If you find the idea of flying through the air captivating, ziplining is for you. The bird's eye view of the gorgeous rainforest, along with its diverse wildlife, will surely take your breath away. Remember these five tips to make the most of this amazing adventure:

Choose Your Canopy Tour Wisely

Costa Rica has some truly amazing ziplining canopy tours. All of them offer incredible views of Costa Rica’s majestic tropical landscape. While some tours will let you catch a glimpse of the country’s stunning topography complete with rolling hills, verdant valleys, and lush rainforests, some will let you discover the sight of the majestic Arenal Volcano. The question is, what type of view and experience do you want? Research your options before booking your trip.

Dress Comfortably

Choose clothing that will let you move your arms and legs freely. Avoid wearing anything that is too snug or too loose. Wear long pants and closed-toe shoes.

Tie Your Hair

Billowing hair will unnecessarily obstruct your view. If you have long hair or fringes, tie them up neatly. Even if you have short hair, use a hair band to keep things tidy.

Things to Remember

Before starting, apply insect repellant generously on the exposed parts of your body. Don’t forget the camera at any cost; you have to capture the flora and fauna on the go. Use glasses? Then secure them with straps. The same applies for your shades. Use sunscreen lotion to prevent sunburns. Last but not least, carry a pair of binoculars to get a better view of the wildlife you might see on the way.

Follow Your Guide

Tour guides are trained to keep you safe. Your safety is their first priority. So, always follow your guide’s instructions and you will be fine.

Ready to go ziplining in Costa Rica on a regular basis? Purchase a vacation villa home at Arenal Hills luxury villas. Contact us to learn more about Costa Rica at 1-844-MY-HILLS.

What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of taking your children on a vacation of a lifetime? Disney perhaps? What if we told you there are other exciting destinations that are not far away from the States, not overcrowded like most of the tourist spots and not too expensive either. Think out of the box; think Costa Rica. While the memories of Costa Rica’s breathtaking beauty are going to be with you for the rest of your life, just calling it beautiful would be such an understatement! It’s a different world altogether that promises never-ending possibilities to explore for your entire family. The list is long, which makes choosing quite difficult. However, we have done the harder bit for you and here are our top five favorites:

1. Playa Ostional

Playa Ostional is famous for arribada, meaning ‘arrival’ in Spanish. It refers to the massive gathering of egg-laying turtles. Every month around the last quarter moon, hundreds of turtles swim up to the beach, lay their eggs, and return to the sea— a scene that will leave you and your family awestruck.

2. Monteverde

Monteverde is home to a number of cloud forest reserves, zip-line tours, hanging bridges, and family-friendly accommodations. Kids will love the Selvatura Park which includes a canopy tour, a butterfly garden, as well as the Children’s Eternal Rainforest.

3. Manuel Antonio National Park

Although the smallest national park in Costa Rica, it is home to a profusion of wildlife. The park includes jungle habitats where you can spot sloths and monkeys.

4. Cloudbridge Reserve

If your family likes hiking, this is one destination you can’t miss. Suitable for hikers of all ages, the journey offers twisting cloud forest, tropical birds, magnificent mountains, and scenic waterfalls.

5. Tortuga Island

This small island offers white-sand beaches and vibrant coral communities off the shore. It is most popular for scuba diving and snorkeling, which may give you a glimpse of sharks, spinner dolphins, stingrays, and octopi.

Visiting Costa Rica with your family is inspiring on so many levels. From volcanoes and hot springs to national parks and biological reserves, as well as beaches on both the Pacific and the Atlantic oceans, the country has a lot to offer. A single visit is just not enough. So why not own a vacation home in this beautiful Caribbean country? If you want to invest in one of the best luxury villas at the most affordable price, contact us today.

For pet parents, it often becomes difficult to enjoy vacation knowing that back home, their pet is locked in a kennel and eagerly waiting to hear their footsteps. The good news is that a lot of Americans who visit Costa Rica on long vacations bring their pet children along with them. Bringing your furry friend to Costa Rica can be simple when you know all the rules. So, keep the following points in mind while planning a Costa Rican vacation with your pet:

US Requirements

> Timing is everything if you want your pet to accompany you to Costa Rica. To avoid hassles, start planning well before your departure date.

> First, get your pet examined by a USDA accredited veterinarian. He should fill up the Federal APHIS Form 7001 declaring that your pet does not have any health problem whatsoever.

> Remember that your pet’s health certificate is valid only for 10 days before departure. On the other hand, most airlines won’t let you make reservations before 13 days. Keep the two dates in mind while scheduling your journey.

> If your pet is not sharing the cabin space with you and is traveling as cargo, the chances are that he won’t be on the same flight as you. In that case, you will have to obtain an import permit.

> Carry two or three extra copies of all your documents.

>  All airlines have their own rules for pet transportation be it for cabin or cargo transfer. Keep these requirements in mind while preparing for the trip.

> Don’t tranquilize or muzzle your pet while flying.

Costa Rica Requirements

In the case of cargo transfer, you will need an import permit to get customs clearance. If you have hired an international pet mover, the company will handle the matter on your behalf. They will require a set of documents including a copy of your passport or legal ID and the copy of the passport or legal ID and the contact information of the person receiving your pet in Costa Rica. In addition, the company would also need a copy of your pet’s valid health certificate and vaccinations and his flight reservation.

In Costa Rica, the airport customs office is open from Monday through Friday during the regular business hours. If you arrive in the country on a Saturday or a Sunday, you’ll have to wait till Monday to pick him up. If you arrive there late at night, you will have to wait until the next day.

Vacationing in a beautiful country like Costa Rica could be one of the best experiences you and your pet can ever share. If you want to know how you can make it even better, give us a call today at 1-844-MY-HILLS.