of the BEST 10 adventure tours providers in the world by TripAdvisor travelers and editors. At the same time, it is the only place and company from Costa Rica which made it to the Top 10.  
The experience is truly thrilling but don’t worry, it is also totally safe, the staff is absolutely professional and the tours are organized splendidly. To be able to provide an honest review I went to try it on my own.

Standing on the top of 200-feet waterfall I wasn’t feeling very confident at first. But my worries turned out to be unnecessary very soon and I started enjoying it together with other adventurers of all ages. You really don’t have to be a sportsman in his best shape to be able to do it, you just have to find a little bit of courage. 

The full 4-day package includes private transportation, 3 nights in a beautiful hotel with a marvelous view of the Arenal Volcano and 4 great adventure tours. It doesn't include a round-trip air. To see the full program have a look here. There is also a chance to gain a volunteer experience during your trip and participate in helping to a local community. Please let us know if you are interested.

And we have one more surprise for you - the price has changed dramatically. There is a very special opportunity because Tropical Adventures now offers this tour for $599 per person (double-occupancy) with a single supplement of $249 which is 33% less than the normal price. Well, if you book by September 1. You can do it either by calling 1-800-832-9419, Ext 302 or by emailing to info@tropicaladventures.com.

We hope to make this great tour affordable for more people.

(By David Kolesa - Marketing Intern)

Danielle and Terry decided to spend their Honeymoon in Costa Rica. You probably think that there is nothing unusual about it but this couple is not going to stay in one of the luxury all inclusive hotels that guarantee a good time and a perfect relaxation. They chose another kind of experience - they are going to travel and volunteer in the Wildlife Rescue Center taking care of animals in need.

Danielle and Terry first met in 2005 and soon started spending a lot of time together. They both share a passion for traveling so they became also traveling buddies and together they made many road trips within USA. Danielle has visited many other countries such as Japan, Spain or France. For Terry it will be a first trip out of the US.

Besides of many other things they have in common, they both also like to give something back to a community and volunteer. Danielle took part in multiple education programs and helped in children cancer hospitals in Los Angeles, Terry spent his teenage years volunteering with Church Youth group as a group leader.

As Danielle says, they both knew that if they were leaving the country for their Honeymoon they needed to reach others in need. They looked for volunteer opportunities  and chose the Tropical Adventures Foundation because of the flexibility and types of projects as well as a kind and helpful approach.

They are both excited for the unexpected, they can’t wait to explore a new culture and environment and of course to experience it together.

In behalf of the whole team of Tropical Adventures we wish them a great time and we will do our best to make their Honeymoon unforgettable.

(By David Kolesa - Marketing Intern)