Costa Rica Adventure Trip

May 17th – 22nd, 2025

My husband and I are empty nesters and were looking for an educational, yet adventurous vacation. Searching online for a trip is both time consuming, confusing and exhausting. When Krista’s adventure trip to Costa Rica popped up in my newsfeed, I was both excited and nervous. Going on a group vacation can be intimidating, especially your first one.

From the get go, Krista was friendly, warm and very thorough in her knowledge of what we could expect as she had completed the same adventure trip earlier in the year, with the expectation of fine tuning it and hosting a group trip later in the year.

The trip was flawless. From pick up and transport to our locations by English speaking and knowledgeable guides, to the incredible accommodations, and food and cultural experiences we enjoyed along the way. Did I say fun? The main tour guide, who stayed with us the entire time, was gracious, polite and so funny!  

Considering this trip included a lot of adventures, I worried about safety in a different country. I was relieved to feel extra safe with thorough instructions, quality safety gear and equipment. The guides were there to offer a hand for balance or encouragement to erase any doubts we had. We even had a professional photographer at times, to keep our own cameras safe or dry.

I felt submersed into the culture, educated along the way, and cared for by Krista, the guides (even their families) and every other traveler in our group. We strangers, with ages ranging from late 20s to late 70s, left as friends.  

This vacation was a trip of a lifetime and priced very reasonably. So much was included and there were even surprises along the way. We highly recommend this and any other trip organized by Krista. You can trust it’s been thoroughly vetted, and that your safety and enjoyment is top of her mind throughout.

Experience Costa Rica – the Pure Life – or Pura Vida. It all makes sense to us now.

If you are looking for adventure in stunning tropical settings with a wonderful host and the best guides, then I highly recommend signing up for Northwest Paddleboarding Costa Rica Adventure tours.

I participated in their inaugural tour in Nov 2023. I experienced different activities that I had never tried before, such as waterfall rappelling and canyoning (ziplining). I had minimal experience paddle rafting prior to this trip. I felt safe in all these activities thanks to our knowledgeable guides and their instruction.

All the Costa Rican people that we encountered welcomed us with open hearts, sharing their culture, food, and in a couple of cases, their homes. The food prepared by our guides was healthy and exceptional. I was amazed by the variety of fresh fruit, juice, and vegetables provided at each of our meals.

We stayed in beautiful accommodations at each of our locations. I appreciated that the trip fulfilled everything on the planned itinerary, but also included a few amazing surprises.

Krista has developed a wonderful relationship with the owner of the POC guide service and together they put together a perfect trip that accommodates all abilities. The small group size facilitated the new friendships we formed with each other. I am looking forward to future adventures with Krista and Northwest Paddleboarding.

This trip was everything I hoped it would be. I like adventure but I also like to feel safe and cared for. To be in the middle of the rainforest, on pristine rivers, and in cozy small towns but to stay in simple luxury with really nice people and provided local food, native cuisine, and delicious coffee! I did not feel like a number on the bus getting off “at- the- next -stop- to- do -the- next- activity”. It was personal. Local business owners committed guides and support staff were clearly invested in making sure I was safe, comfortable, and had a just right challenge! That is what stood out: No matter what fitness level, adventure threshold, or social capacity there was an easy flow and freedom in the group experience to participate at your level of engagement!

Every day was something new, and each experience offered its unique vibe. There was never too much of anything. Krista’s pre-planning, coordination with in-country staff and attention to detail allowed me to check my anxiety at the airport with my bags and simply enjoy what could easily be defined as the trip of a lifetime!