Winnipeggers endure a cold season from about November 26 to March 6. In January and February days with a high below -20°C (-4°F) are not uncommon. Yes, it gets chilly. So, if you’re fortunate enough to be able to afford it, you skip out for a week or two somewhere warm.
One of the things Steve and I have discovered about our travelling style, though, is that we aren’t sit-on-the-beach people. We can sit on the beach for a couple of hours for a day or two of vacation, but that’s it. We get bored.
When we discovered adventure/active vacations, we became addicted. We’ve done two in Costa Rica and our latest was just as good as the first.
G Adventures
We went on our first G Adventures tour last winter and it was one of the best travel experiences we’ve had. We did the Costa Rica Kayaking Adventure, which offers not only kayaking but a host of other optional (additional cost) activities that are sure to satisfy even the most active traveller. Take your pick of canyoneering, white water rafting, hiking a volcano and zip lining. We changed locations three times (San Jose, Tortugeuro, and La Fortuna/Arenal) and got to see an amazing array of wildlife and landscapes.
This tour struck just the right balance between group activities and time on your own. For introverts like us it was perfect. We got to know 12 other travellers from around the world but also had enough time on our own to recharge.
Thanks to Judith Teall (one of our tour mates) who generously shared with us the wildlife photos she took that you see below.
La Baula Lodge was our base for the kayaking portion of the tour. Very pretty grounds and the trees were full of toucans.
Growing up in Winnipeg, the closest I ever got to seeing a toucan was the animated version in Froot Loops cereal ads. Saw many on this trip.
Steve has a spider phobia, which means that he always seems to spot them when we’re in the tropics. Mind you, at this size, these guys were hard to miss.
This was the first rafting Steve and I had done. We’re hooked!
Our local tour guides during our kayaking trips were amazing wildlife spotters.
In the end, we decided not to stop at this little beach for a riverside picnic.
Here I am about to take the plunge on our canyoneering adventure. Canyoneering involves repelling down the side of a waterfall. Similar to zip lining but wetter.
Surprise refreshment on our canyoneering adventure.
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Love your blog! I am in Costa Rica right now, living in the jungle for two month while volunteering at a yoga retreat and doing freelance marketing/writing work.. phew. Look forward to reading more 🙂
http://www.ochristine.com
Thanks Olivia. Just visited your site as well and left a comment on your transportation woes. Sound like your on a great journey. Glad to connect.
I was looking at your post from yedtsreay and today is lovely as well. We went to Costa Rica last spring break and had an amazing family vacation you are right it is a happy place! That is because the sun is always shining!
Sun, natural beauty, and friendly people. Who wouldn’t be happy? Thanks for your comment, Kit!