Explore.
Your host/concierge at UP! HOUSE Costa Rica will help you book all your activities, arrange transportation, and can provide recommendations during your stay.
Pura Gula, Punto y Pasta, Pizzeria Pulcinella, GypSea Cafe, Pelican Pub and La Leyenda are a 3-7 min. walk from the house, and many more restaurants are a short bike/tuk tuk ride away. If you prefer to cook, there are several markets within a short distance.
Playa Chiquita beckons guests with its sparkling clear waters, natural bays and peaceful atmosphere. Take the short jungle path and you are there!
UP! HOUSE Costa Rica gets frequent visits from howler monkeys, sloths, toucans, green macaws, oropendula, agoutis, kinkajou, blue morpho butterflies, and more!
Learn about cacao, chocolate history, tropical wildlife, and chocolate making, as you stroll through a cacao forest. And, don’t forget the chocolate tasting at the end of the tour!
Explore the Caribe Sur area at your own pace. Your host / concierge can arrange bike rentals for you during your stay.
Paddle your way through the mangroves as you discover gorgeous rainforest where you can expect to spot monkeys, sloths, colorful birds, river turtles, bats and iguanas. Or, enjoy paddling the breathtaking coast, with stunning cliffs and caves.
You can snorkel right at Playa Chiquita, or experience the reefs of Punta Uva, Gandoca Manzanillo Jairo Mora Sandoval National Wildlife Refuge, or Cahuita National Park. Diving is best during "flat sea season,” especially around September/October. You will spot small tropical fish and maybe even dolphins, turtles, manatee, and more!
Zip through the canopy like Superman and swing from the trees like Tarzan! Or, challenge yourself to a rope course in a natural “jungle gym.” This is an exhilarating way to gain a new perspective of the tropical rainforest.
What a better way to spend a quiet afternoon, than on horseback. Your ride will include a trip through jungle paths as well as the beach. If the water is calm, you and your horse might even be able to cool off in the refreshing water!
Try a chocolate facial, passion fruit salt scrub, or a rainforest immersion massage as your senses awaken and your body relaxes. Spa treatments are a wonderful addition to your journey to Caribe Sur as you discover “pura vida” for yourself.
Puerto Viejo is home to “Salsa Brava,” the Caribbean’s most intense wave that invites top surfers and body boarders to conquer, especially between November-April. But, the nice sandy beach, lifeguards, and some power at the beach break make Cocles a popular surf spot for all levels.
A trip to the Caribe Sur area is not complete without a visit to the Jaguar Rescue Sanctuary. You will see lots of sweet baby sloths, monkeys, and more. Also, be sure to check out ARA Manzanillo, and learn about the work they are doing to increase the green macaw population. Both organizations are vital to the area and you are sure to have better understanding of the wildlife in Costa Rica after your visit.
Continue your yoga practice during your stay, finding new energy and harmony with the surrounding nature. With a variety of options, you are sure to find a class that supports your mind, body and spirit. Not only are there many yoga studios in the area, but you can push your fitness boundaries by trying something new, like salsa, belly dance, Afro-fit, surf board balance, and even aerial silks as you learn to let go of a little gravity on your vacation.
To the north of UP! HOUSE Costa Rica is Cahuita National Park, and to the south is the Gandoca Manzanillo Jairo Mora Sandoval National Wildlife Refuge. Cahuita is a very easy hike with flat, wide paths that parallel the ocean. Gandoca-Manzanillo is more adventurous and is absolutely stunning, with a beautiful lookout point on the cliffs of the ocean. Our host can arrange a guide for you, as they are experts and can show you the best these areas have to offer.
Visit an indigenous reserve and learn how the Bribri have sustained ancient traditions while developing invaluable knowledge on natural rainforest medicinal plants. The Talamanca region is home to the largest population of Bribri and our host will connect you with a responsible guide for your introduction to Bribri culture and life.
Both Cahuita National Park and the Gandoca Manzanillo Jairo Mora Sandoval National Wildlife Refuge are home to nesting grounds for leatherback, hawksbill and green sea turtles. They are committed to conservation action and data collection. Depending on the time of year you visit, you may be lucky enough to see a female turtle nesting or the hatching of hundreds of eggs.
The Pacuare River is considered one of the top 5 best places in the world for whitewater rafting and kayaking. With everything from class II to class V rapids, as well as multiple waterfalls, the area is home to lush rainforest and abundant wildlife. This adrenaline-pumping excursion is available year round.